tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post5587519505931378926..comments2024-03-18T08:51:07.314+00:00Comments on i b i k e l o n d o n: The dog that barks the loudest gets the bone; is it time for a cycling lobby?ibikelondonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-45080147324046008502022-10-07T17:09:14.516+01:002022-10-07T17:09:14.516+01:00f6m70q0z61 b6o86d5n32 x4x19t8o90 u0a25c4d32 l0... <a href="https://www.dolabuy.ru/fr/fourretout-c-157_168_185/aaa-replica-designer-gucci-660195-diana-petit-fourretout-en-cuir-sacs-%EF%BF%BD-main-p-4203.html" rel="nofollow"><strong>f6m70q0z61</strong></a> b6o86d5n32 <a href="https://www.dolabuy.ru/onthego-c-157_158_362/louis-vuitton-high-quality-replica-m46060-onthego-mm-monogram-empreinte-bag-p-4782.html" rel="nofollow"><strong>x4x19t8o90</strong></a> u0a25c4d32 <a href="https://www.dolabuy.ru/g-wallets-c-157_168_204/best-11-quality-womens-replica-663923-les-pommes-card-case-wallet-p-4116.html" rel="nofollow"><strong>l0x90r7q76</strong></a> a0m32z9a04phertenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15557017741133048105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-28619695344134320342020-09-10T01:11:50.230+01:002020-09-10T01:11:50.230+01:00In the world of hacking we are the best when it co...In the world of hacking we are the best when it comes to client satisfaction. Bestapphack is an experienced online Private Investigator/Ethical Hacker providing investigative solutions and related services to individuals. You might be curious that what hacking group services can provide? .. If you hire a hacker, you will need to be taken along with the progress of the hack till it is completed and that is what we provide at cyberapphack. We render: +University Grades Hack, +Bank Account Hacks, +Control devices remotely hack, +Facebook Hacking Tricks, +Gmail, AOL, Yahoomail, inbox, mobile phone (call and text message Hacking are available) +Database Hacking, +PC Computer Tricks +Bank transfer, Western Union, Money Gram, Credit Card transfer +Wiping of Credit, +VPN Software, +ATM Hack Contact at: BESTAPPSHACKERS@GMAIL.COM OR WHATSAPP +1(602)609-4730<br />Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07674451505041658879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-43194959385642799442011-01-05T19:36:43.144+00:002011-01-05T19:36:43.144+00:00@ Chris
Bikeability and cycle training (VC or wha...@ Chris<br /><br />Bikeability and cycle training (VC or whatever you want to call it) makes everyone who takes it better cyclists AND better drivers. That's the point. Those children grow into better road users.<br /><br />You say with respect Bikeability:<br />"I use it's techniques everyday (and I'll teach my children the same techniques) - but I don't expect a national body like Cycling England to be teaching children such crap"<br /><br />You think it's crap but you use it every day and teach it to your kids?<br /><br />People who want to ride in the streets of London as they are now in 2011 benefit massivly from the training and emphatically are not taught to "run with the bulls" unless and untill they want to. You must have seen some really poor training. Even with cycle lanes out the kazoo, at some point on a journey you will mix with cars. These are good skills to have.<br /><br />Cycle training is not a policy for massed cycling. Experienced riders develop the same strategies in any case.<br /><br />On a broader note. It took 80 years for cycling to decline to where it is today and it will take a while coming back. Don't blame LCC CTC VC etc. for "failing". It's a long game and they are doing a lot of good. Cycling's fall was linked to petrol/cheap cars and its rise will be the same. There are many drivers for the increase in cyclists in london of late and petrol prices are one of them. Cycle training is part of getting that modal share up above 5%ish where we can start asking for some of the infrastructure you all seem to want.<br /><br />I train many new cyclists. Very few of them are men in their 20's. It's mainly women who are nervous of traffic. 2 hrs of VC training usually has them riding wherever they want with no problems. Cycling in London is safe and fun.... mostly ;-) No mode is perfect you know....<br /><br />To be clear, I would love to have some good cycle lanes.... does anyone know where I can score some? No? I'll just have to go back to making new cyclists till there enough of us to demand more road space. No quick fixes i'm afraid. Just keep riding.<br /><br />-Dr MoohahahaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-28866152192616328942010-11-01T12:56:26.811+00:002010-11-01T12:56:26.811+00:00Hello Sheffield!
