One of the things that really pleases me at this time of year is the increase in the number of people cycling.
The advantages of cycling are many.
It saves you money: running a car can be very expensive.
Cyclists help reduce traffic congestion. Cars can be one of several cause of it.
Cycling help reduce pollution: Cars can be one of several cause of it.
In the space it takes to park one car you can provide the space for several bikes.
Here I tell you one way to ensure that you cycle safely.
If you cycle I urge you all to cycle no less than one metre from the kerb. There are four advantages. It comes down to slow down or mow me down.
Firstly if you are right up to the kerb a car can go past you at speed. The wind effect can knock you over. If you cycle a metre or so from the kerb they will have to slow down and make a real effort to avoid you.
Secondly there can be potholes and glass at the edge of the road- clearly you want to avoid that.
Thirdly a very common cause of accidents is the opening of doors when a cyclist goes past parked cars. Make sure that if you go past parked cars you are at leat a metre away from them.
Lastly if you go past a T- junction and a car just pulls out a little bit and you are on the edge you can be knocked over.
So the moral is always cycle no less than one metre from the kerb.
Happy safe cycling
