This is an interesting article from Australia. There a cycle retailer said that cycles are the “new toilet paper”. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/apr/22/bicycles-are-the-new-toilet-paper-bike-sales-boom-as-coronavirus-lockdown-residents-crave-exercise.
This sentiment has been repeated in the UK, where old bikes are being restored and new bikes are heading out the doors of bike shops.
It would be interesting to see if this trend will occur in New Zealand as well. Take a bow Mike Davidson and Sara Templeton. You have fought for these and it has been wonderful to see so many people on their bikes during the lock-down. It was noticeable the number of families training up small kids on the roads while they were safe.
If we want to make a difference, build more cycleways. I travelled to my mecca, Mitre 10 in Papanui, on Saturday by bike. The cycleway to Papanui is incredible. We (because Pam loves Mitre 10 as much as me) travelled practically all the way by cycleway.
While I am going on about cycleways (I have never seen John Burn on one, now that I think about it) I was recently introduced to the cycleway along both sides of the Heathcote River. They are fantastic. I recommend those who are critical of expenditure on cycleways to take a ride on this and then decide whether to continue your complaining.
Here’s an image of a road which the Dutch changed to improve things for cyclists:
I remember a friend being at a conference in Holland. The National President of the body she was speaking at invited her to go somewhere in town. My friend, who shall remain nameless but let us call her Karen, walked behind her to get to the car. But, no, they went to the cycle shed and biked to their destination.
In Holland even the Queen bikes around town. I reckon Lizzie might have lost her balance at her age…
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