Great to hear from you and apolo...Hello Sheffield!<br /><br />Great to hear from you and apologies for taking so long to get back to you - I have a half witted response to your email sitting in my drafts but it hasn't been until recently that I've been able to really clear my thoughts on this subject. Will send through soon!<br /><br />Congratulations on the anniversary of your blog, and for sharing your thoughts on on cyclists and cycle campaign groups. More on that subject on the blog tomorrow (27/11/10)ibikelondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-87803904813645894112010-11-01T12:47:27.432+00:002010-11-01T12:47:27.432+00:00Mark - like you my blog has just had its first ann...Mark - like you my blog has just had its first anniversary and looking through all the photos of people riding their bikes that I have taken it is clear that pavement cycling and riding through pedestrian areas is not a minority activity, but a MAJORITY one. Even the police cyclists ride through the pedestrian areas. I think that tells you everything you need to know about how cyclists regard "sharing the road". <br /><br />Most cyclists vote with their feet and ignore the various cycling organisations because they don't represent them. I, for one, refuse to join the CTC until they campaign for segregated infrastructure and the local Sheffield organisation Pedal Pushers seems to be just as much under the influence of the "vehicular cycling" ideologues, who were quite happy to report to members that they didn't have any problem with Sheffield axing its cycling budget for next year because so much good work had been done over the last few years. They are clearly mad! Sheffield's cycling infrastructure is better than London's but that's hardly a cause for celebration.<br /><br />When we talk about cycling being a minority activity, we have to remember that there is a significant chunk of the population that would like to cycle, but are too scared by traffic. The conventional response is that they need educating, but of course they are merely being sensible. There are also a significant number of people who used to cycle but gave up after being knocked off their bikes, again very sensible people. I am constantly meeting people who tell me I'm mad and to be honest I have to agree with them. As someone mentioned earlier there are other ways of increasing modal share, but let's face it they are merely tinkering with percentage points and as far as I'm concerned safe junction design is part of proper infrastructure - you can't have it without! <br />Segregation is the ONLY way to get MASS cycling. <br /><br />BTW thanks for reading my email, sorry it was a lot to digest, but I guess it's sinking in now ;-)sheffield cycle chichttp://sheffieldcyclechic.tumblr.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-84291628459007373412010-10-19T22:24:22.383+01:002010-10-19T22:24:22.383+01:00@Mark: BC may have different priorities, but they ...@Mark: BC may have different priorities, but they do promote Everyday Cycling. So they have at least some crossover with utility cycling organisations. Therefore they should definitely contribute to the pot! They would still be free to lobby for road racing on the open road!<br /><br />Now, lets get real here. What do you think the cycling 'campaign' budget is in the UK? Combining all the campaign budgets from CTC, LCC, BC, Sustrans, levy fund etc...? 500K? Any other offers? <br /><br />At 500K (which is probably an overestimate), I think it becomes very clear, very quickly, that we possess very few bullets in the lobbying scheme of things. <br /><br />So, if you guys think that at 500k this new organisation can be all things to all men - then you're deluded.<br /><br />Hard decisions will need to be made.<br /><br />I'm not saying parking, theft, potholes, weather etc are not issues - they are, but they become very unimportant when you've only got 3 bullets in the barrel and the opposition is packing a nuclear warhead. Parking, helmets, theft, training - they're all way down the list of obstacles as to why most people don't cycling. Regardless of the actual risks involved, people in this country avoid cycling because the roads are atrocious - cycling daily on UK roads is at best a thoroughly unpleasant and stressful experience - at worst, deadly. And, to top it all off, people are not going to give up their cars.<br /><br />Remember, we have 500k - it's nothing.<br /><br />We don't live in the 1930s any more - this obsession with the right to ride on the road is archaic (and I'm saying it as a Vehicular Cyclist for over 25 years). Take a look out the window, cars everywhere! We may have won the vehicular battle, but surely we lost the modal war? <br /><br />Remember, we have 500k - it's nothing.