Motorbikes and Bicycles

Very different propositions here... basically because of speed. With a bicycle it takes much longer to commute any distance. The motorbike has the advantage of speed on its side.

Many anti car lobbyists cite the idea of travelling to work on a bicycle. Do they do it? Or how about shopping?

There are many rational reasons why this will not be appropriate [without even mentioning safety, though I mention that later]... British weather can nearly be described in one word 'changeable'. That is not an ideal cycling to work or school scenario... stay in damp clothes with damp hair and feet all day... look and feel bedraggled. Is this a GOOD idea? You need to appear smart for both work and school.

What about carrying items of shopping, again not ideal? The weekly shop on a bike, yes, good idea!

Now let's examine the safety implications... I don't think bicycles and other traffic mix well together. If there are totally separate bicycle tracks, then it can be OK... as long as they don't peter out half way through your journey. The winter is especially dangerous... never mind the weather in this instance - just concentrate on the lack of LIGHT. Seeing cyclists is extremely difficult for other traffic in the dark when they have to have lights on - and especially when they are in the 'blind spot' which is inevitably created by traffic approaching from the opposite direction.

As far as motorbikes are concerned... as long as you have somewhere safe to store your over clothes... and the bike - then all would appear to be OK for travel to work, shopping, on the other hand is still NOT ON!

Each type of vehicle has its place.

Those who live 'out of town' and have reasonable distances to travel to work cannot be expected to get on their bikes, and 'the powers that be' within local councils should show less prejudice against cars. They want to get taxation from local shopkeepers... if shopkeepers are to get customers, customers have to get to their shops in a convenient way... otherwise their shops will close down, and there will be no tax from them for the local councils!