Issue 52
September 2004
www.ldcuc.org.uk
Cycling - school transport for the 21st century
David Clasby, Sustrans Schools Cycling Officer, will be the speaker for the Campaign meeting on Monday 11th October 2004, 7:30pm, at John Storer House, Loughborough.
David's job is to increase the number of children cycling to schools in Derby, Nottingham and Leicester and may encompass Loughborough in the future. He will speak about his work which involves a combination of measures such as training, cycle tracks, racks, maintenance and curriculum development. There will be plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion.
As we no longer have regular monthly meetings we would hope that we can look forward to a good turnout for this meeting which is also being promoted as part of "One World Week". Please tell any interested friends, all are welcome whether members or not. Please mark it in your diaries now.
Park Road / Valley Road to be Traffic Calmed
Leicestershire County Council (L.C.C.) has come up with some proposals for installing various traffic calming measures including Mini Roundabouts, Speed Tables and Vehicle Activated Signs along Park Road, Belvior Drive and Valley Road.
Details of the proposals can be seen at:
http://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/index/highways.htm/road_improvements/integrated_transport_home/loughborough_road_safety_scheme.htmIf you have any comments (which need to be submitted by 15 October) on this scheme the contact is:
David East (Leicestershire County Council) Tel: 0116 2656819 email: tpi@leics.gov.uk
Autumn conference in Wolverhampton
The Autumn CCN/CTC conference will take place on Saturday 13th November at the Light House in Wolverhampton. All are welcome. Further details will be posted on the Cycle Campaign Network's Web site later this month at http://www.cyclenetwork.org.uk.
London Record - 23% increase in cycling
Transport for London figures show a record 23% increase in cycling in London over the past year (May/June 04 - May/June 05). This is the sharpest one year increase in cycle use ever recorded for a British city. For further details see: http://tinyurl.com/6rrg4
Travel Costs
Norman Baker MP (Lewes) Lib - Dem Shadow DEFRA Secretary of State, asked for the relative changes since 1974 in the cost of motoring, travelling by bus and travelling by train. David Jamieson MP DfT minister, replied with data using indices in real terms and based on 1974 = 100, the cost of motoring has dropped to 94.8, the cost of rail has risen to 184.3 and the cost of bus travel has risen to 170.6. These are compared to household disposal income which has risen to 218.2. (16/06/04 HofC)
Train Operating Companies Restrict Cycles
Within just a few months, three train operating companies have imposed or extended bans on the carriage of cycles during peak periods, despite a lack of evidence of a widespread problem. In some cases the bans apply to trains that carry few passengers and on which lack of space is not an issue.
South West Trains, Wessex Trains and Thameslink have all introduced new bans at minimal notice and with no consultation with users or cycling organisations. Wessex is also enforcing a 2-bike limit on stock that for other operators carries 6 cycles.
As well as affecting local commuters, the bans will affect even more people wishing to make longer journeys, which will not be able to commence until 9.30 or 10am.
The bans come while the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is still considering submissions to its cycling consultation paper. The SRA admits that it has been taken by surprise by the number of submissions received. Yet the SRA would appear to be complicit in the introduction of the bans; certainly it seems not to have objected.
CTC slams 'pay-as-you-go speeding' proposal
A proposal by Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling, that penalties for drivers who exceed speed limits in urban areas by as much as 30% be reduced by a third, is described as a dangerous step backwards by national cyclists' organisation, CTC.
Under the proposals, which are based on a graduated system of penalties, a motorist who drives at up to 39mph in a 30mph zone will be fined £40 and receive 2-penalty points . At present, the penalty is a £60 fine and 3-penalty points.
CTC Campaigns and Policy Manager, Roger Geffen, said: "This proposal sends absolutely the wrong message; that occasional speeding is ok. To charge motorists who speed in urban areas the same amount of money as a parking fine is little more than pay-as-you-go-speeding. The stark reality is that hit by a car at 35mph, a person is twice as likely to be killed as someone hit at 30mph."
'Don't allow cycling strategy to stall' urges CTC
Following the Government's announcement, in its Transport White Paper last month, that all national targets to increase cycle use are to be ditched, the National Cycling Strategy Board has announced it is fully supportive of plans to replace them with as yet undisclosed local targets. However, the national cyclists' organisation, CTC, continues to call for clear Government guidance for local authorities on how best to set the new targets.
CTC Campaigns and Policy Manager, Roger Geffen, said: "To prevent the National Cycling Strategy from stalling, it is vital that the new local targets set us on course for a quadrupling of cycle use by 2020. "
"CTC, like the National Cycling Strategy Board, accepts that the original target has become unrealistic due to lack of progress in the 8 years since the target was first established. However, we still believe the aim of quadrupling cycling in sixteen years is possible given sufficient political will. That would increase cycling to just 8% of all trips still a very modest figure by comparison with many of our continental neighbours."
CTC continues to seek assurances that the new local targets will be rigorously monitored, enforced and funded.
Aspects of the new strategy welcomed by CTC include: ·
- A commitment to use cycling to increase levels of physical activity and boost public health
- A commitment to work with the voluntary sector
- A recognition of the value of cycle training
- An acknowledgement of the positive effect that congestion charging has on levels of cycling.
OyBike
The OYBike system is a 'street-based rental station network that allows you to hire and return a bicycle 24/7 via your mobile.' Or to put it simply, it's a self-service bike rental service that you pay for through your mobile phone bill.
Following a pilot scheme, the service is being rolled out across London. Bikes will be available at tube stations, public buildings, key transport interchanges and car parks. www.oybike.com
(The Paris bid for 2012 Olympics includes a plan to have around 100,000 pool bicycles available for use around the city. It's a beautifully simple idea and a shame the London bid couldn't have included it).
How Far Do You Want To Go?
It takes less energy to bicycle one mile than it takes to walk a mile. In fact, a bicycle can be up to 5 times more efficient than walking. If we compare the amount of calories burned in bicycling to the number of calories an automobile burns, the difference is astounding. One hundred calories can power a cyclist for three miles, but it would only power a car 280 feet (85 meters)! Science of Cycling
