Cycling boost for health of the nation
From: Edward Grainger, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.
PHRASES like “premier league, new capital of world cycling and landmark triumph” are a fitting tribute to the announcement that Yorkshire’s four corners will stage the cycling’s world road championships in September 2019.
With therefore just under three years to the start of this global sporting event set to “encompass the whole region”, the anti-cycling lobby of the Yorkshire travelling public have ample time to voice their concerns from a motoring perspective that the nine days of racing could mean a restriction on their movements, albeit temporarily, in terms of their use of their precious motor vehicles.
However, this possible inconvenience should be balanced, not only by the benefits of extensive television coverage, but the enormous boost to the Yorkshire economy with thousands of visitors from across the world expected to see the races and take in our beautiful county.
With three more years of relentless traffic growth and resulting damage to the quality of the air we breathe, ever increasing levels of obesity and ill health, let Sir Gary Verity’s vision be the turning point as more and more cyclists of all ages take to their bikes (Andrew Vine, The Yorkshire Post, October 18).
This would indeed confirm that cycling is Britain’s newest national sport, hopefully resulting, by the start of the championships, in a healthier nation that puts less strain on the resources of the NHS, cleaner air and a healthier environment well worth any disruption. Indeed another Yorkshire first.
From: Hugh Rogers, Messingham Road, Ashby.
ANDREW Vine (The Yorkshire Post, October 18) calls for a ‘culture shift’ that respects the safety and convenience of both cyclists and car drivers. Sounds good.
But reading his article, it’s clear that what he actually envisages is a rather one-sided arrangement which allows cyclists to ride anywhere and at anytime while other road users defer to them, on the dubious grounds that they (the cyclists) are deriving some sort of health benefit from their hobby.
When was the last time you saw a cyclist on a narrow road pull over to let traffic past, in the same way as tractor drivers and horse riders often do? Never? Hardly ever? It takes two to tango, Mr Vine.