Southampton Cycling Campaign Newsletter September 2005 Welcome to the September 2005 Southampton Cycling Campaign Newsletter. My name is Debbie Back and I have taken over from Tim as Newletter Editor. I am new to Southampton and the Cycling Campaign, and looking forward to getting to know new people and places. Many thanks to Tim for all his work on the newsletter, and efficient handover. Tim will be continuing to edit the Campaign website, www.southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk In this issue we have details on the work plans for five towns, announced by Cycling England. These towns, to be disclosed at a later date, will demonstrate good practice in cycling provision. Figures from Southampton police show that cycle crime is on the increase in Southampton, so lock up your bike! Also, the London bombings have led to more people cycling in the capital – we review the media comment. Finally, some good news; Sustrans has reported record numbers of people cycling and walking on the National Cycle Network. I would appreciate any articles on cycling locally, or details of events. Please tell me about anything you think other Campaign members should know, no matter how small. debbie.back@bigfoot.com In this issue... Cycling Plans Get Government Backing page 1 Cycling England News Release Cycle theft in Southampton page 3 Cycle crime is on the increase Reaction to the London bombings page 4 Overview of articles about the increase in cycling in the capital More people are cycling and walking page 6 Sustrans reports more people than ever cycling and walking Cycle Events page 7 In Hampshire Contact Information and Membership application page 8 News release on http://www.nationalcyclingstrategy.org.uk/ 28 July 2005 Cycling Plans Get Government Backing Five towns are to become beacons of cycling as one aspect of a Work Plan announced today by Cycling England, the new body set up by government to get “more people cycling, more safely, more often”. The five towns will be selected over the next few weeks and will receive extra funds to provide cycling facilities and other measures to enable people to use their bikes. The Cycling England programme will also focus on schemes that help young people get on their bikes and that support wider aims of improving public health. With an annual budget of £5 million, Cycling England aims to obtain the maximum impact by creating ‘beacons of excellence’ – projects and places where effort and investment is concentrated, and initiatives are co-ordinated for maximum effect. Cycling England is supported by a Government Group comprising several government Departments, including those covering health, education, planning and sport, as well as transport. There are four main programmes: 1. Youth - to create the best circumstances to encourage more pupils to cycle to school. This includes everything from secure bike storage and making routes safer, to cycle training by accredited instructors to a new National Standard. 2. Place - five ‘cycling demonstration towns’ will be selected for significant investment by Cycling England and matched funding from the local authority. This will create a community-wide programme involving schools, employers, hospitals, retailers and public transport operators with the local authority to build a cycle-friendly environment. 3. Support for local authorities and other providers - Cycling England will fund a series of projects to benchmark, support and increase the skills of professional groups in local authorities. 4· Public Health - Cycling England will work closely with the Department of Health and other key government Departments to ensure that major programmes designed to encourage physical activity, a healthy lifestyle and greater accessibility also include the promotion of cycling whether for transport or recreation. All these programmes will be supported with marketing and promotional funds to ensure well-targeted communication. Announcing the Work Plan, the Chairman of Cycling England, Phillip Darnton, said: “The team has put a lot of effort into creating a well-structured plan, fully supported by the key government Departments. We are now working quickly to make things happen, and make a real difference to cycling, by building strong partnerships with local authorities and government agencies. “We want to support people and groups already committed to cycling by encouraging existing initiatives, and ensure that future efforts on behalf of cycling - whether by central Government, local authorities, or the wider community - are as fully integrated as possible. “The support and collaboration of a number of government Departments will make a big difference both to public attitudes and to changing behaviour towards more cycling.” Notes to Editors 1. The Cycling England Work Plan can be downloaded as PDFs: Cycling England Work Plan (http://www.nationalcyclingstrategy.org.uk/fileuploads/ncsb/CEWP.pdf) Appendix 1: Programme Themes (http://www.nationalcyclingstrategy.org.uk/fileuploads/ncsb/CEWP_app1.pdf) Appendix 2: Budget (http://www.nationalcyclingstrategy.org.uk/fileuploads/ncsb/CEWP_app2.pdf) 2. The formation of Cycling England, including its objectives and a list of its members, was announced in March 2005 (see Department for Transport News Release 2005/0024, 10 March 2005). 3. The Government Group of senior civil servants comprises representatives of the Departments of Health, Education and Skills, Environment, Sport England, Culture Media and Sport, and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. It is chaired by Robert Devereux, Director General, Road, Regional and Local Transport, Department for Transport. Enquiries to Lynn Sloman, Cycling England Tel: 01654 781358 Cycle Theft in Southampton John Bailey is Crime Reduction Officer based at Southampton Central Police Station. He reports that cycle crime is on the rise for the first two quarters of this year compared to the same period last year. In January to March 2005, 252 cycle crimes were committed, compared to 214 for the same period in 2004. And in April to June 2005, a staggering 401 crimes were committed compared to 249 in 2004. Of these 401 crimes, 100 were committed in Southampton Central, 129 in Portswood, 69 in Bitterne and 103 in Shirley, all an increase on last year’s figures. The Home Office suggests that you take the following precautions; * Buy a good-quality lock because chains can be easily cut. D-locks or combination locks are best, but a good bicycle shop or DIY store can advise you. You could even use two locks for extra security (and to make thieves think it’s not worth trying to steal your bike). * Always lock both wheels and keep the lock off the ground. This makes it harder to break. * Take away any extras, like lights and helmets. * Have your bike frame security-marked with your name and postcode. