Bill Boaks

[jondwhite]

Whilst reading about perenial candidates I just stumbled upon Bill Boaks, an interesting / eccentric figure,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Boaks

Quote:

Road safety was central to his beliefs. He kept a pram loaded down with bricks which he would push on to pedestrian crossings in front of rapidly braking motorists.

Quote:

Boaks's central campaign point was simple – he wanted the inversion of the law concerning Zebra crossings, so that all roadways would be treated as if they were Zebra crossings except those parts painted as such, thus giving pedestrians the right of way at all times. The idea was that it would save countless lives by increasing drivers' sense of responsibility, and would cause such chaos in urban areas as to force people back onto public transport rather than using private cars.

Would this work? I admit some sympathy for the idea, although it is more highway engineering than political.

[Anonymous]

jondwhite wrote:

Whilst reading about perenial candidates I just stumbled upon Bill Boaks, an interesting / eccentric figure,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Boaks

He was a common sight in South London when I lived there eons ago.

[ALB]

No it wouldn't work. Speaking as a car driver, it's a crackpot idea. Cyclists are already enough of a problem.In the Lambeth Central by-election in 1978 Commander Boaks was amongst our opponents. He finished bottom well below us:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambeth_Central_by-election,_1978

[Major McPharter]

jondwhite wrote:

Whilst reading about perenial candidates I just stumbled upon Bill Boaks, an interesting / eccentric figure,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Boaks

Quote:

Road safety was central to his beliefs. He kept a pram loaded down with bricks which he would push on to pedestrian crossings in front of rapidly braking motorists.

Quote:

Boaks's central campaign point was simple – he wanted the inversion of the law concerning Zebra crossings, so that all roadways would be treated as if they were Zebra crossings except those parts painted as such, thus giving pedestrians the right of way at all times. The idea was that it would save countless lives by increasing drivers' sense of responsibility, and would cause such chaos in urban areas as to force people back onto public transport rather than using private cars.

Would this work? I admit some sympathy for the idea, although it is more highway engineering than political.

Is that the same bill boaks last seen disapearing underneath the no9 bus with his brick laden pram launched through greggs pasty shop??

[Major McPharter]

Major McPharter wrote:

jondwhite wrote:

Whilst reading about perenial candidates I just stumbled upon Bill Boaks, an interesting / eccentric figure,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Boaks

Quote:

Road safety was central to his beliefs. He kept a pram loaded down with bricks which he would push on to pedestrian crossings in front of rapidly braking motorists.

Quote:

Boaks's central campaign point was simple – he wanted the inversion of the law concerning Zebra crossings, so that all roadways would be treated as if they were Zebra crossings except those parts painted as such, thus giving pedestrians the right of way at all times. The idea was that it would save countless lives by increasing drivers' sense of responsibility, and would cause such chaos in urban areas as to force people back onto public transport rather than using private cars.

Would this work? I admit some sympathy for the idea, although it is more highway engineering than political.

Is that the same bill boaks last seen disapearing underneath the no9 bus with his brick laden pram launched through greggs pasty shop??Maybe the spgb membership could all grab a brick laden pram and charge 10 downing street.

[Major McPharter]

Major McPharter wrote:

Major McPharter wrote:

jondwhite wrote:

Whilst reading about perenial candidates I just stumbled upon Bill Boaks, an interesting / eccentric figure,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Boaks

Quote:

Road safety was central to his beliefs. He kept a pram loaded down with bricks which he would push on to pedestrian crossings in front of rapidly braking motorists.

Quote:

Boaks's central campaign point was simple – he wanted the inversion of the law concerning Zebra crossings, so that all roadways would be treated as if they were Zebra crossings except those parts painted as such, thus giving pedestrians the right of way at all times. The idea was that it would save countless lives by increasing drivers' sense of responsibility, and would cause such chaos in urban areas as to force people back onto public transport rather than using private cars.

Would this work? I admit some sympathy for the idea, although it is more highway engineering than political.

Is that the same bill boaks last seen disapearing underneath the no9 bus with his brick laden pram launched through greggs pasty shop??Maybe the spgb membership could all grab a brick laden pram and charge 10 downing street.Might be a kamikaze mission but at least the spgb could go out with a Bang.

[jondwhite]

According to Wikipedia

Quote:

In 1984, Boaks was injured in a second minor road traffic accident while getting off a bus. His death in hospital two years later was the result of complications from the head injuries sustained.

[imposs1904]

Scottish Slang

[jondwhite]

Proof that nearly car free cities with low air pollution and low noise can work under capitalismhttps://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/may/16/welcome-cycle-heaven-moved-family-netherlands-houten-utrecht

Quote:

none of what Houten stands for is radical or alternative. This Dutch city’s choice to move away from the car, to clear the air, to invest in healthy individuals, is not an unreachable ideal.Houten is the future many of us trapped in car-focused societies dream of, but it’s happening here and now. Nothing is stopping other cities from making the same decisions.

[Author]

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