Getting people cycling

[bikerwaser]

I've often wondered why cyclists don't get the same treatment as car drivers when it comes to buying bikes.
Ok, there is the cycle to work scheme which is great but car drivers benefited from the "car scrappage scheme" regardless of their work status and car sales went up by 26% in the first year alone.
They also rolled out a scheme to help people buy an electric car.

The initial cost for the Car scappage scheme was £300 million (who knows what the final total cost is) and the Electric car incentive scheme has cost over £600 million so far. Both the electric car scheme and the Car Scrappage Scheme do nothing for congestion, in fact they make it worse.
And both schemes are bad for the environment and public health as they still keep people using their cars.

So why not, instead, have a similar scheme for bikes. I'm not saying scrap lot of lovely old bikes but help people buy new ones. Scrap VAT on all new bikes would be a start but i think it should go a lot further and reduce the price of bikes considerably. Also look at reducing servicing costs to get old bikes repaired.

Also getting the people with lower income active and mobile is beneficial on many levels.

If a scheme was started to encourage people to buy bikes surely we would increase in the number of bikes out there.

thoughts anyone ?


Bikerwaser

[jags]

but bikes are not seen as vehicle's more a hindrance to none cyclists.bike to work is a great scheme for people lucky enough to be working ::)cycling in Ireland is seen as the new golf witch at one time not to long ago was the sport to be in.
with the recession here people had more time  on there hands to do something different and cycling was the answer. .
no idea how you would get a none cyclist to give it a go unless you were prepaired to coach them until they see the light.

jags.

[Slammin Sammy]

In my view, getting people cycling is not about making bikes more affordable, because there is always SOMETHING you can find to ride that's cheap or even free. It is always going to be cheaper than any motor.

The statistics we keep seeing here in numerous surveys are that of the vast majority of people who don't ride, up to two thirds of them say they would ride "if it was safer". Put simply, sharing roads with cars is a nightmare that most people are not willing to subject themselves to. Once they start, maybe they'd see it's not so bad - that's debatable.

But the one sure way to get more people riding is safe (usually separated) cycleways. Combine these with really good bike/public transport integration, and proper end-of-trip facilities, and they will flock to bikes!

[ians]

I think it's a safety issue (real or perceived).

When Chris Boardman won't let his own 8-year old ride on their local roads then we have a real problem. He agrees it's an emotional response rather than a logical one.

(Chris Boardman is someone I have a lot of respect for).

ian

[bikerwaser]

In my view, getting people cycling is not about making bikes more affordable, because there is always SOMETHING you can find to ride that's cheap or even free. It is always going to be cheaper than any motor.

The statistics we keep seeing here in numerous surveys are that of the vast majority of people who don't ride, up to two thirds of them say they would ride "if it was safer". Put simply, sharing roads with cars is a nightmare that most people are not willing to subject themselves to. Once they start, maybe they'd see it's not so bad - that's debatable.

But the one sure way to get more people riding is safe (usually separated) cycleways. Combine these with really good bike/public transport integration, and proper end-of-trip facilities, and they will flock to bikes!

I totally agree !

what i was mainly saying was about the comparison between how much money is thrown at the increase in car usage and the pathetic amount spent on increasing people cycling which saves the NHS billions £'s.

I know it's not just about getting people the bikes themselves, it's also providing good infrastructure for them to use the bike.

A friend of mine has her own bike but hardly goes out on it because there are no safe cycle lanes/paths to get where she wants to go. So she takes her car, making congestion worse and making roads more dangerous.

I'm always amazed at whey car drivers are so against cyclists. They obviously haven't thought of the fact that for every cyclist they are one more car length up in traffic and are more likely to find that very illusive free car parking space. Billions are spent on widening roads just to accommodate more cars instead of assisting people like my friend who would love to get out on their bikes if only the infrastructure was there.

[bikerwaser]

(Chris Boardman is someone I have a lot of respect for).

ian

Me too! ( he doesn't wear a helmet you know ! )

[Andre Jute]

(Chris Boardman is someone I have a lot of respect for).

ian

Me too! ( he doesn't wear a helmet you know ! )

One of my favourite sporting memories is the first time I ever saw a pursuit race, at the 1992 Olympics. A pedal pal tipped me off to watch. I  saw Boardman overtake the other rider like he was standing still. It was such a dramatic, thrilling event, I still remember it, and mention it at least once a year.