awavey wrote: ↑29 Aug 2024, 12:25am
I agree the survey method is flawed, but Ive been saying that for years, and no one cared when the survey showed increases in cycling/walking, so its hard to complain when it shows a reverse in the trend
and why should we be surprised anyway ? you can see with your eyes every journey by bike or walking, there are growing numbers of cars on the road now and a distinct lack of cyclists or walkers. It was interesting to see the impact a road closure had in our local area, that Id long suspected was used as rat run, even though its got cycle lanes, albeit could do with a repaint, but it utterly gridlocked the local area for hours at peak times, and youre thinking but how it cant be used that much can it ? and yet clearly it is, due to conveniance of access by car,and of course most of the people sat in those cars had travelled less than a mile anyway.
Personally, I think it depends when and where you were looking - this sunny Bank Holiday Monday, the lanes across the flats of Somerset were alive with cyclists.. I counted 4 or 5 groups, including an older couple on a pair of matching electric bikes....
Equally I've noticed more cycles being used in urban journeys in and around Bridgwater- since the completion of another housing estate.....
...I would have felt more secure in the data if the window of measurement had been for a month, that way the effects of bad weather could be slightly mitigated.
..and sadly I think its going to take more than more cycle facilities being built to see an increase in cyclists - we need a culture change. I cycle because my father did and so did his father.. however many now don't because even their grandfather went everywhere by car... whereas when I was a kid everyone asked Santa for a new bike, I wonder how many do now?
The secondary issue, is that like motorcycles, bikes are seen as leisure equipment. And I think that's a sad loss of functionality for such a useful tool with great environmental and social benefits.
...but much like a game of othello, minds can be changed. My bikes are used for fairly mundane journeys now - however since riding around, I've noticed one neighbour has started to cycle to the shops and back on a regular bases.
Simply being out and about on your bike, might encourage others to do so.... it did for Ann Mustoe, who cycled around the world.
Unlimited economic growth in a world of finite resources doesn't fit nor does it guarantee happiness.