Bristol Cyclist

Inside:

Bicycle parking special

Battle of the Bollards

Cycling with children

How to wear a helmet

And a bit more... Bristol Cycling Campaign is working for saner transport policy for Bristol Our aims include • Priority for cycling in transport infrastructure • The positive promotion of cycling • 20mph for Bristol • A car-free Bristol centre

Useful Contacts 5 broken glass and burnt-out cars. about speeding, pavement parking They now have a quick response etc. Problems with Bristol’s traffic-free policy to broken glass. Redfield Beat Police for Bristol end greenways of Railway Path 0117 945 5727 Bristol & Bath Railway Path Parking hotline – 0117 903 8070 to 0117 922 3719 report illegal parking on yellow line(s) South Gloucestershire Council Ashton Pill Path 0117 903 6822 &/or adjacent pavement when park- “Streetcare” Malago Greenway 0117 922 2100 ing is banned 01454-868000 option 3 Smoky diesels Environmental Transport Associa- 0117 922 Problems on the highway (National no) 0870 6060 440 option 6 tion To claim discount: Quote Ref 2100 Mon-Fri 8.30am-8.00pm. Traffic light problems number 1506 1999 and your BCC Helpful line with various options for 0800 854 229 membership number reporting problems 3 with road surfaces & on shared Police 0117 927-7777 for all depart- Potholes in roads pavements ments. Use this line to complain Visit fillthathole.org.uk 4 street-lighting

Shops giving discount to BCyC members Other cycling groups in the Bristol area , Queens Ave, Clifton………………..……...10% Bike CTC ZeroG www.ctcwest.org.uk/bristol Unit 6, Willow Centre, Downend…………..…...... 10% 12-14 Park Street, off College Green………...... 10% Cyclebag East 11-12 North St, Bedminster...... 10% www.cyclebageast.btck.co.uk Harvey’s, Henleaze Road, Henleaze...... 10% , 6A Ground Floor Haymarket Walk (next Jakes’ Bikes Avon Outdoor Activities Club to the bus station)...... 10% (summer rides only) www.aoac.co.uk/ Kathmandu, Park Street - free Summit Club membership………………10%; certain items...... 25% Mountain Biking Mud Dock, The Grove, off Queen Square…...... 10% www bristoltrailsgroup.com Overbury’s, Sussex Place, Montpelier…...... 10% Pembury Cycles Bath cycling & walking groups: Highridge Road, Bishopsworth……………...…...... 10% “Recycle Your Sundays”: www.bathrys.org.uk 41 Gloucester Rd,Bishopston………………...... 10% (parts and accessories only) Strada, 236 North Street,Bedminster………...... 10% Bath Cycle Campaign www.bathcyclingcampaign.org.uk Psyclewerx, Abbotsford Rd, Redland……...... 10%

1 Two new Bristol bridges New membership rates

The Highways Agency replaced the Lawrence Weston New membership rates start from April 1. overbridge overnight on February 12. The work finished around 7am on Sunday the 13th and was fascinating to If you’re paying by Standing Order please write, watch as the massive bridge was lowered into place and phone or go online to your bank to update to the new positoned with pin-point accuracy. rate: £10 Individual; £3 Concession; £15 Household. It’ll only take a minute.

March 3 saw tge official opening of Brook Bridge link- If you’re not currently paying by Standing Order, set- ing Muller Road to Lockleaze via Dovercourt Rd. People ting up one is easy. were so deperate to use it that they removed the barriers and were using the bridge a few days earky. Just fill in the form with your bank details on page 19, send to us and we’ll do the rest

Members meetings Membership concessions - the final word

Membership Secretary Veronica Pollard writes: Tuesday, May 31 7.30pm for 8pm “I wanted to clear up the confusion about who is Bristol Youth Hostel entitled to pay the Bristol Cycling Campaign Ciclismo Italiano: Martin Tweddell introduces an evening of all concessionary membership fee. things Italian and cycling. Cappuccinos can be ordered at the bar. “I have no problem in saying that if anyone is on a Tuesday, June 28 low income such as benefits or a state pension Bristol Youth Hostel or who feels they can’t afford the full fee, Check the website for details about this meeting. then they can just pay the concession.”

Public service announcement: how to wear a helmet properly

1. Put it on your head flat, so it will also protect your face.

2. Tighten it at the back so it won’t move

3. Adjust the two straps to posi- tion the sliders just below your ears.

4. Adjust the length of the strap so that when it’s done up you can only get two fingers between it and your chin.

Photos: Richard Bullen / Life Cycle UK

2 Old jokes home - two-wheeled special Editor’s note: We take no responsibility for these jokes. Can you do better? Email [email protected].

“Lie flat on your backs, class, and circle your feet in the air as if you were riding your bikes,” said the gym teacher. “Fred! What are you doing? Move your feet, boy.” “I’m freewheeling, sir.”

While crossing the US-Mexican border on his bicycle, the man was stopped by a guard who pointed to two sacks the man had on his shoulders. “What’s in the bags?”, asked the guard. “Sand,” said the cyclist. “Get them off - we’ll take a look,” said the guard. The cyclist did as he was told, emptied the bags, and proving they contained nothing but sand, reloaded the bags, put them on his shoulders and continued across the border. Two weeks later, the same thing happened. Again the guard demanded to see the two bags, which again contained nothing but sand. This went on every week for six months, until one day the cyclist with the sand bags failed to appear. A few days later, the guard happened to meet the cyclist downtown. “Say friend, you sure had us crazy”, said the guard. “We knew you were smuggling something across the border. I won’t say a word - but what is it you were smu ggling?” “Bicycles.”

Why couldn’t the bicycle stand up for itself? Because it was two-tyred.

