Southampton Cycling Campaign

Cyclist killed on Itchen bridge during a group ride Wednesday evening:

BBC news

Cyclist killed in Portsmouth at a junction last Saturday:

portsmouth.co.uk

Southampton based charity the Sailors’ Society are holding a charity cycle event on Sunday 5th October. Starting and finishing on the waterfront at Mayflower Park, with an optional cycle tour through the docks, the event offers something for everyone with three routes to cater for all ability levels – 10, 25 and 45 miles. The route will be fully marshaled and there will be an array of entertainment and catering at Mayflower Park throughout the day.

We hope to enter a team from Southampton Cycling Campaign - if you would be interested in joining in, please email chairman@southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk or discuss it at the next meeting on 8th September.

Sailor’s Society webpage

During Bike Week we had several pleasant rides. It’s always good to find new cycle routes or cycling routes. Here we are in Hamble after following the splendid route from Woolston along Weston Shore and through Victoria Country Park. more here

There was also a good showing of bikes at a BBQ in Hythe. Below are three cycling campaigners investigating Brompton’s folding mechanism:

more here

more summer updates shortly!

A draft Cycle Strategy and Network Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) has been produced for the Test Valley area (Chilworth, Romsey, Chandler’s Ford, up to Andover). Formal public consultation period lasts until 11th July 2008.

You can view the documents on the website at http://www.testvalley.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=8038, in particular the supplementary planning document here [pdf]. There are also maps of cycle routes in Andover and the Southern Test Valley.

Have a read of the document and email planning@testvalley.gov.uk with your views.

two articles from the daily echo:

Two bikes crash on Lodge Road

… bikes need brake lights.

NSPCC charity ride next weekend

round and round and round she goes, and where she stops nobody knows…

CTC policy co-ordinator Chris Peck said it was important to ask why a minority of cyclists used pavements instead of the roads or went through red lights.

Mr Peck said CTC wanted to see road rules “rewritten” to help cyclists.

The AA said the behaviour of some cyclists effectively meant there were “two tribes” at war on the roads.

Is Britain really getting on its on bike - The Independent votes yes:

* More and more people are discovering the benefits of cycling – both to themselves and to the environment

* Car use at current levels is unsustainable in the long run. Cycling is the obvious alternative for short journeys

* ‘Liveability’ is the watchword in today’s urban environment. Bicycles contribute to this ideal – cars do not

Cheered me up a bit, that article.

– Thanks to Eric for the report!

The Campaign members had been discussing the subject of a ride in the New Forest at the recent monthly meetings and the agreed date of 17 May arrived. The weather forecast was not too good, so it was a case of deciding what clothes to take—or how much water proofing to carry anyway.

People travelled to the appointed start location at Brockenhurst station by various means—some arrived by train, some cycled , some went by car.

Whatever means people chose to get there, the idea was to meet up and travel along Forest lanes and tracks, following one of the routes in the little booklet of suggested Cycle rides that had been given away with a national newspaper last year.

So at between 10 and 10.30 , the group expanded until there was a gathering of eleven eager participants to start their way wending around the route which Lindsi had previously tested out for us with her son Robin.

The ride left Brockenhurst on the main A337 Lyndhurst road , but soon cut off eastwards into a forest campsite and then it was up a fairly steep forest gravel track, which Lindsi assured us was about the steepest on the circuit.

That over with , it was a case of follow the leader as we made our way amongst the trees on peaceful trails .

Another group of cyclist was encountered, but otherwise only a couple of other dog walkers before we emerged from the forest just south of Lyndhurst onto the busy a337.

A short pedal up the main road into Lyndhurst and it was time for a coffee stop at the Mad Hatter tea rooms for those who wanted to partake in shop bought refreshments.

Others chose to sit with their bikes and make sure they were not nicked whist having a break and watching the traffic passing through the village and guests arriving for a wedding reception at an adjacent hotel

Refreshed, we clambered back on our steeds, no problems thus far and off the merry band set towards Emery Down. A turnoff the main a35 at swan Green led up a short sharp incline that had everyone puffing, so a quick rest on the summit allowed a breather before turning left led along a pleasant lane towards the Boldrewood area.

The road was fairly level so progress was easy with little motor traffic to bother us and the ponies were steering clear of our approach as well.

After a couple of miles, it was a right turn into the woods again .

On and on we travelled into the back of beyond, it is easy to see why people get lost in the forest as it is difficult to make our which routes on OS maps are which. A group of walkers was encountered pondering with a map looking lost.

