March 2017 – again the BBC called me asking about my experiences of ‘riding a bike’ in and around Leicester … Read more here from March 2017: People on bikes again
August 2016 Again, BBC Radio Leicester called me “Do you think Leicester’s a model cycle city… yet?” #CycleCity Leicester
May 2016 Again, BBC Radio Leicester called me “What do you think about proposals for more cycle lanes…” #CycleCity Leicester?
October 2015 BBC Radio Leicester called me “What do you think about proposals for more cycle lanes…” and stuff…
Jan 2014 I was asked by the BBC “What do you think about cycling on pavements…” and stuff…
Nov 2013 I was asked by the BBC “Did I think cycle infrastructure was a good idea?”
Riding a bike:
- You will save money.
- You will get fitter and be healthier.
- Over time you will start to see the world differently.
Where it’s available, I always use segregated cycle ways – vehicles and bikes don’t mix.
It took a year of cycle commuting to realise this.
With political will it is possible to separate people on bikes and people driving motor vehicles fully where speeds and volumes of traffic are not safe to share. “Safe to share” requires less than 20mph (measured not the limit) and less than 2,000 PCU (passenger car units) per day. See http://rachelaldred.org/writing/20mph-2000pcu-using-it-for-local-campaigning/
Where sharing is needed, people on bikes need protection;
- better law enforcement (strict liability, stronger penalties for dangerous and careless driving, more enforcement).
- better in infrastructure (slowing speeds, making junctions safer). Cyclists need far better design, implementation and maintenance of segregated facilities, especially at junctions.
- better vehicle design.
Onwards!
Jules P Richards 