Newcastle Cycling Campaign

Month: November 2013

Love cycling? So Going Dutch it is!

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The long-awaited Love Cycling Go Dutch conference took place in Newcastle on 5 November and it was a great success. More than 130 policy makers, decision takers and designers (those who can and want to make a difference) attended and whilst we would have liked the higher ranks to turn up, the mix of practitioners from across the region, campaigners and cycling organisations was excellent and led to a good debate. Image 1 – Not an empty seat on sight at the kick off! Image 2 – Christian Wolmar, Chair of the Conference and Paul Goldsmith, co-founder of Cycling Tynedale[…]

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Scott reports from Amsterdam

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Amsterdam: where bike is king This story is part of our youReport series. We proudly say we are looking to learn from cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam. The Copenhagenize Index (humbly) lists Amsterdam as the best cycle city in the world, with Copenhagen (youReport here) a close second. Copenhagenize says “The city continues to do well in nearly every category. Amsterdam does almost everything right. What the city lacks in a uniform infrastructure design it more than makes up for with its impressive saturation of bicycle traffic in the compact city centre”. This is what Amsterdam looks and feels like[…]

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Cycle campaigner invited to give evidence at Commons

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A submission from Newcycling (Newcastle’s cycling campaign) led to the Transport Committee inviting the group’s chair to give evidence to MPs at a hearing in the House of Commons, London, discussing cycle safety. Katja Leyendecker, chair, says “I still can’t believe Newcycling was selected to represent their view on cycling safety. They are interested to get a perspective from outside London. It feels a bit unreal, but I am up for it of course. “This invite has come as a total surprise, but also at the right time. We recently warned the council. They have to take action now to[…]

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Jesmond Library : Building a transport system for a sustainable society

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Speaker: Katja Leyendecker Katja is an engineer and chair of the Newcastle Cycling Campaign. Her talk will cover how we can develop sustainable transport within Jesmond so that everyone, young and old, can get around more easily. Entry fee £3 About Jesmond Library Talks series: Jesmond in 2020: how it might change and how this could benefit us all A series of talks organized by Transition Jesmond to look at the future of Jesmond in the light of current trends in energy, transport and the environment. To ensure maximum benefit, attendance at the whole series is encouraged though you may[…]

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Northumbria University – design project

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Katja spoke to Northumbria University design students who are working on a cycling-related project this semester. Northumbria University (Industrial Design) November 2013 from Katsdekker Anthony Forsyth, the course organiser, has worked for Copenhagen in Denmark and Malmö in Sweden, and he talked with incredible knowledge and lucidity talked about cycling and just how different Newcastle is to these cities. We’ll keep an eye on how the projects develop. And maybe even be invited to judge the finals. Anthony Forsyth, Northumbria University from Katsdekker On Yer Bike investigation topics 1. How can we encourage more women to cycle in the city[…]

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Transport Committee – Cycling safety: follow up

Consultation replies

To a call by the Transport Committee – Cycling safety: follow up Newcycling (Newcastle’s cycling campaign, 1,200 members, volunteer organisation, constituted, formed in 2010 ) would like to respond to your request about views on cycling safety. We will comment on cycle safety purely in the context of urban transport cycling. Specifically you ask to answer three questions: 1) Whether cycling is safe, particularly in towns and cities We believe that the current road environment makes cycling a transport option available only to the ‘brave and fit’ thereby leaving dormant the large majority of the population and the potential of[…]

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Primary pedal principles

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Following the very successful Go Dutch conference and ThinkBike workshop, and keeping a watchful eye on the tragic deaths unfolding in London, Newcycling (Newcastle’s cycling campaign), has put together design principles on road layouts for Local Authorities. The group hopes that this way existing UK guidelines are strengthened, as their document closes some gaps and further explains what’s needed when designing for mass cycling. Katja Leyendecker, chair of the group, says “It was great to see the Dutch come to Newcastle in early November. And it was particularly exhilarating to see that we agree with their approach of sustainable road[…]

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Yi-Li reports from Taiwan

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Taiwan: keen to build tracks on back of leisure success This story is part of our youReport series. A Rhode Island university friend of Katja’s recalls this about her native Taiwan: I used to ride the bike to go to school during junior High school for 3 years. At the time, it was very common for the Taiwanese to ride the bike to go to school or to work. Nowadays bikes are not used anymore as a main traffic tool for transportation. Instead of the bike, people use mainly motorcycles or drive the car. But, recently (actually since a couple[…]

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Gav reports from Tenerife

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Tenerife : spot-checking a two-way track This story is part of our youReport series. Gav posted this photo on our facebook group a couple of months ago, and why would we not share it with you! In Tenerife not to take to the bicycle, there certainly seems little excuse on weather grounds… we learn “there is one very significant reason why Tenerife is a great winter cycling destination: Mount Teide itself. Although not the highest road in Europe, it is the longest continuous ascent as you have the opportunity to start the climb from sea level” as Cycling Weekly reports.[…]

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