February 2006
| CycleWight
Action
18h Nov AGM 12 Jan CycleWight Committee Meeting 13th Jan. Meeting with Cycling Officer 22nd Feb CycleWight Committee Meeting · Written to Councillors, Ward and Sutton and Steve Matthews, Roads and Engineering Manager· Written to Cowes and East Cowes Councillors re Contra Flow in Birmingham Rd.News from the Council Southern Water is carrying out some works at Alverstone on NCN R23 and Wootton NCN R22. The works on R23 will require excavation of the track and, as the contractor is only required to reinstate the surface to the standard prior to the commencement of the works, the Council have agreed to contribute to the reinstatement to ensure a better surface. The Council can promise everyone it will be blacktop and not fibredeck. The track will be closed for the duration of the works. With regard to R22, the gravel samples from the Wootton cycletrack which has caused some concern by members have been analysed. and advice is now being sought on a solution. Work on the track by Southern Water will not effect the track itself as the work will be adjacent to the track and will not damage the surface. A pre works inspection has been carried out and the ensuing work will be monitored. The track will remain open during the works. The final section of the Sandown track (past the caravan site) is closed for 8 weeks from Monday 6 February for water/sewage pipe laying. It will be re-surfaced when the work is finished. Rob Fuller, CTC Cycling Development Manager visited the Island on 1sr February. He was excited with what was happening and is keen to bring Kevin Mayne, CTC Director, and Phillip Darton, Cycling England, advisor for cycling, to the Island in the next few weeks. Mr. Fuller informed officers that some of the projects that are running are innovative and he would like to see the Island seen as a benchmarking authority. It is very reassuring for the officers to hear these comments. It is pleasing to see what the Authority are delivering is being reviewed by outside bodies and to be able to compare this to other areas of the country.
The AGM Once again the AGM was the highlight of the cycling year for some. It was a sign of the prestige of the event and the fact the group do have some influence as among our guests were Andrew Turner, John Effemy, the Chairman of the Council and Councillor Cunningham. The keynote speech was by Nick Farthing the area representative for Sustrans. He talked about the national work of the organization as well as some of the work being done in his area. This was illustrated by a series of pictures to supplement his interesting talk. He also mentioned some of the work he has been doing with Sue Marshall linked to Safe routes to School and Route 22 West of Newport. A traditional part of the evening was a review of the year by Sue Marshall where she highlighted the progress towards the targets set to encourage more people to cycle. Areas of note were the achieving of many of these targets with regards the number of cyclists, the awareness that maintenance needs to become a part of the budget, the work of Safe Routes to School and ensuring cycling was recognized in all new major developments. Members were keen to highlight issues including track surfaces and the work of the cycle forum. Even without the generous donations to the raffle from John Palmer it reached new ethical heights with Val’s insistence that prizes should be Fair Trade. For those who rode to the event and won a prize nirvana was achieved.
BikeWight The Isle of Wight has just come top out of 73 entries from a competition sponsored by Shimano to encourage more children to cycle. Working in conjunction with Nodehill Middle School, graphic artist Alan Rowe and website designers Wight365, Sue Marshall and Helen Stichbury from the Council have won an award for €12,500.BikeWight is a project with a message that cycling is fun, healthy and environmentally sound. It will be based on a fun, interactive educational website on which, children will record the distance they actually ride against an animated route map of real cycle routes on the Isle of Wight. It is planned to develop the project with Nodehill Middle School and to roll it out to as many schools as possible. This is a brilliant achievement. Well done to all concerned.Look Out Cycling along the revetments at Appley and Sandown Bay have been contentious issues for many years. The bans have no legal backing but the Council do wish to be seen to protect the rights as of pedestrians as well the cyclists. There is to be a change in a bye law to making cyclists responsible towards pedestrians and any complaints from pedestrians will be investigated by the Council. There have also been complaints about people cycling through Cowes High