Now LibDem bashing aside, where is it "Normal for Tories" to declare war on cyclists? Did he miss the "Boris bikes" by any chance? Did he miss the whole "Vote Blue, Go Green" thing? Does he not realise that the current Tory Prime Minister is an avid cyclist? If there is any evidence that Tories hate cyclists, please bring it forward now.
Now to address the more serious concern of Cycling Proficiency Test, now known as Bikeability and its potential cut. Firstly - the DfT has not yet said that Bikeability will be cut as part of the broader attack on quangos. The Telegraph headline is hardly even worthy of the Guardian. It spends most of the article asking cycling groups what they think of the 'proposed' cut, before finally quoting from a DfT spokesperson who says "The Cabinet Office is reviewing all arms length bodies and an announcement will be made in due course". They really are trying to eke out the column inches this summer, arent they?
So should Bikeability be cut? That's not an easy one - 200,000 kids a year have what is essentially a bike lesson. They enjoy it (although I must say that the comments on the "kids" message board lack a ring of truth). But is that enough? I learnt to cycle without a cycling lesson, and most people learn how to cycle effectively from a family member. It can often be a painful experience at first, and skills such as how to cycle in traffic or how to care for your bike are learnt in the same way. Those I know who took a Cycling Proficiency Test say that it never improved their cycling skills.
If we want to get cyclists onto the road, schemes like the 'Boris Bikes' will lead the way. If we want to make cyclists safer on the road, schemes like the Met's Exchanging Places scheme will do it.
But a war on cyclists by Tories? Oh come on!
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