June 2012 [html] http://bit.ly/OapMJ2
This edition contains
This month YOU need to take action on...
4C = City Chiefs Cycling Challenge
Our Frenchie Goes Dutch
Red Route Audit
All Hands On Deck In JESMOND TONIGHT
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This month YOU need to take action on...
Are Bus Drivers Out To Get You? Are Cyclists A Menace On The Roads? The answer to both these questions is probably "no" - if only we could see the other person's point of view. So we've arranged a workshop with managers and drivers from Tyneside's bus companies to help build understanding.
We have a few spaces available, so if you're free over lunchtime on Wednesday 27th June, get in touch with Tanja to book your place!
Remember - we rely on YOUR participation to make the campaign a success. 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
4C = City Chiefs Cycling Challenge
Good news! Positive noises! We had fantastic news from Cllr Nick Forbes, leader of Newcastle City Council. who thinks last year's 4C is something worth repeating!
We're currently awaiting a date to take our city chiefs 'roon toon - likely to be in September (when we get our best weather). On wor bikes, naturally. With an added street-talk element this time. So check back our events page (http://newcycling.org/events) for a finalised date, and do come along! It's likely to be an evening.
In the meantime... Katja had a look at what's next for Newcastle and urges politicians to make 2012 the year of asking probing questions.
Our Frenchie Goes Dutch
Last month our Claire Prospert headed back over the sea to visit the land of windmills, wooden shoes and bicycles. Claire had booked herself onto one of David Hembrow's study tours of cycling facilities around Assen and Groningen in the Netherlands. The trip - funded out of Claire's own pocket - was a real eye-opener.
It was clear that there's a reason why 40% of all trips in Grongingen are by bike, and contrary to what some people say, it has nothing to do with the lack of hills.
You can read the full story on the web site's News Pages, as well as seeing Claire's photos on her Flickr account, and in the local papers.
Red Route Audit
Over the summer we'll be carrying out an audit of Newcastle's "Red Route" (is this it's official name? We don't know, and Newcastle Council are uncharacteristically vague about this). As it stands we don't think the design of this route is good enough for creating a safe place for people to cycle.
This cycle route that has been created by Newcastle City Council. It runs in both directions between the Tyne Bridge and the Civic Centre, and will also be part of the National Cycle Network route 725. It's being promoted as a major route through Newcastle City centre, and was even part of the discussion surrounding our 2010 petition.
However we feel that it's badly designed and does little to creating a route that is safe to cycle on. Previous attempts at raising this with the council have been dismissed, as we have been told that the route is up to standard. The trouble is that there are NO NATIONAL STANDARDS for cycle routes - just guidance from the DfT, which councils can chose to ignore when it's inconvenient.
With Newcastle Council being committed to getting 20% of all local journeys being made by bike within 10 years, the routes they implement need to be first class, not second rate.
So over the next couple of months, we'll be out riding the route, taking photos and video footage of problems, and proposing fixes to problems.
Obviously this is a lot easier if we have people to hold cameras, measure path widths, and generally lend a hand - even if just for half an hour or so. If you're familiar with the route from the Tyne Bridge to the Civic Centre (maybe it's on your commuting route?), so much the better.
If that sounds like YOU, get in touch with Scott!
All Hands On Deck In JESMOND TONIGHT
The good cycle residents of Jesmond are galvanising! So much so that ward councillors support for cycling is strong and a special meeting has been organised for 20 June (TODAY!).
This is following the Let's Talk survey which a record number of folks have completed, according to Newcastle City Council. Council officers were very happy as the cycle survey drew in more registrations to their Let's Talk website. One hand washes the other! Let's Talk is the "only gig in The Toon" to tell the council what you think. We suggest you get registered and turn up - apologies for the late notice.
All hands on handlebars!