CONTRAFLOW with Bobby McWheeler
Driving cyclists to distraction!

I believe congratulations are in order to fellow unpaid motoring enthusiast Mr Dunn for setting a new cross town record in the sensibly sized Aygo car that he was allocated to drive. This is what he said: “...my first drive through Edinburgh’s rush hour was a revelation, for the little car proved so nippy and nimble that I am sure I set a personal best from the office to the city bypass”.

The question for City Cycling readers, Mr Dunn, is whether you were faster than a push-bike? Knowing the rush hour traffic I doubt it. The other bad thing about your record was that it was done in a T*y*t*. I have now decided to cut the oxygen of publicity from this brand as a protest against their wholly contrary stance on promoting sensible cars. And it’s not just me. No less a motoring authority than Alexei Sayle has also made comments that T*y*t* have totally ignored (apart from cancelling ads in the Independent newspaper for a couple of weeks!).

This is what Alexei said... “Recently, several friends of mine have either talked about buying or have bought hybrids or electric cars such as the Toyota Prius or Honda IMA. This is what we on the left call "an empty gesture". As I understand it, the fuel consumption of hybrids is not much different to a modern diesel, and an electric car just transfers fuel consumption and pollution to the power station.

Really, the reason that people buy these cars is for their own motives rather than for the planet's benefit. They want to assuage their own guilt about driving, and they want to send a signal to other motorists that they are not like them, they are not self-indulgent swine but, rather, caring, kind, drivers who care about the environment.”

I couldn’t have put it better myself (that is so true! - Ed). I was also cheered up immensely to find out that Alexei almost knows as much about cars as I know about comedy and still gets asked to write. The Indy also has an authoritative cycling writer that does seem to know what he’s talking about. Some of you may wish that I would take a break and let Mr Robert Hanks have his say - here’s a short extract of his approach from The Independent: The Cycling Column, November 22, 2005.

“...cycling is part of everyday life, not a hobby stuck on the side; you stick to what's practical, and don't invest a lot in specialised equipment and clothing. I do most of my riding in a sturdy cotton twill suit (mind you, things might be different if I had the buttocks for Lycra)."