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In a month when we should all be celebrating the magnificent success of British high speed cyclists in the Olympics it is a real disappointment to see an annonymous article in Broadgate News which rehearses all too familiar prejudiced arguments about cycling perceived as anti social behaviour!
As one of many local people who loves cycling for pleasure, I try to control my obesity and laziness by practising it, and find it a fast, convenient and green means of transport. I'd love to introduce everyone to the pro social joys of two wheeled pedalling. I fear the list of supposed illegal cycling practices in the newsletter will put people off the activity. Anyway, can we really imagine that the police have nothing better to do than to persecute and prosecute cyclists who ride on pavements, or bring to court those who have slightly dirty lights?.
I will admit that being hassled by inconsiderate cyclists is not a totally imaginary problem for pedestrians and that for some people, particaularly those who are frail or disabled, or in company of small children, it can be an upsetting and scary experience to be overtaken silently and without warning by someone on a bike. I guess its all the more scary if you believe all the myths and scare stories put out by Broadgate News and the LEP about young muggers on mountain bikes. But let's get it in perspective. These incidents are rare. Even accidents in which pedestrians are injured by cyclists are very infrequent, compared with the carnage inflicted on cyclists and pedestrians by motorists who make mistakes, or kill people while talking on their mobile, or after drinking to excess. If there is a problem it is about inconsiderate behaviour not about cycling. The same people are likely to be just as dangerous or abusive if they are on foot or behind the wheel of a car. Indeed, as drivers, such folk are likely to be a public menace and danger to everyone,, not just slightly anti social and annoying. Let's ban aggressive drivers and get them back on their bikes (after a comnpulsory cycling proficiency test of course).
The reader of Broadgate News is likely to assume that all inconsiderate cyclists are teenagers. This is not the case. As a pedestrian I have on a number of occasions recently been a victim of inconsiderate cycling, on pavements or shared use cycle/foot paths. I have to say I have voiced my protest, usually shouting out something like "aren't you old enough to cycle on the road yet?". But that's a good question as in every occasion I can remember the offender has been someone well over twenty.
Let's think about why cyclists cycle on pavements. If you are under 12 it's usually because Mum and Dad have told you never to cycle on the road as its far too dangerous because of all those cars. So we can't really blame any young person for doing this. Parents are right to be concerned, although in some ways they are misguided. It sometimes creates more danger for a child to be cycling on a pavement and then to come out onto the highway onto the street at a point where a driver would not expect anything to emerge. Cycling on pavements and wearing helmets can make kids think they are invulnerable when in fact the risks may be just as great. There is a case for training young kids to ride on the road under supervison so they learn proper road sense. Indeed my kids were brought up to cycle with me on the side streets and cycle lanes of London from the age of about six and have lived to tell the tale.
Fear of motor traffic is the reason according to surveys that so few people cycle as a means of transport. It must also be one of the reasons adult cyclists also take to the footpath. You can argue that this is encouraged by the fact that highways authorities have in recent years built numerous cycle lanes into pedestrian footpaths as shared use cycle lanes. There are some obvious examples in our neighbourhood, for example along Strand Road. The most recent stretch there (up by LIDL's) is a useless one for cyclists, an expensive white elephant of a cycle route which in my view actually makes things more dangerous for the cyclist. Instead of the simple white lined lane at the side of the highway which was there before, and which was both fast and safe you now have the choice of riding up on the pavement, avoiding pedestrians, slowing down to cross two or three side streets. Or you can, as I do, stay in the road and have a much narrower space mixing with the cars and lorries.
Like me the government and councils want to promote cycling. It's good for health (cyclists live longer than non cyclists, despite bad drivers!). Its good for the environment with minimal greenhouse gases. And within your household it's increasingly good for your budget. To encourage cycling properly, there just needs to be a bit more thought about making cycling facilities really useful and cycle friendly, designed by cyclists for cyclists, not just by planners in order to meet targets and tick boxes. There's a real opportunity for example to turn the river bank path by the docks railway into a proper cycle route to the cinema, to Morrisons and via the Docks, possibly all the way to Lytham.
It would also help if there was a bit less moaning about bad cycling and pandering to the tabloid press, and the prejudices of Jeremy Clarkson and his crew of motor maniacs.
Above all cycling is fun. Preston has a strong cycling tradition with strong racing clubs and set in a great location for cycling enjoyment. Broadgate in many ways is a great place to start. Even if you just want to ride to the pub there are safe ways down the back streets, along the river and through the park. Full marks by the way to the New Continental for putting in cycle racks. The tramway route up through Bamber Bridge to Whittle Le Woods is great for a family day out. Some of us from St.Stephens did a sponsored ride back in July on that route and a great time was had by all.
A bit further away is the Lancashire cycle way where you can ride all the way on country lanes to Lancaster and beyond. If you are really energetic there is the lovely 50 mile circuit round the Trough of Bowland. Or you can even try Land's End to John O Groats ans stop off in Preston for your dinner. The distance by road is 874 miles (1406 km), according to the much-photographed signposts at each end. By the way the official Road Records Association record on that route for rider on a conventional bicycle is 44 hours, 4 minutes and 20 seconds, set by Broadgate Resident Gethin Butler in 2001.
