Does the NHS help and encourage nurses to be healthy? A major review of health and wellbeing in the NHS was published at the end of last year. It recommended a raft of measures to help NHS staff be healthier, including making it easier to cycle. Six months on, Nursing Times would like to know whether your Trust supports nurses in living a healthy lifestyle. Please help Nursing Times investigate this important issue by sparing a few moments to complete their survey.
CTC would like to find out more about your commute to work, in order to help encourage cycle commuting by addressing barriers and improving conditions. The survey is designed for all commuters – not just those who currently cycle to work – so please invite commuting friends and family to take part. The survey only takes a few minutes to fill in and responses are anonymous. Click here to launch the survey.
Recent information from Royal Mail’s outgoing chief executive, Adam Crozier, confirms that Royal Mail plans to replace almost all of its bikes with electric trolleys that will be shipped out to neighbourhoods by van. Adam Crozier has given several reasons for this move, all of which CTC finds spurious.
CTC believes Crozier’s assertion that posties on bikes violate health and safety regulations is untrue. Mr Crozier’s comment that the increasing weights of postal deliveries necessitates new delivery technologies ignores the potential to use cargo bicycles and tricycles, already used in other European countries and by courier companies in Britain – for instance DHL and FedEx.
CTC opposes any moves by Royal Mail to stop cycle deliveries, and instead would like to see cargo bikes and tricycles used to deliver larger weights of post.
Please take action by writing to Royal Mail’s future chief executive (as yet unnamed). Please fill out our form, which will automatically generate a letter. Then you can edit, print and send it to CTC’s national office. We will collect the letters and deliver them in one load by cargo bike to Royal Mail’s headquarters on the new chief executive’s first day of work.
Please personalise your letter by mentioning at least one of the following reasons for reversing Royal Mail’s plan to phase out cycles:
• Road safety: this plan would have dire implications for road safety by replacing cycles with vans. As the number of vehicles increases, our roads become less safe for cyclists. Royal Mail is legally obligated to protect the health and safety not just of its workers, but of the general public. It appears that they have failed to recognise this when citing health and safety as the reason behind this decision.
• Environmental: in order for the government to meet its commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, it must take concrete steps to address the emissions from road transport. As an organisation owned largely by the government, Royal Mail should be committed to working towards that goal, and replacing bicycles with vans will not help.
• The government’s Active Travel Strategy: increasing cycling safety is a goal of the government’s new Active Travel Strategy, which government bodies such as Royal Mail should uphold. It is possible that the government may change, but the commitments of these policies are so important to our nation’s future that they will likely stay.
Take action!
IPayRoaxTax.com
Road tax was abolished 74 years ago
Road tax doesn’t exist. It’s VED, or ‘car tax’. Motorists do not pay for the roads, we all do, via general taxation. In 1926, Winston Churchill started the process to abolish road tax. He didn’t want motorists to think a token payment gave them ownership of the road. Road tax finally died in 1937, says DVLA. Paying Vehicle Excise Duty gives no “right to the road” for motorists (or car-owning cyclists).
iPayRoadTax.com products help spread news about what has become a movement.
From: Warsashcats
Subject: CATS Campaign Update
Hello Everyone,
We are continuing to get many emails of suppport for our campaign, thank you to all of you. Sorry we couldn’t reply individually to you all. We are featured again in this month’s Western Wards Gazette so we are anticipating that this will generate further support.
As you know we believe that cyclists have a right to use the path, through long established use. We met with officials from Hampshire County Council earlier this week to determine the best way to get our rights recognised and are investigating a number of options:
1. Statutory designation of the path as a restricted byway
2. Common Law recognition of the right for cyclists to use the path
3. Designation of the path as a cycle track under the Cycle Tracks Act 1984
All of the above will take time. A quicker approach may be to seek a voluntary designation of all or part of the path, but this would require agreement from the landowners. We have been contacting landowners along the route and so far they have been very supportive – there is only one that we know of who is opposed to cyclists using the path and he also seems to be against joggers and pushchair users!
The council officers are at the moment gathering information about the route. This includes the views of the local landowners and the history of cycling the route as shown by the user evidence forms. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET COMPLETED A USER EVIDENCE FORM PLEASE DO SO and send to the Rights Of Way department in HCC.
We are also gathering what other information we can and passing it on to HCC. Related to this there was once a building along or near the path called “Captain’s Cottage”. Does anyone know where this was?
For all those who are continuing to cycle along the path can I ask you to please show consideration to other users. The last thing we want at the moment is to antagonise any of the local landowners or pedestrians who are currently being very supportive.
Also if any of you are challenged or anyone tries to obstruct or prevent you from cycling (or jogging) would you please let us know?
Thank you again for your support,
CATS
Hi All,
I will be at Somerstown Fire station in Somers Road North , opposite Somers Park Primary School, breaking and making bikes on the following dates.
Anyone who wants to come along and help or get involved or recycle a bike or just stand around and make jokes (tea perhaps) please feel free.
I will be there from 10am to 2pm, lunch is provided for productive workers.
Alternate Saturdays
9th January
23rd January
6th February
20th February
6th March
I am really in need of people with bike maintenance skills and any of the trained people would be fantastic.
