December 1999
Newsletter of Bradford Cycle Action Group
SOME SEASONAL CHEER from the minutes of the Transportation and Planning Cycling Liaison Group Mtg
“SUSTRANS NATIONAL CYCLE ROUTE
The Kirklees section
along the disused Spen Valley railway line has now been given planning
permission and construction is due to start next year. The continuation
into Bradford is being progressed with some sections being
implemented as
part of development scheme and other section still under investigation.”
Which is all nice to hear. But let’s make sure that the bit under investigation actually happens, otherwise the bits won’t add up to a cycle route....
At the BCAG meeting in November the speaker, John Henkel from Metro, gave us an interesting view of just what we can expect from public transport by way of bike facilities and provision. Basically the message seemed to be that things should improve but rather slowly. He also spoke about the drafting of the Local Transport Plan which is being put together by the West Yorkshire Councils. This plan is pretty crucial to the planning for bike provision in the next few years. AND you have to get your comments to them by the end of January - time out. Remember - this process only happens once every five years!! So if you don’t comment now, well, you’ll have to wait five long years before you get another chance. You can view the LTP at www.westyorkshire-ltp.co.uk, and you can comment on-line, or you can ‘phone them on 01132 517331, or you e-mail at metro.development@dial.pipex.com, or you can get out your trusty basildon bond and a sturdy platignum, and write to: The LTP Team, c/o Metro, Wellington House, 40 - 50 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 2DE.
This is going to have to be quick as it´s very expensive here. I´m in San Pedro de Atacma, Chile, and arrived here on Sunday after having cycled over 1000 miles (1600km) in the 14 days since leaving Valparaiso - hard work through a hot desert, up 15 and 20 mile long hills with no shade. Things got a little tricky towards the end when I decided to take a 300 mile shortcut´through the desert along a track which wasn´t even shown on my map. I generally had no idea where I was, only had directions from a Brazilian guy to follow (and he didn´t speak too much English) and I didn´t pass even one shop, but managed to feed at a gold mine. My last 24 hours (no longer able to follow directions!) saw me rationing water in 40 degree heat on a gravel track and I was attempting to cycle 7 miles at a time before each mouth full (literally) of water. I saw a big tornado, but no traffic whatsoever for a 20 hour period. I was weak, shaking, dehydrated and had cracked, bloody lips when I arrived here........but it was a good adventure and I felt that had been lacking for a few weeks. It gets cold again from here.
Apparently, in La Paz- my next destination - they are already calling me the mad Englishman - tee hee!!
TREVxxxxxxxxxx
The long awaited Bradford Cycling
Map may soon be a reality. Officers from the City Council
have met with a company who produce such maps as a commercial concern..
They will manage the production of the map and will map the routes and
facilities which are agreed between cyclists and the Transportation Department.
The map will then be for sale in the same way as many other city maps are.
BCAG will discuss the map
and what should be on it at the January
meeting. All suggestions are welcome.
Pam Ashton
"Transport chief on 'car in city centre' charge."
Can you imagine this headline in a few years time? Well it might seem a bit far-fetched now, but a car free zone in the city centre might be where we are headed. Not that long ago drinking and driving wasn't seen as anti social, but now fortunately, it is.
"Road safety boss on drink-drive charge."
This recent T&A headline caused me
to make a comment about 
hypocrites.
I had to try to explain to my 8-year-old daughter the meaning of the word
hypocrite. The reason for having to do this was ex-councillor Longthorn's
recent incident of drink driving. What makes this issue more interesting
for me is the fact that my daughter recognised the said ex-councillor from
the many meetings related to BCAGs work that I have taken her along to.
There seem to be two morals in the story, the first about 'do as I say, not do as I do'. This has particular relevance to transport options, lets all do a little more of what we think and know is important i.e. make intelligent choices about travel, as being promoted by the authorities.
The second is a seasonal message as the
extra special silly season approaches; "Don't drink
and drive…or ride!"