A little boy out riding his bicycle knocked down an old lady. She was a bit shaken, but got up, dusted herself off, then turned to the little boy and said, ‘Don’t you know how to ride a bike?’ ‘Yes,’ he answered, ‘but I don’t know how to ring the bell yet’

Jack and Jill were riding a tandem up a hill, but making heavy weather of it. At the top, Jack said: “I didn’t think we’d make it!” Jill replied: “Nor did I. What a good thing I kept the brakes on, or we’d have slid all the way back down.”

This bicycle shell has remained chained to a stand on the centre for many months as it is stripped of all its dignity. What will happen to it next? 4 Mark’s 4,500km adventure across Europe By Mark Leach track as possible. forest and the Carpathian mountains with their unique natural history. From Easter Day, and taking approxi- As the trip is completely self-organ- mately eight weeks, I am undertaking ised, I am having to fit the planning It will be interesting to see any signs to cycle from Istanbul, the gateway to and organising around work and all my of how, or whether, the chemical leak Asia, to Nordkapp in Norway, the most other commitments, so I don’t yet have from the alumina plant in Ajka, Hun- northerly tip of mainland Europe. For the final route or total distance. gary, has been dealt with now it has much of the trip I will be following the passed down the Danube. former USSR’s western border. Along the way I would like to document and report my observations on what I am building on previous similar ex- My calculations so far put the journey I see of Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, pedition experience, having cycled at 4,500 kilometres. Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, 3,000km round Scandinavia (Hauge- Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Norway. sund-Nordkapp-Vaasa-Stockholm) I will be unsupported and wild camping in 2003 with a friend, raising £1000 for efficiency, cycling as long as I am I want to compare them with Bristol for Survival International and Make A able rather than having to stop when and reflect on anything we can learn in Wish in the process. I am just finalising I reach accommodation, so carrying terms of our progress towards being a the charities for this trip at present. tent, food, camping gear, water etc. greener, fairer, better city. So, do any fellow BCyCers know of While there is only a slight chance of For example, in terms of being a Happy anything in the eastern sections of coming face to face with bears and City, I learned recently that Bulgaria is these countries that would be worth wolves, there is the absolute certainty the saddest place in the world relative taking my route through in order to of the worst condition roads and driv- to its income per person (read more at see, photograph and report back on? ers in Europe for the first two to three www.economist.com/node/17722557). weeks! Other potentials include Estonian na- My plan is to go as far off the beaten ture reserves, Slovak primeval beech [email protected]

The theme running through this issue of Bristol Cyclist is parking. This is Small Street when there are not enough places to park a bike. 5 Cycling and children, part two

In the second part of his well-researched article, William Baker looks at what we can do to get more children on two wheels. Along the way, he talks to many movers and shakers in the world of cycling.

• In Denmark, 50% of children cycle children cycling to school in Bristol. bike events, access to traffic calming to school. In Britain, 1% of primary Much less on other uses, for example measures among others. For exam- and 4% of secondary school children on biking over to the park, going out or ple, the council has started producing cycle to school. visiting mates. ‘travel to school’ maps which show • In 1993, 29% of primary school chil- parents and teachers all the quiet and dren were driven to school. By 2004, Even the school cycling stats have safer bike routes to school in their lo- the figure had risen to 41%. some gaps. We don’t know the gen- cal area. • In 2009, the school run accounted der balance of the children who do cy- for 21% of traffic on the roads be- cle. Yet anecdotal evidence suggests “However, there is a big peak in ac- tween 8am and 9am – double the rate the difference between teenage boys cidents when children start second- in 1997. and girls is massive. This is a differ- ary school,” Elaine said. “This is par- • In 2006, 27% of girls and 24% of ence that doesn’t exist in Germany ticularly the case when most kids are boys aged 11-16 were classified as and many other European countries. driven to school at primary school age obese – nearly double the rates in because their schools have not en- 1995. So, let’s start with what we do know. couraged walking or cycling”. The Cycling City project has a target These shocking figures are a sorry of doubling the number of children This is where Sustran’s Bike It initia- reflection on Britain’s car-centred cul- cycling to school between 2008 and tive comes in. ture. Not only have we allowed cars to 2011. There is good progress in pri- tear apart our communities and deci- mary schools, with 2.91% of kids now mate our street-life. cycling to school compared to 1.08% Bike It in 2008. Secondary schools have We have also denied our children the achieved a more modest increase of Ian at Sustrans explained Bike It: “We freedom to explore, establish their in- 3.71% to 4.16%. work with 36 schools intensively in dependence and enjoy a healthy and So, Bristol is slightly ahead of the Bristol every year. Central to our ap- active lifestyle. Surveys constantly country at primary school level but proach is getting somebody in the show that children want to cycle or pretty much the average at second- school to act as a ‘cycling champion’. walk to school and travel indepen- ary school level. But we are still a We also expect the school’s manage- dently. We are just too scared to let long way behind Danish (or German, ment to show commitment, devote them. Dutch, Swedish etc) levels. staff time and get children involved.”

