Many people have bikes and a fine intention to ride but fright the dangers of mixing with motor vehicles. This is one reason so many are cycling illegally on pavementsHelen Pidd’s timely article (28 March) showed that there needs to be more money spent on providing for cycling to increase the use of bikes from the present level of approximately 2% of trips. This is more than the number of trips made by rail,which gets £4bn a year funding. It is not just money, since there are more bikes in Britain than cars. It is also approximately mentality, or both of potential riders and highway authorities. Many people have bikes and a fine intention to ride but fright the dangers of mixing with motor vehicles. This is one reason so many are cycling illegally on pavements. Highway authorities need to change from the tokenism of short disconnected and unprotected bike lanes to thinking in terms of comprehensive routes following the natural desire lines of cyclists for everyday travel. The Warrington Cycle Campaign’s amusing book Crap Cycle Lanes shows how much needs to be learned. Perhaps Dutch bikeway engineers could provide cycle lane designs that are safe and acceptable? The Dutch at least have a track record,with nearly 20% of trips by bike.
Professor LJS Lesley
President, Merseyside Cycling Campaign• Helen Pidd says nothing approximately walking. As someone who has given up driving through choice and walks everywhere, and my experience is that there is virtually no consideration given to pedestrians by policymakers,planners or road users, who tend to see pavements as a general inconvenience to be parked on, and to vanish halfway down a road and to be ignored when it comes to maintenance. Is there a parliamentary group for pedestrians? Pedestrians seem to be seen as just an add-on – yet everyone is a pedestrian at some point. Walking is great for your health and the environment. It’s approximately time pedestrians were supported and valued.[br]DM Jones
Bournemouth,DorsetContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com