<br /><br />In general, the challenge for us as cyclists will be to persuade the established powers to relinquish space (usually road space), speed, and priority, in favour of cycling and walking, to make it more attractive to walk and cycle. That's what we should focus on, that's our challenge. It won't be easy. In fact, I don't see much progress for the next few years. But I think it's important that we put our own house in order now, so that we have a consistent theme going forward.<br /><br />I'm not saying that this new organisation shouldn't have a view on other issues such as helmets, parking, positive marketing - obviously it should. But it should always be in the context of Dutch Model Infrastructure. There really is only one agenda that we should be pushing. Attracting funding for Vehicular Cycling schemes will be a waste of time and taxpayer money - they have no proven track record in improving modal share. It's what the car lobby is saying too.<br /><br />Remember, we have 500k - it's nothing.<br /><br />And, BTW, the Dutch Model is not all about segregated tarmac, it's about segregating the modes of vehicular activity as best as possible, thus reducing conflict - it's a conflict reducing technique. The car lobby, in their own little way, have been banging on about this for years. Common ground perhaps?<br /><br />@Paul: some suggestions: Jeremy Paxman, Will Self, Martin Porter.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-89521273442261657382010-10-19T22:02:14.869+01:002010-10-19T22:02:14.869+01:00@Mark: BC may have different priorities, but they ...@Mark: BC may have different priorities, but they do promote Everyday Cycling quite heavily. So they have at least some crossover with utility cycling organisations. Therefore they should definitely contribute to the pot! They would still be free to lobby for road racing on the open road!<br /><br />Now, lets get real here. What do you think the cycling 'campaign' budget is in the UK? Combining all the campaign budgets from CTC, LCC, BC, Sustrans, levy fund etc...? 500K? Any other offers? <br /><br />At 500K (which is probably an overestimate), I think it becomes very clear, very quickly, that we possess very few bullets in the lobbying scheme of things. <br /><br />So, if you guys think that at 500k this new organisation can be all things to all men - then you're deluded.<br /><br />I'm not saying parking, theft, potholes, weather etc are not issues - they are, but they become very unimportant when you've only got 3 bullets in the barrel and the opposition is packing a nuclear warhead. Parking, helmets, theft, training - they're all way down the list of obstacles as to why most people don't cycling. Regardless of the actual risks involved, people in this country avoid cycling because the roads are atrocious - cycling daily on UK roads is at best a thoroughly unpleasant and stressful experience - at worst, deadly. <br /><br />Remember, we have 500k - it's nothing.<br /><br />We don't live in the 1930s any more - this obsession with the right to ride on the road is archaic (and I'm saying it as a Vehicular Cyclist for over 25 years). Take a look out the window, cars everywhere! We may have won the vehicular battle, but surely we lost the modal war? <br /><br />Remember, we have 500k - it's nothing.<br /><br />In general, the challenge for us as cyclists will be to persuade the established powers to relinquish space (usually road space) in favour of cycling and walking, to make it more attractive to walk and cycle. That's what we should focus on, that's our challenge. It won't be easy. In fact, I don't see any progress for at least the next 5-6years. But I think it's important that we put our own house in order now, so that we have a consistent theme going forward.<br /><br />I'm not saying that this new organisation shouldn't have a view on other issues such as helmets, parking, positive marketing - obviously it should. But it should always be in the context of Dutch Model Infrastructure. There really is only one agenda that we should be pushing.<br /><br />Remember, we have 500k - it's nothing.<br /><br />And, BTW, the Dutch Model is not all about segregated tarmac, it's about segregating the modes of vehicular activity as best as possible, thus reducing conflict - it's a conflict reducing technique. The car lobby, in their own little way, have been banging on about this for years. Common ground perhaps?<br /><br />@Paul: some suggestions: Jeremy Paxman, Will Self, Martin Porter.