Newsletter November 2003

AGM

Guest Speaker : David Henshaw  Editor A to B Magazine
Friday 28th November 7.30.
Nine Acres Primary, South View, Newport (just past Moreyıs in Trafalgar Rd)
Once again the highlight for many cyclists on the Isle of Wight is the AGM. Our guest speaker, David Henshaw, is a person passionate about his subject and is an Editor of what many find a most interesting, thoughtful and well written magazine. David is a very  strong advocate of integrated transport and I am sure will provide some thought provoking moments as well as some amusing observations, if his web site is anything to go by.
Check the web site out so you can get a flavour of the organisation.
Please bring as many people as long as possible, this such an important way to promote cycling. An item on the agenda will be whether the group should become a representative for the CTC Right to Ride campaign as well as voice your opinions on where the group should be going and outstanding issues with regard cycling on the Island.  There will be refreshments, displays and rumour has it the return of the famous raffle.

Membership
On the top of this newsletter is the expiry date of your membership. (Get it out of the bin) Please re-join as we rely on your small membership fee to keep us going.  £4.50 Per. Household. £2.50 Unwaged.
Mr. D Jackson, Toad Hall, Church Rd, Havenstreet, PO33 4DW.
Mince Pie Ride
Saturday 27th Dec   11.00 am
Starting Point : Alverstone Village Hall
Duration 2 hrs. Come and join us in a family bike ride. Afterwards participate in  a mince pie. Leader Tim Thorne 520529 Mike Marlow 840609  Fee for food. Please phone if possible to help with catering (but not essential) Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. After last years wet but thoroughly enjoyable event let's see a good turn out.

Safe Routes to School

List of priority schools for Safe Routes to Schools funding includes only primary  schools. As this age group are prohibited from cycling to school C/W will be organising rides based from Middle
Schools, after Easter.
CycleWight Action
Attended QTP meeting, which enabled Val to attend Island Futures Workshop
Did Cyclewight display in Newport on 27th Sept. ( part of  I.W. Cycling
Festival)
28th C/W ride from Shide ( part of I.W. Cycle Festival)
4th Oct C/W ride from Sandown Airport ( part of I.W. Cycle Festival)
Contacted Gavin Hodson who is taking over the Cycle - Rail Project
Written to the Council asking them to prioritise the Wroxall to Shanklin route ( old railway line ) instead of Wootton cycle by-pass.

News from the Council

LTP Progress Report includes:
Newport traffic management scheme will allow easier cross town cycle access via central bus, cycle and taxi contraflow and cycle contraflow in Trafalgar Road.
Counting shows 34% annual increase in number of cycle journeys
IWC  Spent £530,000 on cycle schemes in 02/03, to spend £116,000 in 03/04, £250,000 in 05/06 and £260,000 in 05/06
New cycle track in Sylvan Drive, Newport costing £6,000 proposed.
To improve safety for cyclists in Ryde St John's, Pan Newport, Oakfield Ryde, Cowes, E. Cowes, Sandown and Shanklin.
Interesting Snippets
QTP AGM and Open Meeting Quay Arts Thurs 27th Nov from 17.15
Gazebo available for hire. £5 if returned the same day, £10 if returned the next day. Phone 298284
World bike production increased to 101 million in 2000, 150% above the 41million cars.
Road Traffic Act 1991 includes max. £2,500 fine for dangerous cycling on roads and tracks, and £1,000 fine for careless cycling.
CTC has £47,950 to start up a national cycle instructor training scheme. Full list of cycle projects funded by government  on www.nationalcyclingstrategy.org.uk
Bike Week 12-20 June 2004. To be supported by the Bicycle industry and the Department of Transport
Cheaper by Electric bike Cost £800Cost of commuting by car              - 30 miles per day x 41.64p per mile =£12.49 Cost of commuting by electric bike-30 miles per day x  5p per mile =£1.50 Pay back time for Giant Lafree 79 working days or 16 weeks


