Ever thought of working out how long it would for a new bicycle to pay for itself if you used two wheels instead of four to get to work? Obviously cycling to Inverness is not an option but even within the town how much could you eventually save? Say cycling from the western suburbs to a new job at Sainsbury's or maybe into town from Auldearn. Here's a site that helps you do the math.
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A local cycle shop owner pointed out to me the other day that you can buy a lovely shiny new bike these days for less than the cost of roughly four tanks fulls of fuel for an average car.
ReplyDeletePerhaps not much use for getting to Edinburgh for the day but surely the fastest way around town.
there are enough nutters on the pavements on bikes without more of them on the roads,we are paying more and more in road tax,and the pavements are getting wider and roads have cicanes built into them as well as speed bumps,its time cyclists paid road tax too,and stop then cycling on pavements and one way streets
ReplyDeleteBILL.
Did it ever occur to Bill that a lot of cyclists pay road tax too?
ReplyDeleteI have four bikes and three vehicles , so I think my £700 per annum contribution to the Treasury in vehicle tax, plus heaven knows how much duty paid on petrol and diesel allows me to ride my bike when I want, and , within the bounds of the road transport act, where I want too :)
My thoughts exactly. There are more and more inconsiderate cyclists on the pavements and roads these days. Cycling straight towards pedestrians in pavements, forcing them to jump out of the way. Cycling up the middle of roads, cycling through red lights, weaving in and off pavements, to avoid lights, weaving in and out of vehicles to get to the front of a line of traffic, all for when it moves off, they end up holding up the traffic not able to get passed, and adding to congestion, while creating a serious road hazard.
ReplyDeleteWe should have vehicle days, where everyone is encouraged to travel by car, bus, train, motorcycle and share vehicles. Rather than encourage individual selfish cyclists to use roads.
How refreshing to see that yet another aspect of British society ie Transport , ellicits sensible opinion.
ReplyDeleteHow these Dutch and Danish folks ever get by , with their fancy adoption of cycling as a mainstream, sustainable, form of transport, I'll never know. They are obviously totally unaware of their luddite tendencies.
Bad cyclists need sorting yes but so do bad dog owners, underage drinkers, litter (including fag-ends), Al Qaeda, nuclear waste, Greece Portugal and Ireland but maybe indeed cyclists are the major problem facing civilisation right now.
ReplyDeleteIF there was a good cycle path built (ha,ha,ha) between Nairn and Inverness I would be very tempted to cycle, but there isn't, and I doubt there ever will be. The current as the crow flys'ish route is the A96, which I really don't think is too cycle friendly with regard other road users
ReplyDeleteEven within Nairn I've lost count of the number of dogs that have raced after me on the few cycle paths with owners unable to control them
Seems to me that cycling is a little too hazardous, with some vehicle users wanting a death tax on those of us that dare to use our bikes on their roads
Yes, cyclists are the new Taliban. They're everywhere in each town and village, destroying the life of many innocent motorists AND pedestrians.
ReplyDeleteThe Dutch being the nation which legalise and encourage the use of certain drugs banned in the UK.
ReplyDeleteNot a great nation to take a lead from when it comes to social engagement.
hey. maybe if we followed the dutch policy on drugs we would be more laid back and not so ANGRY, as you all seem to be
ReplyDeleteremember
people were here first
then bikes
then traffic
"The Dutch being the nation which legalise and encourage the use of certain drugs banned in the UK.
ReplyDeleteNot a great nation to take a lead from when it comes to social engagement".
At least the Dutch can in general handle their legal drugs more sensibly than we can, and I'd rather take my chances on the streets of Amsterdam on a Saturday night than our capital city where getting blootered and fighting seem the order of the day
Perhaps time for us to ban alcohol and build cycle lanes, as it seems we are a nation of drinkers and drivers
It's surprising - and a little disturbing - how mention of cycling and cyclists provokes comments full of bile, intolerance and vituperation...such as
ReplyDelete"nutters on pavements", "time they paid road tax", "inconsiderate...", "adding to congestion", "a serious road hazard", "the new Taliban" and so on.
Not to mention the irrelevant and prejudiced comments about the Dutch.
It would be reassuring to know that there are Gurnites out there who don't have these chips on their shoulders and can think more rationally about the subject.
Cycling around town is quicker than walking, should be an alternative to using a car (thus reducing traffic and easing pressure on parking)... and, er, it's healthy exercise too.
The pity is that the local planning authorities consistently fail to include cycle routes as an integral element in all urban development. If they did so, the potential difficulty with pedestrians over use of the pavement, and the hazards to cyclists of using roads busy with traffic, would be avoided.
Don't knock the cyclists, get the planners to deliver sensible plans with decent, safe cycle routes.
I agree with the sentiments. We shouldn't be looking at other nations and try and copy exactly their policies. After all their policies don't always lie with the British constitution or social ethics.
ReplyDeleteHowever the world shouldn't revolve around cyclists and cyclists alone, as some of the comments here would propose. What about the single parent with two very young children, what about the pensioners who physically can't cycle, what about the family who want to get to the shops together? Cycling is not the sole or primary transport method a small number of very vocal individuals try to make out it is.
A combined transport system which supports buses, motorbikes, taxis, cars and the leisure cyclist can only be the best balance. Not the exclusion of other forms of transport, with the exception of the bicycle (used daily by only a small minority).
Bill should realise areas with speed bumps and wide pavements are usually town centres or residential areas. Surely keeping kids safe and creating a pleasant environment to walk around is more important than allowing someone to zoom along in a car at 60mph?
ReplyDeleteAlso, why are cyclists and motorists regarded as different species. I use both. And given the increasing cost of fuel and its dwindling nature more people are discovering the benefits of a bike. Yes it's cheaper but also good for your health, your wellbeing, local air quality and the global environment.
Re Punctured's comment about a decent cycle link between Inverness and Nairn, one could easily be put in place by extended the path at Delnies to the Ardersier turn off and creating a track between the Castle Stuart turn off and the Balloch turn off. As a member of the Highland Cycle Campaign I have started jabbing Transport Scotland, Highland Council and Hitrans into action on this as the A96 dual carriageway is off into the long grass.
"the A96 dual carriageway is off into the long grass"
ReplyDeleteNo wonder I can't find it.
Is this long grass due to the cut backs in council spending?