One of cycle campaigning's great characters, Gordon Selway, died whilst sitting quietly on a train on Sunday.
Pedal Pushers members may remember his presence at our conference at the Earth Centre a few years back. He was not only a CTC Councillor for the West Midlands but held a string of voluntary campaigning and advocacy causes locally and nationally including FoE, Railfuture, Transport 2000, CPRE and serving as a district councillor. His erudition eloquence and humour on cycling matters was second to none.
You can find tributes to Gordon on the CTC Forum at http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=9416 and an obituary at
http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4050
==posted by Simon==
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Sunday, 18 November 2007
Monday, 12 November 2007
EU dilutes bikes on trains requirement
News from the European Twowheel Retailers' Association:
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2007
The European Parliament and the Council have reached an agreement on the 3rd Railway Package, which includes the Regulation on Railway Passengers Rights and Obligations. Much to ETRA and ECF's surprise, in the Common Position, the provision relating to the transport of bicycles, which was adopted by a very large majority in the Parliament, has been completely eroded. Parliament voted an obligation to have space available on all trains for the transport of bicycles.
That obligation is now replaced by Article 5 stating: "Railway undertakings shall enable passengers to bring bicycles on to the train, where appropriate for a fee, if they are easy to handle, if this does not adversely affect the specific rail service, and if the rolling-stock so permits."
This article gives railway companies plenty of opportunities to refuse the carriage of bicycles. Whats more, as a result of Article 2.4 and 2.5, the member states may exempt railway companies from carrying bicycles on domestic trains for up to 15 years and on urban, suburban and regional trains for an indefinite period of time.
As a result of Article 2.7, the member states must inform the Commission of such exemptions. The Commission is allowed to take action should the exemption not be in accordance with the Regulation. No later than 7 years after the publication of the Regulation in the Official Journal, the Commission must submit to Parliament and Council a report on these exemptions. Finally, the railway companies have an obligation to provide information on accessibility and access conditions for bicycles.
We were informed that this complete change from imposing the transport of bicycles to allowing the transport of bicycles was forced through at the very end of the negotiations under pressure of the Council and the Commission.
It is now up to our members, the national organisation, to monitor and lobby their national railway companies. They will have to make sure that they do not abuse of the possibility not to carry bicycles. At the same time, they will have to convince them to carry bicycles.
In the meantime, ETRA and ECF will continue our efforts for the establishment of European legislation that stimulates the combination of bike and train. We will also continue to raise awareness in the European institutions of the need for facilitating that combination.
We find the reluctance of the member states and of the Commission to seriously develop bike transport by train regrettable and all the more peculiar in the light of the ongoing debate on sustainability.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2007
The European Parliament and the Council have reached an agreement on the 3rd Railway Package, which includes the Regulation on Railway Passengers Rights and Obligations. Much to ETRA and ECF's surprise, in the Common Position, the provision relating to the transport of bicycles, which was adopted by a very large majority in the Parliament, has been completely eroded. Parliament voted an obligation to have space available on all trains for the transport of bicycles.
That obligation is now replaced by Article 5 stating: "Railway undertakings shall enable passengers to bring bicycles on to the train, where appropriate for a fee, if they are easy to handle, if this does not adversely affect the specific rail service, and if the rolling-stock so permits."
This article gives railway companies plenty of opportunities to refuse the carriage of bicycles. Whats more, as a result of Article 2.4 and 2.5, the member states may exempt railway companies from carrying bicycles on domestic trains for up to 15 years and on urban, suburban and regional trains for an indefinite period of time.
As a result of Article 2.7, the member states must inform the Commission of such exemptions. The Commission is allowed to take action should the exemption not be in accordance with the Regulation. No later than 7 years after the publication of the Regulation in the Official Journal, the Commission must submit to Parliament and Council a report on these exemptions. Finally, the railway companies have an obligation to provide information on accessibility and access conditions for bicycles.
We were informed that this complete change from imposing the transport of bicycles to allowing the transport of bicycles was forced through at the very end of the negotiations under pressure of the Council and the Commission.
It is now up to our members, the national organisation, to monitor and lobby their national railway companies. They will have to make sure that they do not abuse of the possibility not to carry bicycles. At the same time, they will have to convince them to carry bicycles.
In the meantime, ETRA and ECF will continue our efforts for the establishment of European legislation that stimulates the combination of bike and train. We will also continue to raise awareness in the European institutions of the need for facilitating that combination.
We find the reluctance of the member states and of the Commission to seriously develop bike transport by train regrettable and all the more peculiar in the light of the ongoing debate on sustainability.
