The cost of fuel has gone up by 5 pence since I last filled up my car before the snow hit in December. Train fares, bus and tube fares will reach eye watering prices this week too. Government policy on getting us out of our cars and onto public transport seems to be crazy. The idea is to increase the cost to the fare paying public and reduce the cost to the tax payer which is why government subsidies to public transport is on the decline. But the last time I checked I was a tax payer as well as a user of public transport and having decent public transport is a fundamental as the health service. I want to use my car even less this year but high fares and reduced government interest in a good cycling infrastructure means that this will be an ongoing battle for those of us who love our bikes and just want to get from A to B safely. Still I am up for the challenge and I will be registering for the TFL hire bike scheme as soon as I am properly back on line.
It was good to get back on the bike today; very little traffic on the roads because it was a Bank Holiday and the snow has finally cleared. Cycle lanes are full of tiny holes, grit and debris so it will be tricky going until street cleaning starts up again.
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Here in Israel it's even worse - the train company has shut down the line I'm using for 3 weeks minimum, because they had a fire in a train last week – so they suspended all the train from the same model.
Happy New Year to you too L. France and Vicky Park what a contrast.
I had a very pleasant ride from Forest Hill to Canary Wharf early on New Years Day including my first traverse of the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. Definitely one of the quietest times of the year to ride.
Happy New Year all.
I confess that I have never used the Foot Tunnel. I keep hearing that it is closed or about to be closed for renovations and I prefer the ferry. I agree that the two best days to cycle around London are Christmas Day and New Years Day early in the morning.
Cycling in Heels, American public transit is so, so backwards, as well. At a time when many people can't pay their rent or mortgage (let alone a maintain a car) transit systems are eliminating route, reducing circulation times and raising ticket prices! I would be fine to pay a hirer fair if I had to but eliminating routes and reducing will effectively prevent many people from getting to or finding employment. Sorry, for my brief rant . . . my country is out of it's mind. Oh, well, gas prices are going up so I expect our local bike shops will again see a surge in sales of bikes and commuting accessories.