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Cycle campaigner proposes 'London Drive to Work Day'

Ditch the bike and make a point

Worried by the war on the motorist?

P*ssed off by the price of petrol?

Annoyed by the arrogance of cyclists and bus users?

These questions David Dansky poses to you, and if the answer is 'yes', you'll probably want to look away now, actually.

We're actually quite curious to see whether this grows legs. Dansky, Head of Training and Development at Cycle Training UK, has set up a Facebook group proposing a 'Drive to Work Day' in London on December 11th.

He says:

Leave your bike at home, your oyster card in the drawer, your walking shoes in the cupboard and join thousands of others on Tuesday 11th December for London's own Drive to Work Day.

Experience the rush, the freedom of London streets empty of pesky cyclers and walkers. Laugh as you wizz by the empty buses and tubes!

(If you don't have a car then get a taxi to work)

You don't live in London? Start a Drive to work day in your town.

91 people have signed up so far; probably not enough to make an impact given that according to TfL, 23.8 million trips are made in, to or from London on an average day, and in 2007, 38 per cent of those were by private motorised transport.

And in 2007, only 2 per cent of London's journeys were made by bike (although that's probably higher post-Boris bike).

The logistics of London's cycle community all driving to work are numerous and complex, though. Beth Anderson took to the page's wall to ask: "Is it ok to still wear lycra if you drive to work? Asking for a friend."

Predictably, some readers have taken it all a little seriously. One commented: "Hope you and your kids don't get bad asthma attacks or other related illnesses thanks to your lovely extra pollution."

And there might be some surprising converts to the idea; the president of the AA, Edmund King, tweeted: "Interesting... London Drive to Work Day 11th December. Will cost £10 Congestion Charge, £45 parking, £12 petrol".

 

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36 comments

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hirsthirst replied to JohnS | 12 years ago
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JohnS wrote:

What if you don't have (or want) access to a car, like a sizeable minority of Londoners? Walk down the roads?

book now with Addison Lee to beat the rush

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notfastenough | 12 years ago
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Simple ideas are the best. Sounds like genius to make the point that perhaps its good to have other forms of transport on the road.

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lokikontroll | 12 years ago
0 likes

Wonderful idea!

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shrinkinbggaz | 12 years ago
0 likes

great idea

chaos will ensue  16

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Simon E replied to shrinkinbggaz | 12 years ago
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shrinkinbggaz wrote:

great idea

chaos will ensue  16

or perhaps  19

Judging by stories and helmetcam footage people post, I get the impression that in some urban routes it wouldn't take much more than a few extra vehicles at each junction or confluence to see the tailbacks get even worse.

Was good to see you on the telly Gary, hope all is well.

Avatar
Gkam84 | 12 years ago
0 likes

If everyone was to take up this idea, It would show the everyday driver that cyclist and other forms of transport as essential as the traffic will just be at a stand still and it will add so much longer to people's journeys to work

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