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Bike fund

bonanza Left: Ben Searle. Opposite: [email protected] named first cycling city and 11 new cycling towns announced across

Plans for much of Cycling Towns and first Cycling cycle use in has now ‘The place of cycling in our the £140 million City. They will share £47.5m increased by 91% since 2000, society is set to grow, and I am b extra funding for of Cycling England’s £140m with over half a million cycle committed to doing everything cycling (Cycle, February- budget over the next three trips being made in the capital possible to encourage that.’ March 2008) were announced years. Together with match- each day. Meanwhile, The Welsh during this year’s Bike Week funding from local sources, Encouraging Londoners to Assembly Government has in June. Eleven new Cycling the total three-year outlay on take up cycling in Bike Week, offered CTC a grant of £250,000 Towns and the first Cycling ‘Cycling Towns and Cities’ will Boris Johnson said: ‘Riding and over the next three years to City, Bristol, will share in the be around £100 million. maintaining a bike won’t break help develop cycle training in Government money going London Mayor Boris Johnson the bank, and no one can deny Wales. The funding, which will to Cycling England, while also chose Bike Week to its green credentials or value to enable 100 people to be trained London will continue to announce £55m of investment health.’ as National Standard cycle invest heavily in cycling in in cycling for this year, topping A week later, Gordon Brown instructors, was announced by the capital. the average of £500m for himself made a commitment Wales’s Environment Minister Transport secretary walking and cycling over 10 to support cycling. Speaking Jane Davidson at a conference Secretary Ruth Kelly unveiled years that Ken Livingstone had at the launch of a six-day cycle on walking and cycling. See the winning bids to become promised. He also revealed racing event to take place in www.ctc.org.uk/resources/ Cycling England’s 11 new new figures showing that East London next year, he said: Press_Archive/WelshAssembly.

Cycling towns winners The winning bids for Cycling England’s ‘Cycling Towns and Cities’ funding are: Bristol (cycling city), plus , , , Colchester, Leighton/Linslade, , Southend on Sea, Southport with Ainsdale, Stoke, , and . These are in addition to the existing Cycling Towns of , Brighton, Darlington, , and Lancaster.

6 cycle august/september 2008 Subscribe

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FROM CTC council simon legg

The Brooks saddle. Its leather feels tough at first blush, a bit awkward, even uncomfortable. Yet it’s neither rigid nor unyielding, and the time you spend sitting on it pays dividends. It becomes shaped by you and for you. As with the Brooks, so with Fuelling the bike boom the CTC Council. Having risked ridicule with your election address, having persuaded ten CTC has launched a dedicated Bike to CTC Bike to Work has been launched at a of your fellow members sign b Work package to support people leaving special price of £52 for new members, our target your nomination papers, having their cars for bicycles, in anticipation of a boom in was to make it only £1 per week for combined persuaded people you’ve never commuter cycling caused by higher fuel prices. CTC membership and our established breakdown met to vote for you, you arrive, After the last oil crisis in 1979 when fuel prices assistance. Breakdown cover ensures that if you you’re given a folder of papers rocketed, cycling increased by almost 40%. With are unable to complete your journey as a result of to read by way of a catch-up exercise, and you sit in the fuel prices higher than ever recorded CTC expects an accident, vandalism or irreparable breakdown meetings feeling like a cyclist many motorists to leave their cars at home and go (excluding punctures) then you and your bike will sitting on a new Brooks. to work by bike instead. be taken to a station, bike shop, home or work. And then the penny drops. CTC Director Kevin Mayne said: ‘CTC members For existing CTC members, breakdown cover is You’re in charge. You came know that the bike is a cheap, quick, healthy and available separately for £30. For more information here with a purpose. CTC environmentally friendly way to commute. We see www.ctc.org.uk/commuter or call 0800 212 history is yours for the making. also know that as regular motorists try cycling as 810 and quote your membership number. The things you wanted to an alternative they are often nervous about the It’s not just commuters who bike to work who do – about local groups or change. This product provides comfort in a familiar save money. According to a study by Cycling the membership service or breakdown package just like the one they have for England every new cyclist contributes an whatever else – are things you their cars. Existing members could recommend economic benefit of up to £382 to the nation. can do. And this it where it it to anyone they know who is worried about their For more on how CTC is encouraging cycle happens. The saddle belongs ability to complete a ride after a breakdown.’ commuting, see opposite and Swindon story (p12). to you. You shape it. CTC Council membership is pretty much what you make it. You have duties and liabilities that are straightforward, and not that onerous in terms of CTC Council wants you time. For the rest, you take on what you think you can do. My At the end of this year eight seats become vacant on CTC Council. You could fill one three years has been spent in b of them and help determine the future of CTC. The way that CTC works – from a day- correspondence with members. to-day basis to the strategy for the next five years – is set by Council based on what they Your chosen mission might believe members want and what they think is in the best interests of CTC. be entirely different. That’s Members of Council are elected for a three-year period to represent the members in for you to decide. All I know their region, and now is the time for councillors representing East of England, London, West is this: if you’re one of the Midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber to be elected for the three years starting on 1st many members who’ve looked January 2009. Two members are to be elected for each region. at what CTC Council does Have a look at the CTC website, or talk to an existing councillor or the Director at National and known you could do Office, if you want to know what is involved. You could also come along to a Council meeting better… this is your chance. to see how Council works in practice (phone Sue Cherry at National Office if you are Nominations are open for several areas. interested). Nomination forms (which need to be returned to National Office by 15th August) You don’t need to be an are also available on the website or from National Office and include the requirements for expert, although enthusiasm – standing. Council wants to ensure that it is representative of all CTC members, and needs to like neatsfoot oil – is essential. have a balance of skills amongst its members; you could be the ideal candidate.