In the summer 2010 edition of Bristol I was surprised when Ian told me that Cyclist, I gave advice on how to cycle School travel plans Sustrans mainly works with primary with children. In this issue I discuss schools. Surely most primary school the barriers to children cycling, the ini- The Government requires every children can walk to school, whereas tiatives in Bristol designed to address school to produce a school travel many secondary school children live them and my thoughts on what more plan. These find out how children too far away to walk? is needed. currently get to school, the problems they encounter and what’s required to “Bike It aims to get primary school I have talked to lots of people in Bris- encourage more sustainable travel. children into good cycling habits so tol who help get children onto bikes. I Elaine, Bristol’s travel plan coordina- that they can confidently make the was struck by their dedication, enthu- tor, told me that 86% of Bristol schools transition to secondary school,” ex- siasm and commitment. now have a travel plan, although she plained Ian. admitted they vary in quality. However, policy clearly focuses on “Also, secondary schools are more encouraging cycling and not discour- A few schools in Bristol actively dis- inflexible because it is difficult to link aging cars. This might come as a sur- courage children cycling to school. If cycling in with the curriculum.” prise to Evening Post editorial writers. your child’s school is one of them, the But it begs the question: is it realistic Cycle Campaign would like to hear The Bike It officers sort out training, to only offer carrots to get people (and from you. We might be able to help. provide resources and help organise children) out of cars without also using You can also check out the CTC cam- events such as bike breakfasts. The some sticks? I will return to this later. paign toolkit (see Resources). approach certainly seems to work. Bike It schools typically increase cy- Elaine described a long list of city cling rates five-fold, with one in 10 Children cycling in Bristol council initiatives to encourage cy- children regularly cycling to school. cling to school. They include grants after they have received some Bike It There are quite a lot of statistics on for bike parking, help with organising support. 6 I also met Lucy at Sustrans who is What else? However, in the short term there is a in charge of the Bristol Girls Project. lot parents can do to encourage their This is a pilot set up to tackle the I’ve only touched on all the work that children to cycle, both to school and dramatic decline in girls cycling once goes on with children in Bristol. The for leisure. The Cycling City’s infor- they reach secondary school age. CTC, for example, runs a Bike Club mation sheets on school cycling are Lucy is working with two schools, us- project that works with children out of a useful starting point. ing a different approach in each. school. LifeCycle provides training to older children in school holidays. Make sure your children take advan- Lucy said: “I wanted to avoid the ap- tage of school or Lifecycle Bikeability proach taken in an early pilot which The council carries out regular sur- training. focussed on beauty. To my mind this veys, organises competitions and just reinforced stereotypes.” helps schools organise events such Consider setting up ‘cycle buses’, as treasure hunts and bike break- similar to ‘walking buses’, with other One school has set up a dance and fasts. An ‘all abilities’ project in St parents for the school run. Encour- cycling project in which the girls want Pauls provides adapted bikes for dis- age your school to become a Bike It to enthuse their peers. abled children. A school in Fishponds school, organise bike events and run regularly meets a school in Bath on cycling activities during PE. “They wanted to make cycling look the Railway Path to play football. cool,” Lucy added. “The other school If your school discourages cycling, integrates cycling with personal, so- Cycling City has led to a big expan- contact us and check out the CTC cial and moral education. The PE sion of these sorts of activities. Let’s campaign. Finally, join one of our teacher has been particularly helpful hope they continue once Cycling City ‘Discover Bristol’ rides where chil- at this school.” ends, although many council officers dren and less confident adults can were gloomy about the likely impact enjoy bike rides along quiet, mainly of the forthcoming spending cuts. off road routes. Bikeability training

A more fundamental problem is that More sticks? many children have never been Resources: taught to ride properly – or even at Encouraging as all this work is, pol- all – by their parents. Bike trainers icy, with the exception of the 20mph Information on cycling to school and sometimes refer to the ‘lost genera- areas, is not prepared to balance the training in Bristol: tion’ of parents who didn’t receive carrots with sticks. For example, pen- www.betterbybike.info training and rarely cycle, if at all. alty points for anti-social parents who Lifecycle: park outside the school gates, bans www.lifecycleuk.org.uk/for-children This is where ‘Bikeability’ comes in – or restrictions on cars on certain CTC ‘ride to ride’ campaign toolkit: cycle proficiency for the 21st century. roads, congestion charging to reduce www.ctc.org.uk/righttoridetoschool Taught by professionals to national traffic (while improving public trans- Sustrans Bike It: standards, Bikeability takes children port) or just enforcement of the law www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/ and adults through the whole process against pavement parking. bike-it of learning to ride with confidence in Bristol Cycle Campaign ‘Discover a real street environment. Regular cyclists are only too aware Bristol’: of the problems of driver behaviour, www.discoverbristol.btik.com Emma, Bristol’s Bikeability coordi- a road layout that almost completely nator, told me that thanks to Cycling ignores cyclists and speeding cars. City, 10,000 Bristol children have re- ceived Bikeability training. In Bike It And in Bristol, the sheer volume of schools, about 60 to 70% of children traffic is particularly off-putting. We in the targeted year group will get have one of the highest rates of car training. commuting in the country. A German friend of mine highlighted However, in some schools, many chil- the problem. “In my town, people dren don’t have bikes. So the council from all walks of life and ages cycle. is setting up ‘bike-hubs’ where chil- Nobody wears helmets or high viz dren can use bikes for training. One jackets. We cycle in our everyday problem is that some parents give clothes. And we take it for granted bad advice. Many wrongly advise that we have the right of way; that kids to ‘hug the kerb’, undoing the cars give way for us.” good work of Bikeability which teach- es kids to ‘take the lane’. So, Ashley I don’t think Bristol is going to reach Down School has set up a pilot ‘par- the levels of children cycling found in ent and kid’ project where the parents many European cities until national and children are trained together. and local policy tackles unsustain- able car use.

