CYCLE CTC’S ROUND UP OF CYCLING NEWS, VIEWS AND EVENTS Bike fund bonanza Left: Ben Searle. Opposite: [email protected] Bristol named first cycling city and 11 new cycling towns announced across England Plans for much of Cycling Towns and first Cycling cycle use in London 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 Blackpool, Cambridge, Chester, Colchester, Leighton/Linslade, Shrewsbury, Southend on Sea, Southport with Ainsdale, Stoke, Woking, and York. These are in addition to the existing Cycling Towns of Aylesbury, Brighton, Darlington, Derby, Exeter and Lancaster. 6 CYCLE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2008 SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSNET CTC’s weekly email newsletter – send your CTC membership number to [email protected] 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. AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2008 CYCLE 7 CYCLE 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.