CYCLEWight

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CYCLEWight is an advocacy group that seeks better cycle provision on the Island. We will cooperate with any organisation or individual that wishes to work towards that goal. The group participates in ways to encourage more people of all ages to learn of the joys and benefits of cycling.

Cyclist's Breakfast
A big thank you to everyone who turned up this morning to help. It went really well.  We must have broken our record. A record 87 (and without most of the Tints) Biggest thanks to Andy and the van. It make such a big difference to the event. And he ended up making teas and coffees too. What was interesting was the 80 cyclists who passed by and did not stop. An untapped market!



Rights of Way Improvement Plan
CycleWight have been asked to bring to people’s attention the Council’s Rights of Way Improvement Plan. This legal document sets out the plan for the Island’s footpaths, cycle tracks, bridleways etc. It is time for the plan to reviewed and possibly be revised. Your comments are being sought. Please complete the on line survey:  https://www.iwight.com/Residents/Environment-Planning-and-Waste/Rights-of-Way/Public-Rights-of-Way/Rights-of-Way-Improvement-Plan-2016-Consultation  
CycleWight along with other user groups will be directly consulted too as part of this process. The group supplied a list of improvements we would like to see when the plan was written. Some of these have been achieved but….
The finished document will be an important aid in developing further the network on the Island so please do take the time to fill in the questionnaire


Cycle Festival

The Cycle Festival as we know it will not happen this year. There is a desire within the Council for it to continue but there are no funds. Several suggestions have been looked at. The Council could provide some administrative support but little else. There has been a discussion on Facebook about the festival and there is a desire from the people contributing to be involved in putting on some kind of event. Another issue is whether it be in the same two week slot or possibly extended over a much longer period. Over the last few years there have been a whole host of events on the Island such as 'Foot out Flat out' 'End to End' the SpyVelo CX Cup, Randonnee etc. so there is no shortage of experience or ideas. Watch this space. If you do have any suggestions or thoughts, please do contact CycleWight.

Road User Safety

CycleWight, Dizz Dyer and David Walter have been working together to raise awareness of some of the issues faced by vulnerable road users. With the assistance of Southern Vectis and LSTF funds it has been possible to put a message on the back of two buses. "Go wider for the rider". Please, if you see either bus, take a picture (safely) and send it to CycleWight through our web site. It would be great to create a gallery. It will also be an opportunity to discuss this issue with your non-cycling friends. What does it say in the highway code about overtaking cyclists and horse riders?". Thanks to everyone who has been involved in this project.

Cycling For Kids
Endearing YouTube video showing a young girl being taight to cycle without stabilisers for the first time  Click here to view.


LSTF/ Bicycle Island gallery

Follow this link to pictures of some of the different projects delivered via the LSTF and Bicycle Island grants.


Red Squirrel Trail
Everything you need to enjoy this fantastic cycle experience, from printable maps to GPS files can be found on the new website HERE





Cycle Speedway
Since January there have been sessions for cyclists at Smallbrook Stadium. The Isle of Wight version of a velodrome. They have been popular with adults and children. More details on the poster. Just turn up with any kind of bike and give it a whirl. You can race if you like or just do a bit of gentle traffic free exercise. Surely you want a break from that turbo trainer.


Committee
Several people have left the committee of late. We could do with some fresh blood. We meet as a group approximately once a month. It is not onerous. It would be good to be able to hear differing views. The amount of work you take on is up to you but it is always good for the work to be shared around.

CYCLEWight Facebook and Twitter
CYCLEWight has now both a Facebook and Twitter presence. Please join us online to keep up with the latest information.

Using The CYCLEWight Calendar Below

If you click on an event, you may find additional information, or a link to the location of the event. You can easily add these events to your own Google calendar


Things YOU can do
             
Support Our Campaigns
   We campaign on local cycling issues and
    schemes. Join us, tell your friends
    write to your local MP!
Report Issues Affecting Cyclists
   Please take time to report potholes
    any right of way obstructions
    dangerous driving
    or abusive vehicle drivers

 

JOIN CYCLEWight

We need YOUR support to help us continue promoting cycling and campaigning for better conditions for cyclists on the Isle of Wight! Click here to view

       
                   


