Newcastle Cycling Campaign

Month: October 2014

consultation response image

Our response to the National Cycling Delivery Plan

Consultation replies

It took about a year and a half for the government and DfT to respond to the Get Britain Cycling report which led to an unprecedented parliamentary debate on cycling in September 2013. The Cycling Delivery Plan, which also covers walking, can be found here And this is our response to the informal consultation: ________________________ To: Department for Transport Newcycling is Newcastle’s cycling campaign; it is a voluntary and community sector organisation constituted in 2010 which represent 1,500 members. We want to see better cycling conditions and more dedicated space for cycling. Newcycling has reviewed the Cycling Delivery Plan submitted[…]

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Council cuts and desperate times? City must wake up to alternatives

Uncategorized

Cycle advocates say it’s exactly because of council cuts that business-as-usual is no longer an option and that alternatives transport systems must be explored for a fairer, affordable future, better sooner than later. Katja Leyendecker, chair of newcycling.org, says “In our complex world it can be hard to see the wood for trees sometimes. And this seems to be where Newcastle City Council presently finds itself, in a deep dark forest. Whether recent council cuts are necessary or not, they are happening and we have to adjust – for the sake of our city and its future. We find ourselves[…]

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News clipping – Trust me, I’m a cyclist

Press

Northern Correspondent (20 October 2014) Trust me, I am a cyclist http://northerncorrespondent.com/2014/10/20/trust-me-im-a-cyclist/ Trust me, I’m a cyclist Whether we like it or not we are in transition. Our planet is teetering precariously on a resource cliff. And as the most intelligent species on this planet, this is our fault. Climate change is caused by our emissions and even the milder transition scenarios are catastrophic. We must direct change or change will overtake us. Our current transport system has much to answer for. The fight is on, and the gloves are coming off. If we cycled like the Danes, on their[…]

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A Brown weasel

Uncategorized

Political engagement is a very important aspect of our Campaign. Informing our policy- and decision-makers about our ‘asks, wants and needs’ is vital. Its their support that can bring about the sea change needed to plough the way for a liveable Newcastle with cycling designed in. So, thanks for everyone who wrote to Nick Brown MP this month! Newcastle splits into three parliamentary constituencies. Earlier on this month we asked our members in the Newcastle East constituency of Nick Brown MP to write to him. A parliamentary debate on cycling was to take place and there were two simple questions[…]

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A cycleway in Bondy, France

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Following Nantes, Armelle now sends a photo from Bondy – one of the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located about seven miles from the centre of Paris. She says: “Bondy is an impoverished suburb which suffered the riots in the autumn of 2005, yet finds the funds and the will to develop cycle paths to the RER station and tram line (opened in 2006) connecting a string of disconnected towns. Here mobility – physical, geographical and social – is the key to any political approach.” Whilst we cannot comment on the (completeness of the) local network… deriving a[…]

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Newcastle City Council continues to remove cycle infrastructure

Uncategorized

After removing cycle specific infrastructure on Silver Lonnen in 2010 and Elswick Road in 2012, Newcastle council continues to dismantle existing cycle lanes, now at a school in Heaton. Katja Leyendecker, chair of newcycling.org, says: “This is almost unbearable to watch how the council is still unable to support sustainable travel options to schools. For example, we are asking them to design in some safe space for cycling for the school run on Tankerville Terrace in Jesmond and they push us back again and again with their excuses. Now they are wiping out an existing cycle lane on Jesmond Park[…]

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