Street. The Police have been asked to take action. You have been warned! Events Sun 26th Feb Route 22 maintenance by volunteers. Ring 298284 for more detailsSun 23rd April: St George’s day celebration. Starting at Northwood House in Cowes there will be a circular ride using quiet roads and cycle tracks. Leave at 11.00, return by 12.30. An adult must accompany children Under 16 As this is a Council sponsored event people who wish to register officially will be expected to wear a helmet. Sun 30th April: Randonee´ 17th- 25th June Bike Week 16th-24th Sept Island Cycling Festival Weds 27th Dec Mince Pie Ride Snippets An amendment to the Road Safety Bill to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes has been rejected. This is due to concerns for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Travel News •NER website for cyclists www.gner.uk / GNER / Yourjourney/cycles French Railways •SNCF are to convert some first class carriages to accommodate bikes. There will be room for 4 bikes. The first conversions will be on the Paris to Nantes and Paris to Luxembourg routes. •Centre based cycling holidays for all abilities available from www.companyofcyclists.com or tel 01890 883408 Flashing Now Legal It is now legal to fit a flashing light to a bicycle, front and rear. To be legal LEDs need to flash 60 to 240 times per minute and emit more than 4 candelas. What does 4 candelas look like? There must be a candelas expert out there. (I thought it was a sweetener) From the Saddle As the Spring begins to show signs of beginning with daffodils pushing their blooms above the ground and cyclists begin to look at excuses to buy a new summer cycling shirt it is also time to become aware of the need to keep the pressure up on a vast amount of people to discover the joys of cycling. There are first of all the people who say. "I would like to cycle but……" They are too old, too much to carry to work, it’s too dangerous, they are too unfit," It is up to the cyclists to rationally explain how all these objections can be overcome. It is also important that it is seen that a whole load of equipment is not needed to get to work, go shopping etc. It is also important to encourage the young to cycle. Sue Marshall, Steve Dines and others are making great strides in engaging young people to ride. Members of Cycle Wight and others can help in this process by becoming involved by volunteering our time or just by taking some young relatives out on a bike. The Council is to run the "Booost’ Scheme again where Council employees can buy a bike at an advantageous price. How about some of us encouraging our friends and relatives to take part in the scheme and ensure the bike they buy is fit for the purpose rather than what looks good. And finally again the Committee have asked people to take some action. If all the membership wrote to Andy Sutton and got one other non-member to write he would receive over 200 letters. As someone who prides himself on old fashion courtesies I am sure all 200 of us would look forward to his polite reply. Far too often cyclists especially those who use their bike every day for a whole raft of purposes are seen as a couple of spokes short of a full wheel. If we are not to be seen a minority it is important that we become rational advocates for a terrific solution to so many of the Island’s and nation’s problems. Get writing. IYCC The Island Youth Cycling ClubThe club is going from strength to strength. There are now a regular 50 members. They meet on the last Sunday each month. There is a programe of events too. For further detail Ring Steve Dines on 241318, 07704077241 or www.iwycc.co.uk Holiday Ideas Round Cork on Folding Bikes We flew with Aer Arran from Southampton to Cork. We had 10 days averaging 25 miles per day. Our circuit included Kinsale, Bandon, Dunmanway, Bantry, ClearIsland, Skibereen, and Clonakilty. We stayed at very good quality hostels, having our own room. (www.hostels-ireland.com ) The exceptional weather, up to 30 C, made the hills difficult but we were rewarded by panoramic views of bays with islands and hills. The main roads are best avoided but there is a vast network of quiet lanes. There are 3 ferries a day to Clear Island (no need to book ) There are several B&Bs near the airport. Val and Alec Over 18s only For reasons I am sure will become clear this could not appear under snippets, World Naked Bike Ride did happen last year for those of you who do not keep abreast of current affairs. The aim of the day is, "to ride in celebration and jubilation to deliver a vision of a cleaner, safer, body-positive world to the masses". The day is organized by a variety of bodies that have joined together in lively intercourse. The organization does have its own web site