December 2017 – Newcastle Cycling Campaign

Annual address – where is the red thread?

30th December 2017 Katja Uncategorized

Since our beginnings in 2010, newcycling has always taken the long view. Our ambition has often resulted in bafflement and confusion at the council – supposedly because it was predicted that newcycling.org would be short-lived and soon to be subjected. But we stayed our course over the years, and kept asking “What city? Where is our story?” We asked for a citywide plan, not just piecemeal transport schemes a structured approach to the planning and building of a cycle network (protected cycleways on main roads!), firm budgets and clear engineering standards a movement plan encompassing public transport, walking and cycling[…]

Our patron Christian Wolmar on Cycling and Labour

13th December 2017 NewCycling News

Starting in 2014, Christian Wolmar has been our patron. Previously Christian wrote to Cllr Nick Forbes to inform Newcastle Labour leadership about the possibilities and mechanisms of change, citing the example of London’s new and convenient cycleways. Back in August Christian wrote about how cycling is a Labour cause. He now is on an extended mission: calling on the solidarity of local and national Labour to debate fairness and cycling in urban design. Read on below. The original article was published on https://labourlist.org/2017/12/christian-wolmar-bikes-are-not-just-for-the-middle-classes-this-is-why-we-set-up-labour-cycles/ Christian Wolmar: Bikes are not just for the middle classes – this is why we set up[…]

The school run: ‘We are not welcome here’

3rd December 2017 NewCycling News

Armelle is a campaign member who has previously reported on cycling in Copenhagen, in Denmark, and Nantes and Bondy in France. Here, she describes her new school run and explains, while there are some things to enjoy, our streets are not designed for cycling families. Having just moved to South Gosforth, we are now enjoying the most stunning cycle ride from home to school, with lots of trees and bird song on the way. I am so happy to no longer have to take Tankerville Terrace to go West Jesmond Primary, where drivers champion the 3-point turn and double yellow line[…]

Bike Life report 2017 – the people have spoken

3rd December 2017 NewCycling Uncategorized

The people of Newcastle have spoken: “74% of residents support building more protected roadside cycle lanes, even when this could mean less space for other road traffic” What more does the Council need to hear to build protected cycleways? For the second time, the survey shows overwhelming support for dedicated space for cycling over road space for cars. The general population again made their voice heard. These statistics come at no surprise, as 42% of Newcastle households do not even have a car, and car ownership does not preclude Newcastle citizens demanding better space efficiency, cleaner air and urban environments for all. Cycle[…]