Ooh you’re in for a treat today – get a coffee and a bar of chocolate first though 😮
Since the climate (dis)agreement last week Copenhagen is finding itself tainted by the ensuing bad press, which is a tad unfair considering it’s a leading light in the world of sustainable transport.
I went to Denmark on a business trip a few years ago and it was the first time I ever flew with my Brompton. Once I’d got to the hotel in Roskilde I unpacked the bike and set off for the city. It was a bit of a trek, Roskilde’s about 20 miles west of Copenhagen, but what an experience when I got there…
Lycra, helmets, 10 speed campag derailleurs, all the usual paraphernalia that every cyclist needs just wasn’t to be seen, but there were thousands of bikes. Since that trip I sometimes remind myself of what everyday life on a bike could be like by visiting a cycling fashion blog…
The site is packed with interesting info, guides and advice – bookmark it and browse around when you’ve had enough of work, cars or people in a hurry, and before you know it you’ll be ready for life in the slow lane.
And then when you’re hooked, when you’re just starting to wonder why it is Witney can’t have a thriving bicycle culture, you’re probably ready for this.
All these sites originated from one photo by a guy with a camera and an odd way of looking at hoovers…
I struggle to get all this across to potential members of WitneyBUG, to get around that barrier of special clothing, protective clothing and sporting prowess that the word cycling conjures up in today’s minds. Or is that because actually, I really am weird? That the Danes, the Dutch and the Germans just don’t realise how incredibly dangerous it really is on the roads, and how they’re just getting in the way of law abiding people with real jobs and important stuff to do like driving to the gym to keep fit and healthy? After all, it’s not going to be worth having a future if we don’t get this economy back on track. Bikes are for kids – but only if they stay off the pavements and out of the shopping centres.
[Sigh] If you want to see a better quality of life in Witney, something approaching what’s goes on everyday in Copenhagen, then you could do a lot worse than joining WitneyBUG.
And since it’s almost Christmas…
Can't Stand Up For Falling Down 