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news FROM THE in brief campaigns Dept Cycling Membership move Roger geffen The postal address for Photo: Jason Patient I was pleased CTC membership is is the to be called now: CTC Membership Dept, PO Box 416, to give Twickenham, TW1 9GDs evidence to prescription the Commons CTC Prize Draw Transport Select CTC Summer Draw The NHS has set up a new Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) to Committee’s tickets are included b reduce its carbon footprint. Given the pressures on the Department of inquiry on road with this magazine Health and the NHS also to tackle obesity and promote physical activity, this safety. The MPs on this cross- and there are £4,000 worth of prizes. Tickets opens up the opportunity to persuade the NHS to become Britain’s ultimate party group seemed receptive raise funds for CTC cycle-friendly employer. With 5 million employees, the NHS is the largest to the message that road safety Charitable Trust, so employer in Europe, and NHS-related travel accounts for 5% of UK journeys. is important not just as an end please don’t bin them. Public health professionals are already receptive. As reported last issue, in itself – preventing deaths If you can’t sell them the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) has joined Sustrans and injuries – but also for wider please pass them on health, environmental and to someone who can. in leading a growing coalition of over 80 organisations (including CTC) quality of life objectives. The To receive extra tickets whose ‘Take Action on Active Travel’ manifesto calls for better conditions for Government’s new road safety call 0844 736 8450. pedestrians and cyclists, with more investment in and promotion of walking CTC regrets that bulk and cycling, and targets for increased use of these modes. vision needs to be one where mailing makes it too people of any age feel safe and expensive to withhold However a recent survey by NHS Spokes, a web-based network of cycling confident getting about on foot tickets from members employees within the NHS, looked at whether NHS Trusts were practising or by bike, and allowing their who don’t want them. what they preached on promoting cycling. It looked specifically at the children to do likewise. Winners of the mileage rates being offered to NHS staff for work-related cycling, and found Road safety Minister Jim Spring Draw are: 1st that whilst the best authorities (e.g. South Gloucestershire PCT) were paying Fitzpatrick MP gave evidence prize (£2,000), G E Lee; 2nd (£1,000), K up to 50p a mile, 85% were paying less than the Treasury-approved rate of to the inquiry afterwards. Whilst Strickland; 3rd (£500), 20p/mile, 8% were paying less than the NHS national contract minimum still maintaining the current A Chamberlain. Runner rate of 6.2p and a further 14% were paying nothing at all. policy line, he seems open to up prizes (£100) go The Take Action on Active Travel manifesto is at www.adsph.org.uk/news. ideas for getting more 20mph to: Simon Binning, R php. For more on promoting cycling in the health sector see www.ctc.org. limits delivered more quickly, Lockwood, AJ Halls, uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=5085. and I am keen to follow up this and M Lines. dialogue. I believe that one of the best things that could happen for walking and cycling would be to make 20mph the norm for ‘community streets’, Vote for Cycle-Rail i.e. those where people on the street are more important than The National Cycle-Rail Awards 2008 need the traffic passing through it. b your feedback so that the people and places Plenty of continental towns and doing the most to improve cycle-rail integration get cities have 30kmh (i.e. 18mph) the recognition they deserve this autumn. limits covering 65-85% of the The deadline for nominations is 5th September. length of their street networks, You can propose winners for: CTC Station of the with higher limits applying Year; People Award; Pindar Graphics Customer only on the wider and busier Service Excellence; Most Innovative Approach to through routes. Such cities not Cycle/Rail Integration; Train Operator of the Year; only have better road safety but thriving local economies, and the Cycling England Best Local Government thanks to an environment Contribution. Nominating is easy – do it online at which supports walking, www.cyclerail.co.uk or request a printout of the form cycling and public transport. from CTC National Office, tel: 0844 736 8451. And 20mph speed limits are Last year’s winners included PC Jerry Isterling, popular too – public support who introduced a series of cycle surgeries to stands at 76% according to new educate bike owners on how to avoid falling victim Government research. to cycle theft, and Fife Council, which implemented But lower speed limits will a £500,000 cycleway from Markinch station to also need good street design Glenrothes, giving a whole community to access to backed by stronger and more and from a railway station by bike. rigorously enforced traffic laws. The awards ceremony is on 24th October in Euston, London. Details will be in the Dec/Jan issue.