7 Fountains and bogs, not your average bike ride

By Martin Tweddell These were regularly maintained by conveniences just further up on Durd- the late Chris Hutt and fortunately his ham Down (below, and incidentally ded- Recently we have been running a series son, also Chris and also a plumber, has icated to attendant Victoria Hughes who of short, themed rides for beginners and taken on the stewardship. befriended and cared for some of the lo- anyone interested in discovering the cal ladies of the night) to the facilities on more fascinating corners of Bristol. The other working fountain was restored Brandon Hill, pink for girls and blue for to full working order in the mid-1980s, boys, we were never caught short. In the last few months a committed band thanks to it being moved from the top of of Bristol cyclists have been spotted Bridge Valley Road, where it was caus- trawling the suburbs of Bristol in search ing a “traffic hazard”, to its new site a of water and associated plumbing. few metres away (below). It was origi- nally erected by Alderman Proctor in The Victorians’ investment in pubic 1872 “to record the gift of the Downs to health lead to the installation of over 40 the public in 1861 forever”. drinking fountains from the mid nine- teenth century to publicise the new mu- nicipal water supply and to encourage the Temperance cause. And when it came to the other side of things, what to do with the used water was treated with Both rides were well suited to the phi- equal importance. losophy of riding being about more than simply burning up the miles. Though recently there has been some- thing of a decline in the provision of Future themed rides will include a tour public conveniences, this is nothing at of blue plaques, an exploration of Bristol all compared to the almost complete chic (dressing in our Sunday best and annihilation of Bristol’s drinking foun- visiting boutiques) and, given Bristol’s tains, finally done in by the rise of bot- long associated connections with choc- tled mineral water. olate, a ride to discover the history of its manufacture, with just a few tastings. And what a shame, because instead of paying through the nose for the stuff, as For more information on these and other it is wrapped in plastic, transported hun- rides, keep an eye on our website and dreds of miles and over-refrigerated, our take a look at the rides list on page x. forebears used to be able to get it out of a tap in the wall for free. And it would be perfectly safe and naturally cooled.

Luckily for us on the Fountains of Bristol ride at least two drinking fountains sur- vive in working order. The Dancing Drum (below) on the Bristol and Bath Railway Another fountain moved to make way Path by Windsor Grove in Easton is one for traffic was dedicated to a Councillor in a series of fountains along the route Watts. Originally situated at the bottom specifically for cyclists and walkers to fill of Pigsty Hill (on the Gloucester Road their bottles – stemming from the days by what is now Oddbins) it now sits at not so long ago when mineral water was the top of Wellington Hill on Horfield something only French people drunk in Common (right). Though featuring a expensive Alpine spas. fine gas lamp now converted to electric- ity, it alas runs dry.

One of the problems of leading a ride is finding somewhere to go when one of the group has a call of nature. Well, on the Bogs of Bristol ride this wasn’t a problem. Most of the loos we visited were in fine working order and occasion- ally we were able to do our business in elegant and stylish surrounds. From the pissoir at the top of Blackboy Hill to the

8 New build-outs for Sheffield stands In the next edition of Bristol Cyclist, we will take a look at exactly what the £23 million of Cycling City money given to Bristol has achieved. For now, we feature the new build-outs for Sheffield stands that have popped up in various places around the city in recent months. Many - the newest of which is on Corn Street - are full of bikes within minutes of opening for business. The question is, where did these bikes park before the stands or are they new bike-users? A supplementary question, is this is a sign of increased cycling in Bristol?

9 Bikes in Bristol and the world Thanks to Bristol photographer and cyclist Phil West for allowing us to use some of his stunning phptographs of bicycles in Bristol and across the world. Phil’s self-portrait of him and his bicycle reflected in Millennium Square is also our front cover image this month.

To see more of Phil’s photos and his design work, visit www.philwestphotography.co.uk

10 11 Words for where you can ride

‘I’m not riding, officer, just wheeling’. In his third in a series of articles about bike issues,Steve Kinsella takes a look at bicycling terminology

We all know that it is a traffic offence ment for motorists to give way when of way on foot. It may physically com- to cycle on the footway – that is the they do”. The Highway Code tells cy- prise all of a footway (an unsegre correct term for the walkers’ path clists to walk across zebra crossings. gated cycle track), or be one part of a along the edge of the carriageway. A Not complying with the Code can be footway (segregated), or not be part of footpath is a highway over which the treated as evidence of an offence. a footway at all. Pedestrians may still public have a right of way on foot only have right of way even on cycle tracks (not being a footway). Cycling on a Some say you can legally jump the that are segregated. footpath is treated as trespass against red light to cross a toucan crossing the owner. on a bike, because toucans do not Utility companies, electricity, water etc, differentiate between cyclists and pe- have the right to lay services in the A highway is a way over which the pub- destrians (who are not obliged to wait highway – hence dig it up and leave it lic has the right to pass and re-pass; for a green man), but if you jump the in a mess. For this reason a permis- it may be a road, street, court, alley, red light at a parallel crossing (i.e one sive route, such as through a park, is footpath, or bridleway. Carriageway with separate crossing areas for cy- sometimes better than a cycle track. is that part of a highway used by ve- clists and pedestrians) then you are On the other hand the highway author- hicles (that is pedal cycles and other breaking the law. That is because at ity – usually the council – is obliged to wheeled traffic). a parallel crossing you are a vehicle. maintain a cycle track like any other In reality if you get hit while jumping a highway. The authority can change In the countryside a public right of way red light on any crossing nobody will the use of a park, or sell it, whereas a may be a public footpath – permitted have the slightest sympathy. I advise highway has a much more protected only for pedestrians, but if it is a bridle- waiting for green. status. way one can cycle (but right of way must be given to other users). And one Cycle path is vague term Parks may The Bristol & Bath Railway Path (or can cycle on a BOAT – byway open have by-laws prohibiting cycling. But most of the Bristol City part of it) is per- to all traffic. A restricted byway gives some park paths may actually have no missive route in a linear park. rights of way on foot, pedal cycle and prohibition though they are not marked I’m not a lawyer and accuracy of this for horse riders and horse drawn car- as cycle paths. note is not guaranteed. Some infor- riage vehicles. mation is based on Lancashire Design Cycle track is a legal term for a high- Guidelines (sub-titled Lancashire – Permissive routes may be used by way for cycling, with or without a right the Cyclist’s County). permission of the landowner. These may, for example, be routes through a park, where the owner is the local authority, and some Sustrans routes.