http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/uk There are several very interesting links on there including a history of naked bike riding and Critical Mass Ciclonudista, an Italian website that is supporting the event. There is to be naked bike in Paris for those who wish to have an eyeful. For those of you think it is a bit of a bare faced cheek 10th June 2006 is the day not to go to London and Brighton as rides have already organized.Be Safe Be Seen Hi - Vis jackets for adults and children plus back-pack covers are available from Vissi Ltd Tel 0870 2427425,orwww .vissiwear.com Membership In the square by this item there is a box, which if ticked highlights your membership is now due. Please re-join as we rely on your small membership fee to keep us going. £5.00 Per. Household. £3.00 Unwaged. Please make all cheques payable to CycleWight. Mr D Jackson, Toad Hall, Church Rd Havenstreet, PO33 4DW. Councillors Carisbrooke
East David
Whittaker Freshwater Norton Andy SuttonCouncil Leader
Gurnard John
Hobart Ryde South
West Ian
Stephens
|
October 2005
| AGM 7.30 18th Nov 1stNewport Scout Hut/Hall, Woodbine Lane, Off St John¹s Road, Newport. The highlight of the cycling year has come around again quickly. Once again there is a host of activities and speakers to make sure that any right-minded cyclist, and any others who care about the environment, would wish to be there, Nick Farthing, from Sustrans, will make the keynote speech. His presentation will cover the national scene of the National Cycle Network, which is now up to 10,000 miles. More importantly, for many of us, Nick will also explain the way forward for Route 22, Yarmouth to Ryde. Sue Marshall, the Cycling Promotion Officer, will talk about progress on the Island this year and the future. There will also be some photographs of people¹s tours round the World The other highlight of the AGM is the raffle. If you feel you could make a donation of a prize, which will help cover the cost of the AGM, the committee would be grateful. |
| Wootton
By Pass This was to be opened on the 16th September by Andrew Turner. Unfortunately dueto the fact that there were technical difficulties it had to be postponed. The reason for the delay was that there had been damage to the track in its construction. Despite drainage work the sub grade had failed and the surface buckled. There was some surprise by a wide range of cyclists that fibre deck was used, which was the same material that caused problems at Horringford. This project has had a long lead in time and has been managed by Rights of Way. Money has been set aside to repair the damage though it must be of some concern from where the money will come. It would a great shame if the cycling budget would suffer in any great way. The track enables cyclists to avoid Wootton Hill and provides a flatter alternative. The cycle track used to finish opposite the end of the Steam Railway, off Station Road but now it continues by turning left into Station Rd, and then right at Fernside Way. The cycle track is a good width, with mature trees on one side and a tree nursery on the other. The track ends at the western end of Wootton Bridge. The footpath over the bridge is wider on this side. It is to be hoped that it will be upgraded to accommodate bikes and a road crossing added, to enable cyclists to get to Fishbourne. Wootton Bridge Partnership has provided maps available at the Steam Railway car park. The land came about, in part to planning gain from the new woodland burial site and land owned by the Council. It is really encouraging to see evidence of commitment by the Council to R22, with the first signs up in Station Rd . |
| CycleWight
Action 14th Sept Committee meeting 17th Sept Medham Ride , Cycling Festival display 21st Sept Display in Newport ( Cycling Festival ) 24th Sept Inspected new Cycle track at Wootton 10th Oct Cycle Forum |
Cycling Officer |
| Membership Please re-join as we rely on your small membership fee to keep us going. £5.00 Per. Household. £3.00 Unwaged. Please make all cheques payable to CycleWight. Mr D Jackson, Toad Hall, Church Rd Havenstreet, PO33 4DW. |
| The Tandem Club The club was founded in October 1971. Due to the decline of the popularity of tandems at that time, and a corresponding scarcity of spare parts the club came into being, principally to ensure the availability of spares to keep members' tandems on the road. It soon became clear that there was a demand for organised runs and hostel weekends Since 1971 the Club membership has grown extremely rapidly. Reasons why you should join today Events throughout the year, international and national rallies, events and rides organised locally, Bi-monthly journal, classified adverts, accommodation listing., what's on in your area, Website www.tandem-club.org.uk., technical advice and support, handbook with much useful info, Tandem Club shop, friendship, support and ideas, racing, emergency assistance, opportunities for handicapped and disabled riders. All for £10 per couple per year. John and Margaret Steggles are the representatives on the Island for the Tandem Club and would be pleased to hear from any of you who ride tandems or are interested in knowing more about the club. They can be contacted on jandm.steggles@virgin.net or 759576 |
