A cartoon, at its best, is a provocation. It distils complexity into a single, uncomfortable truth.
And this one by Dave Walker is a perfect example.
Notes &thoughts
Dave Walker regularly produces arch cartoons on his Substack, Diagram Club. His notes for this one begin with an acknowledgement, e-bikes left blocking the pavement are a real problem for ‘all kinds of people’.
My response: Yes, I absolutely agree.
The point of the drawing is that they aren’t always the only or most significant problem.
I think we are often blind to the huge amount of public space taken up, and inconvenience caused, by cars. We’ve never known anything different.
So yes, please don’t block the pavement with a hire bike, but also don’t block it with a car.
Having listened to people who run hire bike / scooter operations speak about this kind of thing I think they are aware that bikes and scooters blocking pavements is bad for everyone, themselves included, as it turns opinion against them.
There are technical solutions, such as apps insisting that bikes must be parked in designated places. But often such areas are hard to find space for, as space being taken away from motor vehicles is often resisted.
Richmond Council is currently reviewing its contracts with e-bike operators and recently shared a video of its scrutiny meeting. Like more than 1,000 other residents, I submitted my suggestions including ideas to hold both riders and operators more accountable.
During this process, we need to apply the same standards to all those who use our streets.
An e-bike blocking a pavement is a problem. So is a SUV parked across it.