I’ve just returned from a great week in Munster one of Europe’s most cycle friendly cities. I’m still sulking about having had my Blackberry stolen on the ferry but I’m slowly coming round to the fact that I will have to fork out a couple of hundred quid for another one, though it’s not the money I’m bothered about, it’s having to redo all my contacts. Still it could be worse; I could have had my bike nicked. Anyway, I tried not to let it spoil my holiday.
The cycling in Munster is absolutely superb. Wonderful bike lanes all around the city, motorists having to give way to cyclists which they do with no animosity and cyclists everywhere and all ages. I saw young and old out and about on their bikes.
The cycle lanes and traffic lights are so well designed that you feel totally safe on your bike. I found I was completely relaxed after a few days. It took me a few days to lose the defensiveness you have to employ when cycling here in Leeds. I didn’t come across any aggressive driving or anti-social driving.
It was a real pleasure to jump on a bike and just go exploring the city with a feeling of complete safety. Comparing it to Leeds for cyclists I’m afraid we’re in the dark ages. Those quickly drawn lines at the side of the road and marked as a cycling lane just don’t compare with a totally segregated and enclosed cycle lanes of Munster.
It’s a cyclist’s paradise and an example of what can be achieved with good planning and some investment. Cyclists have traffic lights on their cycle lanes, special privileges on the roads and there’s cycling parking all over the city. The city is circled by a tree lined promenade which is for cyclists and pedestrians only. Unfortunately for us here in the Uk, with massive cutbacks coming we’re unlikely to see any investment that will improve the lot of cyclists.
I did receive a bollocking from an elderly German gentleman when I allowed my car to go onto a cycle crossing before I realised cyclists had the right of way, but never mind, he was probably still smarting after giving the Greeks half his pension.
If the last government, which spent our money like a lottery winner in a pub couldn’t cycle friendly our cities this coalition of cutters is unlikely to prioritise spending for cycling lanes. Despite all the hot air wafted from the bunch of full-time politicians about cutting emissions, when it came to investing in an infrastructure that would encourage people to get on their bikes. they failed.
So from relaxed cycling in Munster, it’s back to defensive cycling in Leeds. Shame about my phone though. I didn’t realise I was so attached to it. I’m bidding on a replacement on EBay. I’ll have to go check it.
Happy Cycling
Paul
