Hobby

For a start they only have to take into account the medical side of things, so have rather a one sided view. I keep harping back to it, but early on in the pandemic (around April 2020) there was a discussion programme on one of the channels which had various experts (medical and others such as economists) giving their opinions and a couple of the medical experts pointed out that they will only give their opinions on the medical aspect, as that is their field of knowledge, but that they appreciated that the Government had to look at many other aspects before making a decision. One actually said that he didn't envy those who had to make the final decision as it would always disappoint someone. That still applies.

I should have added that the electric scooters in the various test schemes all have a registration plate on the rear so if it doesn't then it's illegal.

1. Yes they are classed as road vehicles and they should be on the road. Trouble is they are not currently legal on the road unless used in one of the "test schemes" that are happening around the country. Birmingham is one of the places and, as a pedestrian in the centre, I find their use (misuse is probably a better word) lethal and it concerns me if they are legalised. If you see any in your local area (Newtown) it's almost guaranteed they are being ridden illegally and the local police should be impounding them (they are round here but only haphazardly). 2. there are two types of mobility scooters, the small ones, limited to 4mph and should only be used on the pavement and the larger ones which are road legal, have a max speed (I think) of 8mph and which can be used on pavements but only at 4mph. The latter is not adhered to a great deal!). The larger ones should be licensed (free) and should be insured.

Worth remembering that green traffic lights only mean you can go on if the way is clear (which rather covers the red jumpers!)...

Really? The last two I've had certainly don't fit that description (Golf7 and latest Octavia) and nor do the others I looked at before getting my current Octavia, such as the Astra and Focus. I do agree that the rear roofline is slightly lower on the latest Octavia4/Golf8 but not to the extent that it stops the loading of bulky items such as white goods like washing machines, etc. I know the days of the cavernous estates such as the old Volvos and Montegos has long gone but most medium sized estate cars are still extremely practical and miles better than the SUVs in the same bracket (or even higher bracket). We only swapped cars earlier in the year so had to check out all the alternatives, they had to fit my wife's wheelchair without dismantling it (that gives me a good idea of the carrying capacity for when we go on holidays or carry the layout) and all the medium sized estates I mentioned earlier could do it, but no SUVs in the same price range could!!

As someone else said you've definitely not been to Brum or any other large city recently, I normally don't see any red light jumping by cars, etc., but I see lots of it from cyclists, also pavement riding and wrong direction riding, not to mention exactly the same from those electric scooters. I was in my local town centre yesterday, only for 1/2 hour, and saw an electric scooter and two cyclists riding in the pedestrian zone. Look I'm not saying that all cyclists are bad and all motorists are good, there's good and bad in both, probably at similar levels, but using an excuse that it's ok to run a red light because it's "safer" just doesn't wash. If cyclists really want respect and the rest of us to accept the ruling that they are not to blame in any accident regardless they really have to start abiding by the rules themselves. Evidence from many people in most large cities is that's not the case where things like pavement riding is rife, and for blind or wheelchair users that is not acceptable (before we think this is all about cars vs cyclists).

Looking at photos it would appear that they are the same, as I'm sure I confirmed at the time with a dealership, I liked the versatility they allowed. The Roomster did have the centre seat with the fold down backrest, we had one of the early ones and the kids used to use it when we went away. I wanted a new one to replace ours but they were starting to run down the range and the Yeti was noticeably smaller inside when I checked it out. Unfortunately the Roomster v2 got shelved by Skoda. Missed opportunity.

Nah... It means that the masses have been seduced by the constant advertising for SUVs as being all you want in a car when the truth is that an estate does the same job much better!

Or knows that it's not a realistic proposition. Stewarts post summarises it nicely. I'm backing out of this part of the discussion, it's clear that some of you have no idea what it's like at the front end of this sort of proposal or of the logistics of enforcing it nationwide. I will leave you to dream of the impossible dream. ..

