RHODcast: Mar 11, 2021

London’s Cycle Wars – Jeremy Vine

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With spring just around the corner, I understand that many people are just dying to get out on their bikes again. Some, like this week’s guest, the broadcaster Jeremy Vine, have never put them away.

According to Britain’s Bicycle Association, bicycle sales in April 2020 were up 112% year-on-year, and they never looked back. Cycling Weekly, quoting the Department of Transport, says that 52% more cycling happened on British roads between the first week of March 2020 and the first week of October.

Covid, the desire for exhilarating exercise under lockdown, and perhaps especially fewer cars on city roads, all account for this. Do not either underestimate the political will of the UK government which earmarked a further £175million in November 2020 for local authorities to create a “safer infrastructure” for cycling.

The result being, in London, anyway, a continued expansion in the provision of dedicated cycle lanes. And some increased aggravation with other road users. At least one local authority, Kensington and Chelsea, took out a brand new cycle lane not even two months after it was opened.

Many cyclists now wear cameras – and use them. Join Jeremy Vine and me as we explore what might be just the start of London’s Cycle Wars.

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