From the saddle

As I ride around, ever watchful of traffic, it often catches my eye but never distracts me from being ever vigilant, the sign in the backs of cars which says, 'Baby on Board'. My immediate reaction is, 'Ahh'  It is so wonderful that parents, and it appears grandparents (I know this  when I catch the car up at the next  set of traffic lights) want to celebrate their good fortune. Often there is no child in the car but hey it's good news. It has led me to puzzled though. Maybe I am a bit slow, some people have been known to call me a dozy old..... but what is the point of the sign?  Is it truly to say how lucky they are. Is it do not park to me too close in Tescoıs because I cannot get my child out of the car. If this is the point, should the sign not be on the side of the car so you can see it as you get out of your car. This would also be useful for drivers who are coming out of junctions so they do not approach them too fast because you have a baby on board. (The sign would have to be considerably bigger than they are now for obvious reasons) Or maybe  it is, I suspect,  so other drivers following do not come too close  because they could damage your valuable cargo if they do not stop in time.
This surely says something about our society that we wish to have certain protection for our most vulnerable members. The fact that a sign in the back of a car which has such small writing that you have to be quite close to read it is supposed to change peoples driving behaviour is quite sad and worrying. As we move around should not all road users, including cyclists, treat everyone with the same level of respect.
Wightride
This is a scheme is a lift sharing database, which matches journeys up for people who travel on a regular or one off basis. The scheme is not only for people who work in large organisations but people who travel from town to town. The scheme is done by a computer data base and also can  be used for journeys on the mainland. Information is guaranteed as being secure. The scheme is being managed by the Rural Community Council. It is being promoted as one way forward to help the Islandıs congestion as well as saving people money, reducing stress and providing new travel opportunities for the more rural parts of the island. Further info 08700 111199
or  www. wightride.com .
As part of the strategy there have been some electric vehicles bought, a scooter,  some bikes and a car, which are be to used so as  to look at their practicality as well to promote alternatives to petroleum based vehicles   The scooter and the car are still available.  The car would need to be insured by whoever takes it on and the RCC would need access for about 10 days in the trial year for their own range tests etc. They are available to whoever offers the best use of them, with regard to testing their purpose as a viable solution for travelling around the island.
Further details Phill Gardiner on 01983 524058 or e-mail info@wightride.com

Cycle Festival

From Salli Bice who organised this year's events. 'Wight Leisure and Isle of Wight Council would like to thank everyone in CycleWight for their help in making the 2003 IW Cycling Festival such a great success. 2003 saw the Island buzzing with cycling fever and with the glorious weather to help get everyone out and about, the Festival really did it's job of raising awareness of all forms of cycling and cycling related issues.'
The 2004 IW Cycling Festival will take place between Sept 18th and 26th. Ruth
Jones who is at present on maternity until January will be coordinating the 2004 Festival.
Congratulations must go to Jeff at the Bike Shed and the other people involved  in organising the '7 Hills' as there has been nothing but praise for the organsiation...... and the weather.


Cycle Parking

Please contact C/W with ideas for cycle parking at shopping and tourist sites, so we can pass this information to the Council.

Island Futures

This a Government initiative and is based on information collected from the public regarding their aspirations for the I.W. over the next ten years. There have been 7 themed workshops to prioritise projects needing application for government grants. Val attended the workshop on 'Improving Access to Services and Facilities'. This was very worthwhile as Mike Fisher ( Chief Executive Officer), Rachael Jolliffe (from Engineering Services), Roger Mazillius and Jim Fawcett (Agenda 21) were in my discussion group! 5 statements, directly related to cycling, were considered.
The 3 disscusion groups produced the following priorities: Integrated Transport, Promoting choice, Targeting key areas of congestion, Working practices to consider the needs of non motorised users, Funding for use of renewable fuels, Computer modeling of traffic flows, Delivery of completed projects, Better communication between all those involved in transport, Encouraging people in rural areas to use computers and Broadband

The Isle of Wight Local Access Forum    - Peter Gould

I am a member of this group established by the Isle of Wight Council, as required by Parliament. ( The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 ­ rather appropriately known as 'CROW' !). The main aims of the forum are 'to provide guidance on and to contribute towards improving opportunities and access to enjoy the Isle of Wightıs countryside and coast.'

Specifically the Forum must : 1. Respond to the Maps showing 'open country' (mainly down and heath) for the Isle of Wight that have been produced by the Countryside Agency.  2.  Contribute in an advisory capacity to the development of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan that the Council must produce.

The 15 members of the Forum are drawn from a wide range of access land and rights of way users and owners or occupiers of land, plus two of the Council's Portfolio holders. Although members all have an area of interest and expertise they are charged with providing an independent view, rather than reflecting the views of any particular group. The group has met twice and somewhat inevitably much time has been spent on administrative issues. Hopefully we can soon start looking at maps and having meetings 'on site'.

Cycling is specifically excluded from the new 'open country' access areas unless permission is given by the landowner or there are bridleways across them, however they will offer opportunities to picnic or explore without the bike. Around 70% of the proposed land on the Island is National Trust owned and has has permitted access on foot. The Countryside Agency hopes to publish the final maps for our area by the end of 2004. The process is currently at the 'Appeals by Landowners' stage.   

The Rights of Way Improvement Plan is the more relevant issue to cyclists as it allows for the creation of new bridleways and the upgrading of footpaths to bridleways upon which we can legally ride. Legislation refers to the 'opportunities presented by cycletracks'.  The plan has to be produced by November 2007. The Councilıs Rights of Way department would like to base it on their document 'Rights of Way Strategy 2001 ­ 2006' which has many references to cycling ­ and is recommended reading!   Forum members have requested that the plan be linked to the Local Transport Plan, which should also be a positive advantage to cycling.

