I share many of the sentiments expressed by your letter writer Catherine Aldridge (‘Cycling Scheme will bring many benefits’, Opinion, July 30), but I feel she is sadly deluded if she thinks bringing the Cycle Enfield scheme to Enfield will turn it into a version of Valkenswaard – lovely as that would be.
Valkenswaard has a population of just over 30,000 – Enfield has 330,000 – therein lies the problem. We can never hope to enjoy the cycling benefits of a small town like Valkenswaard, however many cycle lanes we create. The cars, buses and lorries will continue along our roads with all the pollution that they bring. Cycle alongside that? I wouldn’t enjoy it, even if I’m ‘safe’ in my cycle lane.
I too have enjoyed cycling in a small town abroad (in southern Sweden) where cyclists are treated with courtesy and respect – an absolute joy, but sadly it is another world.
Far from being anti-cyclist, I would dearly love to cycle, but Enfield is not the place for it.
Janice Mann
Green Dragon Lane, Winchmore Hill
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