Jo Public is discussing it on Facebook and it’s the usual anti-cyclist vitriol. Problem is, the more it gets brought up, the more “them and us” feelings just seem to grow. Until climate change forces some serious reduction in polluting vehicles and really starts to encourage other forms of transport, not sure what can be done.
Unfortunately, preventing pollution costs money, which no council wants to spent. It has to be tackled from a different angle.
Ban all vehicles from urban areas with deliveries to outlying drop-off points (collected by cargo bikes?) and only mini buses allowed in the town. All traffic signs, traffic lights, road marking can be removed/ not maintained, saving them money. Gradually all roads have the pavements widened and a wide single lane remains for cyclists and the mini buses which are speed regulated.
The advantage here is more people near local shops, generating income for the area. Most cars on the road are passing through more places than they stop in with no economic benefit for the areas they pass through. When a car does stop, it is for a specific purpose and usually there is no time to dawdle as your time out of the car is controlled by the parking meter and the treat of a fine for overstaying.
This is my idea of utopia, more community, easier cycling, less pollution. Dream on!