Friday, 2 November 2007
Out Now: Crap Cycle Lanes - The Book!
We've all looked forward to the Facility of the Month from Warrington Cycle Campaign, and now its been turned into a book that everyone can laugh at from cyclists to traffic engineers!!!
You can now get it from the publishers. And at £4.99 for a hard back copy its great value.
To get a copy of Crap Cycle Lanes, go to www.eye-books.com
The more that are sold then the better the message gets across that cycling needs equitable sharing of the roads first and "Crap Cycle Lanes" last.
All the WCC royalties are going to the Cyclists Defence Fund.
Friday, 26 October 2007
Free vests for cyclists
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Free-vests-for-cyclists.3405372.jp
SHEFFIELD Council is giving free high-visibility yellow vests to cyclists to reduce the risk of them being involved in collisions.
Last year three cyclists were killed and 33 seriously injured in accidents in Sheffield, and crashes involving bikes averaged one every three days.
But the chances of collision are vastly reduced when high visibility clothing is worn. About 60 per cent of crashes involve a driver who may have "looked but did not see" a cyclist - and florescent clothing can make all the difference.
Sheffield Cycle Campaign will be helping on Wednesday Oct 31st by putting stickers on cycle parking publicising the offer.
SHEFFIELD Council is giving free high-visibility yellow vests to cyclists to reduce the risk of them being involved in collisions.
Last year three cyclists were killed and 33 seriously injured in accidents in Sheffield, and crashes involving bikes averaged one every three days.
But the chances of collision are vastly reduced when high visibility clothing is worn. About 60 per cent of crashes involve a driver who may have "looked but did not see" a cyclist - and florescent clothing can make all the difference.
Sheffield Cycle Campaign will be helping on Wednesday Oct 31st by putting stickers on cycle parking publicising the offer.
Wednesday, 24 October 2007
Adam Hart-Davis has bikes stolen
TV presenter Adam Hart-Davis has had his collection of cycles stolen from his home in Bristol. He posted this to the Velovision forum:
While I was away on holiday this month, burglars smashed their way into my garage (crowbars etc.) and stole the following cycles (which were locked to Sheffield stands inside):
Trice Explorer red/orange/blue, frame no 3048, with black rear rack, suspension, 81 gears, side bar-bag fixing etc.
Trice Pixie white, frame no 2121
Birdy red, frame no P9032778, aluminium rack
British Eagle Trail MTB pink/yellow, 17 yrs old, serial no 00308/9; police security register no 52 998 00085
Al Carter Hondo Creek 500LX MTB blue/grey, 14 yrs old, serial no 4920513654; police security register no 52 998 00086
If any of these cycles crosses your path, please phone Redland Police Station (Bristol) 0117 945 4423, quoting crime ref. B/2699/20092007/01 (PC2699 Matt Lonsdale).
Many thanks,
Adam Hart-Davis 27 September
While I was away on holiday this month, burglars smashed their way into my garage (crowbars etc.) and stole the following cycles (which were locked to Sheffield stands inside):
Trice Explorer red/orange/blue, frame no 3048, with black rear rack, suspension, 81 gears, side bar-bag fixing etc.
Trice Pixie white, frame no 2121
Birdy red, frame no P9032778, aluminium rack
British Eagle Trail MTB pink/yellow, 17 yrs old, serial no 00308/9; police security register no 52 998 00085
Al Carter Hondo Creek 500LX MTB blue/grey, 14 yrs old, serial no 4920513654; police security register no 52 998 00086
If any of these cycles crosses your path, please phone Redland Police Station (Bristol) 0117 945 4423, quoting crime ref. B/2699/20092007/01 (PC2699 Matt Lonsdale).
Many thanks,
Adam Hart-Davis 27 September
Tuesday, 23 October 2007
Connect2 gets through to the TV Vote
GREAT news! Connect2 is through to the TV vote!
Connect2 is in the final running for £50 million pounds to improve walking and cycling in 79 communities throughout the whole of the UK.
As of today, BIG have launched their own promotional campaign and website,
with a Connect2 page at:
http://www.thepeoples50million.org.uk/projects/connect2
Online voting will open at 9am on Monday 26 November 2007. We NEED your help
to really make a difference.
Connect2 is in the final running for £50 million pounds to improve walking and cycling in 79 communities throughout the whole of the UK.
As of today, BIG have launched their own promotional campaign and website,
with a Connect2 page at:
http://www.thepeoples50million.org.uk/projects/connect2
Online voting will open at 9am on Monday 26 November 2007. We NEED your help
to really make a difference.
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