I got wet last night getting home from a visit at Lewisham Hospital. I forgot to check the BBC weather site or the Yahoo weather report on my iPhone so I didn’t realise it was going to rain. I am a wimp when it comes to rain and I would have considered driving except that it is impossible to get parking space at the hospital and the surrounding area. If you manage to get a space it is also expensive. But at least there is parking for cars. There are no cycle racks for visitors at the hospital but I have seen hospital staff take their bikes (including a red Brompton) into the hospital. I had to lock the Brompton to the railing near the entrance. (I feel a letter of complaint coming on.)
If I had known it was going to rain I would have taken my big yellow rain cape. I wasn’t keen on cycling in the dark in the rain with Friday night traffic but it was ok. I did have lights, my reflector Sam Brown belt, reflector ankle strap and orange hat by
Fred Bare. Still in the rain I would have preferred the cape.
Once again I have nothing but praise for my M&S suede boots which repelled the rain and kept me warm and dry all the way home.
Comments
Extortionate parking rates at hospitals, are already something of an issue - particularly in Edinburgh. In London, this could very likely be fought due to:
1. The already car congested city
2. War against exhorbitant parking prices
3. The recent rise in cyclists
4. BoJo's intentions to improve cycling facilities
5. Same as 4 BUT the planned Public Cycle Scheme
Get a counsellor on the case, and I am sure they would jump all over it, esp with them still smarting from all their negative publicity.
Here are some links, just in case:
London Cycle Campaign (LCC): http://www.lcc.org.uk
CTC: http://www.ctc.org.uk
Write To Them: http://www.writetothem.com
They Work for you: http://www.theyworkforyou.com