Results from Saturdays trial at Deepcliffe farm, unfortunately I would like to report on a superb event and whilst the actual trial was a very welll supported trial and it appeared that all riders enjoyed it, we have recieved a few complaints regarding queue jumping, below is a post which is from a disgruntled rider.
Definition: "a line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed".
<rant>
Now, I wasn't educated at Oxford or Cambridge, but I can understand this simple concept - it's not that difficult! I may sound like a miserable sod (which I actually am), but I've noticed in the last couple of trials (Deer Park in the minging wet and today at Deepcliff Farm) that there is a reasonable sized minority that don't seem to understand this concept. It was only today that I heard 5 separate people expressing how annoyed by the pushing in at sections they were. It's rude, impolite and simply selfish. There are no extra points for finishing quicker.
I appreciate that the electric bikes need to get on with it due to power issues and I think everyone can understand this. A simple "merge in turn" is something that we can all understand and the majority of people would be ok with this. My main issue is that this simply does not happen. Parents are condoning pushing to the front of the queue which, in turn, seems to allow for a free for all flow of pushing in of said electric bikes and small wheeled engined bikes, not a merge in turn leaving engined bikes free to go once there is a clear line of electric/small wheeled bikes.
On the flipside, today I also noticed a well-known grandparent/great-uncle make his rider go back and thank the observer after his last lap... excellent manners and wonderful to see... (didn't seem to do Dougie any harm!)
However, my main concern is the pushing in of riders of an age that should know what manners are and the etiquette of section queueing. It's very easy to point at "the youth" of today, but in today's case it sadly was. Engined (not electric) riders were leaving one section and "joining" the next queue near the front, coming in from the side, avoiding eye contact, nudging forward and blocking people that were actually in the queue. This was obvious to see time and time again and riled quite a few (courteous) people - as I say, I've never heard so many people mention it as I did today.
I am not suggesting that we have to take the approach like a deli counter at Morrisons (take a ticket), but can we please encourage each other to have some manners and not be afraid to shout "there is a queue, you know!". I have a feeling that the "offenders" know who they are and what they are doing. Stop. Please. It's annoying other riders and leaves a bitter taste in people's mouth.
So, if you are one of the guilty riders from Saturdays trial please take note!