Titch
HOUSE FOR SALE IN
HEATON: 2 bed end terrace house with garden, drive; all wood stripped,
ecological materials used,
open fire, central heating, power shower,
security system; near to park, shops, train, Heaton Woods.
EXCELLENT FOR FIRST-TIME BUYER - NO CHAIN
- ASKING £47,900 BUT WILLING TO NEGOTIATE FOR QUICK SALE - 01274-
493125FOR SALE
FOR SALE:
Dahon Mountain Gold 17" folding mountain bike £150.00
Anne 492631
WANTED: to
borrow or to buy.
Bike travel box suitable for aeroplane
travel, needed from the beginning of february for one month.. Anne 492631
FOR SALE British Eagle Sun Tourer 12 speed, 25" frame and trip computer Bargain at £100.00 ono. Phone Paul 565616
FOR SALE Car cycle rack for 3 bikes £25.00 Phone Paul 565616
FOR SALE: Child seat £25.00 Phone Paul 565616
FOR SALE: 4. Girls mountain bike 9-13 year old £50.00 Phone Paul 565616
WANTED- a
solution to the problem of getting to the pub with my guitar on my bike.
Ideally, a basic trailer and
fastenings. Home or commercially
made, but not too heavy as it's uphill back from the pub! Nigel Tom Taylor
Bfd
491660.
We now have almost 50 members and a variety
of rides and activites happening through the winter. The next meeting is
on Sunday January 9th, 6pm at the Love Apple cafe - bring along your ideas
for the next National Bike
Week. We've got a weekend away
to the Dales on the 22nd-23rd January, which will be at Horton-in-Ribblesdale.
It's a cheap (sliding scale according to income) weekend with both easy
and more challenging rides. Deposits have to be in to Dot (487196) by 20th
December. Please display the enclosed flyer, pass it on to your friends,
pin it up at your local doctors, etc.
Next rides:
Sunday Jan 9th intermediate ring Christine
(01535) 275351 or Nicola (01535) 273574.
Anne
The strategy was sent out to 70 people and the rights of way officers received 14 detailed responses including my own. At a recent seminar all the walkers, cyclists and horse riders present rejected the idea of setting targets for bringing the network of paths into good use after we will all be dead and agreed that the Council should set itself a ten year plan. Most people present were prepared to help with the work if the Council is seen to be making a realistic effort to address the problem, but they are not prepared to support the present proposals. A Bradford Access Forum will be set up at which the rights of way and progress with managing them will be discussed. As most cyclists use the bridleways and byways from time to time we must keep a watching brief on this.
Pam Ashton
A Life in the bus-lane“Your wheels are going round”:
this off-the-cuff paradox interrupts,
straddling the crossbar for my contemplation
Not a vicious circle. The world turns,
messily sometimes, with too much chain oil.
The stars shine in their firmament
the rheumatic gods, Vishnu and Zeus,
keep pedalling the dunamo. Click, click
goes the flickering light and time passing“Get off and milk it”:
a metaphor, perhaps, *hollered out,
with the passion of anonymity:
Why do they roll down windows? Don’t they just open and close? One rolls down country lanes
to learn where food comes from. Click, click:
gear shift. A shadow of bicycle climbs
and climbs, condensing into a drop of milk.“You are getting there”:
the pedestrian platitude chases after,
grabs the cycle rack, slowing me down
to the dull crawl of simple intention.
The vision that hung above the handlebars
is turning to potholes and tarmac.
I am wearing out the bigger map. Click, click:
picking up speed, brake blocks kiss wheel rims.
I remember now what needs repair.“Get out of the f***ing way!”
tonight’s way makes out with prongs of street light,
and comes to the whisper of back seat drivers.
It’s a way that is broad minded enough
for the vernacular of road ragers,
the rabbit of wide boys with their pagers
Click, click: half for traffic lights. I’m boxed in,
but nobody is armed with a Parthian shot.
We stare: a conversation of sorts.(*for an example of a better metaphor, see Wittgenstein’s “cloud of philosophy condensed into a drop of grammar”.)
