From: newsnet@CTCnews.org.uk
Sent: 26 February 2010 14:42
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
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IN THIS ISSUE OF NEWSNET |
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Dear Tim |
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Vote Bike for the
general election
The
general election is coming up and we need our members to get the word out to
prospective parliamentary candidates about CTC’s
Vote Bike Manifesto, which outlines what needs to happen in order to make
cycling for transport, health and leisure mainstream. You can read the Vote
Bike Manifesto, see what your candidates think and send an email asking
for their support on the CTC
website. Please take this opportunity to get involved in the future of
cycling and to share information about the Vote Bike
campaign with other cyclists. |
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Video: BBC programme
looks at London cyclists
A
BBC London TV programme which aired this week has provoked
controversy after labelling London cyclists “lycra louts”, claiming one
in five cyclists rides “roughshod over the laws of the road” and asking if
“pedal power has gone too far”. The report, which was presented by former Top
Gear presenter Adrian Simpson, did acknowledge that “most cyclists do have
respect for other road users”, but focused primarily on negative cycling
behaviour. The programme will be available to watch on BBC
iPlayer until Monday. |
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CTC responds to
government’s Active Travel Strategy
The
government this week published its Active
Travel Strategy, which incorporates the National Cycle Plan. The strategy
promises to launch a ‘Decade of Cycling’, and sets out the case for
increasing cycling levels, including a useful outline of what has worked so
far in towns across England. However, although the strategy refers to the
doubling of cycling levels in London in 8 years and Darlington in 3, it
contains no specific timescales for achieving similar goals nationally, and
there are no new initiatives or investment to deliver the promised ‘Decade of
Cycling’. Read
our full response on the CTC website. |
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Sheffield paramedic’s
ambulance bike stolen
Police
are appealing for information or witnesses after an
ambulance Cycle Response Unit was stolen in Sheffield. The bike was taken
from the secure bike park in Sheffield Town Hall at about 1pm on 18 February.
Life-saving equipment including medication, a defibrillator and oxygen were
taken along with the bike, which is used by Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS
Trust to respond to medical emergencies in the pedestrian areas of the
city. Anyone with information about this incident should call South
Yorkshire Police on 0114 2202020 and quote incident number 434 of 18/2/2010.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. |
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Get your tweed on
Following
the success of last year’s Tweed Run in London, which inspired copycat events
worldwide, the organisers have announced Saturday 10 April as the date for
the 2010 event. The ride will see hundreds of cyclists dressed in their best
plus fours, Harris tweed and flat caps weave a leisurely 14 miles through
central London, with a tea break in the park. The ride will finish in
Bishopsgate with a party, swing band and prizes for the best outfits. It’s
free to enter and participants will be able to register online at the Tweed Run website from tomorrow. |
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Scottish obesity
strategy shows commitment to cycling
The
Scottish Government this week published a Strategy
for Preventing Overweight and Obesity. It contains some very sound
commitments to encourage more active travel, including planning and design
for walking and cycling, and to deliver the draft Cycle
Action Plan for Scotland with its proposed target for 10% of all journeys
to be made by bicycle by 2020. Laudable aspirations indeed – we very much
hope the money and the political will is now there to implement them. |
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Crossrail lorry
drivers trained to put cycle safety first
Approximately
3,500 lorry drivers regularly working on the construction of Crossrail are to
receive safety
awareness training on how to drive carefully near cyclists. Drivers
taking part in the training will be taught to stay alert and look out for
cyclists, particularly at junctions and on the near side, and not to cross
stop lines or infringe on Advanced Stop Line boxes used by cyclists. Drivers
will also be issued with safety lenses to stick on to the passenger window of
a lorry cab to improve their view of cyclists. |
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Stop speeding
motorists – with a bird box
Retired
police officer Bill Angus has stumbled upon a great way of getting motorists
to watch their speeds when passing through his neighbourhood. After putting a
bright yellow bird feeder shaped like a speed camera at the edge of his
property, drivers
have been sticking to the 30 mph speed limit when passing through the
village of Newbottle in Durham. Mr Angus says the bird feeder’s resemblance
to a speed camera is purely coincidental: the fake camera lenses on the side
of the box are to deter thieves, and the lamp on the front was part of an old
torch he used to plug a hole. |
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Meet the Pedouins
A
family in America has been making
local news as they cycle 7000 miles on a quintuplet bicycle. Bill and
Amarins Harrison, with daughters Cheyenne, 6, Jasmine, 4, and Robin, 3, set
off last summer from Kentucky for Fairbanks in Alaska. People across the
country are donating money, clothes and equipment. Bill and Amarins are
aiming to educate their children through the real-life lessons that life on
the road offers, including geography and navigation, nature study, languages
and nutrition. The family have nicknamed themselves the “Pedouins”, a play on
the word Bedouin, and you can follow their journey on the Pedouins’ website. |
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CTC is recruiting!
Your opportunity to get more people cycling
Our
hugely successful Workplace
Challenge programme is growing and we’re looking for part-time programme
co-ordinators to get even more people on their bikes. We’ve seen incredible results
at existing Workplace Challenge locations across the UK, with 84% of
non-cyclists intending to cycle more often as a result of the programme,
which works by pitting organisations and departments against each other to
see who can get the most staff to cycle. Positions are
available in Colchester, Wigan, Cambridge, Isle of Wight, Milton Keynes,
Southampton, Oxford, Chichester and Ashford. Deadline for applications is 17
March (deadline for Colchester is 10 March). |
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Latest issue of
CycleDigest out now
Issue
61 of CTC’s quarterly campaigning newsletter CycleDigest is out this week and
a copy is on our website. In
this edition there’s the latest news on 20 mph speed limits, plus other road
safety stories, including a review of two new reports on cycling risk factors
and helmets respectively. We also bring you: a campaigning update on railway
stations, cycle carriage on trams; off-road cycling; a feature on whether the
Government’s ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme really works; plus some dates for your
diary and a list of new publications to read. |
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Cycle tour in Spain
Venture
into the remote and rugged territory between Catalonia and Valencia this
spring, where you can explore hilly terrain with crags and deep valleys and
experience varied flora and fauna and quiet roads. Eastern Spain, El
Maestrazgo is a 15-day holiday from 28 May to 11 June. The tour will cover
65-95 km (40-60 miles) per day, with two rest days for recuperation or
optional rides and walks. CTC holidays are not-for-profit and are exclusive
to CTC members. For more information or to book your place see the CTC Cycling Holidays website. |
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Member Benefit: 15%
off Cotswold Outdoor
Cotswold
Outdoor is one of the UK's leading retailers of outdoor clothing, climbing
and camping equipment. CTC members get a 15% discount on clothing and
equipment by quoting Reference Code C2061 when ordering in store, by
telephone or online (use C2061 in the promotional code box when ordering over
the web). To place an order or find details of your nearest store, phone 0844
557 7755 or visit www.cotswoldoutdoor.com. |
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Newsnet
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you have something to share with over 28,000 CTC members, please email links
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