What about wheeling one’s bike? A legal case held that a walking pe- destrian is still a pedestrian, even if wheeling a bicycle. But “no bicycles” is different from “no cycling” and may indicate a legitimate restriction by the land owner. A Cyclist Dismount sign is only advisory, but it may indicate a change in the legal status of your route, e.g. on reaching a footpath.

When I was age 13 or so I was stopped by a policeman for cycling across a zebra crossing – permanently embed- ding me with fear of the law. Cycling England’s website says: “At present it is not unlawful for cyclists to cycle across zebra crossings within the UK. However, there is no legal require-

12 John Grimshaw speaks to BcyC meeting

John Grimshaw is the founder of Sustrans, former board member of Cycling England and Bristol cyclist. Martin McDonald reports from John’s talk to a Bristol Cycling Campaign meeting back in December

We were very pleased to welcome John York, Derby and Glasgow often using John’s work with Cycling England has as the guest speaker at our monthly unemployed people as the workforce. given him great involvement in the Cy- meeting. As new funding streams emerged, Sus- cling City and Towns projects. trans were able to extend their work We had asked John to give us a potted for example with Arts funding allowing He was desperately disappointed with history of the cycling movement in Bris- sculptures and drinking fountains along the progress in the early days of the tol and an update on Cycling City and the cycle paths providing interest and Cycling City project here in Bristol but where we might go from here. making the routes more attractive to is excited by what is coming in the end. the non-head-down cyclists. Positive developments include cycling It all began back in 1977 prompted by zebras, shared use, 20mph areas and the Arab oil embargo and concerns Pedestrianisation of UK cities took out elimination of “pinch points” in critical about over-dependence on the use of a generation of older people from cy- areas (eg Redcliffe Way) will make a private cars and the lack of specific pro- cling (in Italy, pedestrian areas always significant difference and put Bristol in vision for cyclists in Britain. said “except cyclists” and the general King position. cessation of cycle training at schools At this time, the main A4 still ran in front has meant that many young parents of John’s talk, which was excellently il- of Bristol Cathedral, across what is now today have never cycled and are wor- lustrated and filled with amusing an- College Green, and through Queens ried about their children cycling – so al- ecdotes, was enthusiastically received Square. There was not a single metre most three generations of cyclists have and prompted a number of challenging of cycle provision in Bristol, while in been lost. questions and further debate. Scotland it was suggested that cycling casualties could be eliminated by elimi- These included: nating cycling! • Where are new cyclists going to come Cyclebag was formed to campaign for from? cycle provision in Bristol and visited cy- • Are more people cycling in Bristol? cling towns and European cities looking • What will happen when the trained cy- at how cycling worked elsewhere. clists leave school • Why can’t we get cycling levels like in Initial campaigning produced little im- Denmark? pact. Efforts were then turned towards • How can we make use of the Local a major project – a route from Bath to Sustainable Transport Fund Bristol. • Will the new government help or hin- der progress? They got the Minister for Transport to • Could the lull in development lead to a visit and look at the proposed route and boon for cycling? he agreed to look at all disused railway Tarmaccing paths means that people • Where else could make a success of lines. With massive support construc- stay on the path – reducing the impact cycling? tion got under way – 300 volunteers on the immediate environment. Long built one section in four days as part distance routes have given people an Some points that arose: of a David Bellamy challenge and one opportunity to holiday on cycles without section was ashphalted over at a week- having to fly abroad. The English Tour- • It’s a long process to get cycling auto- end in order to stop a supermarket and ist Board has said that the Sea to Sea matically on everyone’s agenda housing development using the land. route has given the best ever return on • Positive/constructive action gets bet- investment and even kept Allenheads ter results than criticism and protest This was achieved through publicity Post Office open with cyclists using it to • The tipping point in Portland was when from regular events, having something send their dirty washing home. everyone knew somebody on a pedal positive/constructive and concrete to cycle (the “critical empathy level”) work towards and the “can do” attitude The Sustrans routes became the Na- • There’s planning permission for the of the times. Developer intervention tional Cycle Network which has been Yate spur so why not get campaigners has been staved off in some places by called the largest (positive) environ- to build it?! selling small (10m) strips of land to buy- mental intervention and the health ben- ers around the world. efits of cycling are now being widely John was roundly thanked for taking recognised – leading to addition fund- the time to come and speak openly to As an offshoot of Cyclebag, Sustrans ing streams for cycle promotion – tack- us and offered his help and support for started taking action in places such as ling obesity being the key. the future.

