DORSET CYCLISTS’ NETWORK www.dcn.org.uk founded 1992 Newsletter no 51 November 2005 Recommended price to non-members: 50p campaigning for all cyclists in Dorset TWO PLANS TO COMMENT ON That means all DCN members, please ! LOCAL TRANSPORT PLANS THE FUTURE'S NOT ORANGE by Michael Evans and John Pritchard IT'S GREEN(LINK) ! Two draft plans have been drawn up for the by Michael Evans and John Pritchard future of transport in Dorset over the next 5 The government has asked planners to look at the years. One covers South-East Dorset (the opportunity of providing land for between 40,000 conurbation plus most of East Dorset) and the and 50,000 new homes over the next 20 years in other covers the rest of the county. South East Dorset. That could generate 80,000 to 100,000 extra people according to East Dorset These are consultation documents, and DCN District Council. will be sending in comments about them. This will make greater demands on transport and But it is open to every cyclist to see and recreational facilities which must be managed comment personally on the reports, which are effectively, otherwise unrestricted growth in traffic available to read at libraries and council offices, and informal recreation will have disastrous and on their web sites. consequences for wildlife, the environment and health. The consultation period ends at the end of The Greenlink Partnership has just started November. Don’t delay - read the report and addressing this with consultative meetings at which send in your observations now, or lose any DCN has been represented. However, key decision chance you might have for persuading Councils makers will only make the right choices if, as part to make better provision for cycling in the of a wider consultation, they become convinced of future! the demand for greater provision of safe walking and cycling routes within the conurbation and See Page 3 for details of how to see a copy of the LTP. Continued on page 5 IN THIS ISSUE 2 DCN contacts 9 Poole 16 Letters; Aches and Pains? 3 Diary; Poole Harbour Trail: 10 Sturminster Marshall; Bikes 18 Police Sustrans trails in public service 19 national & international 4 Bournemouth 11 Bike hire 21 Helmets; Silly signs 5 Streets Ahead; Climate 12 Weymouth & Portland 22 Useful contacts; Cycle change 13 Wimborne training 6 New DCN officers; Arts 14 Pollution; Flashing cycle 23 Hi-Vis order form; Institute; Ferry news lights; 3rd part insurance Discounts 7 Purbeck 15 Cycle history 24 Membership information 1 DORSET CYCLISTS’ NETWORK Founded in Wimborne in 1992, DCN now covers most of Dorset. Our main aim is to promote cycling in the County. A committee, elected annually, is responsible for policy, general management and finance. The Branches below are responsible for promoting cycling in their areas. Membership is open to all. DCN is affiliated to the Cycling Campaign Network (CCN), the Cyclists Touring Club (CTC) and Sustrans. We are members of the Dorset Cycling Liaison Forum and agents for the Environmental Transport Association. Our Constitution, policies and minutes are available to members by sending a stamped addressed envelope or e-mail to the Chairman DCN County Committee Chairman Michael Evans QPM Dorchester Roland Tarr Farrs Coach House, Wimborne BH21 4EL 70 Monmouth Rd, Dorchester DT1 2DG 01202 880966 fax 0870 130 6358 01305 262359 [email protected] [email protected] County Secretary John Pritchard Lyme Regis Julian Bond 3 Alexandra Street, Blandford Forum DT11 7EY Spinney, Rocombe, Lyme Regis DT7 3RR 01258 455699 [email protected] 01297 444595 [email protected] Membership Secretary Peter Watkins 1a Greenhill Close, Colehill, Wimborne BH21 2RQ Poole Bob Frew 01202 884122 [email protected] “Hillcrest” 17 High Park Road, Poole BH18 9DE 01202 693480 [email protected] Treasurer Michael Woodhall 10 Wentworth Avenue, Bournemouth BH5 2ED Purbeck John Thraves 01202 268838 [email protected] 5 Trinity Close, Trinity Lane, Wareham BH20 4LL 01929 554550 [email protected] Blandford John Pritchard (see County Secretary) [email protected] Sherborne Mark Brettell 4 Huish Farm Cottages, Bradford Abbas, DT9 6RE Bournemouth Ann Davis 01935 410462 [email protected] 5A Warren Edge Close, Bournemouth BH6 4EG 01202 432056 [email protected] Weymouth & Portland Mike Kelly 13 Viscount Road, Weymouth DT4 9EP Bridport Matthew Beeching 01305 775363 [email protected] Hillview, Dodhams Lane, Bridport DT6 3DY 01308 421381 Wimborne Michael Evans (see Chairman) [email protected] Christchurch vacant Enquiries to [email protected] (see page 22 for Christchurch Borough Council contact) Advertising Rates BE SAFE - BE SEEN Commercial Buy a DCN £56 per year full page approx 18cm x 12 cm ½ page £28 ; ¼ page £14 high-visibility waistcoat includes free DCN web site entry for only £3.00 