We are looking for a number of Breeze champions across England.  There is no need to be a cycling expert – just be confident on a bike and keen to help others. We’re looking for enthusiastic people to get involved in the Breeze network and inspire women to get more out of their bike, have fun with friends and get a recognised qualification at the same time.

To become a Breeze champion:

You’ll take part in a fun one day ride leadership course where you’ll have a chance to meet other Breeze champions.

The certificate qualifies you to independently plan, deliver and promote rides to groups of women.

In addition to free training, we will provide you with a Breeze kit, British Cycling Ride membership and plenty of support along the way.

Furthermore, to ensure you’re able to deliver safe bike rides, British Cycling will support you to gain a first aid qualification.

In return we ask champions to deliver on average 12 rides over the year to local women in their area.

The following free, one day courses (8.45am – 5.30pm) are taking place:

Central

Saturday 30 June – Slough

Saturday 16 June – Oxford

East Midlands

Saturday 26 May – Nottingham

Saturday 23 June – Leicester

Eastern

Saturday 12 May – Cambridge

Saturday 23 June - Watford

London

Saturday 19 May – Hillingdon

Saturday 19 May – Barking

Saturday 9 June –  Bromley

Saturday 16 June – Haringey

Saturday 23 June – Tower Hamlets

Saturday 30 June – Camden

North East

Saturday 26 May – Northumberland

Saturday 30 June – South Durham

North West

Saturday 19 May – Carlisle

Saturday 26 May – Bolton

Saturday 9 June –   Manchester

Saturday 9 June – Preston

Saturday 16 June – Liverpool

South

Saturday 23 June – Southampton

Saturday 30 June – Bournemouth

South East

Saturday 16 June – Surrey

Saturday 23 June – Kent

South West

Saturday 30 June – Somerset

Saturday 21 July – Torbay

West Midlands

Saturday 9 June – Staffordshire

Saturday 30 June – Birmingham

Saturday 16 June – Shropshire

Yorkshire

Saturday 9 June – Kirklees

Saturday 23 June - Rotherham

If you are interested or know someone who wants to find out more, then please visit www.breezebikerides.com or get in touch viabreeze@britishcycling.org.uk.

Please find attached a course application form and an information leaflet for your information.

Best wishes

The Breeze team

The Breeze network

British Cycling, National Cycling Centre, Stuart Street, Manchester, M11 4DQ

Telephone: +44 (0)161 274 2117    |    Fax: +44 (0)161 274 2001 |    britishcycling.org.uk | breezebikeride.com

For more information on the ride, please contact Lindsi Bluemel on 023 8033 2926, email lindsibluemel@hotmail.co.uk

For more information on these rides or to book a place, please contact Lindsi Bluemel on 023 8033 2926, email lindsibluemel@hotmail.co.uk

I have attempted to change the date of our next meeting from Monday 9th April (Easter Monday) to Tuesday 10th or the following Monday. However, I have not yet had a response to my email from Progressive Lettings, the organisation responsible for administering the Meeting House bookings. I have therefore decided that we will keep to the original date as I know some people are free and could attend. As numbers might be low we will have time to discuss a number of on-going issues in more depth than is normally possible and will not have a full Agenda.

Apologies to those who are away or cannot attend for any reason. Please try to come to the May meeting (14th), at which we will hold our AGM and discuss ideas for Bike Week.

Please think about standing for a position at the AGM. Some Cycle Campaigns have many more positions that we do, thus sharing the work, so please don’t be put off standing because you don’t have a lot of time to spare – an hour a week would be a great help.

The City Council has produced a draft plan for development in the city centre and you can see it here.

The Council is asking for responses to this document (link sent in previous email) by 23rd March.  In order to meet this target members of the Campaign will meet at 7.30 pm on Monday 19th March at 17 Whitworth Road to produce a co-ordinated response as this is more likely to be considered by the Council than a multitude of individual responses. If you would like to come along, please read the document before you come (as much as you have time for), concentrating on transport aspects.

Description: For those of you who would like more information about the protest on 28th April in London, go to www.lcc.org.uk. Cyclists from around the UK are asked to join London cyclists and there will be music and entertainment to make the day fun as well as showing the strength of feeling among cyclists across the country and supporting the Times campaign. If you would like to join a group going please let Lindsi know.

I found it extremely encouraging. Cambridge MP Julian Huppert, who secured the debate summed up neatly.

I am delighted by the largely consensual nature of the debate. If all debates in the House of Commons were like this, we might make more progress on a number of issues. This shows that the Government have a clear mandate to act now and act strongly. I hope that the Minister for Cycling wins the fights that he will have to have with the Treasury and all sorts of people to make much further progress on all these issues, which all hon. Members care about so much.

Though there were a very small number of predictable digs — jumping red lights, terrorising pedestrians, and failing to use lights or to wear hi-vis — these were mercifully few (and deftly defused in hilarious annotations by Andrew Avis). By and large the consensus was that cycling is a generally safe and healthy activity, that it needs to be encouraged and facilitated, but that there are aspects that need attention: among them HGVs, problem junctions and half-baked cycle lanes. Several MPs lamented the demise of Cycle England. Many called for expanded training schemes.