Being a goodly bunch, , we stopped to render assistance and direct then on what we hoped was the right path—nah—be positive—was the right path (or I heard no subsequent reports of fifty something walkers trying to be tracked by the Police spotter plane)

After this it was more steady climbing onward and upward until suddenly the forest ended and we popped through a gate on to the road by the Canadian monument.

This is a memorial erected to commemorate the role of Canadian soldiers in WW2 who were encamped in the forest. There was a memorial tablet and Lindsi kindly read the wording inscribed to the listening group.

Following the little history lesson, we crossed over the road and headed off downhill for a speedy descent on well graveled tracks, but in a valley bottom there was a few really bad pot holes that could have caused a tumble of they had not been spitted in time .

By this time hunger pangs and tiredness were beginning to arise amongst some members , so it was with welcome relief that the forest tracks eventually rolled out on to the Burley road which took us to our lunch stop at the King’s Head pub in Burley.

We had pre-ordered food, so after we set ourselves down at an outside table, it was not too long before the meals arrived.

So far the threatened rain had not arrived, though the clouds looked dark and menacing. A few spits came down and we thought that was the start of something more , but stopped again.

So we sat out and enjoyed our luncheon.

Some took the opportunity to join the tourists’ trail and wander around the huddle of shops in Burley, quaint little place that the village centre is.

The bike hire shop had a good range of cycles for hire and used machines for sale which I glanced over.

After everyone was replenished , there was discussion on which way to return to Brockenhurst, either by more woodland routes or via the old railway route known as Castleman’s corkscrew which had recently featured on TV.

A decision was made to take the latter, as it was to be on more open land and was flatter than through the woods.

We climbed out of Burley past the village cricket square where a match was in progress and were surprised at the apparent sudden drop of temperature in the more open heath land compared to when we were in the forest plantations.

On we rode , passing the Old Station tearooms at Holmesley and riding along a dead straight section of road formed on what was once the route of the railway for half a mile or so.

It was then a turn right which led on to the now grassy and gravel disused railway track bed that crossed Long Slade Bottom by way of two newly refurbished bridges which had been restored with Sustrans funding. This route forms part of the National Cycle Network Route 2 across the forest between Hythe and Ringwood.

Riding along this section was easy with it being level and well surfaced, more people were around both walking and cycling .good views from the top of the embankment on which the route runs gave views of wet boggy ground to the sides of the old railway route, the Victorians certainly knew how to survey, plot out and build the engineering works to support the railway tracks.

The railway corridor route ended on the B3055 Brockenhurst to Sway road, and we followed the B3055 into the centre of Brockenhurst, where we stopped for an afternoon tea break in village tea rooms.

Suitably refreshed, it was time for the group to break up and head off in their separate ways.

A jolly day’s excursion on some out of the way tracks, no soaking, no punctures amongst the group and no mishaps either.SCC rides strike lucky again!!

Many thanks to Lindsi and Robin for doing route checking and organisation.

For the records, bikes used by participants included two Dahon Speed D7 folders, one Brompron T3, an Edinburgh Revolution tourer the rest a range of hybrid and mountain bikes

Photo Gallery

The Daily Echo reports on Friday’s naked bike ride:

Drivers honked their horns in support as the cyclists, who had started from the eastern side of Southampton Common at Highfield, passed through Portswood.

By the time they reached the city centre, rounded the Bargate and headed up into Above Bar small crowds were waiting with their cameras ready to capture the revealing scenes.

City centre shop workers finishing for the day and restaurant customers enjoying food and drink in the sunshine also stopped to cheer on the protestors.

Watch the echo video

Watch James’ Youtube Video

Echo article

Southern Daily Echo reports,

The city council is shamed as having fixed just one fifth of road “hazards” reported to it by cyclists over the past year - among the worst records in the country.

Keep reporting them kids: fillthathole.org.uk.

Read the article at the Daily Echo online.

* Millbrook Roundabout -
- work is ahead of schedule
- but the next stage is weather-dependent
- some of the roads will to be closed over the next few weeks for surfacing
- View details here [pdf]

* Two proposed schemes on Tebourba Way:
1. Pedestrian crossing at Oakley Road junction.
View proposal [pdf]
Send feedback or ask questions to Mr HC Hii by 13 June:
Direct dial: 023 80834529
Fax: 023 80833981
Email: hc.hii@outhampton.gov.uk

2. Pedestrian crossing with Toucan at Romsey Road
View proposal [pdf]
Send feedback or ask questions to Mr HC Hii by 13 June:
Direct dial: 023 80834529
Fax: 023 80833981
Email: hc.hii@outhampton.gov.uk

They would particularly welcome feedback from cyclists as there is to be a toucan crossing.