Members’ private ads Free, but we welcome a donation Order form on page 23 if you make a sale or collect for only £2.50 All enquiries: [email protected] by appointment with Jonathan Aris or by post to Chairman DCN 01202 718000 The newsletter is compiled by the Chairman and published in February, May, August and November. Deadlines are 1st day of January, April, July and October. Send copy by e-mail or clearly typed to Chairman DCN. Images in JPG please. Send s.a.e. for return of photos, cartoons and other artwork 2 Rides & Events Visit the DCN web site for updates Entries on this page are free. Send details to the Chairman Sunday 6 Nov West Dorset CTC DCN Wimborne ride Saturday Saunters Michael & Valerie Evans 01202 880966 Every two weeks, starts alternating between Weymouth (RSPB hut, Swannery Car Park) and Sunday 4 Dec. Dorchester (Top o'Town cafe). 10.15 for 10.30 DCN Wimborne ride start. About 25 leisurely miles with pub/cafe/ David Bourne 01202 882721 picnic lunch. Quiet lanes, no one left behind. Gail 01305 261345 or www.wessexctc.org/ Saturday Mornings in the New Forest Meet 8.45am every Saturday See also Page 7 for at the Pioneer Store Car Park, Christchurch or Winter rides with DCN Purbeck 9am near “The Oak PH”, Burton. Return by noon. 20 miles. Car park available. Just turn up. Local Transport Plans Poole Harbour Trail continued from page 1 A story of great voluntary effort As well as being available at libraries and Bernard Corby and Peter Strudwick of Poole Council offices. copies can be downloaded free have spent the past few years lobbying MPs, on the internet or ordered on payment from the Councils, the RSPB, the Harbour Authority and phone nos below. English Nature in order to create a trail around Poole Harbour. They have achieved a lot and South East Dorset provisional LTP many sections can now be used by walkers and www.bournemouth.gov.uk/ltpweb/ltphome.htm some by cyclists. There are difficulties on the Philip Shearing 01202 454678 (Bournemouth) Upton to Wareham stretch. Ken Pearce 01202 262041 (Poole) Poole Council have committed £10,000 towards matched funding and the result of a bid to Rural Dorset provisional LTP AONB funding is awaited. www.dorsetforyou.com/localtransportplan There is potential for this trail to link into Steve Williams 01305 224258 (Dorset CC) existing and planned cycle routes and to create commuting routes between Wareham and Poole. You need to get moving because To find out more or to offer support, contact the consultation period ends Bernard Corby 01202 382323 on 2 December. [email protected] DCN member Susy Ellis has spotted these CORNWALL The Camel Trail Bodmin to fairly easy cycle trails around the UK Padstow 17 miles. which you might well fit into one of your SOUTH WALES The Celtic Trail Kidwelly to future trips. More information about these Llanelli 18 miles PEAK DISTRICT Ashbourne and back 13 and other parts of the 10,000 mile National miles Cycle Network as well as the book KENT Crab & Winkle Way around Canterbury “Cycling in the UK” can be obtained from 7½ miles Sustrans 0845 1130065 or SCOTLAND Edinburgh to Forth Bridge 11 www.sustrans.org.uk miles YORKSHIRE Selby to Beningbrough 24 miles 3 Bournemouth DCN contact: Ann Davis Ann Davis, DCN’s new representative ways of overcoming this, but feels that the in Bournemouth, writes: ultimate goal should be to achieve mandatory status. The Council will also look at the narrow road over the railway to see what improvements When I moved to Bournemouth 3 years ago can be made for cyclists’ safety at this pinch I realised it could be a wonderful town for point. cycling: great climate, few hills, and wonderful surroundings ideally suited to Council rivalry in Bike Week! cycling. But it is not very cycle-friendly from Richard Barnes, Bournemouth Council and I would like to contribute to some improvements in this field by working During Bike Week the Borough of Poole through DCN. challenged Bournemouth Borough Council to see DCN is a local organisation where I can put which council could get the most staff cycling to work during the Monday to Friday of Bike Week. forward your ideas and problems about A day’s cycling counted as 10 points but cycling and help bring about improvements participating senior officers counted as 25 points for you, whether you cycle to work or shop, and councillors as 50 points. Congratulations to for exercise or recreation. Poole who got 3105 points but Bournemouth got a After working in education for most of respectable 2405. It was very encouraging that the my career I spent some time working in Chief Executive of Bournemouth participated. financial services. I chaired Southampton CAB for several years, and later served on We offer a the Southampton Hospitals Trust Board for Warm Welcome at 4 years.