The world of cycling news is littered with those classic good news/bad news situations. The newspapers in particular often don’t seem to be able to make up their minds about cycling. The general trend seems to be to approve of it in relation to something worse, but attack it when compared to something liberal.
For example, the News of the World is quick to support cycling and all things bike when it comes down to a hard-working policeman’s bike being put at risk by the local drug dealers. Therefore we establish the scale that cyclists are better than drug dealers.
However, try to suggest a sensible scheme to encourage cycling in the centre of London and not to fight crime, certain papers can only see all the bad points about it. The Express has gone to great lengths to highlight all the potential problems and costs that a scheme based on the Paris Vélib might throw up. It seems to me they are determined to for it to fail and I know where I would be looking first if any of the hire bikes go missing…
Despite any opposition from the press, everyone wants a piece of the bike-sales pie. Car companies like VW are rushing to produce bikes that will appeal to their customers, in this case an electric scooter that will fit in the boot of your car. It has no pedals and may only have a range of about an hour, but it will charge from your cigarette lighter and might just give you your own park and ride for wherever you can leave the car. If that isn’t your cup of tea, then maybe you should look to WalMart for a super-cheap singlespeed or fixed-gear bike. Whether or not you trust your life to a $150 bike is up to you, but you can rest assured you will have a “unique” flip-flop hub. Unique like this one, or this one, or this one.
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