Livingstone's free cycle scheme is ill conceived!
Posted by Martin in Green Politics | 20 February 2008
According to an article in the Times, Ken Livingstone is planning to copy the Parisian "Velib" scheme in central London, and provide 6 000 free cycles for use.
Now, I'm all in favour of biking it around town, and on the face of it, it looks like a great scheme. But to be honest Ken's comments on his biking experience in Corfu, could be one experienced by many under the current plans.
He’s quoted as saying :
"I came home one day covered in blood from head to foot having run my bike into the back of a car. I also hit a pothole and came off while on two wheels in Corfu."
The Mayor is proposing to create a dozen cycle commuter routes from the suburbs into London.
However, living in a London Borough that had previously introduced cycle routes only to remove them about 2 years later because of lack of use and to be honest, were down right dangerous, I can't see this scheme really taking off!
In my view central London is just not geared up to safe biking. Take the buses, taxis and cars off the roads and maybe we'll have a chance, otherwise I think Ken needs to look to other initiatives, like improving availability, cost and reach of environmentally friendly public transport!
