So, if you know me, you know I cycle everywhere. My boyfriend is Bike Boy, he put together my every day bike, which I ADORE, it is my daily mode of transport around our crazy city.
Today I was riding down Holloway Road, a car decided to jump a red light, knock me off my bike, drive through a group of pedestrians crossing at a green man, then speed off. Not cool.
My immediate reaction (after getting out of the road and realising I was ok) was shock. So many lovely people stopped to check I was alright and one managed to get his number plate as he drove away. They all said they'd be witnesses and that I should tell the police. My ridiculously British reaction was 'oh the police have more important things to worry about, i'm unharmed, its ok.'
'Don't you value your life?' a lovely woman asked me, taking my hand. I thought about it and it made me cry! The kindness of strangers was overwhelming and it knocked me harder than the car had.
I walked to the local police station, who were lovely to me, filled out lots of forms and drew a dodgy diagram of what had happened.
I do value my life. I just wish this didn't even have to happen.
Londoners should feel safe getting on bikes, FULL STOP. It won't stop me riding everywhere, but its stories (mine is a lucky one) like this that put people off even getting on bikes.
Cycling is the most logical, wonderful way to get around. Its check list of positives goes on and on...
*Its free
*Its fitness
*Avoids expensive, smelly, unreliable public transport
*You can accurately time your journeys
*London becomes smaller and more enjoyable
*Time alone to think on a bike is a form of therapy!
*The people I have met through the bike community are the kindest and loveliest
*Bikes are SUPER COOL AND SEXY!
And that's just a few!
But what is putting London off getting on two wheels?
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FREAKIN' BIKE LANES that's what!
Have you seen what its like in the rest of Europe?
SEPARATE BIKE LANES MAKE SO MUCH SENSE!
How many more of my friends would cycle if we had a cycling infrastructure like this???!!!
A lil google later and I found and signed this, please sign up too....
Holloway Road, like many London roads is CRAZILY BUSY-ALWAYS.
It is a death wish that our government expect us to risk our lives everyday just getting around.
We need to put a pressure on making cycling a priority.
As a result the roads would free up, as more people would feel safe to cycle.
BIG LOVE FROM TWO WHEELS xxx
