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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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Bob's Bikes | 11 years ago
0 likes

I'd join in the drive to work day, or as others have called it (and it sounds better) critical gas day. If people were to really get behind this idea and have a badge/flag to show others what their doing it would bring it in to context for a lot of drivers that could cycle. Now all I need is 1, a car 2, someone to teach me how to drive 3, someone to pay for it

Avatar
The Rumpo Kid replied to fred22 | 11 years ago
0 likes
fred22 wrote:
dave_atkinson wrote:
fred22 wrote:
crikey wrote:

Hurrah! Another London based story....

I love hearing all about some place where I'm actually not. Do keep it up.

+ 1

because we *never* write anything about the manchester area, do we?

http://road.cc/newspage/manchester

 39

as UK 's second city? Proportionally, compared to your London coverage? No, not enough
http://road.cc/newspage/london

Why bring Birmingham into this?

Avatar
tombarr replied to dave atkinson | 11 years ago
0 likes
dave_atkinson wrote:
crikey wrote:

Hurrah! Another London based story....

I love hearing all about some place where I'm actually not. Do keep it up.

London's the capital city. a lot of stuff happens there. we could just not report it based on the fact that you don't live there, but that'd just make a bunch of other people cross. it's a balancing act.  39

Surely London's A capital city in the UK as opposed to THE capital city ....

Avatar
wyadvd | 11 years ago
0 likes

could we make it a week please?

Avatar
hirsthirst replied to JohnS | 11 years ago
0 likes
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

Avatar
Tour Le Tour | 11 years ago
0 likes

I love this idea. Absolutely brilliant. I hope it works there, and I am going to try and bring it to my city too!

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