John Denham, the Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, has called for Southampton City Council to bid for a slice of the £140m the government is planning to invest in cycling funding.
He said:
“In Southampton we can help a generation rediscover their bikes and give children the skills they need to cycle safely and responsibly on our roads.
“Cycling provides an excellent means of exercise and also helps tackle road congestion and pollution.
“Local authorities can now apply to become new Cycle Demonstration Towns and receive money to encourage people onto their bikes and offer local children the chance to be trained to cycle safely.”
Read more on John Denham’s website
read more about the government’s plans for cycling
people’s millions/sustrans connect2 project: voting figures are out.
London 2008: green plan announced (key proposals include default 20mph speed limits in all residential areas; increased cycling budget)
active southampton campaign launched: “Experts say just 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day, such as a brisk walk, can reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease and mental illness. As part of Active Southampton city leisure venues will be offering discounted activities while unusual pursuits, like new aged kurling and fit n funky’ dance exercise classes are being introduced to tempt people out of their armchairs.”
£140m safe cycling plan unveiled: cycle training for 10-year olds
The Test Valley branch of Hampshire Action Team (HAT) is looking at reducing the speed of the Straight Mile, on the A3090 at Ampfield.
The stretch of road currently has varying speed limits between residential areas, which has proved confusing for drivers.
Fairly unnerving road to cycle down. Maybe slowing it down a bit would help a little?
read the article
The Road Safety Team next meets at 10am on February 5, in Romsey Library.
Cycling in London:
It’s a bit like swimming: You can stand at the side of the pool and think, “I don’t fancy that.” But when you’re in, it’s very different. And it’s actually not as bad as you think.
Geoff Brumfield tells marketplace about his cycle commute in London:
Well, “cycling,” as they call here, is a lot more like a giant game of dodge ball. You’ve got pedestrians, cars and motorcycles coming at you from every angle. Double-decker buses seem charming, until you’re wedged between two of them.
Read the article
1. # Because it requires significant artistical skills to cycle over cars parked on the cycle path.
A mixture of serious and less serious reasons why cyclists might prefer not to use provided cycle paths. Print it out for the next car driver who parks in the cycle lane moments before swearing at cyclists for being on the road not on the cycle paths!
This is the title of Matthew Parris’s anticycling article in the Times, whose article begins
A festive custom we could do worse than foster would be stringing piano wire across country lanes to decapitate cyclists.
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To read more or add your comment, visit times online
Councillor John Hannides has backed calls to abandon controversial plans to switch off street lighting along Lovers’ Walk. The Daily Echo reports:
The cabinet member for leisure and culture said he would like to see improved lighting, enhanced CCTV and shrubs removed along the designated cycle path that links Burgess Road with Highfield Avenue.
Realistically, if the discussion at the SCC meeting in December was anything to go buy, this is extremely unlikely to happen…
Read more in the Daily Echo
The Daily Echo writes that cyclists should expect regular spot checks across the city from now on,
A crackdown last week saw 17 offenders issued with £30 fixed penalty tickets for cycling on pedestrian pathways near the subway on New Road and Old Northam Road. The action was taken after residents complained that the problem was worsening on city walkways.
Safer Neighbourhood Sergeant Dick Partridge concludes,
“Motorists need to be able to clearly see cyclists so lights, pedal reflectors and reflective clothing are a must, especially during the long, dark evenings.”
—excellent advice for us all!
Read more in the online Echo.
The Times Online has published an article accusing cyclists of manipulating the Peoples £50 Million voting, encouraging people to exploit loopholes in the system to “vote early and often”:
Read more
Personally I expect that the Sustrans project won for the reasons we hoped it would – it’s the only nationwide project. The “loophole” in the system was available to all voters not just connect2 voters and while its exploitation may be unethical, I doubt that lack-of-scruple is concentrated on supporters of any particular project.
I myself saw people encouraging votes for the connect2 project on mailing lists, blogs, facebook groups and the like. I saw only one blog advocating any other project. I think this spells out clearly that there was much more widespread interest in connect2 than the other projects.