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-78605926834249549612010-10-19T17:24:06.388+01:002010-10-19T17:24:06.388+01:00Paul - I'd do it! :o)Paul - I'd do it! :o)ibikelondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-68820730180208126692010-10-19T16:08:41.088+01:002010-10-19T16:08:41.088+01:00Mark, you're absolutely right - focusing on ca...Mark, you're absolutely right - focusing on cases where segregation would be both effective and straightforward to achieve would be much more effective than either saying it won't work anywhere or campaigning for it everywhere and right now. I'd love to see cyclists identifying tailored solutions for particular stretches of road, as indeed Harrow Cyclists did recently ...Jimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-33160902462820016932010-10-19T15:21:52.049+01:002010-10-19T15:21:52.049+01:00Can anyone suggest a candidate with the diplomatic...Can anyone suggest a candidate with the diplomatic skills to pull this off? They would need to be respected by the 'community' they represent; trusted to listen to disparate views and then, in good faith, to draw their own conclusions and set their own priorities; eloquent; persuasive; persistent; politically neutral(?); adept at building allegiances; mentally tough; independent of the three main NGOs (there is a century of fierce rivalry there); and cheap.<br /><br />Who would you trust to represent your views on helmets, segregation, sport, leisure, commuting, training, children on bikes, etc.?<br /><br />Paul.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-8138001756466849062010-10-19T10:54:47.472+01:002010-10-19T10:54:47.472+01:00Thanks all for your comments - some really interes...Thanks all for your comments - some really interesting ideas there.<br /><br />I'm going to address some of these ideas one by one:<br /><br />With respect to giving up all budgets and committing it to a campaign called 'Going Dutch' nice though this would be it's never going to happen. Furthermore neither should it; the likes of British Cycling primarily focus on sports cycling, the mountain bikers on country trails - utility cycling and Dutch-style segregation is not the be all and end all of cycling. What I was proposing, however, is some kind of national body to acknowledge our differences but still be able to work together to secure any and all funding from the Government over the next few years (be that for cycle paths, training or whatever) because that IS going to be an uphill struggle.<br /><br />@Jim Of course we shouldn't focus on segregation alone. There are genuine problems with cycle parking and theft and the lorry issue of course, however if the LCC, by way of example, had spent as much time, money and effort this year on campaigning outright for some (any!) segregated cycling facilities as much as it had on it's Beat the Thief, No More Lethal Lorries and Where do you want Cycle Parking campaigns they would have risen ten fold in my personal estimation. Of course we can't focus on segregation alone, but any focus at all whatsoever on segregation would be a good starting point, no? As you say, our existing cycle campaigns need to get their houses in order.<br /><br />@iswas There are, indeed, people involved in our cycling campaigns who are outright hostile to any segregation of cyclists. That's to be expected, we are a diverse bunch and some people are vehicular cyclists and some people aren't... but I would agree with your point that not enough focus has been given to the cycling experience of 'normal' people (ie non-hardcore cyclists) Sure, Tavistock Place has issues, but I'd rather let my Gran cycle there than round the Hammersmith gyratory,,, this is why most cyclists are young men of course. The reason why there are so few of us is because mixing it up with traffic is perceived by the majority to be just too darn dangerous.<br /><br />So the message I'm getting here, is regardless of whether you are pro or anti segregation as a primary campaigning focus, our cycling campaigns are not doing enough to get their houses in order and punch above their wait on the issues that matter. Considering the nature of my first blog post, essentially saying 'get organised or get trampled' what hope does cycling have over the next few years if our campaigns can't even agree to do this? What can we do to remedy this situation? (preferably something more proactive than just wringing our hands on here, mind!)<br /><br />Markibikelondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-7712512686876216472010-10-19T10:33:44.624+01:002010-10-19T10:33:44.624+01:00My biggest horror came when I realised that many p...My biggest horror came when I realised that many people in these groups actively campaign AGAINST segregated facilities. They clearly no longer have any idea what it is like to be a "normal" person who wants to ride a bike without sharing space with buses and taxis!<br /><br />This I find particularly true with those who have been cycling in London for many years. What's worse, is that they are often representing the organisations who are campaigning.