13 The Battle of the Bollards By The Bristol Traffic team morning, it connects the residents with Whose money did this feature come bristolcars.blogspot.com the Sainsbury’s superstore and the from? The road budget or the Cycle [email protected] other retail outlets on the ring road. City budget? We have a suspicion. People often walk along it. The Bristol Cycle City programme cov- This forcing of cyclists off the road ers more than just our city: it stretch- It may not be as wonderful as the rail- without the provision of Dutch-style or es up into the North Fringe, where way path, but it means people without Copenhagen-style bicycle routes cre- the program is under the auspices of a car can get some food without having ates a problem. Not for the drivers; the South Gloucester Council. to wait for an indeterminate amount of bicycles are mostly out their way, and time for a bus to turn up. you don’t even need to give way for It’s an interesting contrast of attitudes. them at junctions or turn-offs. No, it In theory, the extra space should allow The paths in the North Fringe are for creates conflict between pedestrians for decent segregated paths, an “Am- both bicycles and pedestrians. It’s and cyclists. sterdamization” of the North Fringe. not as if those on a bicycle have any In practise, well, something different is choice. Consider this an unplanned conse- happening. Six million pounds spent quence of a success story. on a new road to Cribb’s Cause- way; the dual-occupancy lane on The number of people cycling in the A4174 disbanded. Bristol is increasing. It’s increas- ing in many cities round the world, And the Cycle City work? Well, which is something to celebrate, there are some more signs on the though it’s not clear whether or existing path by the ring road, the not the Cycle City programme has paths now extend all the way to helped. Filton, pointing the way across the various junctions you are left to ne- In central Bristol, its features – the gotiate without rights of way. parking, the 20mph zones, the forthcoming contraflows in the It’s our own personal Waltham centre – help. Forest: a collection of facilities de- signed to ensure that people on bi- They say, “Bicycles are a way to cycles stay out the way of important get to the shops”. They provide people in cars. direct routes through the city (ig- noring Clifton, that’ll be a topic for There’s assumption in the entire a different article). They say, “wel- plans that the people who cycle are come”. the poor, the students, the teenag- ers, people who don’t expect any And in the North Fringe, what do more and who would be grateful for the signs say? They say, “Keep to anything, for the right to cycle on a your side of this narrow path”. bit of tarmac by ring road with six lanes of traffic. Apparently there have been com- Bicycles will be banned from the pri- plaints about bicycles on the bicycle This is the same kind of planning that ority bus lane on the 4174. This will path. We say apparently, as this issue came up with the idea of running Bus leave the shared bike/pedestrian path was never raised at any of the cycle Rapid Transit down the Railway Path. alongside, or the road to the south, Old forums. Instead changes took place We don’t need a green and pleasant Filton Road. Yes, that’s the one where on the paths round the MoD Abbey land, we just need a bit of unlit tarmac the council were praised in the Eve- Wood site, especially near the Abbey between a barbed wire fence and a ning Post for re-opening to cars. It had Wood railway station. Bollards. housing estate and our commute will been closed to stop it being a rat-run be transformed. by speeding cars, and had become a White bollards, designed for better lovely place to run or cycle. But, after visibility. Put up without warning in The sad thing is, it’s partly true. The pressure from Frenchay councillors, it November. Who remembers Novem- Lockleaze-UWE path is used a lot by was re-opened. ber? It was just before December, and students, who even use Lockleaze as there was snow. Yet when they went a secret park and walk option to get to How did they deal with the safety prob- up, they didn’t come with reflective or lessons. lem? They painted bikes on one (ex- high-visibility markings. tended) pavement, a dotted “hint of an The Abbey Wood path over the rugby on-road bike lane” on the other, a bike With hindsight, the crash that hap- grounds is not only a lovely alterna- lane cars drive over as it’s the only pened was inevitable: someone was tive to Filton Avenue on a bright sunny way to get past oncoming vehicles. going to go straight into the recently- 14 added white bollards in the white stuff. would be impossible for two bicycles to middle of the path, because a sign you It turned out to be one Ian Redmond, pass each other safely, and that there- can cycle or run into is a good way of from Stroud. fore this design, even when visible, will getting your attention. only increase collisions. What was not to be expected was what Something has fundamentally gone happened next. Mr Redmond contact- Nobody disagrees that it’s important for wrong in the North Fringe transport ed the Evening Post. Before long, their people walking on the paths to feel safe system. sister paper the Daily Mail had it cov- too, but this whole episode is a sign of ered, and all across the country Daily what is wrong with South Gloucester It clearly started off with driving in mind, Mail readers were busy denouncing cy- Council’s attitude towards cycling as a but the council has yet to realise this clists for existing and not wearing hel- form of transport isn’t sustainable. mets, as they normally do. • We are strongly discouraged from cy- The MoD have: they have revoked But the newspapers also got a quote cling on the roads parking rights on their site for everyone from the council: “It is planned to add • The cycle paths abandon us at junc- who lives within three miles. high-visibility reflective plates to either tions side of the bollards, plus two contrast- • They make changes to the paths with- UWE have: they give all students who ing colour bands, to help them stand out discussing it at the cycle forums rent on-site accommodation a free bus out even more clearly.” • They forget to do the basic things of pass on the U-link buses. making the bollards visible at night. Bristol Cycling Campaign member People who commute to the area have Terry Miller went up to see what was The self-proclaimed People’s Cycling realised that cycling is a cost-effective happening. After some discussion with Front of South Gloucestershire came and fast way to get to and from work, the MoD police, who felt that measuring out one lunchtime and put hi-vis tape which is why many site cycle parking distances between their site fences and and 360-degree reflective strips round facilities are full even mid-winter. bollards was suspicious, he came to the bollards. The council have belat- the conclusion that the bollards reduce edly added their blue signs, the ones But South Gloucester Council still live the width of the supposedly two way that tell bicycles and pedestrians which in a dream world of motorways and cycle paths to 1.3m to 1.48m, “com- side they should be on. dual carriageways where bicycles are pared with the 2.25m+ recommended kept out of sight, and if pedestrians minimum width for low numbers to cy- This is simply damage limitation. 100 complain, bollards will be added to cle ONE-WAY (LTN 2/08 Cycling Infra- metres away, the A4174 ring road is keep the bicycle traffic even further out structure Design - 8.5 & P43)”. getting an extra lane added. Up by Em- of sight. erson’s Green, building work is going That is, if the people walking and cy- on. The ring road cycle path is now get- This has to change. This, the Battle of cling did keep to their own lanes, it ting direction signs put up right in the the Bollards, is the beginning.

A view of the North Fringe with not one cyclist in sight - just how South Gloucestershire Council would like it to be for ever and ever. 15 So who does pay for the roads then?

By Veronica Pollard

So who does pay for the roads then?

It seems that sometimes cyclists get accused of ‘not paying road tax’ and therefore having no right to be on the roads, as we haven’t paid for them.