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime/vehiclecrime/crime_reduction.html#3 Apparently Southampton Police do not postcode cycles any longer and do not have any funding to data-tag cycles, which is the latest security device. However, John advised that your local bicycle shop will probably be able to offer this service for a fee (about £20, from figures I’ve seen on the internet. Does anyone have any experience with data tags?) If you would like any further information on how to keep your cycle safe, then please contact John Bailey, or the Crime Reduction Officer for your area. John Bailey: 02380 599860 Crime Reduction Officer for Southampton Central, Portswood, Bitterne and Shirley areas. For other parts of Hampshire please call 08450454545 and ask for the Crime Reduction Officer for your area. Reaction to the London Bombings There has been quite a lot of media interest in the effect of the London Bombings on cycling. Tom Geoghegan of BBC News Magazine discusses the benefits of cycling compared to the possible risk of being knocked over on the roads (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4719015.stm). He reports that sales in London bike shops have increased quite dramatically, as people decide that they no longer want to risk travelling on the tube. However, statistically, there is a greater risk that they will be involved in an accident than be involved in a bombing. Yet because these new cyclists feel more in control on a cycle than on the tube, they feel safer. He also says that some people are starting to cycle for health reasons, and also to avoid the everyday problems with public transport. Lionel Shriver of the Guardian provides an entertaining article titled ‘London: the city that hates cyclists’ (http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1535948,00.html). He discusses how London cyclists hate each other (“Regardless of pace, London cyclists consider any bicycle in front of them an indignity”), and how the cycle infrastructure is incomplete: “What else is unique to London? The 10ft-long bike lane. I do not exaggerate. All over the city you have these bizarrely weeny segments of green grit two feet wide, nicely inlaid with a picture of a little white bicycle. Arbitrarily, they start; bang, 10 feet later they stop. They end in a parking space, with a car in it. They do not resume on the other side. For city planners, what is the concept here? A cyclist is meant to a) ride over the top of the parked car; b) go home and cry; c) lie down and die; or d) swerve abruptly into passing traffic. Bingo! Expect indignant motorists to lean on their horns and sideswipe your handlebars, but the correct answer, if you ever intend to get anywhere, is d.” After discussing how London has tried to encourage more cycling, he mentions the dedicated bikeway in New York, and how London needs to have some similar arterial routes. He finishes with the following; “Until then? Go away! We don't need any more little friends! Don't you believe that guff about how cycling makes you fit; it makes you tired! The weather is terrible! Ooh, ugh - you get dirty and sweaty, and drivers will lean censoriously on their horns when you're obeying all the traffic laws just because you exist! Maybe cycling does save a whack of money, but can any amount of cash compensate for the fact that bike helmets are so naff? So what if a bicycle is the fastest and most reliable way of getting around London, especially now that the whole tube system shuts down whenever a greasy chip bag gets abandoned on a bench. Haven't you ever heard of being "fashionably late"?” CTC – The UK’s national cyclists’ organisation, suggests that the increasing number of cyclists in the capital may enourage more women to cycle. They have published the following press release; “What makes more women cycle? The recently-increased number of cyclists in London may be encouraging a larger proportion of women to cycle, according to CTC – the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation. New research conducted independently by London Analytics has found that a greater proportion of women cycle if other people are cycling already. Women in the UK are currently half as likely as men to cycle. CTC Campaigns & Policy Manager, Roger Geffen, said: “We have known for some time that cyclists gain from a ‘safety in numbers’ effect – the more people cycle, the safer it gets. This new research suggests that at least in London, women may be recognising this, taking up cycling and thereby accelerating this healthy trend. We also know that, whilst cycle training for teenagers is more popular among boys than girls, in adulthood it is women who are far more likely than men to seek training. Just a couple of hours’ training to the National Standard makes a huge difference to people’s willingness to cycle and their confidence while doing so.” However, it is possible that cultural factors might also help explain the apparent link between high cycle use and the proportion of cyclists who are women. Alix Stredwick recently completed a Cycling for Women project for the Women’s Design Service, helping women from diverse backgrounds and racial groups to take up cycling. Alix commented: “We found that one of the key elements that would attract women to cycling who are already thinking about it is the existence of 'role models' who visibly demonstrate that cycling is for women too. More