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Celebrating Cycling Newsletter No. 36
REGULAR EVENTS
Go Ride - Last session for 2007 THIS SATURDAY
A NEW cycling club for young people. Go Ride has been running very Saturday at Salt Ayre (10am - 12 pm) since June. Saturday 13th is the final session for 2007 but Go Ride will return in the Spring.
Go-Ride gives young people the opportunity to learn the essentials in bike handling techniques, specific skills training as well as the chance to progress to racing both on and off road.
For more information contact Paul Andrews on 01524 36777 or go to www.celebratingcycling.org/more_info.asp?current_id=219
WHAT'S ON IN OCTOBER.....
'Bike to School – Make it happen!'
9.30am – 3pm, Thursday 18th October @ Lancaster Town Hall
FREE Workshop
Are you interested in promoting cycling to a school you are involved with? This workshop is aimed at staff, parents and governors who are interested in practical help to increase cycling to school. The workshop is being organised by Sustrans 'Safe Routes to School' team and Bike It Officer Kathy Bashford, with input from many local partners including the Cycle Demonstration Town team, LCC School Travel Plan team and Healthy Schools. Bursaries are available to cover teacher supply and childcare costs, and some travel expenses.
For more information or to register please call 01179150100 / email schools@sustrans.org.uk
or register online at www.saferoutestoschools.org.uk/ (click on events).
Cycle Skills for Children
As part of the October Half Term Activity Programme we are again offering Cycle Skills courses for children aged 6 -9.
These courses will be all off road and are open to all abilities and will be lots of fun. Please bring a roadworthy bike.
Children under 8 should be accompanied by an adult. Sessions cost £5
Weds 24th October: 10am - 12pm or 1pm - 3pm @ Salt Ayre Sports Centre
Register at Salt Ayre or contact the booking information line on 842493 (Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm)
Dynamo (Lancaster & District Cycle Campaign) AGM
Tuesday 16 October at 7.15 pm, upstairs in the Gregson Centre, Moor Lane, Lancaster.
We will start the evening by reviewing the past year and progress towards making Lancaster and Morecambe cycle-friendly places.
The main theme of the evening, however, will be family cycling, and getting kids on bikes. Stuart Wickes and Kirstie Pelling will give an illustrated talk on their seven weeks spent pedalling from Land's End to John O'Groats. With their three young children, they completed this epic trip during the school summer holidays. To complement this, Sustrans Bike It Officer, Kathy Bashford, will give an update on cycling in the district's schools.
Further information from dynamocycle@btinternet.com
Wheely Good Communities Events for October
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Every Tuesday - CARNFORTH TROLLEY DASH
Leaves Burton Square 9.15am, back by 11.45. Join us and do your errands by bike. All welcome.
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Free Bike Check Ups
Sunday 21st 11am 1pm at Burton Memorial Hall followed by......
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Family Friendly Ride to RSPB Leighton Moss (free entry)
Leaves Burton Memorial Hall 1.30pm, back by 4.30pm
Full ride details at www.wheelygoodcommunities.org or call Stuart/Kirstie on 01524 782351 / email: wheelygood@familyonabike.org
Wheely Good Communities Open Meeting
Monday 29 Oct, 7.30pm, Club Room, Burton Memorial Hall
Come and tell us how we can help you get on your bike. Let us tell you what's available. Help us with ideas to make our villages cycle friendly or tell us what puts you off. Come and see some of the family cycling gear available for you to borrow. All welcome, especially non cyclists. We welcome your input and ideas with no commitment. Don't be shy.
Wheely Good Communities is a volunteer led community project that aims to encourage cycling in and around South Lakeland villages of Burton in Kendal, Holme, Hutton Roof, Priest Hutton, Borwick, Yealand Conyers, Yealand Redmayne. For more details contact Stuart Wickes or Kirstie Pelling on 01524 782351 or see www.wheelygoodcommunities.org
Life Cycle
Jump on your bike in Breast Cancer Awareness Month and take part in our tenth annual Life Cycle challenge!
LifeCycle takes place throughout the month of October and is a fun challenge which you can undertake on a spinning bike, static bike in the gym, or on your bicycle in the great outdoors. Cycle either 50 miles in one month, 25 miles in one day or another distance of your choice whilst raising sponsorship for Breast Cancer Campaign. The highest individual fundraiser will win a top of the range bike from Evans Cycles!
If you would like to register your interest for this year’s event, please email lifecycle@breastcancercampaign.org or call Janine on 020 7749 3700 for more information.
2008 Events
Over the coming months we shall start to think about possible events and activities for 2008. If you have any ideas about events you'd like to see take place in 2008 then please get in touch. Email your ideas to celebratingcycling@lancaster.gov.uk
BIKE TO BAILRIGG
A new leaflet has just been produced aimed at students cycling to / from Lancaster University. Entitled 'A Student's Guide to Cycling at Lancaster University', the handy guide gives a brief outline to cycling to/from the University including information on the local network, getting a bike and where to find out more. The leaflet also includes special offers for local students and a great competition.
Copies can be downloaded from www.celebratingcycling.org (Work, School & Play - Cycling to College - Bike to Bailrigg), by calling 01524 582086 or from the Estates Dept at Lancaster University.
LOCAL NETWORK IMPROVEMENTS
Lancaster Canal
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Work is now complete at Carnforth linking the towpath to North Road (a Sustrans Links to School project).
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Work has now started in Lancaster to improve the towpath between Aldcliffe Road and Ashton Road.