The problem as always comes back to funding ­ and priorities.  The Council receives nothing from central government towards producing the Rights of Way Improvement Plan and while they have a Statutory duty to produce the Plan they have no statutory duty to implement it!  So, I am not getting too excited ­ but hopefully I am wrong and there will be some real benefits for cyclists  - after all, I said there would never be a Newport - Sandown Cycleway in my lifetime!    


Newsletter May 2003

Bike Week Events

Sun 15th June Family Bike Ride
The Ice Cream Triathalon

Starting Points Cowes Cycletrack 10.00  Barley Mow, Newport 11.00 Budbridge Lane, Merstone 11.30  Newchurch 12.00. Return from Sandown Pier  15.30. 'Pedalling Picnic' to Sandown on this level route and enjoy an ice cream by the sea. The run and the swim are up to you! Join us en route if you wish or for the ride back. Details 840609 / 520529 Children under 14 must be accompanied

Weds 18th June   Bikers' Breakfast
7-00 9-30 Sainsbury's, Foxes Rd. Celebrate Bike Week by enjoying a croissant and drink before riding to work or school.

Fri 20th June  Green Transport
Tony Juniper  Director Friends of the Earth

Meeting cancelled

Sat 21st June  Grand Opening
Cowes to Sandown Cycletrack

10:30 Official Opening Start of cycle way - Shide (opposite Barley Mow pub) 10:45 Join the Group Bike Ride ­ Newport to Sandown Everyone welcome ­ children, adults, experts, novices, occasional & regular cyclists, tandems, trailers and all . 11:00 Schools Challenge  11:15 Walkers & Non able bodied Challenge Be 1st to ride the route ­ certificates for all   Afternoon of free fun at Sandham Middle School Great prizes & competitions ­ Harry Potter Magical Memory Challenge ­ Safety Workshops/ Training ­ Fun activities ­ Bouncy Castle ­ Face Painting -  Hair Braiding ­ Body Art ­ Stilt Walkers ­ Live Music ­ Food & Drink available or bring your own 'Pedalling Picnic' ­ Displays ­ Exhibitors       

 



At last
Grand Opening  of  Cowes ­  Sandown Cycleway

At long last ­ we can really celebrate!!! Entertainment, a host of activities and refreshments together with National Press coverage are being organised by the Council on Saturday 21st June. We would like as many people as possible to cycle/walk the route on the day.  Many of the activities will be based at Sandham Middle School,Perowne Way, Sandown.  More information about the day. www.iwight.com or  Lee Skinner (Rights of Way) 82374

For further information         www.cyclewight.org.uk       www. iwight.com    298284       520529

At the EGM the group over 30 members attended and elected a new Chair, Valerie Lawson.
   Valerie led a lively discussion on the way  forward for the group.  Amongst the issues raised were the need for there to be a more effective dialogue between cyclists and the various departments of the Council. It was felt that the group needed to get individual members involved more in the work of the group.        Tim Thorne at the AGM in November announced he intended to stand down after 8 years. In a closing address Tim summed up the successes and frustrations of the first ten years. Bikes on island trains and more cycle dedicated routes were highlighted. He went on to point out that many  parts of the cycle infrastructure were now complete, but the group must continue to campaign as there were many things to work upon. Tim was presented with a variety of gifts to remind him of his time as Chair.
Committee: Nick Ward, Vice Chairman Alex Lawson, Secretary Colin Boon, Treasurer Tim Thorne, Press Liaison and News Letter Derek Jackson, Membership Mike Marlow, Rides Sally Evensen, Rides and Safe Routes to Schools George Wilks, Council Adviser Malcolm Ross, Web Site Chris Edgeley, Fund Raising


Message for the New Chairman

   'After much thought (and no-one else volunteering !) I was keen to become chairman in order to represent cyclists to the I.W.Council, Local Access Forum, employers, transport companies, tourism and public services. The only qualifications I have are enthusiasm, 16 years of cycling (commuting, touring and leisure) membership of the CTC, Wayfarers and 'A to B ', a computer course and being married to the secretary!
   Cyclewight must represent the WHOLE island. Please contact any member of the committee with local information related to cycling eg. Dangerous road layout Possible new routes, Problems with existing routes, Ideas for promoting cycling, Cycling events by other groups, Cycling to school, work or college, Cycling with young children
   Information will be passed to the committee member representing your area.'
Centre of I.W. George and Tim
North- West    Sally and Colin
North- East     Malcolm and Chris
South- West    Val, Alex and Nick
South - East    Mike and Derek

What's been happening

Since January the group has:
1.Been organising Bike Week events and possible opening of Cowes to Sandown
route.
2. Received positive feed back from the Local Transport Planner regarding us helping to run the Cycle Forums.
3. Put a question regarding the Medham Link to the Environment and Transport Select Committee.
4. Written to Roads Manager about the present congestion in, and future of, Arctic Rd Cowes.
5.Applied to become members of the Local Access Forum.
6.Contacted Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as they are hoping to provide luggage transfer for cyclists and walkers.
7. Written to the Council about the proposed Newport one-way system.
8.Contacted Shanklin Town Council re. cycle parking.
9.Contacted Wight Leisure re. cycling Festival from 20th Sept.

