Why don't you own an electric bike?

[NickFitz]

the dutch did get to benefit form the German town planning which was common in Europe during the forties

Coventry also benefited greatly from the efficient German method of urban clearance.

[Alf W]

With running costs around 0.05 pence / kilometre (or 2p upwards including deprecation) and door to door times approaching or probably shorter than a car in city centres, and with less hassles with stuff like parking/traffic and getting right to the door at the other end, why do you not own an electric bike?

Same reason I don't cook using an open fire in my back garden and get my water from the nearest river.

There's loads of cycle paths around here on the busiest routes and the local cycle clubs resolutely refuse to use them because they can't ride four abreast chatting away feeling smug about themselves. The more rural lanes around here are just too dangerous as they are full of amphetamine fuelled Eastern European lorry drivers with their Sat Navs set to 'Shortest Route'.

[PM-Junkie]

I'm at a gig at the moment where one of my guys cycles 12 miles to work every day...rain or shine.

I'm sorry, but that's just sick. How on earth he expects to cultivate a beer-gut with silly behavior like that....

[zara_backdog]

Don't fancy the journey down the M6 - even if they were allowed - I'll keep un-green and stay in my car thanks - if I had a gig a few miles from home and wanted to save the environment or my cash - I would get a proper bike

[Platypus]

I'm sorry, but that's just sick. How on earth he expects to cultivate a beer-gut with silly behavior like that....

I cycle 0 miles per day and have a superb beer-gut

[TimberWolf]

Don't fancy the journey down the M6 - even if they were allowed - I'll keep un-green and stay in my car thanks - if I had a gig a few miles from home and wanted to save the environment or my cash - I would get a proper bike

I wasn't thinking in terms of an electric moped. Just an electric bike that's essentially still a proper bike, with all the normal rules and conveniences of a proper bike. One that you could bear to get on even with the prospect of having to cycle up hills on your few miles bike ride to work. You can even get fold-up electric bikes.

[dang65]

And how that clown got away with a £2k fine for killing that girl is beyond me.

Ah, it's only fair. About 8 times as fair in fact.

It's funny how so many people rant about how dangerous cyclists are, and yet the number one reason I hear for not cycling is that it's too dangerous. Where does the danger come from then? I thought cyclists were the cause of the danger.

Also... rain. It does drizzle a bit in this country, but nothing that doesn't dry off very quickly. Genuine soakings, where you have to stuff your shoes with newspaper and your clothes drip water as you walk into the house, are extremely rare. Honestly. Getting completely soaked on the way in to work is so unusual that I can't even remember the last time it happened to me.

I think it's easy when you drive all the time to get a perception that it rains a lot, because windscreens get fogged up with drizzle very quickly and you need the wipers on all the time. But when you're cycling you barely notice it.

Last thing. Cycle paths. There is a great network of cycle paths in this country. They're called "roads". I can understand shared use pavements and off road cycle tracks for kids going to school, or for very nervous adults, but if you really want to get anywhere on a bike you use the road. We already pay for them anyway. Most cycle commuters own cars and pay Vehicle Excise Duty on a vehicle that is parked at home. They also pay Council Tax, which is what pays for most road maintenance and repair. "Road Tax" doesn't exist (though even the BBC still uses that term). VED is a specific charge on motor vehicles which cause additional damage to the roads and the environment. It's like calling extra duty on alcohol "Pub Tax" and demanding that it also be charged on bags of crisps and glasses of lemonade.

[Board Game Geek]

I didn't think road tax was based on the amount of wear and tear a vehicle causes to the road.

I postulate that it should be just based on use of the road, with no additional need to complicate it further.

Whatever the vehicle, the fact is that the contraption is using the road to go from one place to another. That's all that matters.

Set a standard tax right across the board, and get people off the stupid idea that it's based on CO2, size of vehicle, etc.

One tax, the same for any road user.

[SupremeSpod]

One tax, the same for any road user.

So, the same tax for an HGV, LGV, PSV, Car, Motorcycle, Bicycle?

Nah mate, won't work.

[TimberWolf]

So, the same tax for an HGV, LGV, PSV, Car, Motorcycle, Bicycle?

Nah mate, won't work.

I think he forgot pedestrians. Dogs and cats too. And horses.