Maybe Its just me, but I only found out this week is National Bike Week yesterday by browsing the CTC site. If a fairly commited cyclist has only just found out, what hope for the rest of the population.
I then tried to find out what was happening in my area only to find the vast majority was only open to employees of certain companies or selected school children.
I'd vote for a National Drive to Work day. Everyone who normally cycles/walks/takes public transport should get hold of a car for a day and increase the chaos during rush hour - everyone would notice and perhaps there would be a few less whingers about cyclists holding up the traffic/revenue going to public transport !
Bike Week
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Tom Richardson
- Posts: 772
- Joined: 25 Jun 2007, 1:45pm
Re: Bike Week
p_pitstop wrote:I'd vote for a National Drive to Work day. Everyone who normally cycles/walks/takes public transport should get hold of a car for a day and increase the chaos during rush hour - everyone would notice and perhaps there would be a few less whingers about cyclists holding up the traffic/revenue going to public transport !
I like your thinking, but Im trying to consider if there might be any side effects. This is where Im coming from. A few years ago we had a city wide bus strike in sheffield. Bus drivers everywhere thought that those who use public transport would be inconvenienced and the number of car journeys would go up, hence more congestion. The result was actually less congestion, everyone still got to work and some bought cars never to return to public transport. The over riding theme in the local press letters page was "lets have more bus strikes".
The local Ferry Company has promotedit in a simple, and effective way.
All bikes are free for the week!
All bikes are free for the week!
Hi all,
Free ferries all week and they're busy. This morning, Bike to Work Day, there were loads more people crossing the harbour wearing Vroom 08 tshirts. Great. But it has been getting busier recently and I don't think it's simply down to the better weather. More people seem to be cycling to work these days.
In this area, south Hampshire, there's little other evidence about Bike Week. Southampton has events this week and Winchester has things happening, there's a thread regarding this at the On The Road forum. Seems reaction has been mixed. Portsmouth is a city that needs alternatives to cars and a higher profile Bike week could have been helpful. Putting 20mph speed limits around town is no good if the traffic doesn't move much faster than that anyway.
Maybe a cyclists blockade of a lorry drivers slow convoy through a city would get noticed by the media. It could also wake some people up to the fact that petrol ain't going to be cheap anymore even if you removed all the fuel duty.
Take care everyone and have fun.
Free ferries all week and they're busy. This morning, Bike to Work Day, there were loads more people crossing the harbour wearing Vroom 08 tshirts. Great. But it has been getting busier recently and I don't think it's simply down to the better weather. More people seem to be cycling to work these days.
In this area, south Hampshire, there's little other evidence about Bike Week. Southampton has events this week and Winchester has things happening, there's a thread regarding this at the On The Road forum. Seems reaction has been mixed. Portsmouth is a city that needs alternatives to cars and a higher profile Bike week could have been helpful. Putting 20mph speed limits around town is no good if the traffic doesn't move much faster than that anyway.
Maybe a cyclists blockade of a lorry drivers slow convoy through a city would get noticed by the media. It could also wake some people up to the fact that petrol ain't going to be cheap anymore even if you removed all the fuel duty.
Take care everyone and have fun.
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stoatsngroats
No bike week here too..
InLittlehampyon there is an attempt by the Town council to encourage its staff to work by bike, but very little else!
I've had my input by commiting to cycle to work on more days than I drive...Only 2 more to go!
I've had my input by commiting to cycle to work on more days than I drive...Only 2 more to go!
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TwoPlusTen
- Posts: 531
- Joined: 12 Apr 2008, 9:02am
- Location: Reading
- Contact:
It's hardly had prominence in any of the comics or local newspapers.
I took part in the launch of the Bradford cycling champion scheme ride at the weekend and around 40 riders plus a cycling police escort rode from Shipley to Bradofrd. I combined it with a ride from Meanwood to Shipley along the canal to get to the start of the ride and then cycled home from the centre of Bradford.
I promoted local events to 900 pupils in the school where I work I'm not sure what the uptake will be. To many6 of the events were not accessible by pupils thought being during the school day or were 'closed' to under 16s.
I'm trying to get cycling incorporated as a PE activity and encourage the use of bikes to get to school when our new building opens up in September. The kids and my colleagues might be more receptive to Bike Week next year....
I took part in the launch of the Bradford cycling champion scheme ride at the weekend and around 40 riders plus a cycling police escort rode from Shipley to Bradofrd. I combined it with a ride from Meanwood to Shipley along the canal to get to the start of the ride and then cycled home from the centre of Bradford.
