There's always a silver lining!
One thing is certain from yesterday. Public transport costs are going to increase dramatically in January. Income is frozen or worse. Going to work is being squeezed horribly. Whilst car commuting costs have not been similarly hit - the choice is limited in major cities by congestion in general and in London by the tax and eye watering parking charges.
It is an opportunity to get people thinking about cycling. Make it the preferred modal shift for those they need to maintain a decent standard of living for those with average/below average incomes? A major problem is decision time will be January. The worst possible time to start cycling - especially if last winter's weather repeats. Does this mean it is a lost cause or can we imaginatively find ways around the issue?
My thoughts are that us cyclists sometimes forget how hard it is to start cycling. Even if we have muscles they tend to be in the wrong places and our nether regions can be over-sensitised to too much saddle. So starting a 6/10 mile commute is very off-putting for most people. Together with route finding and all the rest of it. Is this an opportunity to begin replacing part of your journey, holding the cost. Boris bikes is one obvious contender for people working in central London though difficult to save a zone fare. Riding from home to a station a zone further in may be better - but bike security is a fear and newbies may not know the best ways to protect and telling them only heightens their fears.
But there must be an opportunity to do something to get the bike to avoid the fare hike. Starting in January and building towards a permanent summer shift to cycling ...
One thing is certain from yesterday. Public transport costs are going to increase dramatically in January. Income is frozen or worse. Going to work is being squeezed horribly. Whilst car commuting costs have not been similarly hit - the choice is limited in major cities by congestion in general and in London by the tax and eye watering parking charges.
It is an opportunity to get people thinking about cycling. Make it the preferred modal shift for those they need to maintain a decent standard of living for those with average/below average incomes? A major problem is decision time will be January. The worst possible time to start cycling - especially if last winter's weather repeats. Does this mean it is a lost cause or can we imaginatively find ways around the issue?
My thoughts are that us cyclists sometimes forget how hard it is to start cycling. Even if we have muscles they tend to be in the wrong places and our nether regions can be over-sensitised to too much saddle. So starting a 6/10 mile commute is very off-putting for most people. Together with route finding and all the rest of it. Is this an opportunity to begin replacing part of your journey, holding the cost. Boris bikes is one obvious contender for people working in central London though difficult to save a zone fare. Riding from home to a station a zone further in may be better - but bike security is a fear and newbies may not know the best ways to protect and telling them only heightens their fears.
But there must be an opportunity to do something to get the bike to avoid the fare hike. Starting in January and building towards a permanent summer shift to cycling ...
. Found that one hilarious.