Although all interest will be appreciated even if you only know someone that would like to recycle a bike of their own or you want to use some tool to try and learn about bikes by taking one apart….
Any questions contact me below
Thanks and regards
Jayne
Jayne Rodgers
Sustainable Transport Officer
Traffic Safety and Sustainable Transport Group Civic Offices
PO1 2NE
023 9283 4590
FAX: 023 9283 4214
jayne.rodgers@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
www.portsmouth.gov.uk
Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don’t have to accept our car-dominated society.
But we do not want just one day of celebration and then a return to “normal” life. When people get out of their cars, they should stay out of their cars. It is up to us, it is up to our cities, and our governments to help create permanent change to benefit pedestrians, cyclists, and other people who do not drive cars.
Let World Carfree Day be a showcase for just how our cities might look like, feel like, and sound like without cars…365 days a year.
As the climate heats up, World Carfree Day is the perfect time to take the heat off the planet, and put it on city planners and politicians to give priority to cycling, walking and public transport, instead of to the automobile.
So take the time, browse the links and resources provided, and join in on the celebrations!
http://www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd/
Many of you will know Gerry of Toppers the hairdresser in Shirley as someone with a lovely smile, a kind word and a readiness always to help. For many months Gerry and his pal have been busy planning a sponsored bike ride of the South Downs Way to raise funds for Eastleigh Friends of People with Learning Disabilities Regd Charity No 1040278. However, sometime between last Tues night and Fri morning 2-3 Sept, Gerry was the victim of a mean burglar who entered his home and took all of his three bicycles just hours before the big day. A lesser man would have been defeated by this but Gerry, unwilling to let down his sponsors, set off on foot at 6.30am and walked – YES, WALKED – the 36 mile route which crosses rough and stony ground for much of its way.
Just maybe Bike Burglar or someone in the know will see this letter and have their conscience touched. As with most cyclists, Gerry’s bikes mean much more to him than the money they may fetch – they are an extension of him and his means of transport.
A full description of the bikes can be seen at www.southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk but please look out for them.
- Bike 1 is a ‘Fort’ black road bike
- Bike 2 is a ‘Scott’ red, black & silver mountain bike
- Bike 3 is a ‘Trek’ green & silver hybrid bike
You can return the bikes to Gerry directly or to a local Police Station but do tell them the burglary address or the bikes may never get back to him. As a reward for their return, I am offering a National Standard road cycling skills two lessons course with no questions asked.
Dilys Gartside – Nationally Accredited Cycling Instructor
CycleWise ‘change your travel habits’
t. 023 8077 7472
http://www.cyclewisesouthampton.co.uk/
Southampton has marked national Bike Week with a series of popular events reaching out to new and old cyclists across the city.
On Saturday, the Family Bike Cavalcade was graced by VIPs including the Mayor of Southampton and city MP Alan Whitehead. Stuart Mason-Elliott joined the ride on his 1874 Penny Farthing (fresh from his triumph at the head of the Naked Bike Ride the previous evening!). Riders followed a loop from Bargate to Mayflower Park then up the parks to the Peace Fountain.
The following day, the Big Bike Celebration, organised as part of the Sutrans Street-tread project, featured an array of displays and activities, including the try-a-bike arena with The Company of Cyclists, mountain bike displays by M.A.D. (Europe’s largest stunt/trials display team), a bicycle smoothie-maker, and the Bike Doctor providing a free health check for bikes.
Yet to come we have Five Miles to Fabulous (June 20), a five mile, easy ride aimed specifically at women, and promoting the health and fitness benefits of cycling.
Bike Week is the biggest nationwide cycling event in the UK. A national celebration of cycling, Bike Week helps you get more out of life – by getting on your bike and exploring your local community.
As usual, Southampton will host many cycling events during and around Bike Week. Highlights include:
- Saturday 13 June 10am at The Bargate, FAMILY BIKE CAVALCADE
- Mainly on cycle routes and some on road. A loop to Mayflower Park then up the parks to the Peace Fountain. Suitable for all abilities. If parent/guardian is happy that children are competent on their own two wheels, they are more than welcome, as long as under 18 year olds are accompanied by an adult who is responsible for the child. Decorate your bikes and yourselves if you wish! Do join us with your picnic lunch afterwards. Just turn up www.southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk/
- Sunday 14 June 10am at Weston Shore, on National Cycle Route 2, the BIG BIKE CELEBRATION.
- The main attractions include the try-a-bike arena with The Company of Cyclists (this is great – it’s how we tried trailer and tandem then bought), mountain bike displays by M.A.D. (Europe s largest stunt/trials display team), a bicycle smoothie-maker, The Bike Dr who can check your bike for free, led rides, cycle training and fun! Just turn up. (Natalie Gledhill, streettread@sustrans.org.uk)
- Saturday 20 June 10am, Southampton Common Bellemoor Road entrance: Five Miles to FABuloUS
- Shift the ‘L’ from FLAB – lady cyclists WEAR SMALLER smalls! Easy flatish five mile led ride for ladies on cycle paths or quieter roads around Southampton City
Full details of these events are available in the Events section of this web site, and more Bike Week events can be found at www.bikeweek.org.uk and www3.hants.gov.uk/whatson-cyclehampshire.