I promoted local events to 900 pupils in the school where I work I'm not sure what the uptake will be. To many6 of the events were not accessible by pupils thought being during the school day or were 'closed' to under 16s.
I'm trying to get cycling incorporated as a PE activity and encourage the use of bikes to get to school when our new building opens up in September. The kids and my colleagues might be more receptive to Bike Week next year....
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mhara
It's had sustained and prominent publicity here.
In addition to which the local paper has been featuring commuter cyclists each day and showing a map of their route in from the surrounding villages to the centre of Exeter.
One of the newspaper reporters also has taken to cycling for the week and is reporting back on how she fares as a returned-to-cycling adult employee.
We have a superb local Cycle England Team, plus strong links with Sustrans and the CTC. County and City councils very supportive. It's made all the difference.
And the fuel strike hit this part of the world quite hard - lots of queuing and reports of people running out of petrol and diesel. All helps.
In addition to which the local paper has been featuring commuter cyclists each day and showing a map of their route in from the surrounding villages to the centre of Exeter.
One of the newspaper reporters also has taken to cycling for the week and is reporting back on how she fares as a returned-to-cycling adult employee.
We have a superb local Cycle England Team, plus strong links with Sustrans and the CTC. County and City councils very supportive. It's made all the difference.
And the fuel strike hit this part of the world quite hard - lots of queuing and reports of people running out of petrol and diesel. All helps.
Seems to be reasonably known round here. My club did a come-and-try-it time trial (though no-one did except existing members). My employers got thirty people registered for Bike to Work - best ever result - and one or two unregistered have given it a go too. The Council do a stand on a junction on the cycle paths.
So far I've collected two free goodie bags, one of them with free, illegal bike lights in, but it's the thought that counts
So far I've collected two free goodie bags, one of them with free, illegal bike lights in, but it's the thought that counts
As I said on another thread, our local secondary school has promoted Bike Week by bribery! The pupils who committed to cycling for the week were allowed to wear mufti on Monday.
And several teachers - most of whom cycle in regularly - all lead rides to school on Monday and then the puplis are making their own way in for the rest of the week.
What I don't know is how well this is being supported as my children are still at primary school and due to circumstances I've not done any school runs this week.
We are also in Devon.
Our local Junior Cycling Club - led by Stuart and Elise - is doing a summer 'Cycle to the Seaside' ride on Saturday 29 June. I think there's about 30 signed up so far and we will be doing 22 miles from Kentisbeare to Budleigh Salterton. They are charging a very reasonable £5 for the picnic lunch and support vehicle return. Although, I understand that the hardcore bunch will be doing the return leg, natch!
(I think the original plan might have been to have this as part of Bike Week, but there's so much going in the village at this time of year.)
And several teachers - most of whom cycle in regularly - all lead rides to school on Monday and then the puplis are making their own way in for the rest of the week.
What I don't know is how well this is being supported as my children are still at primary school and due to circumstances I've not done any school runs this week.
We are also in Devon.
Our local Junior Cycling Club - led by Stuart and Elise - is doing a summer 'Cycle to the Seaside' ride on Saturday 29 June. I think there's about 30 signed up so far and we will be doing 22 miles from Kentisbeare to Budleigh Salterton. They are charging a very reasonable £5 for the picnic lunch and support vehicle return. Although, I understand that the hardcore bunch will be doing the return leg, natch!
(I think the original plan might have been to have this as part of Bike Week, but there's so much going in the village at this time of year.)
Dee
pigman wrote:Dee Jay wrote: were allowed to wear mufti
what??
is this a cross between "in the buff", "showing muff", or wearing "nuffink"?
Nope .... neither of those!
(You were one of the nekkid cyclists last weekend, weren't you??
)
Here you go, courtesy of Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mufti_%28dress%29
Dee
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speedsixdave
- Posts: 868
- Joined: 19 Apr 2007, 1:48pm
- Location: Ashbourne, UK
Ironically I've had my first two driving lessons this week!
Nottingham had a free breakfast for cyclists in the Market Square this week. It was quite well attended but the weather was cold, grey and damp, which must have put lots of people off. Of course what they don't realise is you're never cold for long on a bike!
Nottingham had a free breakfast for cyclists in the Market Square this week. It was quite well attended but the weather was cold, grey and damp, which must have put lots of people off. Of course what they don't realise is you're never cold for long on a bike!
Big wheels good, small wheels better.
Two saddles best!
Two saddles best!