| Route 22 The Local Transport Plan (LTP2) called 'Active Transport Smarter Choices Plan- Draft Form'. promotes walking and cycling. It gives an over view of national and local aims and includes the phrase, 'The Council will continue to work with Sustrans to ensure the National Cycle Network Route 22 is completed on the Island within 3 years and that local amenities and schools are linked to the facility where possible.' Agenda 21 are making a bid to the Lottery Heritage Fund for two million pounds for re-generation in West Wight. Sue has included a bid for R22 Newport to Yarmouth. As part of this there is to be a study of an off road cross Newport route. (via Matalan) This will be the crossing point of R22 and R23. It is hoped that in Newport that R22 will go from Quay Arts via the Subway at the Riverside Centre and a upgraded footpath (parallel to Fairlee Rd) to join the pavement opposite The Orchards Hospital. Many cyclists are already using this route and there have been complaints from pedestrians. This should be helped if the path is widened. Did you know you can buy 'Spray on mud' for your 4x4? Sad but true |
September 2005
| Route 22 Back on Track There is great excitement that there has been some preparatory work on Route 22 of the National Cycle Network. This was part of the original scheme of the NCN on the Island, forming the East-West route between Ryde and Yarmouth. There is much work to do but it is exciting news that this important route is to worked upon. Route 23 has been a tremendous success and so the opportunities that this offers to tourists and commuters will be immense. Nick Farthing, from Sustrans, has been to visit the Island several times over the last few months helping Sue Marshall, the cycling officer, to look at funding streams as well as the finer details of the route. It is important that members write to their Councillor encouraging them to support these efforts. Work on the 'Wootton by pass' is also going ahead which will form an integral part of the route. |
| Events Friday 16th Sept. The Official Opening of the Wootton Green Cemetery Route has been postponed. Saturday 17th Sept. To be part of the Isle of Wight Cycling Festival, CycleWight is to organise a family bike ride using the Medham route. This has been one of our long-term campaigns and to raise awareness of it availability especially as a commuter route and as alternative way into Newport we are organising a family bike ride. The ride begins opposite Northwood Garage. Start at 11.00, children must be accompanied by an adult. Please try to attend to show the strength of the cycle lobby. Sept. 17th to 25th Isle of Wight Cycling Festival. Events include a launch event on Church Litten, a 'Randonee' style ride as well as several variations of the Seven Hills Killer, the ride over the Downs Lots of different rides to suit all types ( www.sunseaandcycling.com ) Tel Wight Leisure 823347 Sunday 9th October 'The Gridiron' A 100 km ride through the New Forest. Entry form from 01202 740388 or download from www.wessesxctc.org or e-mail keithjanet@btinternet.com Friday Nov 18th AGM 19.30 |
| CycleWight Action. 4th May Committee meeting 18th May I.W.Council Cycle Forum 20th May Meeting with Sue Marshall re. National Bike Week 8th June Committee meeting 15th June Bikers' Breakfast 22nd June Invitation letters to all the councillors to ride Newport to Cowes. 24th June Letter of support to the new Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership 20th July committee meeting 29th July Councillors Bike ride
Write to your local councillor saying
how you benefit from R23 ( Cowes to Newport ) and how you could use R22
(Ryde to Yarmouth). Names and addresses available from CycleWight or
County Hall. |
| The Council Forum *Hayling ferry has been saved. The
campaign to save Hythe ferry continues. Trains |
| Can you help? Cycling round the Island to Improve Mental Health in Malawi. The country has 1 psychiatrist for 12.6 million people. There is one mental hospital with limited resources. In Malawi life expectancy is 37 years . Robert Stewart ( higher trainee in general psychiatry ) is to spend 1 year (unpaid ) helping to improve the teaching of psychiatry and investigate the association between maternal depression and infant growth. Robert is hoping to raise money to support his work in Malawi, by cycling round the Island on 13th Aug. Please send any donations to Rosemary Stewart, Lammasfield, Baring Rd, Cowes, I.W. Cheques payable to 'The University of Manchester'