But in fact ‘Road Tax ‘was abolished in the 1930s, and the money needed to maintain the roads comes out of council tax and income tax. That means that nearly all adult cyclists do in fact pay for the roads.

What these motorists are actually talking about is Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), which is a fee paid to license vehicles. It must be paid on all vehicles used on the public roads. The money raised by VED goes into central government revenues, and is not ring-fenced for spending on roads.

Cyclists do minimal damage to the roads in comparison to cars and other motorised vehicles so in fact one could say that we who pay income and council tax actually subsidise the motorists. We help pay not just for the damage they cause but also for the other consequential costs such as medical, legal, and societal, that road crashes incur.

So next time some one tells you that you don’t pay road tax you might have a surprising answer for them!

This was the scene on the centre on February 19 after a car took a real dislike to two Sheffield stands. It missed the Hourbike ‘hub’.

16 Bristol Cycling Campaign contacts

Chair Martin Tweddell Mail [email protected] (including articles for this magazine if you don’t have email): BCyC, Box 60, Booty, 82 Colston Hon Secretary Martin McDonnell Street, Bristol BS1 5BB [email protected]

Membership Veronica Pollard 7 Alpha Rd, Bristol BS3 1DH Website [email protected] www.bristolcyclingcampaign.org.uk Join via our website or email: Treasurer Martin Tweddell [email protected] [email protected]

Website [email protected] BCyC e-group Magazine Martin Booth This is a useful way of keeping in touch with what’s Articles to: Box 60, Booty, 82 Colston St, Bristol BS1 5BB happening cycle-wise in Bristol and is dead easy to [email protected] join. You can subscribe with a few clicks from the BCC website at www.bristolcyclingcampaign.org.uk Rides Chris Whitlock – just click on ‘Contact’ and follow the instructions. [email protected]

Meeting agenda items – send to Monthly meetings [email protected] We now meet on the second Wednesday of the Box 60, Booty, 82 Colston St, Bristol BS15BB month at Bristol Youth Hostel Association, Narrow Quay. General enquiries [email protected] Meetings kick off at 7.30pm and the main business By post: Box 60, Booty, 82 Colston St, Bristol BS1 5BB starts at 8pm. All welcome! Please try and turn up, even if it’s just Stall and publicity materials to share a drink – we are very informal. [email protected] See the website for details of our meetings.

The BCyC committee are Chair- Martin Tweddell Treasurer - Steve Kinsella Secretary - Martin McDonnell Membership Secretary - Veronica Pollard Campaigns Co-ordinator - Mike Frost Infrastructure - Terry Miller Cycle promotion (Women & Families) - William Baker Magazine - Martin Booth Website - Martin McDonnell Rides Organiser - Chris Whitlock Infrastructure - Terry Miller External Liaison - Mark Brough Meetings Organiser - Martin Tweddell

Who are Bristol Cycling Campaign? Unlike big organisations with loads of funding, we’re just a collection of activists who believe in cycling as part of a sustain- able transport system. All of the members of the committee and the other people involved in the running of the organisation are volunteers who give up their time for free. The articles in the magazine are all submitted by members, and anyone is welcome to submit an article.

If you would like to get involved, or contribute to the magazine, please get in touch – our contact details are above

17 Cathy Sampson 07935 625946

Rides List Our rides are designed as mainly a social affair. We generally take a moderate pace and stop at places of interest (including cafes and pubs). Beginners and families are welcome on many of our rides – see below. Most rides meet near the centre of town – if the ride is likely to pass down your way and you’d like to arrange an alternative meeting place, please contact the ride leader. If you would like to lead a ride, please contact Chris on 07810 785 569 or [email protected]

Date Title Leader/ Contact Brief Description Length Grade Tea/ Lunch Start time & Est Organiser no (for Stops location Duration the day) APRIL 2011 17/04/2011 Vintage Velo In Martin This Sunday BcyC will be joining the Bristol 10 miles Easy 11:00am - association Mc Vintage Velo organized as a fundraiser by details on with Donnell and for the Bristol Cycle Festival 2011. registration Vintage 07884 There is a £5 entry fee. Registration and full Velo 265 071 details at http://vintage-velo.blogspot.com/

