Cycling; the magic bullet

At the risk of being that cycling evangelist you try to avoid, more people need to ride bikes or walk more often.

There are so many benefits, personal, social and environmental.

I've mentioned the personal benefits on this blog; the social advantages are many. More cycling and walking reduces crime, boosts the local economy - helping to keep shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs open, and builds community. It encourages more activity, we have been told for a year to protect the NHS. We can do this if we all get fitter, obesity causes or contributes to many diseases and debilitating conditions that cost billions to treat. And less motor vehicles will mean less collisions, cutting casualties and deaths - 157,630 and 1752 respectively in 2019. 

These problems won't go away with electric power, brake and tyre dust will still be a problem and is harmful, battery production is polluting. It is likely to result in people driving even shorter distances, pavements will still be blocked by parking with cables adding to the problem. In London 30% of driven journeys are of less than three miles, in 2019 there were 3.9 billion more miles driven than in 2009. Battery powered vehicles are bigger and heavier, meaning more wear on the roads and less space for other road users. They'll need charging points, government and local authorities seem enthusiastic for the taxpayer to fund them; petrol stations weren't built this way. 

The taxpayer funds a huge road building program, yet travel times continue to increase. As the saying goes - The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. 

We need less congestion, those that need to drive will be able to do so more easily. 

I had the week off and really went for it, riding over 260 miles.

I had a few rides with Oxted Cycling Club, and met Matt in Westerham. Cafes a still only take-away so if we stop, it's not for long, and we all have to stand well apart.

My cycling sat nav directed me to Hever Castle on Tuesday and Ashdown Forest on Thursday. Still a little too chilly to pause for long.

I even did a 3.8 mile run on Friday. My cycling muscles did not appreciate being asked to do this. A triathlon is not on the cards.