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| Councillors Ride We wrote to all 48 councillors to ask them if they would like to participate in a ride and were very pleased to receive 8 supportive replies including one from Andy Sutton, Council Leader. John Effamy, Council Chairman, John Hobart and John Fitzgerald-Bond took part and all appeared to enjoy the ride from Newport to Cowes in perfect weather. All the councillors who replied will be given an information pack promoting Route 22, cycle tourism, the health benefits of cycling and the 'cyclists manifesto'. The committee are grateful to Phil Gardiner for lending us three of his hire bikes. John Palmer and Ian Herbert from the Wayfarers also supported the ride. Success Booost. Not a spelling mistake but a government scheme to get people out on their bikes by allowing them to buy one at an advantageous price. The Council have taken the lead on this initiative and encouraged its employees to take part. Over 90 bikes were sold on the Island mostly through the Bike Shed at Arreton. It is a salary sacrifice scheme where the money is deducted before National Insurance and tax. A £500 bike then costs only £347. Jeff Smith at the Bike Shed reported it was a very straightforward scheme which worked very well. The Council is to launch a second round in September and several other employers are committed to become involved. Can you get your employer involved? |
| From the Saddle Many aspire but few do. What you may ask? It is the ability to ride up Hunnyhill in the morning. This is part of my daily effort and so to me is no big deal. As cyclists we know that we have the time to appreciate our surroundings and is part of the pleasure in riding. At the top of the Hunnyhill recently was a water leak. It was there, for at the very least, a month. I, as many others I suspect, moaned about the utilities not doing their job. Bearing in mind the shortage of water I expressed concern to myself and to one or two others. At last I rang Southern Water, after a minute of the man on the mainland help line thinking I was some sort of Winnie the Pooh fanatic, he said that no one had reported it. When I think of how many thousands of cars and pedestrians had passed what was a trickle but one that was there 24hours a day and noticeable enough even in the warmest of weathers I was disappointed that everyone was so apathetic. It is noticeable in this newsletter there are several articles, which show decisions, have been reversed by public pressure. The committee are asking you to write on several issues. What if you do not? Well the issues we care about may be overlooked or taken away. It is no use moaning, it needs action. Kennedy in his inauguration speech said, 'Do not ask what America can do for you but ask what can you do for America.' Well the committee's challenge to you is not to ask what CycleWight can do for you but what can you do for cycling? |
| Membership The membership fee of CycleWight is £5.00 Per. Household. £3.00 Unwaged. Please make all cheques payable to CycleWight. Mr D Jackson, Toad Hall, Church Rd Havenstreet, PO33 4DW. |
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April 2005
A.G.M.
The
AGM was held in November at a new venue the 1st Newport Scout hut and
proved to be excellent with plenty of parking space for bikes (and cars). Nearly
40 members and guests were informed and entertained by the various talks from
Sue Marshall, the cycling promotion officer, "Thailand
by Tandem" by John Hardiment & Nicole Diemer and "Round the
world on two wheels" Jackie & Peter Daish
Sue’s
talk highlighted the changes that have taken place in the areas of transport and
engineering in the Council which has the most effect on the work of the group.
She explained her role within the Council, which is to deliver part of the Local
Public Service Agreement to increase cycling as part of the Local Transport
Plan. There are targets for on and off-road cycling, and for cycle parking.
Sue
has initially been working with 11 schools on the Island to improve cycle
training and this will be extended to offer it to all Year 6 pupils with an
on road element. She is also working with school physical education
departments. Sue is working with 7 employers to encourage cycling provision and
with Tourism on the Island. There is a children’s cycle club sponsored by AMS.
She is working with SP Systems on access from the cycle path for employees, and
GKN has provided showers for cyclists. Route 23 is being promoted to tourists.
