From BRIAN MOSS
You quote the case of a 40-tonne lorry with 10 wheels (‘Roads to ruin’,
15 December). This would give an average wheel loading of 4 tonnes. My fully
laden touring bicycle, including rider, exerts a downwards force of 50 kilograms
on each of its wheels. Using the fourth-power law this means each lorry
wheel will do 40,960,000 times the damage of a cycle wheel. Don’t forget
the lorry has five times as many wheels.
For many years, lorry drivers have advocated taxing pedal cycles. Well,
if the lorry cited above pays annual tax of 1,231 Pounds then I calculate
that we pedal pushers should pay 0.0006 pence per year. To whom do I make
my cheque payable?
Brian Moss Tamworth Staffordshire