Advisory cycle lanes will be added on Ashton Road to improve access to Ashford Road, signing will be provided to the existing University route from Hala. This will provide an alternative route to South Lancaster and the University. (Negotiations are currently taking place to allow cycling through Haverbreaks).
Westgate
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Work is nearing completion to convert footways to shared use between White Lund Rd and Langridge Way on the southern side of Westgate (funded by planning gain from the new Lidl store).
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In November/December further work will take place on the northern side of Westgate between Altham Rd and Winthorpe Avenue (connecting to the Lancaster Morecambe Greenway).
New Parking
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Londis Supermarket, Hest Bank
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Smugglers Den (Pub), Morecambe
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Torrisholme Cricket Club
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Regent Park, Morecambe
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Plus new secure storage has just been provided at Lancaster Town Hall for use by staff and Councillors
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We are currently exploring the potential for providing secure cycle parking within Lancaster city centre. In order to take this further we are interested in assessing likely demand for such a facility. We're interested in your thoughts so if you haven't already done so please take a couple of minutes to complete the following online questionnaire at www.celebratingcycling.org/images/secureparking.htm
Other Work (taking place soon)
* Completion of work at Central Drive incl new zebra crossing and shared use path linking to the Greenway. Note that the developer of the Morrison's site has recently started work on widening the path between Hilmore Road and West End Road.
* Upgrading of existing path between Gressingham Drive and Bowerham Road (by Moorside Primary School) plus a short section of shared use path on Bowerham Road (scheme still subject to approval).
* Signage Strategy - implementation of phase 2
* Phoenix St contraflow and toucan crossing on Parliament St - January 2008
OTHER NEWS
Active Living Fund
The fund will give small grants to fund projects and activities that directly lead to people taking part in sustained physical activity. The aim of the fund is to help remove the “barriers” which stop people being active.
The fund provides financial help to individuals and groups involved in making physical activity more affordable and more practical for members of their community. If you’re part of a local sporting or fitness organisation, why not see if you qualify for a grant?
www.kelloggs.co.uk/company/corporateresponsibility/activelivingfund/
Ride a bike? You must be rich
[from The Times]
The richer people become the further they cycle, according to official figures overturning conventional wisdom that the bicycle is largely a poor man’s mode of transport. The richest fifth of the population cycle on average 2½ times as far in a year as the poorest fifth.
The Department for Transport’s National Travel Survey indicates that the poorest fifth, despite being five times less likely to have access to a car, are very unlikely to consider cycling as a solution to their transport needs. The London Cycling Campaign said that people on higher incomes tended to be better educated about the health benefits of cycling and more concerned with maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Studies have shown that regular cyclists typically enjoy a level of fitness equivalent to someone 10 years younger, and those cycling regularly beyond their mid-thirties add two years to their life expectancy. A spokesman for the campaign said: “People on lower incomes may be more concerned with the need to earn money than worrying about what constitutes healthy living or about the issue of climate change and how cycling is the greenest option.”
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2500754.ece
UK tourists 'get on their bikes'
[from the BBC]
The report found 16% of UK adults had been on a cycling holiday. A growing number of British holidaymakers are spending their breaks on two wheels, a survey suggests. In 2006, Britons took 450,000 cycling holidays - up 30% on the previous year, according to analysts Mintel.
UK tourists spent £120m on such holidays in 2006, the report added, with the Tour de France's arrival in England generating interest. Richard Cope, senior travel consultant at Mintel, said: "Britain is becoming a nation of cycling enthusiasts." He added: "Cycling has been given a new lease of life by recent environmental issues such as sustainable transport, carbon emissions and eco travel."
In total, the survey found that 16% of UK adults - 8m people - have already been on a cycling holiday and 12% (6m) would like to do so in the future. The survey also found that a further 2.25m holidays taken by people from the UK included a cycling trip of some kind, such as one-day bike hire or a cycling tour of a city.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6957019.stm
Every cyclist saves £400
Every time a car driver converts to cycling, it saves almost £400 a year, a study showed today. The savings, calculated for the first time, result from reduced costs to the NHS and employers through lower sickness rates and less congestion.
A 20 per cent increase in cycling would save more than £500 million by 2012, said the report by Cycling England. An increase of 50 per cent would deliver savings of more than £1.3 billion.
CYCLING STAFF VACANCIES
Positions for Cycling and Health Sessional Workers
Cycling Projects are a leading cycling charity with a remit in health, inclusion and disability access. Opportunities have arisen within several projects across the Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire regions.
As part of a £30 million lottery funded active travel project, Sustrans / Cycling Projects are looking for people to help run Active Travel Projects in the North West, including projects in Chorley, South Ribble and Accrington.
Cycling Projects are looking for enthusiastic, energetic individuals and those with a desire to help and support community members through health and rehabilitation initiatives via the mode of cycling. The positions come with a competitive rate of pay, flexible working hours and opportunities for training and long term support.
If you think this could be you and interested in knowing more about the roles then please contact – Ian Tierney 0161 745 9099 or ian.tierney@cycling.org.uk.
http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3352
15 new development posts across England.
This exciting expansion of CTC's work programme sees new posts for managers and development officers. Click here to learn about our new schemes.
As a partner in the Active Travel Consortium, a consortium of leading walking, cycling and health organisations, the CTC Charitable Trust has been awarded £4.5 million from the Big Lottery Fund’s Well-being programme to fund our Cycling Champions programme. This exciting new initiative will bring cycling activities to new and beginner cyclists by working with community groups and partner organisations across England.