Thursday, 29 March 2007
Tuesday, 27 March 2007
Monday, 19 March 2007
Oh, are they going to allow bikes on trams now? That's a good idea
"Oh, are they going to allow bikes on trams now? That's a good idea"
Sheffield Cycle Campaign's [cardboard] bikes on trams event today was a great success: Designed to highlight the ease with which bicycles can be carried on trams, it brought friendly and supportive reactions & comments from members of the public. It was a humorous way to make a serious point. Two of the comments received:
Sheffield teenager: "That's cool" - referring to the hula-hoop & bamboo pole bicycle 'sculpture'Pensioner: "Oh, are they going to allow bikes on trams now? That's a good idea"
Our tram conductor was interested & supportive, he even seemed disappointed that in last year's limited trial he hadn't had any
cyclists.
cyclists.
The life-size cardboard bicycles & sculptures fitted easily in the fold-down seating area opposite the wheelchair spaces - proving that wheelchairs, buggies & bikes can easily co-exist. It is absurd that even on a fairly empty tram on a Sunday (as they tend to be to Halfway or Middlewood), Supertram don't see fit to increase their revenue and green credentials by allowing bikes of the non-cardboard variety to travel.
One of the public transport anomalies in Sheffield is that you can't get to Worksop before 3pm on Sundays: With bikes on trams this becomes possible with a bike - tram to Halfway and cycle the pleasant route the rest of the way. Other possibilities include enabling a cycling day out at Rother Valley Country Park, or to catch the Bike Bus from Hillsborough out to Strines or Ladybower reservoir.
Councillors are also supportive of the campaigned-for facility on Supertram:
Lib Dem: Cllr Andrew Sangar: "Many tram systems across Europe allow bicycles on trams, it's time that Supertram followed their example and supported Sheffield cyclists."
Green: Cllr Bernard Little: "I am fully supportive of this initiative on the way towards a fully integrated and sustainable transport system for the city."
Labour: Cllr Peter Price: "It would be great if Supertram were more supportive & helpful in accomodating cyclists on the tram system, thus encouraging more cycle usage within our city."
Conservative: Cllr Michael Waters: "Cycling is absolutely vital to sustainable and environmentally friendly transport in Sheffield, and I would hope that Supertram would adopt a more flexible approach and at least allow bicycles on trams at non-crowded times as a start."
With a cross-party consensus like this, Supertram do need to review their current overly rigid stance. We hope to see some progress in this direction in the near future.
Saturday, 17 March 2007
Bikes on Trams Event
The plan is for as many people as possible to meet at the Cathedral on Sunday (Mothers Day, as is traditional for Bikes on Trams events) 18th March at 10am. We decided that we want to aim for a humorous rather than overly militant event so we will be taking carboard bikes/wrapped bikes (brown paper, wallpaper, zany wrappings of whatever inspiration)/mock bikes (one suggestion was a construction using bamboos and old-fashioned dustbin lids) onto the trams - and then off again a stop or so along the way, returning to the cathedral to repeat! The whole event won't take very long - it's the publicity we're wanting (which David Bocking is covering for us, so come with your hair neatly combed for photos!) - plus Councillor support (Bernard Little is our man for that). Afterwards we will adjourn to The Blue Moon together.PLEASE JOIN US - THIS IS YOUR EVENT TO GET THINGS MOVING - THE HOPED-FOR OUTCOME IS BIKES ON TRAMS TO HALFWAY ON SUNDAYS FOR PP MEMBERS
See you there
See you there
Wednesday, 7 March 2007
Monday, 5 March 2007
Zoe Williams on Urban Cycling
See http://www.guardian.co.uk/transport/Story/0,,2026740,00.html.
A bit London-centric but lots of good sense there. As a frequent London cyclist I can vouch for the routes she describes.
A bit London-centric but lots of good sense there. As a frequent London cyclist I can vouch for the routes she describes.
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