Litter by The Road

This year I seem to have noticed alot more litter by the side of roads. Maybe I have just become more observant of it. But, some roads I use for training are strewn with litter and in a way it spoils the ride. The problem is that litter is cumulative. Plastic and tin cans don’t degrade so if a layby never gets cleaned the rubbish just accumulates from year to year.

Within Oxford, some cycle paths are very bad, especially near supermarkets. Occasionally there are clean up campaigns – either by the council or local voluntary groups. But, out in the countryside, there is no one to take responsibility so the problem just gets worse from year to year. When you’re in a car you notice the problem less. You’re travelling quicker and don’t have time to inspect the roadside. But, as a cyclist you seem much closer to the litter.

Just Cleaned

A roadside verge that was completely covered in litter got cleaned by a local group – Oxford Civic group

The first problem is it seems very difficult to educate people not to throw plastic into the countryside. The second problem is some areas it never get cleaned up.

It’s a shame we don’t get juvenile offenders to do something useful like go around the countryside picking up litter. It must be better than sitting in a young offenders institute learning how to pick bike locks…. – (O well that’s my idealistic rant for the week.)

Sustran members collection of rubbish by Donnington Bridge cycle path

I have to admit a certain guilt in throwing banana skins into farmers fields, maybe I shouldn’t, but banana skins are 100% bio-degradeable so I don’t think it’s a problem. Plastic can take decades to degrade.

(Funnily enough the most complained about article of 2008 was Mathew Paris’ diatraibe against cyclists. Amongst other things he blamed cyclists for throwing empty drinks cans into the road side and suggested ‘decapitation’ as a ‘humorous’ antidote for the problem of cyclists.)