Simple Improvements
Quarr Hill is a real bug bear for many cyclists. It is narrow and being a busy road, cars do try to squeeze past. Even the fit struggle up the steep incline. Many of us can see an easy solution to this; a joint use path. The pavement is already there and pedestrians rarely use it. A dropped kerb at the bottom would allow ease of access. CycleWight has raised this before. It is now time to have another try. The Council is as we know strapped for cash but this is a very cheap and easy solution.How to achieve it? The issue needs to be raised again. Can you write to the following 3 councillors whose ward are in or close to Quarr Hill? A short e-mail will do the trick. Highlight the danger to the cyclist, the fact it will help motorists and this is an easy solution to the problem. If you do not hear from them after a couple of weeks do write again to check up on the progress of your email. (ivor.warlow@iow.gov.uk, ian.stephens@iow.gov.uk and phil.jordan@iow.gov.uk)
CycleWight have submitted to the Council and Island Roads a list of other places on the Island where small and relatively cheap solutions could be introduced to make cycling easier and safer. We have been informed that they are now on the Network Integrity and Safety Register. A full list appears on our web site under the ‘campaign’ drop down menu. (Click here to view)It is important that local people write to their councillor. Make them aware of the issue and the simple solution. If you can think of anymore, please let us know. As can be seen from the Shalfleet traffic lights issue it may not be sorted over night but you have to begin somewhere.

Transition Fund
We are very used to the term LSTF (Local Sustainable Transport Fund). It has provided a large amount of money over the last few years for various improvements. On this page are several stories linked to the use of this funding. From 2017/18 there is to be over £500 million pounds spent on walking and cycling for the duration of the parliament. In the meantime to tide over the gap in revenue this year the government announced with very little notice a transition fund. The Council with the assistance of the company Green Traveller sought monies to carry on the good work of the last few years. It is a fairly modest sum of £750,000 and is to be spent on enhancing the work carried out in 2015/16; linked to tourism, the work in schools and with employers. Well done to the Council for wanting to be involved in this initiative and being one of the few councils to be successful in their bid.

CycleWight made a successful bid under the Local Sustainable Transport Fund 2 to update the Round the Island map. There will now be 10,000 distributed around tourism venues across the South of England and places such as motorway service stations. There will be some maps for the Island too, which we will be distributing to a wide range of places over the coming months. If you see one please take a picture of it in situ and send it to us through the website contact page. The map can be viewed and downloaded from our web site under the drop down menu the IW Cycling 'Routes and maps'. The new map has been revamped and contains more listings including bike shops, hire centres as well as information on electric bike charging points. We wold like to thank all the people who supported us in this venture especially Action Isle of Wight, Pinkeye Graphics and Mike Hoath. Click HERE to view the map, or HERE to download a copy
   

Sun Sea & Cycling

News feed from this popular site is available HERE...


CYCLEWight Newsletter
The latest Newsletter [Jul 16] is available HERE...

CYCLEWight Committee
Minutes of the Committee meeting [Aug 16]  can be viewed HERE...

Cycle Forum
Minutes of the Cycle Forum meeting [Jun 16]  can be viewed HERE...

Fill That Hole Campaign
Island Roads now have a new webpage for looking up and reporting potholes and road defects - click here to visit the site

All cyclists need to report any defects in road surfaces. The CYCLEWight committee suggest that you use the
campaign on the CTC website to report dangerous road conditions. There is also an "App" available for IOS and Android smartphones that uses GPS to tag the location of the pothole or defect, plus it knows where you are and will send the report to the closest Council authority.

Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission have informed CycleWight that harvesting work is currently going on in Brighstone. This will run Monday to Friday, with the extraction of the timber potentially taking place on Saturdays.  There is also the likelihood that the operations may continue until September. They advise not to use the trails while the operations are going on as the work carried out can be hazardous. While they  take  every care to minimise risk, there are still hazards present within the harvesting of trees.
CycleWight hope that cyclists will respect these restrictions for the time being. The Forestry Commission are known to have a tolerant approach to mountain biking in Brighstone Forest, whenever possible, and it would be a shame to jeopardise this.

Bike Jockey
Liam Somerville has set up a cooperative cycling service centre to cater for every cyclists needs; Custom builds, repairs, servicing, bike Fit bike fitting, massage, live stream bike racing, coaching, film evenings, coffees/teas/food, cooperative working opportunities, hireable space, organised rides, meeting place, clubhouse for all. You are welcome to grab a coffee, talk bikes, relax and keep you and your bike at 100%.
Facebook: @bikejockey  Email: l-somerville@hotmail.co.uk or Mobile: 07774 534268  Unit 1, Dean Farm, Whitwell Road, PO38 2AB


Visitors since 01 Nov 2014

 
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