and more people promoting cycling are catching on to this and marketing specifically to women via positive images of women of all ages and backgrounds cycling in 'everyday' clothing doing 'everyday' things - you don't have to don the Lycra and be an urban warrior just to go to the shops.” CTC believes that there are two crucial tips for anyone, whether male or female, looking to discover or rediscover cycling in adulthood: The first is good quality cycle training to boost their skills and confidence and the second is a specialist insurance policy that offers third party liability cover.” News release on http://www.ctc.org.uk/ 8 August 2005 http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1120746785640 Press release 8 July 2005 More people are cycling and walking Figures released today by Sustrans, the UK's leading sustainable transport charity prove that more people than ever are cycling and walking, despite government statistics to the contrary. The results of the charity's route user monitoring survey for 2004 reveals that 201 million cycling and walking trips were made on the National Cycle Network, a growth of 11.6% on the previous year. Cycling trips increased by 11.1% and walking by 12%. This directly contradicts the government's Transport Statistics Bulletin, released this week, which estimates a 14.4% drop in pedal cycle traffic between 2003 and 2004. Sustrans' survey also shows how an increase in cycling and walking is contributing to a reduction in climate-changing CO2 emissions. In 2004 just over 50 million trips on the National Cycle Network replaced a car trip and many of those were commuter journeys to work. This means that cycle routes are providing practical alternatives to cars at some of the most congested times of the day. And they are helping people without cars to get around, in 2004 38 million trips were made by people who didn't have access to a car. Just over a third of the National Cycle Network follows traffic-free routes, which, in urban areas, carry over 80% of trips. These routes are especially good for people who are new to cycling and are ideal for the shorter distances that are possible by bike. They are also ideal for trips normally made by car, 58% of all car journeys made in the UK are under 5 miles and the average trip length using traffic-free paths is nearly 5 miles. On-road sections attract an average trip length of 2.3 miles. Sustrans pioneered the National Cycle Network and later this year celebrates its first 10 years and10,000 miles, each year it records the numbers of people who use the routes and the reasons why they use it. And the reasons they give show how the Network is changing the shape and health of the nation – 46% of cyclists and 32% of walkers say that the Network has helped them to increase their level of regular physical activity by a large amount. In poorer areas with high levels of social deprivation over 65% of people asked said that having the National Cycle Network near to them helped them exercise more often. John Grimshaw, Sustrans' Chief Executive and Founder explains the importance of the figure: “These figures are not just an illustration of the huge success story that is the National Cycle Network but they show a vision of the future that is attainable. A future where people can choose to leave the car at home and cycle and walk for business and pleasure. We believe that this is the true picture of sustainable transport, a marked and positive contrast to that supplied by the Transport Statistics Bulletin, which does not include information from our traffic-free routes. We urge the Department for Transport to include these in future to give a much fairer assessment of the true position of cycling and walking in Britain. Meanwhile we will continue to develop and build more cycling and walking routes to improve the quality of all our lives, for all our lives.” Further information about Sustrans, including other news releases and detailed online route mapping, can be found at: www.sustrans.org.uk NOTES 1. Sustrans provides imaginative but practical solutions to transport, health and environmental challenges, working on practical projects that benefit people now. Its vision is a future in which people travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. 2. 2005 celebrates 10 years of the National Cycle Network. By September of this year 10,000 miles of Sustrans' flagship project, will be opened. Gill Harrison, Press Office: 0117 915 0108 Out of hours: 07802 986728 press@sustrans.org.uk Cycle Events Monday 12 September – Southampton Cycling Campaign meeting. 1945 at Friends Meeting House, Ordnance Road. Saturday 17 September – Southampton Cycle Forum bike ride to look at and discuss future plans and schemes. 0945 for 1000 start. Monday 19 September – AM Trail Blazing Ride. Contact Dale Bostock for further details - 023 8083 2366, dale.bostock@southampton.gov.uk Sunday 30 October – National Cyclo Cross event – 300 cyclists racing are expected. Sorry, no further details. Please send full details of any future events, any articles or comments to debbie.back@bigfoot.com Get in touch Chairperson Eric Reed. Tel: 02380 497512 E-mail: eric.reed@eastleigh.gov.uk Membership 39 Swift Road, Woolston, Southampton, SO19 9FP. Want something raised at a meeting? Call or e-mail Eric. Or e-mail agenda@southamptoncycling.org.uk. And finally, to keep our meetings on track, how about getting that winge out of your system by emailing winge@southamptoncycling.org.uk Meetings at 19:45 every 2nd Monday of the month (except August) at Friends Meeting House, Ordnance Road. This newsletter is available online at www.southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk Membership application Join us and help make a difference! Name Address Telephone Email Annual fee (please circle) £10 Waged / £5 Unwaged Return this form with your fee to SCC Membership Secretary, 39 Swift Road, Woolston, Southampton, SO19 9FP Cheques payable to Southampton Cycling Campaign, please. Southampton Cycling Campaign Newsletter September 2005 Southampton Cycling Campaign Newsletter September 2005 Page 8 Page 7 Page 1