C. says he sees no difference in the last 5 years or more that he’s been biking to work. But I so si it, and a big one too.
Four yeas ago I biked through Hyde Park every morning at 8.30 am, and again at around 6pm in the evening, and I would pass three or four bikers at the most. In fact my rather old bike and my rather battered clothes offered a most colourful contrast when went past Harrods. It would have been relieving to see some other biker, but no. What I most remember from that spot is taxis stopping just in front of me, making me break abruptly and wait for the traffic to let me overtake the taxi that had stopped to pick up the madams and mademoiselles finishing their shopping.
Now it is different; now in Hyde Park Corner there are at least 20 cyclists waiting for each pelican crossing. I do see a difference, although it might be because this time I passed at 4 and not at 6, maybe there are more bikers where I live now than where I lived four or five years ago, maybe it is all my imagination. We might have to ask the London Cycling Campaign for this.
