When I first heard about the 4th annual Family Winter Cycling Parade -- an event that took place in front of City Hall this past weekend -- a few thoughts occurred to me.

My gosh, have I missed the Family Jump Off A Bridge Parade?

That was my first thought. I guess I'm not convinced winter cycling is all that safe. Particularly for children.

Of course, one of the purposes of the 4th Annual Winter Cycling Parade was to convince people like me when you cycle in packs with television crews and city politicians wearing bright Mountain Equipment Co-op clothing surrounding you -- you don't get hit by a car.

There were four councillors, by the way, among the roughly 50 people who took part in the winter cycling event. They were Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper, Somerset Ward Coun. Catherine McKenney, Rideau-Vanier Ward Coun. Mathieu Fleury and Rideau-Rockliffe Coun. Tobi Nussbaum.

Which gives us this fun, Family Winter Cycling Parade fact -- councillors represented 8% of the parade.

Indeed, looking at photos of the parade I suspect there were more councillors than children. That's because most parents in Ottawa know sending your child out on a bike in the middle of February is NUTS!

Yes, that was the second thought that occurred to me. Winter cycling is nuts. Ludicrous. A bad idea along the lines of progressive rock or classic poutine.

Progressive rock is bad because it pretends to be rock and roll but it's not. Poutine is bad because it pretends to be about food but it's not.

Winter cycling is another great pretender. Proponents of winter cycling say it's all about commuting, staying healthy, lessening your carbon footprint.

It's about none of these things.

In terms of commuting, winter cycling is about as efficient a way to get yourself around Ottawa in February as skydiving.

As a matter of fact, if you're a councillor looking for something to do -- some green transportation initiative that isn't being championed yet -- take up skydiving.

Rent a plane, get yourself kitted up and parachute your way to work.

Skydiving gets cars off the road and is just as efficient as winter cycling. Be the first councillor in Ottawa with preferential jump-zone parking. Have your photo taken with the mayor.

Exercise? Sure, cycling your way through a snowdrift sounds like exercise. Picking cotton is probably exercise as well, but I'm in no hurry to try that one either.

Lessening your carbon footprint? I suppose. Although winter cycling also lets unthinking people follow bad trends, so I'm not sure we're ahead on that one.

Of course, this debate about cycling in a large urban centre -- when is it a good idea; when is it a bad idea; is not new. The first bicycles were called velocipedes and they were controversial enough.

Invented at the start of the 19th century, velocipedes had no pedals or brakes. You ran beside them like a skateboard, jumping on and off when you could.

Within 10 years velocipedes were banned in most European cities, outlawed because people kept crashing into things.

The poet John Keats called the velocipede a "do-nothing" machine because it was unnecessary and didn't accomplish anything.

Keats also said people riding the "do nothing" machines tended to be the dandies of 19th-century London. People who wore expensive clothing and wanted only to bring attention to themselves.

Again -- this seems a fair take on winter cycling.