I say Chaps, things have to change! The main roads, the radial routes have to be sorted out for cyclists so people going to work or to school can use them safely!! Yarm Road, North Road, Woodland Road, Coniscliffe Road, Grange Road they have to get cycle paths or clear red cycle tracks on the road and no “give way” signs at junctions.
There should be a clear signal to car drivers from the council that they are not mother’s only baby any more. There are pedestrians and cyclists and public transport, and they should have as many rights on the streets as car drivers. Or even more because they don’t pollute the world as much as indivual transport – a bus can replace more than 30 cars! So just imagine Woodland Road with buses, full cycles paths and happy pedestrians!
But it does not work if the council and the highways department does not wake up to the needs of the majority of the traffic (which is not car drivers, poor things).
But how do we wake them up? Is there a helpful councillor with visions and ideas and courage? Send your ideas to your councillor and this blog!! Tell your councillor about our blog!!
Hello
I’ve not cycled since the days Augustus Windsock was on the telly and Choppers had gear sticks on the crossbar.
I’ve been spurred to buy a bike now though, partly through the local motion campaign and partly through guilt at taking the car down the shops just to buy a litre of cow milk and partly through the not inconsiderable beer belly I’ve developed oh yes and partly through Syd Barrett’s recent death and going around singing ‘Bike’ all day.
I will ride now unless I absolutely must take the car.
Just wanted to let you all know that you and the council have made at least one convert. Keep up the good work 🙂
Cheers
fritx
Congratulations fritx!
Walking up North Road today, I was amazed at how bad the traffic was; it looks worse walking in it than cycling in it.
When I’m back from my holidays, I’m issuing Nick Wallis with an invite to join me for a bike ride from his house to the Town Hall; I want him to explain how I’m supposed to use the new bike paths on North Road, I think I’m too stupid to understand. He’ll know though, because he’s in charge of transport in the town, and it’s on his route from home to the Twon Hall, so he must ride it regularly…
Hi Fritx,
Hey, what a great road to conversion! “I’ve got a bike, you can ride it if you like…”. Take it from me, cycling around Darlo becomes totally natural after a few weeks, and in this weather it actually cools you down too – even if it’s only to go buy more of that there beer.
Cheers
R
Hello, fritx, great to hear from you and about your positive experiences!! It needs more brave people like you, good! Actually I cycle because I am too lazy to walk, it is too hot for any other means of transport, I want to be fitter, and most important: Cars pollute the world with stink and noise. And especially now (with all that sun and heat) they poison the air with ozon (not discussed in Britain, as I see so far)and when the ozon values get too high it becomes very dangerous for people with health problems, makes breathing difficult. In Germany they are now thinking about prohibiting of driving. They are measuring the ozon all the time, and they can stop the drivers when it gets too high. Maybe we should get the good old gas masks out to protect ourselves from car drivers.
Cheers