<br /><br />A prime example of this is the Tavistock/Torrington cycle path. When I discovered it I was happy to see it and clearly it's extremely popular as it's very well-used. However read the cycling forums and you'd think it was the devil incarnate. Clearly it's not a perfect set-up but to see calls for it to be removed and a return to on-road cycling nearly brings me to tears. Just fix the problems with the path! Don't throw it away!<br /><br />Most people (they types who aren't members of organisations or posting on forums) are very glad to be separated from the traffic!<br /><br />Clearly such paths are NOT always safer than the roadway and can be more dangerous in fact (and I'm sure Tavistock fits that description), but we all know that the main driver of safety is the number of cyclists. Increasing perceived safety with segregation is an extremely important part of that.<br /><br />Basically, while there is no agreement on such fundamentals I can't see how we're going to get anywhere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-50286859668954759622010-10-19T09:26:11.186+01:002010-10-19T09:26:11.186+01:00There are a couple of problems with the argument t...There are a couple of problems with the argument that we should focus on segregation and segregation alone. Firstly, it's *not* the only thing that will raise modal share. It may be the most important, but continental cities with high cycling shares do a lot of other things to encourage cycling too, like providing loads of secure cycle parking, redesigning junctions, introducing cycle-only traffic light phases, enforcing low speed limits and keeping HGV traffic away from cyclists. Second, it is just inherently difficult for a lobby group representing 1 or 2% of road users to secure segregated road space for itself. Road users in general don't identify with us largely because there are so few of us.<br /><br />Put those two together and there is an argument for a more wide-ranging strategy which raises cycling's modal share by *all* the various means available until we've got the requisite political mass to really push for segregated facilities across the board. <br /><br />We haven't actually been doing that properly though, and I completely agree that the mainstream cycling groups are not aggressive or unified enough. I'm just concerned that we're not going to get a more unified front if some of us want to focus on a probably doomed strategy to the exclusion of everything else.Jimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-3141809907019024972010-10-18T21:39:59.879+01:002010-10-18T21:39:59.879+01:00Mark, I agree, we need one voice.
BTW: Do you rea...Mark, I agree, we need one voice.<br /><br />BTW: Do you really think Cycling England did a good job? Take Bikeability for instance - have you done the course? If you had, you'd realise that we're teaching our children to Run With The Bulls! It's like telling a rape victim to wear a longer skirt next time - it's a safety scheme designed by the vulnerable for the vulnerable - it completely ignores the Bull (Elephant) in the room.<br /><br />Now, I'm not saying Bikeabilty is evil - far from it. I use it's techniques everyday (and I'll teach my children the same techniques) - but I don't expect a national body like Cycling England to be teaching children such crap (I'd rather we spent our taxes on something else)<br /><br />I suggest this: CTC, LCC, Sustrans, British Cycling, Bike Hub levy fund (have I missed one out?) - all relinquish their campaign budgets to form one new organisation - call it, I don't know, Going Dutch (or something).<br /><br />The only thing that's going to increase cycling from the 1-2% mode share we currently enjoy, is segregated infrastructure, along the Dutch Model.<br /><br />So lets stop talking about training, bike theft, parking, BLOODY helmets (it's all bollox), and lets focus on one thing. Incidentally, it's the same thing that the car lobby focuses on (as Carlton Reid rightly points out) - ASPHALT! Segregated ASPHALT.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-49044013548029826342010-10-18T21:18:44.769+01:002010-10-18T21:18:44.769+01:00P.S @Cyclists In the City - long overdue but I'...P.S @Cyclists In the City - long overdue but I've finally added your excellent site to my blog roll. Keep up the great work!ibikelondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-41900057690564791232010-10-18T21:14:57.472+01:002010-10-18T21:14:57.472+01:00That speaks volumes that of 40 commuter cyclists i...That speaks volumes that of 40 commuter cyclists in your place of work none of them is a member of the LCC (incidentally it is worth beng a member even if only to get the free third party insurance and legal assistance!) I saw that letter in the London Cyclist magazine... more on that later!!ibikelondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-51498128391859979652010-10-18T21:11:00.407+01:002010-10-18T21:11:00.407+01:00I'm completely with you