Cycling shorts
North Somerset gets grant for new Sunday ride to Cheddar
Steve Kinsella wrote: September saw the 40th anniversary of the last passenger train that travelled on the line between Cheddar and Yatton -and it also marked the award of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the South West Regional Development Agency enabling the creation of the 'Strawberry Line Heritage Trail'. I attended a function all about it, organised by North Somerset.
This route will be cyclable from Yatton to Winscombe, joining up with the present route to Cheddar. When this is done you will be able to start out from Bristol, go alongside the Avon to Pill, then take the Avon cycleway south-westwards down the Gordano valley to Clevedon, on (past my house, incidentally) to Yatton, and follow the Strawberry Line all the way to Cheddar cheese and caves, an interesting and fairly flat 25 miles in all. It will be complete in 3 ( !! ) years' time.
Car advert hit by safety group
A car firm's boast that it can help motorists use speed cameras to boost their acceleration has been condemned by Britain's leading road safety group.
Honda has just launched a national advertising campaign for its new Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system, which uses the phrase "Happy Braking" beside a picture of a road-side speed camera. IMA is to be fitted to its award-winning Civic four-door saloon, recently named as Britain's most reliable car.
The company claims that drivers can harness the energy used in braking for speed cameras to boost their acceleration once they have passed the "obstacle". A spokesman for Honda said:
"We are not encouraging people to speed. We are simply acknowledging the fact that people do."
Though the campaign is only days old, a number of complaints have already been received by the Advertising Standards Authority in London.
Under ASA guidelines, car manufacturers are forbidden from making speed the main focus of a campaign. In addition, the ASA code of practice states:
"Advertisers should not portray speed in a way that might encourage motorists to drive irresponsibly or to break the law."
Linda Morrison Allsopp, road safety project manager for Rospa (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents), said:
"Anyone who has lost a family member or a friend through speeding will be very distressed by this form of advertising."
Several BCC members wrote letters of complaint to the ASA -so thanks to those that did -this type of action does make a difference.
Car ban on the Downs
Drivers could be banned from using roads on the Downs if plans to introduce a car-free day receive support. The Downs Committee that controls the historic piece of grassland has asked for a report to be drawn up looking into the possibility of shutting out traffic for one day each week.
Recommended closures would effect Ladies Mile, Fountain Hill and Circular Road -making these parts of the Downs much safer and more pleasant for walkers and cyclists (taken from the Bristol Observer, dated 19 September 2003).
Editors note: It's a real shame the ban doesn't extend to each and every day!
Sara Basterfield
Bristol Cycling Campaign member Sara Basterfield will be joining the Cyclists Touring Club (CTC) in November as Benchmarking Projects Officer. Bench marking is used to Identify and share best cycling practice.
Terry Miller needs your photos
BCC member, Terry Miller is compiling a photo reference library of good and bad cycle facilities in Bristol. If anyone would like to help or contribute please contact Terry by telephone on 0117 942 4590 or email: terry.miller@uk.online.co.uk
Severn Beach Railway
The current winter schedule for the above train service wrongly reported that bicycles could not be taken on these trains. The good news is - THEY CAN and there's no need to pre-book them.
News from Life Cycle UK
Cycle Training for children
Our programme of cycle training for children was launched during the summer holidays. Life Cycle ran 12 courses for 8-11 year olds at different locations across Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset with 60 children participating. They learned basic road-riding skills -and had a brilliant time! We are now offering training courses to local schools. Ours is a four-stage course covering essential road craft and explaining how to perform a range of manoeuvres safely and confidently. If you're a teacher, a school governor, or simply a parent why not encourage your local school to run a Life Cycle course?
Health on Wheels
Health on Wheels the Life Cycle project that is establishing the UK's first system of cycling on prescription received a recent shot of publicity.
Newspaper, TV and radio coverage generated a lot of interest from GPs and hospital-based specialists wanting to join the scheme, and also from patients keen to take advantage of Health on Wheels' offer of £120-worth of free cycle training. Sessions are one-to- one, tailored to the precise needs of the individual patient and cover the theory and the practice of safe, confident cycling. All you need is a referral from your doctor.
South Glos.
Life Cycle UK has been asked by South Gloucestershire Council to run a new cycle promotion forum for the area. The forum aims to be more than just a talking shop. It wants to develop activities and materials that will persuade more people to give cycling a go. There's even talk of a South Glos mega-event similar to Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride! If you have ideas and want to join the forum then do get in touch. The next meeting will be on Tuesday 25th November.
More BMWs from Life Cycle UK!
After the success of the first series of Bicycle Maintenance Workshops (BMW) Life Cycle UK is re-launching a new series of BMWs in October in Easton.
Over four weeks the courses will explain how to fix simple problems and make minor bicycle repairs. Topics covered will include mending punctures, adjusting brakes and gears and replacing cables.
The courses are part of Life Cycle UK's BikeAbility project. Operating in Easton and Southmead, BikeAbility runs a range of activities to encourage more people to cycle. BikeAbility Co-ordinator Zoe Gibbons explains:
"lThe workshops are aimed at people with little or no mechanical knowledge. We aim for them to be fun and informative."The workshops start on Monday 27th October 2003 from 7.00pm to 9.30pm. Places are limited so it is important to book early.
More info:
Zoe Gibbons 01179290440
community@lifecycleuk.org.uk
To find out more about Life Cycle UK and its work.
Phone: 01179290440
E-mail: post@lifecycleuk.org.uk
or visit: www.lifecycleuk.org.uk