The
Council Departments for Planning, Development Control, Road Safety, Countryside
Management, Education, and Highways Maintenance all have aspects of cycling to
consider, but were not been working together as they could have. This has been
improved, and cycling will now be considered early on by Transport and Planning,
All
the targets are assessed for the Governments’ National Cycling Strategy by the
English Regions Cycle Development Team, which will hopefully lead to more
development funding. Sue appealed for suggestions for quick and inexpensive
improvements. Many suggestions followed, some already on the Council list such
as better signs for Route 23, and some for the longer term such as a Forest Road
or Parkhurst route.
The Committee
Valerie
Lawson was nominated and re-elected as Chair. Other existing committee members
were re-elected : Vice Chairman, Tim Thorne, Treasurer: Colin Boon, Membership:
Derek Jackson, Secretary: Alex Lawson, Nick Ward, Sally Evensen, Malcolm Ross,
Gorge Wilks, Peter Gould, Mike Marlow.
CycleWight Action.
News
from Council
This year’s budget reduced, but aims to :
# Improve Ryde to Newport section of R22 (Sustrans
working on Newport to Yarmouth).
# Cycle audits of all road alterations to be established.
# Signing of cross Newport route (East West) plus plans for off
road cross Newport route.
# Maintenance work on R23.
# Establish cycle route from Arctic Road to Parklands Avenue and
connect schools in Cowes to R23.
# Rights of Way to check signs before Randonnee.
# Tour of Britain to come to IoW in 2007.
# Go-Ride cycle training: teaches off-road cycling, & frees
Road Safety to do on-road training.
# To ensure good cross Newport route after bus station development
completed. Temporary route will be signed.
# Card to be produced by Bike Shed to give advice to all cyclists
buying new bikes on IoW.
# Cycle maps and information in Tourist centres to be reviewed.
School Travel Plans
Encouraging
young people to cycle on the journey to school is key to the work of Helen
Stichbury, who is the Island’s School Travel Plan Advisor. Her post is part of
the government’s ‘Travelling to School’ initiative aimed at increasing
walking, cycling and sustainable transport on the school run.
“Understandable
fears about busy roads have led many parents to drive their children to school,
but in doing so they add to traffic congestion and pressure on the
environment,” says Helen, who is based at the Isle of Wight Council. “We
also face deteriorating fitness levels in our children, and a lack of road
awareness which in turn can sadly lead to casualties.”
Helen
works with schools on an individual basis through the Travel Plan process. With
the support of the Headteacher, but often led by an enthusiastic parent,
governor or member of staff, a working group reviews the school’s situation
and assesses where the barriers to walking and cycling exist. Pupils are asked
where the danger spots lie, and what would encourage them to walk or cycle more;
staff, parents and governors are also part of process. By involving the whole
school community issues are identified and local solutions devised, often with
the help of the Cycling Promotion Officer, and the Road Safety, Education and
Traffic departments of the council.
“Significantly,
pupils often do wish to walk, cycle or travel independently, know where the
problems lie, and can offer some excellent solutions,” Helen has found. “By
working together, and sometimes doing small things like changing a footpath to
dual use, the benefits can be brought to the wider community. Then as more
people leave the car at home, the roads become less congested and safer for
everyone.” Measures are tailored to the individual school’s needs and may
include car-sharing schemes, encouraging bus or rail use, or holding walking
days or family cycle training. “Through Sue Marshall, our Cycling Promotion
Officer, we can even arrange for bikes for those who don’t have their own. The
important thing is that by making small changes we can all have an impact, with
benefits for ourselves and wider,” Helen points out.
The
first schools to have Travel Plans on the Island are Shalfleet Primary, who have
successfully implemented a parent and staff car-sharing scheme, and Solent
Middle. Solent has built on it’s cycling background by highlighting
improvements to the cycling infrastructure around Cowes, and their Travel Plan
has been submitted to Sustrans as part of the council’s bid to extend Route
23, the Newport-Cowes cycleway. Raising parental awareness of the importance of
driving safely around the school, and providing a new entrance dedicated for
cyclists and walkers, also form key elements of their Plan.
To
encourage participation in the initiative there is a government grant available
to schools with an approved Travel Plan, which Solent intends using to buy
facilities such as cycle storage and lockers for bike helmets. If you are
interested in developing a Travel Plan at your local school, contact Helen on
01983 823777 or email Helen.Stichbury@iow.gov.uk.