Of local interest, Winchester MP Steve Brine highlighted the threat to NR23:

I thank the hon. Gentleman, with whom I enjoy working on the all-party group. I want to back him up on his points about the Prime Minister having the power, and about Departments working together. In Winchester we have works above junction 9 of the M3, which are needed and wanted, and have been campaigned for by Members of Parliament; but they threaten to put a stop to national cycle route 23. With a little more thought and planning we can avoid such situations. Such not-joined-up thinking is literally getting in the way of cycling.

Brine also praised the contribution of local heroes Sue Coles and Jacey Jackson.

One comment made by Maria Eagle, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, struck a familiar chord for SCC members:

First, we have heard that our roads have simply not been designed with cyclists in mind, which has been the case over many decades. We will need to spend significant sums of money to address the deficiencies. Therefore, as a first commitment, let us at least agree that we will not repeat the mistakes of the past, and let us start taking into account the impact of road design on cyclists. I propose that we subject all future road and other major transport schemes to a cycling safety assessment before approval, in the same way that all Government policies and spending are subject to an economic impact assessment and an equality impact assessment. That might enable us to avoid some of the mistakes that we have made over the past decades.

All-in-all a very encouraging development. I’m looking forward to 2012′s summer of cycling.

Apologies: Mike Charlton incapacitated as Chairman by arm injuries from collision and Barry Colbourne who is poorly in hospital with broken hip and internal problems

1. Minutes of Jan 9 meeting were accepted as read
2. Matters arising:
   1. Richard Walters reported that police had attended Kathleen Rd Sholing and booked 68 drivers infringing restriction onto Bursledon Rd by using bus lane in a 2hr morning slot. Lindsi Bluemel explained the functions of Campaign Wardens keeping an eye on their own area and taking or reporting action
   2. It was asked what was the issue with petrol filling station on St Denys Rd. Chris Bluemel considered it could be an issue for cyclists
3. Meeting with Cllr Fitzhenry for Transport and Environment. Lindsi and Dilys met with Cllr Fitzhenry, Dale Bostock and Phil Marshall on 9 Feb and notes of meeting are recorded at foot of tonight’s Agenda – attached. They felt it was more positive than last time and he more relaxed
   1. South Western House – RofW officer Dave Blakeway looked at issue of this being a right of way in 1990s. Dale wasn’t informed of route closure. If we want more info, contact Dave Blakeway direct
   2. Western Approach – scheme on north side will proceed. No Council response yet to our comments. Parking of lorries on service roads at Millbrook to be restricted by TRO
   3. Tina Davis reported defective surfacing at Lovers Lane on east side of Common south of underpass. Agreed that members should email City Council Actionline on this one
   4. City Council not proposing to roll out blanket 20mph zones but will be targeting some more
   5. Cycle Survey results not yet finally analysed. Richard Pemberton at SCC has been asked for them Cycle Route into city from east boundary over Itchen Bridge to be examined by City Council
4. Newsletter out for Feb. Future format to be discussed
5. Test Valley – Lidl developments – Planning application has been made to SCC / TVBC as development straddles boundary. A regional distribution centre is proposed across Redbridge Lane backing onto Holy Family Church. New cycle routes to be developed in conjunction with development. City Centre Action Plan and Core Strategy to be displayed at local libraries – 8 week consultation. Eleanor Wilde to invite Viv Messenger from TVBC to talk to us about North Baddesley and southern end of TV area.
6. Dale Rd surfacing poor – contact Actionline
7. Stoneham Lane – Dan Hopgood an engineer with Mott MacDonald proactive on active travel. Staff do not like travelling to office at north end because of issues with Stoneham Lane. People from Bassett / Swaythling wish to travel to Eastleigh via Stoneham Lane. Reasonably light traffic but suffers from maintenance issues. Street ice due to poor drainage. One fatal accident at southern end near Channels Farm Rd. It is a signed cycle route betn Eastleigh and Soton City. Portsmouth City Football Club 4×4 drivers a problem. DH has compiled a report on defects and issues. Some works have been done, some chevrons and bendo?? installed. All write to Jenny.Rees@hants.gov.uk HCC Safety Engineer to express our many views on this
8. The Times Cities fit for Cycling campaign – Importance of writing to MPs now to support Parliamentary hearing this month
9. Dogs on Soton Common – Issues with dogs and people using cyclepaths. Derek reported hitting loose dog in dark killed dog he injured. Police visited him as not reported accident due to receiving hospital treatment although dog owner present at time – off work, then put on light duties. Further incident with loose dog chasing cyclists in underpass causing fall from bike. Consider what action we should be taking
10. Rides for All – yesterday’s ride had 12 participants. Next Ride is Sun 18 March at Green Park Pavilion on Wimpson Lane Millbrook.

Date of Next Meeting: Mon 12 March 2012 at 1930 at The Friends Meeting House, Ordnance Rd.