Biking challenge

Two weeks ago Sir Chris Hoy announced his retirement from competing in professional cycling. A Scottish and UK national icon and sporting role model, the leading article in the Herald commented: "He has not only inspired a generation of young cyclists at the elite level but has done perhaps more than anyone to turn a minority sport into a mass participation pastime. It is a revolution that is both green and democratic, with around two million men, women and children in the UK, now cycling every week." A few days later, Marc Beaumont - yet another Scottish sporting hero - launched a new Cycling Scotland campaign "to help make the roads safer for young cyclists" and "to remind drivers to give cyclists enough space on the road". Today we passed by a school that is promoting this latest initiative to its students.

How encouraging this is. Cycling (and walking) is so good for the environment and health . . . except when it's not! The statistics for accidents involving cyclists (and pedestrians) are shocking. Sometimes they are themselves to blame but mostly the driver is the culprit. And Scottish roads are not exactly cycle friendly! While there has been some long overdue investment in off-road cycle routes in recent years, most commuter routes remain potential death traps. How we envy the investment and infrastructure that has long been standard practice in Holland and Scandinavia. Better weather would also help - today was 'April showery' with a strong cold westerly - not the most inviting for biking!