A commuter's dream
published: Thursday | August 25, 2005

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I FELT constrained to put pen to paper when I read on the front page of the August 23 Gleaner, commuters' reaction to the increase in bus fares. I recall one woman saying something to the effect that if things got worse, she may have to start riding a bicycle.

Well I thought to myself, now there is an idea worth pursuing. What if we did start riding bicycles to work? What would be the fall out? Well for one thing we would all be a lot healthier - diabetes, hypertension and all the other problems associated with inactivity and obesity would be a thing of the past; the increasing number of vehicular accidents on our roadways would decrease (a two-hour ride home from the bar on a bicycle would sober anyone up); we may possibly see a decrease in violence since we would be less stressed (or too tired) to bicker over petty disagreements; with the conservation on gas, my fellow overtaxed Jamaicans would save money that could be used to finance that much deserved vacation or purchase that new BMX, but above all, and I think you will all applaud for this, there will be no toll!!!

The gyms might lose some membership and bus fares may have to be decreased to woo back commuters, but all in all, I can see no drawbacks to it. Therefore, I would like to suggest to the powers that be (Government... again) that they pursue this idea by taking the tax off bicycles and putting in bicycle lanes. Thank you.

I am, etc.,

A COMMUTER WITH A DREAM

com_uter@yahoo.com

Kingston 8