Bruce Utistuga
The Spanish Parliament ignored protests from bicycle advocates and passed a bicycle law which - in an attempt to protect cyclists - deals a major blow to any form of bicycle promotion. A special report by Hildegard Resinger, Amics de la Bici, Spain
On November 11, 1999, the Spanish Parliament approved a law to adapt traffic regulations to cycling. It is meant to protect cyclists and promote cycling, but most of the articles are restrictive, even to the point of creating situations where cyclists will have virtually no other choice than fling themselves off the road or get overrun by a car. Cyclists will:
Art. 1) have to wear a helmet outside town, as will be detailed by decree, probably within three months;
Art. 2) lose the right of way in most ordinary traffic situations, except on bicycle crossings and bike lanes and under some other circumstances, when a car turns left or right;
Art. 3) be banned from major highways, (even roads below freeway/autobahn-standard), except when the authorities decide that there is no other alternative;
Art. 4) have to wear reflective clothing when riding under poor light conditions;
Art. 5) be allowed to ride 2 abreast under some circumstances to be developed by decree, most probably only bicycle lanes and hard shoulders;
Art. 6) be obliged to submit themselves to alcohol controls.
The Spanish bicycle organization, Amics de la Bici, have publicly requested, that cyclists change their holiday plans and stay away from Spain. Furthermore they ask that you tell the Spanish authorities (embassies, tourist boards, Ministry of the Interior, etc.) of your decision and the reasons for it. And if possible, send a copy of your letter to:
ConBici
Coordinadora en
Defensa de la Bici
Demostenes 19
E-08028
Barcelona
Spain (E-mail:
amicsbici@pangea.org, Tel/fax: + 34 93 431 53 79)
A
lovely web site, at http://huizen.dds.nl/~autotuin/cargarden.htm,
gives those of us with green fingers a wonderful opportunity to extend
the greenery to our cars. Basically fill it with soil and plant it up -
trailing plants look especially good. The results can be wonderful - you
get a hint from the B+W version of one of the pictures off the web site...
Winter
Solstice Greeting from the Treasurer -
and
Happy Cycling in the new century!
At the November meeting, the Group confirmed
that the subscription year
should be the same as the calender year.
So by the time you read this, year
2000 subs will be due!
The "normal" rates are:£5.00 waged
or large private income
£2.00 unwaged or low waged (self defined)
Except!
The December meeting confirmed that anyone who joined BCAG after National Bike Week 1999, that is after 20 June 1999 could pay a one off reduced subcription of £3.00
So, if you joined after 20th June 1999 you pay £3.00 if waged or on a large private income.
The women's Cycling Group and BCAG have
a cross membership scheme -
membership of WCG makes you a member
of BCAG. WCG members should pay Julie Ratcliffe.
If you are paying to BCAG, please make cheques out to "BCAG" and bring it to a meeting, put it in the BCAG mainbox at the Bradford Resources Centre, give it one of the officers (Titch Kavanagh, Mike Healey, Pete Latarche) or post it to 10 Ruskin Avenue, Bradford, BD9 6EB (please mark the envelope BCAG).
Many thanks
Pete Latarche
BCAG Treasurer
Chair: (looking for a willing victim)
Secretary: Mike Healey (Bfd 602394 eves; 744877 days)
Treasurer: Pete Latarche (Bfd 482176) pyotr@legend.co.uk
Bikerights Editor: Steve Carr (Bfd 734723) smcarr@zetnet.co.uk
send articles, etc, to: Steve Carr, Flat 3, 1 Barkerend Rd, Bradford, BD3 9AF
Website: www.geocities.com/bradfordbikes
BCAG MEETS ON THE 3RD WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT THE RESOURCE CENTRE, CHAPEL ST. BRADFORD at 7.30pm
Gratitude is due to the Green Party web site for graphics used in this page, go to http://www.greenparty.org.uk
Where no contributor's name appears, the editor is all too responsible.
