Your say / Society
Who’s prepared to have an opinion in 2015?
This comment article is written by Karen White, vice chair of the Bristol Institute of Directors. Follow her at @karenwhite03
As we reflect on the year past and the one ahead, I’m staring really hard into my crystal ball. Here are a few things I’m hoping to see:
More respect
Stop scrapping over social media. We don’t all have to agree with each other but too many of us are airing our dirty laundry in public. Stop and think – would that conversation be better had in ‘real life’, face to face?
is needed now More than ever
People who aren’t afraid to have an opinion
For every one person who dares to stick their head above the parapet with a ‘dare we say it’ mildly controversial comment, there’s someone who will say what they think we want to hear. Just dull.
An amnesty between cars and bikes in Bristol
It doesn’t have to be ‘them and us’. I know plenty of cyclists who have a car and take the train. And plenty of car drivers who aren’t averse to swapping four wheels for two. Modes of transport don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Admitting you drive a car shouldn’t be akin to saying you might pass on an infectious disease.
A crackdown on cyclists riding on the pavement
If you’re too scared to ride on the road, walk. Or get a car.
A city that makes going to the library cool
A bit like the book version of The Souk Kitchen. “Hey, I’m popping down to the library to do some photocopying and check out the FastBacks – want to come?”
A business rate system that doesn’t cripple small and independent traders
OK, I admit, that one isn’t likely but the upsurge in markets, street food and craft fairs of all sorts suggests to me that literal ‘on the street’ shopping is going to be even more of a thing in 2015 because a lot of these guys can’t afford to move into a shop.
An election year when politicians actually says something meaningful
Real life doesn’t have to be Yes Minister. We’re not stupid. You can’t sit on the fence all the time, your arse will go numb and so will the voters.
No more European Green Capital bashing
It’s not exactly been World Cup fever and inevitably there have been winners and losers when it came to handing out the funding, but we won it and we’ll celebrate it. That’s what the British do. Even if it’s a street party with some green balloons and something we foraged. On our bikes.
Happy 2015!
Picture: Aniriana/Shutterstock
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