National Bike Week

admin · 19-06-2008, 01:20 PM

Employees in Jersey are being encouraged to swap their car for a bike to travel to work this week, in order to cut down on their carbon emissions.

In October last year, HSBC in Jersey held its first ‘Cycle to Work’ day, when more than 250 staff changed how they travelled to work for the day.

This week is National Bike Week and, as a result of the success of last year’s event, HSBC is this year holding a ‘Leave Your Car at Home’ day on Friday 20th June.

At the same time, the Bank is encouraging other businesses in the Island to join with them in order to make a combined effort to reduce the amount of carbon emitted by travelling to work by car. Those who are not able to cycle to work are being encouraged to leave the car at home and either walk, car-share or take the bus.

Everyone who is keen to take part is invited to join HSBC staff in the Royal Square at 8.30am on Friday, where a free bike check will be provided thanks to Jersey Bike Repairs.

UserName · 19-06-2008, 04:02 PM

No thanks, they can go take a hike on their bike.

I live miles away from work, up and down major hills, the one time I tried it I was knackered, hot and sweaty and it took absolutely ages. There aren't enough hours in the day for that... no showers at work.. and I don't trust the oiks around town to leave my bike alone. A colleague here gets really cheesed off how often his bike gets vandalised - and he has to use a chain a mile long and thread it through every removable part - or bring the front wheel, saddle, lights etc into the office for safekeeping. Might as well bring the whole bleedin thing indoors up the stairs, it's only the frame and back wheel left chained up!

And in winter it's utterly miserable, I remember that from my schooldays, breathing through a scarf wrapped around my head to keep my face warm, hands frozen inside my gloves, the joy of being soaked right through, with dirt spattered up my back because the mudguard didn't catch it all. Filthy trousers, oil stains, all the fun of chains coming off - I'm delighted to have all that firmly in the past.

NO NO NO. So long as everyone else in the civilsed world can afford to run their own personal motorised transport, I insist upon being able to do the same.

I also remember how much accidents hurt, and I still have problems with a knee, even now. NO WAY, for the sake of my family, am I putting myself up for that kind of risk. No matter how much fuel goes up, no matter how much the Live-Life-Our-Way-Or-Else busybodies put up parking costs, I'll cling on to my car until the bitter end. I'd rather give up work and live on welfare than give up my car. I wish the usual anti-car suspects (a certain constable and roads committee spring to mind) could understand even a fraction of how strongly I feel about that... and I suspect I'm not the only one.

ascottboy · 19-06-2008, 08:07 PM

I am not going from St Ouens to Longville at 06:00 not a chance! Stick that in your chain and ride it!!

Haggis · 19-06-2008, 11:02 PM

i havent found a bike that plays radio one yet...

Fritz · 20-06-2008, 11:24 PM

Don,t see how lots of folk on bicycles is meant to reduce carbon emissions. People riding bicycles in Jersey cause tailbacks and traffic jams. Cars that are designed to run efficiently are forced to idle in low gear for a greater length of time thereby increasing the emissions.
If we want to do something about global warming, we should ban cyclists from the roads.

UserName · 21-06-2008, 02:03 PM

Cyclists burn more calories, and need to eat more food. More food = less green, more 'food miles', more packaging, etc.

clairejohnson · 21-06-2008, 03:04 PM

I bought a bike a couple of years ago, i may use it one of these days.

Haggis · 22-06-2008, 10:43 AM

i have a bike in the back garden....bought it a good while ago.....well i think it's a bike...cannae quite tell from all the green stuff that's grown all over it....

UserName · 22-06-2008, 11:26 AM

It seems the purpose of a bicycle is to acquire a nice coating of rust and dust, while languishing on flat tyres, out of sight and mind in a shed or garage.
That's what I use mine for.