Bike Week and Membership Promotion

   CycleWight can be a much stronger campaigning group if we represent more cyclists. Our only income is membership fees. 

Disappointing

   The new one way system around Newport has been approved and it is very disappointing that all the suggestions that the group made and that many members supported by sending letters have been  ignored. It will have to be hoped that the new plans work and that maybe some retrospective work can be done.

   As part of their work on the Cowes to Sandown route Sustrans have appointed a volunteer ranger. This is to be Martin Tigg from Newport. His job is to report on the state of the route such as signs, vegetation, potholes, litter and mile posts. The local authority do have overall responsibility for the route but his job is to keep a watchful eye on things. If you do have any comments about the route or would like to help as a volunteer ranger, as the route is ? miles long, please contact Martin on 527896. Martin has already attended a course about his tasks and been in contact with Sustrans HQ in Bristol. Other interesting projects in the future could be mile posts along the route as well as the famous sculptures. (The route does not go anywhere near Ventnor. )


Part of Cowes to Sandown track
   
There is also a scheme where people can get a card stamped at designated places along the route and after visiting so many sites you can gain a tee shirt.  Further details about Sustrans can be obtained from Martin or on www.Sustrans.org.uk.
Footnote It was great to see that a photograph of last year's pedalling picnic was featured  in the  Sustrans national newsletter.

From the saddle

   Ernie Fox (the portfolio holder for transport on the Council ) has come in for much criticism in the last few weeks for the Council's policy for discouraging the use of cars, especially in Newport. There were several vitriolic letters in the  County Press about the strategy, and in some cases quite personal attacks.
   Needless to say, none of these letters offered a solution. The Council could be I think be more active in leading the way. The Council could publish its Green Travel Plan so as to encourage others to follow. Just by talking to people many only see the issues from their own perspective thus it would be good to see a measured response offering hard information done by whole range of ways.
   There have been several thoughtful articles in the motoring part of the County Press of late. Surely this is the way to go if we are to change people's habits. Some hard facts and figures, highlighting the issues, should be made more widely available. How about seeing them on flyers on people's windscreens or issuing flyers to people in the traffic jams. The big banner space across the High Street in Newport also springs to mind. How about giving cyclists, bus users and pedestrians bigger incentives.  Surely there must be other places in the country that have car sharing schemes up and running. If not letıs apply for some funding and be the first.
   At last the problems are being recognised and action is being taken. Stick with it Ernie, you have got my vote.
(These views do not necessarily reflect the group as a whole)


You may be interested
14th June Solent Coast Charity Ride
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/barker_sullivan/
Membership
Many thanks to all those who have rejoined. For those of you who received a reminder with your last newsletter and have not renewed your membership this is your last one. CycleWight is better value for money than a cream tea at Osborne House.  £4.50 Per. Household. £2.50 Unwaged.
Mr. D Jackson, Toad Hall, Church Rd, Havenstreet, PO33 4DW.

Odds and Ends

A message from Rights of Way
'I am afraid the Medham issue grinds slowly on.  The problem is that the landowner is trying to trade cycleway dedication for a planning consent.  This is something that the Council cannot entertain.  A cycle track order is out of the question because part of the land is registered agricultural which gives the landowner power of veto.
This only leaves compulsory purchase by the Council of the track itself.  The Council is pursuing this option, but the procedure is protracted and the outcome uncertain'

Mince Pie Ride
It was encouraging to see nearly 40 people turn up for the mince pie ride after Christmas. The flooding of the some of the track by the River Yar could not put people off ,with a few hardy souls cycling through the water-logged  track 3 times just to get to the start and then complete the ride. Alverstone village hall provided a perfect venue.

Electric bike for sale
Powabike Euro 21 speed, including pannier rack, cycle computer and rechargeable twin halogen smart headlights (extras worth over £100) Cost £745 new, will accept £550 ono tel: 01983 612932 (eves) or 0792 999 7978 (day)    
sold

Wanted Consultant Cycle Engineers!   One CycleWight member has developed an ambition to construct a cycle powered giant carnival float for this year's carnival season. He needs some help in designing the chassis. Is there any expertise available to offer advice on a 4 wheeled vehicle?  Phone Malcolm Ross on 615347 or email maross@gxn.co.uk