From: newsnet@CTCnews.org.uk
Sent: 22 January 2010 14:38
To: timmyers@tiscali.co.uk
Subject: CTC Newsletter
If you can not see this email clearly please click here to view
online at the newsnet archive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IN THIS ISSUE OF NEWSNET |
|
|
Dear Tim |
|
|
|
Bike Club launch
This
week saw the launch of Bike Club, an exciting new project which will use
cycling to tackle health, physical activity, transport and learning barriers
for young people aged 10-20 - and their families - by offering activities,
training, equipment and facilities. The project has been set up by a
consortium of three leading charities in cycling, youth work and non-formal
education: CTC, UK Youth and ContinYou. Launch events for the
project took place in London and Manchester, with Transport Minister Sadiq
Khan and Chief Executive of NHS North West Mike Farrar addressing attendees.
Find out more about the project and how you can get involved on the Bike Club website. |
|
|
Police tell children
without hi-viz to walk
Police
in Norwich are stopping schoolchildren who are not wearing hi-viz clothing
and telling them to get off their bikes
and walk. CTC Campaigns Coordinator Debra Rolfe, who spoke to the police
officers, said: “While it is great the police and the school are taking an
interest in cyclists’ safety, CTC is very concerned that it sends out
completely the wrong message. By stopping the children they are merely
blaming the victims rather than dealing directly with what causes the
majority of cycling crashes - bad driving. If the school is concerned about
cyclists’ safety, I would strongly suggest they offer Bikeability and ask the council to
introduce lower speed limits near the school.” CTC’s Right to Ride to
School campaign supports parents, pupils and teachers wanting to cycle to
school. |
|
|
Thousands follow us on
Twitter and Facebook
This
week we reached over 2000 followers on Twitter. Congratulations to saxonb, our 2000th follower who wins one
year of CTC Membership.
To keep up-to-date on CTC news all week you can follow CTC on Twitter or join us on Facebook.
|
|
|
Cycle theft rise
The
latest British Crime Survey was published yesterday and shows that, while
crime rates were broadly stable over the 12 months to September 2009 in
England and Wales, there
was a 7% rise in bicycle thefts from July to September compared to the
same quarter the previous year. Meanwhile, in Canada, home of Igor
Kenk, the world’s most prolific bike thief, a man has been charged
with handling stolen goods after 153 bikes were recovered at his
property. Gordon Blackwell was behind the Bike Rescue website, which
claimed to reunite stolen cycles with their owners, but was
really the front for his criminal activity. |
|
|
Video: Wheelie amazing
Aaron
Stannage from Barnsley may have set a new Guinness World Record for pulling a
wheelie this week. The 14-year old, whose father is a stuntman, covered eight
miles during his 90 laps of a track in Leeds, pedalling for over an hour
on his back wheel. Guinness World Record officials will report back in a few
weeks as to whether a brand new record has been set – Aaron’s was the first
attempt at the wheelie world record. Afterwards, he said: “I nearly
lost it a couple of times but I just put it behind me and carried on.” |
|
|
National Cycle Plan
Thanks
to all those who responded to our survey on the National Cycle Plan at the
end of last year; a report on the
survey is available on CTC’s website. The priorities were clear: improved
road design, better driver training and incentives at workplaces made the top
three. A change to legal liability to make drivers more aware of the needs of
cyclists was also considered to be a vital step. CTC will continue to press
for members’ concerns to be included in the government’s plan, which may
appear within a month. |
|
|
Monty up a mountain
Honorary
CTC member Mark Beaumont has taken a break from Cycling the Americas
– by taking a trip up a 22,000ft mountain. The world record-breaking super
cycle tourist, who’s currently riding 12,500 miles from Alaska to Southern
Argentina, took 3 weeks off the bike to climb Aconcagua, the highest mountain
in the Americas. Mark’s now back in the saddle for the final 2000 miles of
his epic journey. Keep track of his progress on his blog, Twitter and Flickr pages. |
|
|
News from down under
In
honour of Australia Day on 26
January, we bring you a quick look at cycling news down under. First, hats
off to the riders of the Tour Down Under, who have been riding furiously in
scorching temperatures this week. Follow the action on the Tour Down Under website. The race
also sees the return of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, who
caused havoc in Adelaide on Saturday by announcing an
impromptu ride on Twitter to which 5000 riders turned up. Perhaps he
underestimated the number of participants because he hadn’t heard that bikes have
outsold cars in Australia for the tenth consecutive year? |
|
|
Rail franchises in
Eastern England
Department
for Transport is holding consultations into three rail franchises – InterCity East
Coast, Greater Anglia
and Essex Thameside.
National Express once operated all three. CTC also welcomes a new guidance
recommendation that all stations should have cycle parking for 5% of
passenger capacity. However, there are no promises to guarantee space for
bikes on trains. This is particularly important on the longer distance
trains, which will be replaced over the next few years with new rolling stock
that currently has little space for bikes. CTC will be responding to the
consultations. |
|
|
Unique unicycle
An
engineer from the University of Surrey has successfully perfected the design
of an autonomous unicycle. Professor Robin Sharp, who has never ridden a unicycle
himself, used mathematical models to work out how to keep the unicycle
upright. The research has no real application but may
help cyclists and unicyclists to better understand how they stay
balanced. As Professor Sharp explained: "If you're falling over
forwards you need to pedal forwards and if you're falling over backwards you
need to pedal backwards." |
|
|
The smell of a bike
If
you are looking for a signature scent that’s not bike grease you could try
splashing on a
perfume called Miss Dior Chérie. Dior’s latest ad campaign, which is all
over the glossy mags, shows a model on a bike. Although I’m not sure how
she’s going to cycle with all those presents - I suggest she gets some
panniers! |
|
|
12 months’ health
insurance for the price of 10
CS
Healthcare is a supplier of low-cost comprehensive health insurance to
members of CTC and their families. CS Healthcare’s mutual status means they
just look after their members and, unlike commercial insurers, don’t have any
shareholders, allowing them to reinvest surplus funds to help keep premiums
low. Other benefits include: access to over 300 UK hospitals; flexible choice
of cover; first 2 months’ cover free when you apply online*, personal service
from professional staff; and fast, direct claim settlement. For more
information visit www.cshealthcare.co.uk or call
0800 917 4325 and quote promotional code 165 to receive your first 2 months
free when you apply online. *Civil Service Healthcare is a registered
friendly society, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services
Authority, reg. no. 205346. *Terms & Conditions apply; full details are
available on request. |
|
|
Newsnet
If
you have something to share with over 28,000 CTC members please email links
to websites, videos and images to publicity@ctc.org.uk
. |
RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE: If you
have been sent this newsletter by a friend and would like to receive it
directly, simply send your membership number (or postcode) and email address
to membership@ctc.org.uk. UNSUBSCRIBE: If you
would no longer like to receive the newsletter, send the word unsubscribe and
your membership number in the subject box of an email to membership@ctc.org.uk. If you would like to comment on
this newsletter please reply to this email. If you have a general enquiry
please contact our information team at cycling@ctc.org.uk.
To discuss any topic with other cyclists please post your views on the CTC
Forum at www.ctc.org.uk/forum.
CTC will not disclose the
information you provided whilst joining CTC or using CTC's support services
to any other person or organisation, except for the purpose of providing you
with CTC membership services and membership benefits available to you as a
member of CTC. If you do not want us to contact you about CTC membership
benefits, products or services, or if you have any query about the use we
make of your data, please write to the Data Controller at CTC, Parklands,
Guildford, Surrey GU2 9JX. |
|
