There is now an online petition to protest the introduction of charges for bikes on Hythe ferry. Please sign here. And don’t forget the protest at Town Quay tomorrow (Friday) afternoon at 4.30pm. You don’t have to take the ferry to Hythe. Please show up even if you can only spare a few minutes.
Photo by steve@csbmedia3d.com
The Hythe Ferry is imposing an additional £1 charge on cyclists from May 1. This is on top of the £5 adult return fare and £3 child return fare.
We think it is unfair to penalise cyclists. The company says it is imposing the charge because it needs to make up the revenue lost from the council’s withdrawal of the subsidy for pensioners. We appreciate that the company has lost income but it is unfair to pick on cyclists.
Here are eight reasons why bicycles should remain free:
SCC is joining the campaign to oppose this new charge on bikes. You can help in two ways:
Title: Hythe Ferry protest
Location: Town Quay
Description: Meet at Town Quay and take Hythe Ferry to protest against new charges for bikes on the ferry.
Start Time: 16:30
Date: 2011-04-15
From the Guardian:
A protest march will be held in Porto Alegre in Brazil this evening after a driver ran down dozens of cyclists at a Critical Mass ride on Friday.
The incident was caught clearly on several cameras and the footage makes for disturbing viewing.
One witness wrote on the local Critical Mass blog: “I saw legs in the air, helmets, bicycles, arms, all mixed together with parts of the car all flying and making noise. It was like a horror movie.”
Incredibly, although 16 people were badly injured, nobody was killed.
The driver, Ricardo Neis, 47, handed himself in to police on Monday. His abandoned and badly damaged car had been found on Saturday morning.
More here including extremely shocking video.
The latest newsletter (February 2011) is available for download in [MS Word] format. Highlights of this issue include:
From Dilys:
Following the recent stories (verified as I know the cyclists and walkers involved) that groups of cyclists and ramblers were made unwelcome as being ‘smelly’ or ‘unsightly’ by The Lamb Inn Nomansland, plus a similar experience ourselves at a pre-arranged lunch venue The Ginger Piggery in the Wylye Valley Salisbury where we were told to move our bikes as they were unsightly (not obstructing or likely to be touched by anyone), I feel we should have a Register on Site of hostelries that DO NOT WELCOME cyclists and walkers as being unsightly and lowering their image.
Alongside this, I would like to see a Register of hostelries which make a real effort to welcome energetic folk and the less energetic. I can nominate immediately:
The Willow Tree Cafe Lyndhurst and their excellent quality and value cream tea
Carlo’s at East Wellow – will be taking a Sky Ride there as soon as rain stopsWhat do you all think?
Dilys
Today, CTC was planning to deliver hundreds of letters of protest to Moya Greene, the new Chief Executive of Royal Mail, at their headquarters in London. However, because of support from a number of local MPs, we will now be delivering the letters on 8 September instead. So there is still time to help the campaign to put pressure on Royal Mail to keep postal delivery by bike. Please send us a letter today! If you’re interested in joining us in London at 8am on 8 September, please email campaigns@ctc.org.uk for further information.
A three-week Cycle Challenge has seen organisations across the city clock up over 64,600 miles – a distance equivalent to cycling round the world over two and a half times.
The Southampton Cycle Challenge saw 1,083 people from 46 organisations getting on their bikes between 14 June and 4 July, including 130 budding cyclists who got back in the saddle after more than a year.
The winning teams were those that got the highest percentage of staff to cycle for ten minutes or more over the challenge period. The top teams were:
National Oceanography Centre (Corporate Category)
IKEA (Very Large)
Logistics Department, IKEA (Large)
The Polygon School, Southampton City Council (Medium)
GeoData Institute (Small)
Administration Department, International Sailing Federation (Very Small)
The aim of the challenge was to encourage people to take to their bikes and discover the joys and benefits of cycling. Incentives, prizes and various cycling events helped encourage people to take part, with prizes donated by Hargroves Cycles, IKEA, The Hub Cycleworks, Fitness First and RideRide.
Colleen Pennal, from Carnival, took to a bike for the first time in 13 years at one of the ‘cycling taster’ sessions run during the challenge: “I loved it! I just bought a bike for my daughter and it would be great to go cycling with her. I might cycle to work too, as I can buy a new bike through the Bike to Work scheme.”
Bruce Dupée works for the National Oceanography Centre, which won first prize in the largest size category of the challenge. He used the challenge as part of his recovery plan after an operation: “I just had major hip replacement surgery so I use the bike to recover strength in my legs and keep the weight down.”
The challenge coordinator Thea Bjaaland, who works for CTC – the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation, said: “When people get back on a bike and they experience what it’s actually like to cycle, they realise it isn’t hard or scary but it’s actually fun and easy. It’s very encouraging that so many people in Southampton have been inspired to cycle for the challenge. Cycling has great health and cost benefits for the individual, and helps to reduce congestion and pollution for all of us.”
Royal Mail’s plans to stop delivering mail by bike were highlighted by BBC Somerset, the Daily Mail and the Telegraph this week 30.7.10. CTC is still collecting protest letters, which we plan to deliver to the Royal Mail’s new Chief Executive Moya Greene in August. Please take action today! by clicking here.
The Southampton Cycle Challenge is on!
Organisations across Southampton are competing from 14 June to 4 July to see who can get the most staff to ride a bike for just 10 minutes or more. Learn more…
Hop on a bike, have some fun and win prizes! It’s quick and easy to register. Register now…
Then start logging your trips…
Title: Bournemouth CTC Cycle Jumble
Location: Burley Village Hall
Link out: Click here
Description: Light Refreshments Available
To book a table ring Jim Hatton
01425 280 889
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2010-04-24
End Time: 14:00