Dear Log,
«"Children's lives have been evolving in a way that mirrors the characteristics of the lives of criminals in prison. They, too, have a roof over their heads, regular meals and entertainment provided for them, but they are not free to go out. But children are not criminals."[...and much later...]
Given Hillman's personal experience, along with his work on the effects of traffic, you gird yourself for a homily about the virtues of public transport (like a low-fat diet, high on the yeah, yeah scale). He doesn't deliver. On the contrary, he points out that, per passenger mile, public transport is only 20% less energy-intensive than travelling in a car. The bicycle is his panacea, and his adult life has witnessed a dramatic decline in its use. Fifty years ago, cycle mileage exceeded car mileage. Now it's the other way around. While most children own a bicycle, few are allowed to use it as a means of transport, which Hillman finds deplorable, because cycling - when it's used as a daily means of transport - is not only a terrific way of keeping fit, but also makes the world more accessible to children. Compared with walking, bicycling has the potential to expand a person's geographical catchment area 10- to 15-fold. »
--"A chain reaction:For 30 years Mayer Hillman has been busily turning conventional political thinking on its head. From road safety to renewable energy, he has come up with solutions that are hard to dismiss. Which is probably why you've never heard of him"