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& FROM THE touring Dept mark Waters Whilst those of Gold standard us in CTC who go cycle touring The tally of medals for British cyclists prove before the summer Olympics. Liam Killeen think nothing bbegan even before the Olympic opening finished fourth with Oli Beckingsale tenth, which of heading ceremony in Beijing. In August, UK track riders should guarantee them a place in the Olympic off to Europe should get cycling onto the sports pages. In cross-country event. and other July, sprinter Mark Cavendish did the same in A few weeks earlier, mountain biking’s World ‘civilised’ parts the Tour de . But not all Cup cavalcade arrived in Fort William in the of the world using our own success stories make a splash in the national Scottish Highlands. Conditions were unusually wits and planning skills, it’s press. Back in June, British mountain bikers good, with trails dry and dusty. a very different matter when won three gold medals and two silvers in the Another Atherton, older brother Dan, carried we decide we want to tackle Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di British hopes in the 4X event. Sadly he was something a little outside the Sole, Italy. beaten into third by Australian Olympic BMXer ‘comfort zone’. Many opt for a Jarad Graves and Dutch rider Joost Wichman. CTC Cycling Holiday as a way won the men’s event, with The cross-country competition was missing of taking on a challenge such fellow Brit Steve Peat coming second. Gee’s as the Karakorum Highway, sister, Rachel Atherton, dominated the women’s French favourite Julian Absalon, and Swiss riders Bhutan or Patagonia. race, winning with an 8-second margin, while took every podium spot, with Florian Vogel first. We owe a debt of gratitude Josh Bryceland and Same Dale came first and Britain’s Oli Beckingsale was ninth. Canadian to CTC Cycle Holiday tour second in the juniors. Marie-Helene Premont won the women’s event. leaders who willingly choose The cross-country racers had everything to Downhill racing came on the final day. Rachel to lead groups to such places. Atherton was the rider to beat in the women’s One such is Peter Crofts, who is event but a big crash in the semi-final left her about to lead his 100th overseas winded. She came third, with France’s Sabrina tour. As such he is a man to be Jonnier second and Britain’s Tracy Mosely first. applauded for the amount of In the men’s race there were a number of pleasure he must have given riders with the form to take the win. ’s to so many members over the Greg Minnaar made light work of the top rocky years. CTC Cycling Holidays needs section and root-strewn woods to get the fastest experienced tourists like Peter time. Second and third went to Britain – Gee who are prepared to share their Atherton and Steve Peat. knowledge. If you think you More at www.uci.ch. could lead small groups into inhospitable and/or unusual places, then CTC Cycling Holidays would love to hear from you. On the home front, the CTC Hospitality Directory is a member service that can be overlooked, but is well worth considering becoming part of. If you are prepared to put a fellow cyclist or two up at your house for the night, then you can join the group and receive the same treatment at everyone else’s house. Administrator Neil Wheadon is hoping to get some more people on “Racing conditions board because the greater the number of participants, the at Fort William were better the directory becomes. Full details can be found on unusually good – CTC information sheet INF7, which you can download from dry and dusty” the website or request from CTC National Office. Photo: by Ian Warby

