I work in a local bike shop and a few months ago I predicted there would be an upsurge in the demand for bikes due to recent fuel price rises and the ever increasing cost of running a car. Business has proven me right especially with the government's cycle to work initiative tempting people from their cars.
It's a sad fact though that people still feel the need to use these hugely inefficient methods of transport so much.
I admit there are times when cars are useful; when transporting large loads, getting to remote places or transporting young ones,
or if you are old or disabled. Driving to the takeaway at lunch or popping into town when you live just a few miles away though is a criminal waste of resources.
A lot of people I see slumped behind the wheel look well in need of a little exercise too. On my daily cycle ride to work how many grumpy looking car drivers do I see? Quite a lot, especially if, God forbid, they have to stop at a pedestrian crossing. The government talks about the impending obesity epidemic like it's something that we are powerless to resist. Really it's just people being lazy.
Parents say they don't let their kids walk to school because there are too many cars on the road, so they transport them in huge 4x4s eyes glued to little dvd screens.
If people ditch their cars for bikes there will be less pollution, safer streets, less landfill, quicker journey times, fitter citizens and we'll all be happier to boot.
Steve Benson
Boswell Road
BessacarrThe full article contains 275 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