I agree strongly with the last sentance, Neil, but the rest is grossly over simplified. Smoking is a good example of legislation working but took many years to get where we are now and even now we still have issues and when we catch someone it's difficult to prosecute. To expect the same for mask wearing in just months just isn't realistic.

I give up. Think about what you suggest. (Replied to Andy's post, not Neil's). Then think of all the other places that would need the same treatment as the railways... Buses Taxis Shops All other Places where people gather... The list is endless.

I know you have missed the point as well! Even if there was legislation we couldn't enforce it. Most railway stations are unmanned or do not have barriers to stop people. Then there are lots who wear them to get through the barrier then take them off when on the train. The resources to enforce it don't exist and the great British public couldn't give a fig. Even when we had the rules that we had to wear them it wasn't enforceable, we don't have the power and there aren't enough police to cover anything but a minute percentage of trains so its impossible to do. And that's before we realise that trains are just a small section of places that would need policing.

OK tell me how I can enforce it on a train with two hundred passengers and no btp. Even if there was legislation I couldn't do it. I honestly feel that you have no idea what it's like on the front line. If other passengers try to do it I end up with a riot, I've had to sort out such clashes, not a pretty sight. Legislation will get many people to wear them but it's a substantial number that won't. So I ask again, how do you expect me to enforce it?!!! One thing I have noticed when in Germany and other countries is that there seem to be far more police around. Perhaps that's the answer. But then it's a question of who pays for them and where do they come from?

I understood they were the same seats.

Yes I have, I was pushing a wheelchair at the time, the section of the old Midland Railway near Bakewell. And I would say that it was a minority that behaved in that way, the majority were courteous. As for Europe, we've travelled widely in Northern Europe and would say that the way cyclists and other road users is very different to the UK. You have to be aware of how things work before stepping out. We had some close calls early on in The Netherlands until we realised we were walking in the wrong place.

I thought that they had the same set up as the Roomster and you could take them out and slide them across? I did like the Roomster for its versatility.

Most SUVs are the same, large on the outside, small inside. For load carrying you are still better off with a medium or large estate car, though even they tend to be compromised with non folding rear seat bases.

No they aren't and just going on the ones we see in built up areas gives a false impression. Most motorists won't deliberately run red lights, etc., simply because they can be traced reflectively easily. I wonder if cyclists would be so cavalier if they could be so easily identified though?

The problem is enforcing it. Even when it was compulsory it couldn't be enforced, and I speak from first hand experience. I agree that it would be an easy step to take to bring it back, but it's not easy to make sure people actually abide by it. Before anyone asks I don't know what the answer is to get people to do it, it's like the one/two metre rule, great idea but a sod to enforce. Open to viable suggestions how to enforce them, though!

We had an M reg astra estate (series 2?) and was the most roomy car we had for a long time, took it to Czech Republic in the late 90s! It was replaced by a vectra estate which was smaller. That was replaced by a very early Fabia estate which also went to the Czech Republic, in fact back to the factory that built it, they had a good museum back then.

Think how boring threads like this would be, though!

You are only aware of the views that have been expressed by them, you (nor I) are aware of other advice (which could well include other advice/views from others in the NHS) that the Gov are getting. Which is my whole point, you should not base your actions on one piece of advice, especially from an "interested" source but on a range of advice, which is what i believe the Gov are doing. It might well lead them to act as you so clearly want them to... But it may not... We shall see.

You have no evidence that that is the way they are acting though as we don't know what advice they are getting from their advisors. I haven't any idea either but I don't jump to conclusions based on one story.

No you aren't. You are assessing the situation based on one person's views, which happens to suit your own views, but without any other evidence. Nor do you have any proof of what the Gov plan is, nor are you aware of the advice they are receiving. Both of you have known views and this suits them, personally I shall await for the Gov experts to give us their views and the action of what the Gov should do. One report does not show clear evidence or a clear way forward.

Ah well, I see we're back into government bashing again...