Cycling UK Forum

A good idea, but two factors.

One, there are often things out there - but finding a retailer to get it in for you is a problem.

Two, unfortunately much merchandise these days has to be "fashionable" to sell. Weather it works well, offers value for money or is any good all seem to be secondary considerations.

A listing of crap items would also be useful, however one has to be very careful about what is said to avoid being pursued by the lawyers!

I am sorry I disagree, this tread should remain in Public Policy. If 'The Club' is unable/unwilling, via the Members Groups, to offer encouragement to young riders it is clearly a matter of Public Policy. Don't just sweep it under the carpet.

I find this thread very sad. In 1953, aged 13 I joined the local CTC section at Catford in South London. On runs the older members, many ex or serving members of the services, looked after me and my school mates, taught us how to ride in a bunch, offered advice, and by the time I was 16 I was leading section rides. We had hostel weekends, night rides, rode reliability trials and at 15 stoked one of the older members tandems - riding from London to the York Rally in two days. The only person who was asked not to ride was a lad who turned up without mudguards, he was told not to come on club runs until he had some! This is what I thought a "club" was supposed to be and do. I know the world has changed but how else are youngsters going to be encouraged and learn unless they ride with groups of like minded folks?

I'm all for a Bill of Rights. However, all "rights" carry "responsibilities" and unfortunately there are a number of anti social acts carried out by bicycle riders that get cyclists a bad name. Any suggestions as to what the responsibilities should be? Once these are enacted we can push for a Bill of Rights.

The Brighton Evening Argus reports that at the meeting of Brighton Council yesterday the proposal by the Tory leader Mary Mears was defeated and that the segregated cycle lanes will not be removed.

The Brighton Evening Argus reports that the proposal to remove the segregated lanes was defeated at the meeting yesterday of Brighton Council. Another proposal to freeze the cost of parking permits was also rejected. Perhaps there is hope for us yet!

Si, I think you have hit the nail on the head.

A very valid comment has been made by signatory 3295 D Russell (a car driving resident of The Drive) on the petition against the removal of these lanes http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43064.html

As I have said else where, if these lanes are removed, there should be "book" opened as to how long it will be before they are replaced with revenue producing parking spaces. How much revenue must be produced to cover the cost of a visit to A&E by an injured cyclist?

Alan Pipes on his blog has gathered a lot of media comment on this subject on http://weirdcyclelanes.blogspot.com/

pga is right, Horizon is spot on! Pity we are a dying breed.

If the proposed removal of especially constructed cycle lanes, at a budgeted cost of £1.1M, is not a negative attitude to cycling I don't know what is. The green party petition against the proposal http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43064.html now has 3100+ signatures. The bulk of those signing are local people, numerous comments are made by regular users of the facility. Whilst the lanes may not be perfect, their loss means the deliberate destruction of dedicated cycle facilities. The need is for more facilities not less. I would like to bet if the removal goes ahead there will be an increase of, revenue producing, parking spaces in the roads concerned.

In her blog http://marymears.wordpress.com/. Mary Mears, Tory leader of Brighton Council, tries to defend the proposed removal of especially constructed and segregated cycle lanes in Brighton. It is one of the most anti cycling series of comments that I have encountered from any council leader. Yes, it is pleasant to ride along the sea front, but safe cycling in the town for utilitarian purposes is far more important. Suggest anyone with the interests of cyclists in mind reads it and contacts her to express their views. Removal will cost £1.1M !!

Having been a life member since the late 1950s I sadly agree with all thirdcrank has said. I manage the odd bednight here or there each year, but am put off by young families travelling in massive 4x4s, the children being badly behaved and clearly from their apparent lifestyle there parents could afford hotel accommodation. Fortunately from time to time there are youngsters, often from overseas, who still have the old hosteling spirit and attitude, but they are few and far between. Then there the hardened few like myself, doubless rated as a miserable old whatsits! What really annoys me is the fact that two local hostels (yes, there are two within seven miles of where I live) advertise in the local paper for volunteers to do the sort of jobs that at one time rated as "duties". What was wrong with the old system? It fostered a sense of being responsible for the hostel; why should local residents volunteer to do things for an association that has nothing to do with them? Usually, especially in rural areas, there are far more important services that need volunteer help than the YHA.

There is a Green Party petition against the proposal at http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43063.html ,over the past few days it has collected over 2200 signatures, why not go there and sign now!

yes

As one who these days, after 25+ years of membership, belongs only for the insurance/legal aid benefits I object to be classed as apathetic. I wish to belong to a club, not subscribing to a charity that is close to a government influenced quango. The so called magazine is not worth reading anyhow!