To think we could close some roads for one hour a week?

[StScholastica]

To let people who want to get fit by cycling or families with younger children, cycle in safety. I think it would also build community cohesion.
Obviously there would have to be concessions for emergency vehicles?

Am I mad?

Yes. Wildly mad. The hassle, money and organising of this isn’t worth it, ppl can cycle in parks etc. there’s many many many cycle lanes and country roads which r quieter

But why do we need to?

its poisoning us
People who are able bodied become reliant on driving everywhere
cars are anti social, they are noisy

Majority of the traffic in cities in general are pedestrians, not local driving. The dominance of cars is a just a lobby induced illusion.

So yes, it is good to take a bit of space back for living from time to time.

Yet it is what some major cities are adopting, Paris, Ghent to name two - but there are more

I was asking why we need to close roads for cyclists etc not why we should drive less

What about people who need to get their car out of their drives? And need their cars to enable them to get out of the house. Disabled people ? People with limited mobility? What about deliveries? Community nurses who need to visit?
It isn't always possible to park somewhere else. So in effect it will mean some people won't be able to go out on those days the road is closed or have people visiting them.

Last year, one Sunday in the summer, they stopped traffic in the centre of my town (population approx. 30,000). They created a circuit that included some of the main through-roads and a section of the park too. It was great for little kids and community morale. It's quite a quiet town though and the alternative routes weren't clogged up or tricky to use. Some drivers on the local Facebook page were a bit irritated. We need to encourage people to use their cars less and connect with each other more. This is a good way to do it, imo. I was pleased to be able to wave my seven-year-old off to cycle the mile or so alone. I knew loads of the people around about and there were more people manning the route. I think it was good for his confidence. I even let my four-year-old do it, although she was trailed by a friend's teenager.

by closing roads, it means people drive less - or thats the idea. Many people use a car for every time they step out of the house - never walking, cycling or getting the bus anywhere. The sea is to try to change peoples habits. Whilst the car is a great invention - its overused, its trying to get people to not automatically use it for every single trip

for some people with mobility challenges - a car is not a favourable as a bicycle to travel. https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/jan/02/cambridge-disabled-people-cycling-rolling-walking-stick

Cheyenne said: “I love riding a bike and prefer it to using the bus or walking. It reduces the time it takes to get to my patients, and I don’t feel the weight of my rucksack because it can go into the cargo hold. It’s a great alternative to driving and reduces our carbon footprint while helping me to keep fit.”

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/news/pedal-power-guys-and-st-thomas-neighbourhood-nurses-trial-e-bikes

cars aren't always the best way for community nurses to get about

https://nursingnotes.co.uk/news/clinical/electric-bikes-revolutionise-the-way-district-nurses-get-around/

Not just in London either

I couldn't ride a bike apart from my breathing difficulties I live at the top of a steep hill. If I couldn't use the car I would have to stay in. As would many others.
And an electric bike isn't practical for shopping or if you need to take other people out

1. Loads of areas have no cycle lanes whatsoever.

1. Loads of areas are miles from a large park to cycle in.... how are people supposed to get there?

1. If you live in smaller towns or villagesoften there are no large parks suitable for cycling at all (because you live in the country right?) But the roads are completely full of horrendous pot holes :(

This is a big issue where i live.your choices are 1) large or dual carriageway A road (not safe for cycling with kids) 2) local road with approx 1 million giant potholes which the council do crap patch jobs on, infrequently

I'd love cycle lanes

Ok well I didn’t think the OP was looking at it from that angle at all. She just doesn’t live near a park to take her kids cycling.

Diversions? Or still travel if it's essential.
It could be just a request that people keep the roads free if possible for community cycling.

No it's not just because I don't live near a park.
There are potentially many benefits.
Getting more active, improving social cohesion, decreasing loneliness (a bit like park run), reducing car reliance.

I was suggesting for an hour. Not a whole day.

Do you have first hand experience of cycling on those paths?

Wasn't the OP talking about an hour?

Yes, i suggest 5am-6am. That shouldn't inconvenience too many people.

Wonderful, unfortunately our country park (3 miles away) is along national speed limit country roads that are blooming lethal. No 👎 ne cycles along them, it's bad enough in a car.

Bristol did (perhaps still does) this on a Sunday - great fun for everyone!

Yabvu

We already have these poxy ltns everywhere.... causing chaos, more traffic, fines...we don't need bloody more of them.

For an hour??

Not for everyone it isn't Simon. I