Peter Walker (16)

Preaching to the choir, it's unclear who the target audience is, those who'd learn the most from it are those least likely to want to read it. Perhaps it would persuade the 'third group' or cyclists 'interested but unsure' to take the plunge for personal reasons. However the thrust of the book is aimed at town and city planers and road scheme architects, who are somewhat removed from the average person's contact list.

The author makes a compelling case that utility cycling should be vastly more prevalent and that in doing so, you personally will feel better and safer, your local environment will be better, and globally we'll all benefit. Utility cycling isn't a term he uses, and isn't defined as such, but means any journey of 5 miles or less can and should be cycled rather than driven, by anybody, however old, young or unfit. It doesn't require specialist kit, it doesn't require specialist clothing, and it doesn't require much fitness or nerve. It does require other road users to be aware, and mostly it requires infrastructure to support this. Build the bike lanes (not just paint them but traffic separated), slow the traffic down otherwise, protect junctions and increase awareness, and cycling will happen, morphed from a competitive hobby into transport that you don't even think about.

Sadly the author has little to offer to suggest how such improvement may be made, merely case studies of the benefits brought when they have been. There's no counter examples of instances where installing sensible bike lanes have failed failed to produce benefits, and it isn't clear if that's because they aren't any. BUT it is caveted with putting the right sort of lanes in, and in the right places, cf australia not burdening the potential cyclists with restrictions.

I certainly believe in the author's vision. But then I, like him are already a hobby cyclist, I'm confident on the roads, and I'd like to see more people enjoying them (the number one reason to cycle is because it's fun). The author is a guardian journalist and this is a pleasant cut above what passes for investigations int he media these days. It's a well researched book with a useful selection of marked references, and some interesting interviews with city planners around the globe. It touches only briefly on the cyclists responsibilities, rather more so on other users' and mostly as above no how the planning makes it safer and easier, better and healthier for everyone. There is however little to no counter voices, the merest mention of the acrimony cycling can provoke (simply by existing on the roads) and nothing about any other planning options.

It's interesting reading, short chapters with well made points in a light engaging tone. But it really isn't clear how to inspire the activism required to influence planning departments to make the necessary changes.… (plus d'informations)