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Have we reached peak car?

There is no doubt that in towns like Marlow the car is as prevalent as ever . Not only that but the cars are much bigger than they were 20 years ago and the roads in a worse state . All of this makes for a more hostile environment for the cyclist . It is a vicious circle . But does it have to be like this ?

In short NO. The UK is unique amongst European nations where it has not invested seriously in Cycle networks and is still clinging onto to some 1960’s fantasy that cars needs to be dominant . Car ownership is still increasing in the UK  (apart from London ) and with a population 10million more than it was 20 years ago it doesn’t take a genius to work out why our roads are a disaster .

Any trip to Continental Europe shows us that it doesn’t have to be that way . Our neighbours in Germany, Scandinavia , Holland, Belgium and countless others are continuing to invest in sustainable travel , resulting in a healthier happier population .

What can we do ?  Swap the car for walking or cycling for those short journeys where getting in the car seems convenient but rarely is . Get involved with local campaign groups and petition your local councillors and MP.

To give you an idea of what your street could look like where cars are not dominant see this great Ai tool from the Netherlands that show another way .

https://dutchcyclinglifestyle.com/