10 cycle august/september 2008 We want to know about your local news stories We’ll publish them here and on the website. Email [email protected] local news from across ctc’s regions

london news SWINDON in brief Against the flow changes to CTC Top bananas groups CTC groups will be CTC has strongly backed plans insists this could undermine drivers’ formalising their new sign up b by Kensington & Chelsea willingness to abide by ‘no entry’ structures at their Council to try out new ways of opening signs, contrary to all the evidence from AGMs in Oct-Nov. CTC is running a Workplace up one-way streets for two-way or the widespread use of this sign in Please try to attend b Cycle Challenge project in ‘contraflow’ cycling. Kensington & continental Europe. CTC was quoted the group where you live and use your Swindon as part of the Cycling Chelsea want the Department for extensively in the media, although the vote. If you’re not sure Champions programme, Transport to change the rules that BBC also claimed incorrectly that CTC which group you can encouraging the town’s cyclists to prevent councils from putting up ‘no was calling for cyclists to be allowed to vote with contact CTC get their colleagues on bikes this entry’ signs with an ‘except cycling’ turn left on red lights. Membership on 0844 summer. We have teamed up with 736 8450. plate underneath. For CTC’s position, see www.ctc.org. Thomas Stokell from Challenge for The uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=5101. Huddersfield cTC Change Ltd, who has been handing The meeting to out bananas to cyclists in Swindon establish Huddersfield explaining how they can get their CTC as a Full Member Group will be held employers signed up to the Swindon on 8th September at Workplace Cycle Challenge. 7pm at The Galpharm Five of the town’s major Stadium, Huddersfield. employers, including Swindon All local CTC members Primary Care Trust, have already are welcome. signed up, covering 3,372 employees Certificates of between them. CTC is keen to Merit work health trusts in other towns Hugh Roach has to promote workplace cycling, and organised 35 separate audaxes over 100km, has produced a guide on how 150km and 200km to be a cycle- distances. He has friendly been the CTC link with employer. Gravesend Rotary The advice is Club since 1987, and responsible for routes particularly aimed for ‘On you Bike’ at NHS trusts but Charity Rides. These much of the advice is have raised £250,000 useful for other employers too. over 25 years. He has also been Gravesend For more information on Section Chairman and, the Swindon Workplace Cycle since 2001, Secretary. Challenge project, see www. He has a seat on the swindoncyclechallenge.org. Development and DA uk. For more about CTC’s Cycle Committees and is an active club cyclist. Champions project: www.ctc.org. uk/cyclechampions. Martin Gill came london to cycling after knee problems from running. SCOTLAND For 20 years, since 1987, he has been Motorbikes in bus lanes West Kent CTC’s Scottish CTC has supported the London Cycling Campaign’s petition, which so far Hardriders’ Section has 3,500 signatures, calling on the new London Mayor Boris Johnson not Secretary, which entails cycling audit b regular weekly long to allow motorcycles in bus lanes on major roads. CTC calculates that motorcycles rides and bank holiday Cycling Scotland has published are significantly more likely than cars to be involved in collisions causing injury weekends. Since 1996 b an assessment of Scotland’s local to both cyclists and pedestrians, and that on average their emissions of various he has been Secretary authorities’ performance in promoting pollutants are 5-11 times worse than for cars. of the West Kent CTC. cycling (see www.cyclingscotland. Big achievements CTC is in no way ‘anti-motorbiker’ and shares many of their safety concerns. include organising the org/2008nationalassessment.aspx). However, we feel that policies which would encourage more motorcycling would Tour de France ‘Halfway Scotland’s Transport Minister Stewart increase pollution and danger whilst undermining efforts to promote walking House’ gathering last Stevenson MSP launched the report cycling and public transport as safer, healthy and more sustainable alternatives. summer and helping at Denny Primary School, Falkirk, and with the Canterbury CTC’s position on motorcycling, and the evidence supporting it, are at also announced plans to consult on a Birthday Rides. www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4790. Cycling Action Plan for Scotland.

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