Full
details of the scheme are also available at http://eduwight.iow.gov.uk/the_lea/policies_plans/School_Travel_Plan/
Members
Actions
•Please send Sue Marshall your ideas for improving provision for
cyclists on the Island. She is keen to hear from you. Topics may include cycle routes (new and old ), cycle
parking, integration with other modes of transport, maps and promotion, events
and road hazards.
Tel 823777, Enterprise House, St Cross Business Park, Monks Brook,
Newport, I.W. PO30 5WB
Email susan.marshall@iow.gov.uk
•Help Save Hayling Ferry
We are in danger of loosing Hayling Ferry because the Langstone
Harbour Board want to increase the pontoon charge from £1000 to £14,000 !
Please write to Edwards & Co (Hayling Ferry) 87 Oakland Rd Havant PO9
2RL with your support for the service. Many cycle-commuters rely on this ferry.
Useful Web Sites
Internet
guide to taking your bike by train :
www.railinfo.freeserve.co.uk/railtravel/bikes.html
Eurotunnel cycle service: www.eurotunnel.com/cycle
www.cyclejourneyplanner.org.uk
European
cycling Federation Biking in
Europe: oergy.meszaros@adfc.de
Did you know?
New
Forest: Solent Blue Line have added
a trailer for bikes to their buses on some routes. Following initial success
they are extending the service.
Mince Pie Ride
The ride took place on a very crisp and icy morning. This did not discourage a hardy group of riders including two families of five who were new to our rides.
SSSShhh Pt2 Signs now appear at the bottom of the Medham link as well as the top.
Working Party
It
may have looked like a scene from a Hollywood movie, The Chain Gang or people
who were righting their wrongs to the community but on the weekend of the 12/13th
March there were at various times up
to 16 people clearing the path along Blackhouse Quay which will form part of the
route into Newport from Cowes avoiding the road through the Riverway Industrial
Estate. It was initiated by George Wilks and Tigg. the two Sustrans
representatives on the Island
Tools were lent to the volunteers by the Footprint Trust. George and Tigg are considering more days like this.
Worrying
It has become
apparent over the last few months that the government appears to be changing its
approach to transport issues and this effects cycling. It is sad to report that
many of the decisions made do not appear to support the actions that many of us
would like to see. At the time of a forthcoming election it is up to us to make
our feelings known to the candidates. Transport is a continual issue on the
island but no one is willing to get to grips with many of the issues.
Angels on Bikes
The
nationwide network of women who want to get out and ride. Join them for guided
rides, bike maintenance workshops and coaching. Contact Kirsty on angelsonbikes@hotmail.com
or 07901925008
•Pair of Scott cycle shoes, size 41, black uppers with white
trim. £5 Tel 298284 email alec.lawson@virgin.net
•Dawes Super Galaxy 23 1/2 inch frame. 21 speed. New cassette,
mudguards. Two
lady owners. £135
•Dawes Galaxy 22 inch frame 18 speed Two owners from new. £85
•Moulton Standard Stumey Archer 4 speed hub Dove grey Totally
original £65 For bikes Contact Nigel Tibbutt
614462
Rides
1st May Randonee
5thJune. Round the Harbours Ride. Portsmouth and Langstone Harbours, Hayling, Fareham, Gosport, and Southsea. Total Distance 32 miles. In aid of British Heart Foundation. Further information 0808 1002109
12th June World Naked Bike Ride. Bring a friend
For Younger Readers
If you see a chav on a bike do you knock them off? No, because it is your bike!
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
because 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 be puzzled
though. Maybe I am a bit slow but what is the point of the sign?
Is it truly to say how lucky they are? Or is it do not park too close in
Tesco’s 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 it can be seen as you get out
of your car. This would also be useful for the drivers who are coming out of
junctions so they are not approached too fast because they have a baby on board.
(The sign would have to be considerably bigger than they are now for obvious
reasons) Or maybe it is, as I suspect, so drivers following do not come too
close because they could damage a valuable cargo if they do not stop in time.
This surely says something about our society that we wish to have
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 people’s 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?