on this. I asked aroun...I'm completely with you on this. I asked around at work today. About a dozen of the people on my floor of 40 cycle to work. Not one of them is a member of the London Cycling Campaign. They don't really understand what it's for. I am a member but I don't really understand what it's trying to do either. It seems to me that what cycling campaigns are about at the moment is about protesting one project here, one project there and usually with no really coherent plan. And then we have a cycling body completely committed to vehicular cycling in the LCC. Have you read the latest responses to letters in London Cyclist magazine? Things like only supporting segregated facilities when speeds and volumes of vehicles are high. Err, most routes in London then? I don't think LCC really knows what a cycle lane should be in London. Or if it does, it can't make it's mind up.cyclelondoncityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00528405781032114492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-65370312641649841292010-10-18T21:01:46.550+01:002010-10-18T21:01:46.550+01:00@ian... That's a question I'm not in a pos...@ian... That's a question I'm not in a position to answer, I don't know why there wasn't greater resistence from within, though I suspect, considerng the idealogical nature of the cuts, that no amount of weeping and wailing would have helped.<br /><br />@freewheeler I agree that some (maybe even much) cycle advocacy in the UK is toothless and without clear direction. But (and it's a big but) it *is* all we have to work with. In order to try and change something to how you might like it to be you have to be in it in the first place I guess... Either way, this is, of course, all totally hypothetical. I don't think a cycling lobby will materialise and I do believe that we will have different cycling groups and campaigns fighting each other for the same funds within a few months. Just what cycling needs!ibikelondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-70723614679713773042010-10-18T20:28:01.804+01:002010-10-18T20:28:01.804+01:00The question is, what would a cycling lobby organi...The question is, what would a cycling lobby organisation be lobbying for? <br />The British cycling establishment seems to me to have no coherent philosophy of cycling at all, other than the failed strategy of trying to ameliorate the conditions of vehicular cycling.freewheelerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16731932510033958017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-90383394550483202982010-10-18T17:44:51.508+01:002010-10-18T17:44:51.508+01:00Mark - your comment that 'cycling was wounded ...Mark - your comment that 'cycling was wounded too easily' rang a bell. Considering how efficient Cycling England apparently was, why on earth did they not fight their corner better?<br /><br />£200k is spare change on a governmental scale so it can hardly be portrayed as expensive.Isla...https://www.blogger.com/profile/09569097700652272494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-78124797694081318312010-10-18T11:29:44.014+01:002010-10-18T11:29:44.014+01:00And that's the scandalous thing in all of this...And that's the scandalous thing in all of this of course, that a well-oiled machine like CE, with it's tiny budget and big results, should be scrapped for purely ideological reasons.<br /><br />The sounds coming out of the DfT are encouraging, but I still can't help but think that cycling was wounded too easily here and that we have to be on our guard in the future. Of course it's a question of funding but I can't help but think that the bus lobby wouldn't have rolled over so easily... <br /><br />Perhaps it is too early for this debate, but I still *do* think we need to be prepared for an all-out assault on potential cycling funding. Sure it will be great if the DfT talks directly to our cycling experts (those that are left), but we are still going to be competing with much stronger bodies if, as Normal Norman says, there is no longer a dedicated fund for cycling and we will have to be fighting for scraps from the 'sustainable' pot.<br /><br />Interesting times ahead indeed.ibikelondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-50673326594279852502010-10-18T11:16:43.599+01:002010-10-18T11:16:43.599+01:00Best thing would be to lobby for the reinstatement...Best thing would be to lobby for the reinstatement of Cycling England.<br /><br />You say it's not coming back. Correct. Ish.<br /><br />DfT is already talking about forming a panel of experts. Durr. It'll be Cycling England but with another name.