Gritter bicycle vs Beast from the East

Cycling groups around the country this week have been left disappointed by the failure of their local authorities to grit cycle paths in treacherous icy conditions. While road gritting machines have been out in force, cycle paths have been neglected on grounds of cost or because they do not have the correct vehicles to complete the job.

In an attempt to keep cyclists moving however cold it gets, we developed the world’s first pedal-powered gritter...and we've been using it anger on our local streets.

The Gritter Bike provides an environmentally friendly way to keep cycle paths and lanes passable over the winter; unlike the quad 4x4 vehicles used to perform the task elsewhere in Europe, the ETA’s pedal-powered design produces no emissions or noise. The gritter bicycle is capable of carrying 50 kg of salt and can be fitted with a snow plough if necessary.

A spokesperson for the ETA said: “There is no statutory requirement for councils to grit the cycle network, but bicycles are an increasingly popular way for commuters to travel so it’s vital that lanes and paths are gritted when temperatures plummet.”

An ethical company like no other

Not only are we ethical, we campaign for sustainable transport. Sometimes that means protesting until a school gets the zebra crossing they've been refused, or running 60 roadshows this year to encourage people out of their cars, or fixing bicycles for free. Supporting this work is easy - you simply have to take out cycle insurance with us, cover that just happens to be excellent.

Unlike other insurers we never devalue your bike. And if you ride a carbon bike, rest assured we will never have a cracked frame repaired - we will always replace your bike with a new one. How many other insurers can say that? Find out more

..and it's not just cycle insurance that we offer. We provide home insurance, cycle insurance, travel insurance and breakdown cover - all while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

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