Hello Supporter
Welcome to our October update... Lots of news to cover this month!
Remember, the campaign relies heavily on its members to be effective. You can get involved directly, or if there's cycling-related stuff going on that you think we've missed, please let us know.
Always copy us into communications with third parties (council officers, Councillors, bus or taxi operators to name a few popular ones). And let us know when you’ve received a reply. It really works!
Keep on pedalling!
Your management committee for the Newcastle Cycling Campaign
Bicycle Festival Weekend
It’s the lovely Recyke y’Bike’s 5th birthday this year (having saved over 8,000 bikes since they started) and the Campaign have joined up with them and other friends to organise what will hopefully be the first Bicycle Festival of many.
It starts on Friday 28th October with a mass cycle ride and treasure hunt, followed by short films (including another chance to see Beauty And The Bike), panel debates, music and food at Star and Shadow Cinema (located at the top of Stepney Bank - use your granny gear if you're coming up from the Quayside!).
Saturday 29th is an open day at Recyke y’Bike and on Sunday 30th there will be a cycle ride and a chance to watch the film ‘Breaking Away’ at the Tyneside Cinema.
Full details at http://bicyclefestival.wordpress.com/, and to reserve your place for Friday night at the Star and Shadow, call Recyke y'bike on 0191 265 41 97 - see you there!
Bikes On the Metro
Our call for a sensible debate around bikes on the Metro continues.
Following our report to Nexus and DB Regio we posed some direct questions to Bernard Garner, Director General of Nexus in a BBC Radio Newcastle feature on the 27th September. We didn’t get any straight answers but there was a lot of 'bicycle buzz' on the show (thanks to everyone who phoned-in, texted, tweeted), and you can be sure this is an issue we’ll continue to press on.
Sick Of Inconsiderate Parking?
Living Streets are asking you to voice your concerns to your Councillors and have prepared a draft letter (available here) to help you do so. Living Streets (formerly the Pedestrian Association) do not include for cycling so we would recommend adding in the difficulties and dangers this creates for you as a cyclist.
An addition something like...
"The difficulty for cyclists is that they are pushed further into the road, often finding themselves in conflict with oncoming and overtaking vehicles. In addition to inconsiderate parking, selfish driving habits can pose a real danger to cyclists (and fear and conflict is the reason most people state for not cycling). We call upon the council to develop a parking strategy, as well as getting tough on inconsiderate and dangerous driving habits and start a real debate about fair space delineation on our streets."
... to the standard Living Streets letter template would probably hit the spot!
What Do Cyclists Want?
We organised a poll to see what other Cycle Campaign groups see as being the main priority to support cycling. The verdict was loud and clear:
Good quality cycling infrastructure!
Some of our members have done a great job of getting out and about with their local ward Councillors. Many thanks for this, and let’s hope it makes a difference. If anyone else would like to have a go, take a look at our guide to contacting your local Councillor. You can even plan your own Infrastructure Safari: read more here.
Newcastle Cycling Strategy
Cllr Nigel Todd, the new chair of the council’s cycling forum, has assured us that he is keen to see the cycling strategy approved by full council, hopefully in December 2011. An action plan will complement the strategy, and council officers are working on it.
The latest draft is available on Newcastle City Council's website.
Cycling Culture
Retuning from her holidays in Germany, Katja was enthused about cycling and has blogged about it. Have a look at the photos - everyone cycles!
|