<br /><br />Hovverboard Hammond had to be seen to be tough and wanted to abolish a "silly little thing pushing for cycling" but DfT officials don't want to talk to lots of cycling groups they want to talk to one group. The stupid thing is, many of the experts who can deliver a cycling programme for the DfT may very well get other jobs in the meantime, a scandalous loss of expertise, done for ideological, Daily Mail headline reasons.carlton Reidhttp://www.bikehub.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-83779089973890006152010-10-18T10:34:13.830+01:002010-10-18T10:34:13.830+01:00Thanks for the history lesson, Carlton. Barbara C...Thanks for the history lesson, Carlton. Barbara Castle on a Raleigh shopper I would have liked to have seen. A hard core socialist on a bike; is that what John Major meant by "old maids cycling" I wonder? ;-)<br /><br />Of course cycling is a disparate and varied force - there is no 'one' typical type of cyclist or cycling and it's only right and good that it should be so varied. And of course there are always going to be differences in opinion on the old debates like segregation, helmets etc. But all this is a diversion. Outside of cycling circles most people (including the purse string holders at the DfT) have no idea such a debate even exists, they just have some vague idea that cycling is this minority activity that probably deserves some funding, somewhere, somehow in order to get some PR...<br /><br />This is why Cycling England was so great at steering the DfT and others in the right direction, and feeding up the common message from disparate groups like CTC and Cycling England. But Cycling England is going, and it wont be coming back. What we will be left with are lots of different groups all hunting for the same small crumbs and in the face of the might of the bus lobby or any other strong, well organised 'sustainable' interest group (and in a fight between the CTC and say Brian Souter I know who will win every time)<br /><br />So yes there will be hurdles to cross (like resolving our differences re helmets, cycle lanes et al) and of course there is the question of funding, but the alternative is much much worse, surely? We can't just do "nothing", can we?ibikelondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-933032144027066272010-10-18T10:17:08.142+01:002010-10-18T10:17:08.142+01:00Such a lobby would cost a lot of money; money the ...Such a lobby would cost a lot of money; money the bike world hasn't got.<br /><br />The reason the roads lobby has so much cash is because it's made up of lots of cash-rich concerns, from aggregates suppliers to car companies and many besides.<br /><br />Cycling couldn't hope to compete in the money stakes. However, what it can do well at is punching above its weight. This involves good use of PR, local and national.<br /><br />A pre Bike Hub levy was operational in the 1970s and paid for a PR company. This got Barbara Castle on a Raleigh Shopper, that sort of thing. And this was when the UK bike trade was very much smaller (less than 1 million bikes sold per year).<br /><br />The Bike Hub levy was created to raise £1m. The Government said the bike industry had to raise this much in order for Sustrans to get the £42.5m which kicked off the lottery funding for the National Cycle Network.<br /><br />Arguably, this network - and the work of Sustrans - has done an awful lot of good for cycling. Of course, some people oppose Sustrans-style cycle paths and this is where an umbrella lobby group could founder. Where would it stand on roads vs segregated cycle paths? Helmets vs no helmets? Leisure cycling vs utility cycling? Sport vs recreation?<br /><br />Cycling is one thing to one person; a completely different thing to another. The roads lobby manages to focus on one message but that's a pretty simple message: more asphalt, and now. <br /><br />What is cycling's message? Can it be boiled down to one simple call?Carlton Reidhttp://bikehub.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-39121945562910007692010-10-18T10:00:35.745+01:002010-10-18T10:00:35.745+01:00Hi Carlton,
Thanks for stopping by and sharing yo...Hi Carlton,<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts re the Bike Hub levy. That's great, but what I was thinking of was an umbrella organisation which could elicit funds from Whitehall and be a representative organisation for all the campaigning groups, retailers etc at Whitehall. (Basically what Cycling England did) We need a big, loud over-arching mouthpiece at Westminster which can trickle-up all the good news cycling stories to Ministers and trickle down all the available funding we can get our paws on. A lobby, essentially. The Bike Hub levy is great, but we're going to need more clout in Government if we're going to face off the stiff competition when it comes to this new 'Local Sustainable Travel Fund'. Perhaps the Bike Hub Levy can grow to become this?ibikelondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.com