Coun Jenny Bell (pictured), who chairs Brigg Town Council's policy committee, cycled from her home to the Angel Suite for last night's meeting. It was a lovely evening and she got there as quickly as the car-driving member of the press who had passed her in St Helen's Road but then had to contend with the traffic lights on Bigby Street (seemingly nothing coming down Elwes Street, but they were still on red!)
As regular readers of the Scunthorpe Telegraph, and our websites, will be aware, North Lincolnshire Council has just doubled the allowance paid to its members who bike to meetings, the payment now being 30p a mile. That's to encourage members to ditch the car, to help the environment and their own health.
Jenny, and other members of the Brigg authority, do not claim for travel to their own meetings...either by vehicle or bike.
Conservative Party stalwart and ex-Minister, Norman (now Lord) Tebbit, once famously implored people to get on their bikes, as his father had done while seeking work.
For future meetings I'm thinking of following the example set by Coun Bell and Lord Tebbit's dad.
But what mileage rate might our editor be prepared to pay?
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