Campaign For More Bicycle Routes.

As a cycling enthusiast, it's fair to say I am a little bias on the issue of campaigning for more cycle paths. I have been the proud owner of various bicycles throughout my life and I continue to love to ride my bicycle as much now as I ever have.

My current model is practically an antique, I brought it secondhand and it cost me just over £3, yet it still works like a dream. It was by far one of the best purchases I have ever made, it was a great investment and due to the ever increasing prices of public transport, I have saved myself a small fortune.

I don't drive but It's not that I am against automobiles or adverse to the concept of driving, If I could afford to learn to drive, purchase a car, tax, MOT and insure it, then I probably would. However I would like to think that even if I did drive, I would only do so if it were preferable or necessary and not just as a matter of course.

Cycling is a great enabler of discovery, without the use of my bike I would miss out on many an opportunity to explore my local environment. Wild and beautiful Dartmoor is right on my doorstep, it would be a terrible waste not to enjoy the experience and visual wonder it offers. As well as the moors, there is unmissable woodland, quaint accompanying towns providing goods or services that are not available in my home town and the unique rolling hills of the Devon countryside.

No matter where you live in the world, there is a good argument for the advocacy of cycling and the advantages of the increased availability of and improved maintenance of cycling routes.

There are many positive reasons to promote cycling, so what are the most important and popular of these?

It's good for your health.

By far the best reason to start cycling, is because it's beneficial to health. Cycling will give your body a good all round workout. Helping to tone muscles, build stamina and raise the heart rate.

The government in the U.K. recently launched the 'change 4 life' scheme, providing tips, information and advice to families, on the benefits of healthy eating and regular exercise. This new initiative is the latest effort to combat increasing numbers of people suffering from type 2 diabetes, obesity and other excess weight related health problems.

The push for better health is not exclusive to Great Britain, similar issues are increasingly being experienced in other parts of the wider world too and governments could do a lot worse then promote exercise through cycling.

Good for the environment.

The energy used to drive the the motion of bicycles are created by the the person riding it. They do not require an engine or fuel to work and do not emit CO2 emissions.

If well maintained a bike will last a good many years and will be used, for much longer then most other vehicles. The bicycle requires very few new parts when attention is required and is statistically less prone to fault or break.

Is inexpensive.

Running a car is costly, The car it self will cost hundreds of pounds secondhand or thousands of pounds brand new. To keep a car on the road costs more still, Mot, tax, insurance and the continuing fuel costs to run it. You may also have breakdown cover and if your automobile needs repairing, that's another hefty bill to contend with.

Cycling requires only your bike and a safety helmet. Repairs are cheaper and a puncture can be delt with swiftly. There are some dispute as to why cyclists don't have to pay insurance, have to run an annual mot, pay road tax or even be registered. Many cyclists would in fact be more then happy to adhere to this me included, if it were to become government policy. However if more bicycle paths were available and the ones we have were well maintained, we could pay for those and keep off of the road entirely. After all the road for the cyclist can be dangerous place.

Cycling is fun.

As I mentioned before, I love cycling. Spending time riding my bike is a real pleasure for me. Exercise releases endorphins, the feel good chemical, leaving you feeling great as well as adrenaline for the more adventurous, leaving you alert and more confident in dealing with what ever life throws at you.

It makes for a more pleasant journey.

Riding a bicycle enables you to take a better look at the surrounding environment and allows you time to notice things you would other wise miss whilst driving. You may find as I have that you develop a greater appreciation for where you live, what is around and beyond it.

• Bicycle paths are specifically dedicated lanes or roads for the use of cyclists, without them or the use of them a journey by bicycle becomes fraught with potential dangers.

• If the government and local councils were to invest in more cycle lanes along side the improvement to the state of those currently in use, which I for one sincerely hope they do. Many advantages would be felt and experienced throughout.

• More people would be encouraged to cycle and those that already cycle would do so more often. This would free up space on our already overcrowded roads.

• Less automobiles on the road would lead to less emissions, fewer cars on the road and no bicycles needing to use it would result in less accidents.

• Increased interest in local areas and greater general health for more of the population, has similarly got to be a good thing.

• Bicycle routes are the paths less travelled, that in my opinion should be used more often and that's why I support the campaign for more cycle paths.