Letter: Economical and British-made , too
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Mr Neil Hollow
Sir: Virginia Bottomley is being more than slightly disingenuous ("Big money goes to small projects", 12 September) in saying that "to build 2,500 miles of the cycle routes is not something the Government would have been able to do". As the analysis article pointed out, building cycleways is only a fraction of the cost of building motorways. No, the truth is that this Government has, until very recently, been in love with the car and considered cycling the domain of the poor, anoraks and students. It shows some very early signs of beginning to break this link, but still no signs of introducing an integrated transport policy.
The advantages of cycling were well made in the news analysis ("Can pounds 42 make Britain a nation of cyclists", 12 September); there is, however, another economic advantage other than those mentioned. There is still a large British cycle manufacturing industry left, much of it British- owned (unlike the car industry), producing some funky kit designed with this climate in mind (not California). Cycle manufacture, it should be pointed out, uses less energy than making a car. So, in cycling, people could be protecting British jobs and the environment.
Yours faithfully,
Neil Hollow
Edinburgh
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments