Getting wet saving the planet
Yes I admit it: I'm a confirmed petrol head
and a fully signed up member of the Jeremy Clarkson school of going
fast on four wheels (safely of course, and only exceeding the speed
limit on the track Officer...).
I also offer up in my confession, father, the fact that I come from
a four car family in a house where only three of us can legally
drive. And while I'm at it, why not add to my list of
'sins' the fact that I forcibly removed the catalyst, (that
saviour of the world as we know it - China anyone?) from one
vehicle to extract an extra 10 bhp.
This was done quite legally, I might add, as the only reason it had
one was because the USA market demanded such power sapping devices
years before they where a legal requirement in the UK and this
Italian thoroughbred was strangled as a result. I don't know
why they bothered frankly as the cars turned to red dust or broke
down well before they had a chance to disgorge enough fumes to kill
anyone. And before you form a queue to claim enviro' foul; even
with a cat' cars still pump out ozone-harmful C02 and N20, so
forget protecting the planet!
Anyway, back on topic...
So by now, any tree huggers out there will be planning marches and
sit-ins on my drive in an attempt to show me the error of my ways
and force me onto my roller blades.
Well, have I got news for you? Although I love my cars, believe it
or not, the pleasure of getting behind the wheel is simply that -
for pleasure. I also love my cars for their amazing technical
wizardry and engineering and take great pleasure in tinkering. I
don't use a car for pointless getting from A to B journeys, or
commuting to work.
So my defence, if accused of taking an apparent cavalier attitude
to global warming, is that I do my bit.
But it's not easy.
For many years now I have taken to my trusty little scooter for
commuting and getting about - and what a great way to move around.
Low emissions, 95mpg and a great traffic buster. Oh, and some free
parking, if you can find it...
This brings me onto another example of the powers that be focusing
on the wrong target. Yet again.
As we all know, in order to reduce traffic in congested town
centres and to force people onto public transport, you have to make
it easy and efficient.
It's the same with other forms of enviro friendly forms of
transport. To encourage the use of push bikes, scooters and
motorcycles there has to be an incentive. As I said, it is a great
form of transport and does have its benefits, but it does have down
sides. No weather protection and the potential for getting mowed
down.
So where's the incentive?
There was a time when there was ample availability of parking in
town centres for motorcycles, and free as well.
Not any more.
You are no longer allowed to park a motorcycle in pay-and-display
bays, (not even if you pay, which you are not allowed to anyway) -
apparently these bays are for tourists and shoppers. There are
small designated spaces dotted around, but these are few and far
between.
If some smart, forward thinking individual got hold of this issue
they could really improve the lot of all cyclists. How about nice
designated parking points, under cover, to keep you dry as you
mount and dismount in the rain?
I'm lucky as I can park in a covered space in our basement car
park, so surely when granting permission for all the new build in
the city, it should be a requirement to provide ample parking
facilities for all type of bike; pedal and motor.
I'm sure this would encourage more users of enviro-friendly
transport and cut down on congestion.
It's not that difficult.
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