IN response to yet another thoughtless anti-cycling letter written by ‘concerned’.

He (or she) was held up by participants in the annual Manchester to Blackpool charity cycle ride.

‘Concerned’ was unable to do his weekly drive from his estate to buy his weekly paper.

The charity ride in question attracts 5,000 cyclists from all over the country.

Thousands of pounds are raised for The Christie Hospital and our local Wigan and Leigh Hospice. All major road junctions and traffic lights are marshalled.

I sincerely hope that ‘Concerned’ and his or her family never has the misfortune to be struck down by one of the terrible deliberating critical illnesses that The Christie or the hospice have to deal with.

‘Concerned’ also states that cyclists should take some sort of test.

Okay, we need to learn how to avoid pot holes, being cut up, cars turning into cyclists and road rage.

With the phenomenal growth in cycling, figures have shown that cycling contributes £2.8bn a year to the UK economy, On average cyclists save the economy £129m annually by taking one less sick day per year compared to non-cyclists.

If the sport and pastime growth continues at the same rate then cycling will be saving the UK economy £278 million per annum in 2015.

All I can say to ‘Concerned’ is get a life, walk to his paper shop or get on his bike!

IAN CORBETT
Leigh