Bikes Everywhere

In London bikes are making up more and more of the infrastructure. Following the announcements of significant money being due to be ploughed into the development of more protected cycle lanes, there is more news of bicycles being seen as a truly integrated part of a transport system.

The Met Police are going to trial the use of all-terrain electric bikes in order to gain the upper hand in chases with criminals who they see as being increasingly on pushbikes. As one commenter points out this may or may not work, depending if the bikes are limited to a speed way less than the average person can ride a bike at.

Perhaps even more interestingly, stations in Kent will be trying a hire-scheme for folding bikes supplied by Brompton for commuters. This should encourage more people to give cycling a go, and should hopefully be cheaper than the cost of owning a Brompton.

Outside London I came across this story of a man from Kansas who spent a large part of his life refurbishing bikes he found in order to give them to children who couldn’t afford a new bike. People underestimate the freedom that having a bike can provide for anyone, and especially for kids.

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