24/04/2011 Farewell to Frys David 07721 Easter Sunday ride to Keynsham 17 miles Easy, Pub lunch 10:00am at tbc Borrows 635795 commemorating the passing of an era suitable for with The Arnolfini beginners coffee/tea stop on return leg MAY 2011 01/05/2011 NOT the 'Royal Martin 07748 A mildly irreverent ride to redress the 15 miles Easy 10:00am at Wedding' cycle Tweddell 652 674 excesses of the happy day where The Arnolfini champagne drinking and flag waving are expressly forbidden 08/05/2011 Big Spring Ride Steve 01934 A fun day open to anyone, and led in small 25 miles Easy paced, Picnic stop 9:00am in the (with CTC) Kinsella 838 624 groups. Leaving Bristol via the river path and medium at Chew square next Arnos Vale, then as last year to Chew length Valley lake; to Valentines Valley lake for picnic, then back via Barrow please bring Bridge, Gurney to Queen Square. Registration and your own Temple full details www.bristolcyclingcampaign food. Quay. .org.uk /rides/Big-Spring-Ride.php 15/05/2011 Clevedon Wendy 07930 A gentle paced ride to the traditional 30 miles Easy Tea and 10:00am at 7 hours Staff 936 522 Victorian seaside resort of Clevedon lunch stop the Arnolfini following the recently built cycepath to Nailsea and across Kenn Moor. 22/05/2011 150th Anniversary Terry Miller 0117 942 The Anniversary will be commemorated Up to 5 Easy. 11:30am at 2 to 3 of the 1861 4590 through Victorian themed events on the miles Suitable for the Water hours signing of the Downs. A short cycle around the Downs will families Tower on Downs Act. aim to visit a variety of these events. The Durdham cycling will be easy paced to encourage Downs families. Vintage style bikes and costume welcomed. 29/05/2011 Slimbridge Jason 07796 A fairly long ride across the gently rolling 45 miles Medium Pub lunch 10:00am 6 to 7 Gardner 904 664 terrain of the Vale of Berkeley to Slimbridge approx. and tea stop Start of the hours Bristol to Bath Railway path JUNE 2011 05/06/2011 Bristol chic Vicki 07737 A short ride taking in the boutiques and 8 miles Easy Tea stop at 10:00am at 5 hours Vowles 508 799 farmer's markets of Southville and Clifton. (approx.) the Tobacco the Arnolfini (approx.) After lunch, feel free to browse around the Factory. Village to be escorted back to the Arnolfini Cafe lunch at your leisure. Please be adorned in your in Clifton Sunday best - no Lycra on show! Village 11/06/2011 Open Food Roy 07876 A cycle tour of gardens open to the public in 20 miles Easy, but Cafe lunch 10:00am at 7 hours (SATURDAY) Gardens Brewster 075513 the 'Open Doors Day' format promoting with some stop the Arnolfini full ride, 'Bristol Local Food' as a joint venture with hills or 2 at 3 Bristol Friends of the Earth. hours 12/06/2011 Bristol's Biggest Bristol City BCyC are encouraging members to be Bike Ride Council involved in this great day. The routes range from 9 to 38 miles, and cover the Portway as well as the beautiful countryside beyond. Participants must register in advance - find out more at http://www.betterbybike.info/bikeride 19/06/2011 Blagdon Pumping David 07721 Ride to Late Victorian, Gothic Pumping 30 miles Medium, not Pub lunch 10:00am at Station Borrows 635 795 Station, containing historic suitable for the Arnolfini working beam engine and museum. All set beginners in beautifully maintained grounds. Adjacent to Blagdon Dam. Usually ice cream and handmade cakes for sale . 26/06/2011 Joint Mark 07971 A joint cycle ride between CAMRA and 10 Easy Numerous! 11:00am at 5 or 6 BCyC/CAMRA Brough in 628555 Bristol Cycling Campaign to explore two miles(appr the Knights hours ride conjunction dozen! of Bristol's best pubs all on one lazy ox.) Templar Pub, with Sunday afternoon. Taking traffic-free and Temple Quay CAMRA quiet cycling routes which you might not BS1 6DG (a previously have known existed. Some of the swift half route will take in new Cycling City facilities. beforehand?) Rides may be subject to change due to weather, leaders discretion, popular vote, etc – PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST DETAILS – www.bristolcyclingcampaign.org.uk

For more information and updates, visit www.bristolcyclingcampiagn.org.uk

18 Cathy Sampson 07935 625946

Starting points General advice warm layers, gloves, socks, hat, etc. Valentine Bridge is the 'bendy' Many regular riders will know these Pack a waterproof jacket and maybe bridge between the Wetherspoons things already, but for those new to also waterproof trousers. pub and Bristol & West office that cycling or to the group here are a few links the back of Temple Meads sta- tips that you may find helpful. Always carry food with you, even if tion to Avon Street. it’s only a banana! Cycling is exercise The times shown are the START and you will get hungry. Preferably Arnolfini. Start outside Arnolfini Arts times of the rides. Although some some carbohydrates – sandwiches, Centre which is near Prince Street may wait a few minutes for a chat, it’s flapjacks, cereal-bars, and fresh/ Bridge, at the south east end of Nar- best not to rely on this. Arrive earlier dried fruit are some examples. row Quay part of harbour from the rather than later and don’t get left Centre. behind. On the road, behave responsibly – don’t obstruct traffic and only stop Start of Railway Path – officially Make sure your bike is in good work- where it’s safe to do so. It’s also known as the Bristol & Bath Railway ing order. If you think it needs more nice if you warn others behind you of Path and often called “the Cycleway” than a “tweak” then it’s probably bet- potholes or other obstructions in the starts at the junction of Trinity Street ter to get it serviced at a bike shop. road. and St Phillips Road, off Old Market. You are wise to carry a few basic repair items with you, such as pump, These tips aren’t meant to put you off Blaise Castle cafe - café in the car puncture repair kit or, even better, or make you think a day’s bike ride is park at the Kings Weston Rd en- an inner tube of the right size and like climbing Everest! But with a little trance to Blaise Estate basic tools. If you’re new to cycling forethought you will enjoy the adven- and don’t know how to use them, the ture of a day out even more. You’ll Water tower, Durdham Down is the chances are someone else will show notice we often suggest a picnic or concrete tower on Durdham Down you (that’s how most of us learned!) packed lunch, or a visit a pub. Our near the top of Blackboy Hill. rides are often built round a theme or In winter you are more likely to be local beauty-spot of place of interest. Millennium Square - by the shiny riding home in the dark, so bring your We are a convivial group who make globe next to @Bristol. bike lights and hi-vis wear. Remem- new-comers welcome and we usually ber the temperature can drop signifi- ride at moderate pace. Contact the cantly in the evenings, so bring extra ride-leader if you’re unsure.

19 On Saturday, January 29, Park Street was brought to a standstill as Britain’s first dual uphill bike challenge came to Bristol. Cyclists from all different disciplines - road, BMX, mountain bike and fixed wheel - competed against one another one-on-one on the same uphill course. The aim was to answer the question of what was the fastest discipline. The answer that night was a custom-built, car- bon road bike ridden by Chris Metcalfe. Photo credits: Rob Passmore (www.rob-passmore.co.uk)