Bikerights is the Newsletter of Bradford Cycle Action Group
September 2000
Index
Petrol
Pumps and Fuel Dumps
Millenium
Festival of Cycling
My
Favourite Bike Ride
Trevor's
American Bike Ride - the End of the Journey
Wants
Road
Casualty Statistics
Car
Busters
Glorious
Twelfth
An
Independent Witness and the Registration Number
Paradise
Regained
Cycling
Map of Bradford
Contacts
After
the collapse of the ‘Dump the Pump’ campaign, we’re now into a whole new
game of petrol
starvation. Dump the Pump never had much
of a chance - ‘It was just too weak to survive. It passed away quietly
in the night’. Asking your average motorist to give up petrol for a day
was like asking a confirmed alcoholic to pack in the booze, - but let’s
not forget that the DTP campaign gave delight and amusement to millions
as it cracked apart - revealing itself riven with contradictions.
It seems that we’re now into a new game, whereby Petrol Companies, in alliance
with Farmers and Hauliers, work to try to get cheaper fuel, with a fair
proportion of the Great British Public supporting them - and parading their
selfishness by buying up all the bread, milk and petrol in the shops. Positively,
it’s been wonderfully quiet on the roads some days - reminding people of
just what a reduction of car dependency might mean. It’s also pushed a
few people onto bikes. But on the other hand, there a danger that the government
will give in, and the whole idea of eco-taxes will be chucked out for the
sake of votes. Worse still, Mssrs Vague and Portaloo might win the next
election on a popularist platform of cheaper petrol, and 14 pints a night
for
the fine upstanding (well, perhaps lying
down at that point) citizens. The Government, including local MP’s, need
to hear voices that support eco-taxes and a reduction in car use. So write
to:
To contact your MP, write to him/her at House of Commons, Westminster, SW1A 0AA; or telephone 0171-219 3000. Website for locating your MP - www.locata.co.uk/commons (nice article, Guardian 26/9/00 - see http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,373256,00.html)
Ed.
...was a whole heap of fun! Bradford Health Authority organised a breakfast on the 'ride to work' day as part of the National Bike Week which generated a lot of interest and even a few participants! The Health Authority also participated in the 5 miles challenge held at Peel Park and in promoting other cycling events during National Bike Week. Dr Ruth Gelletlie is involved in developing a Green Transport Policy for the Health Authority and this includes promoting cycling. As Dr Gelletlie states "cycling is good for your mental and physical health and good for your mental and physical health and good for the environment".
Dr Shirley Brierley
The
Millennium Festival of
Cycling
Well,
what can I say? Our best ever – a combination of the traditional (it rained)
and the new, the Marie Curie Charity Ride. And what about those Wacky Bikes
the kids (and a few brave adults) loved ‘em.
Day 1: Ride The Map - Our first charity ride, from Keighley to Waterstones bookshop, to commemorate the launching of the City Cycle Route Map, was an unexpected success. It took a lot o preparation; liaising with the Council, Waterstones, Marie Curie Cancer Cure, the Marie Curie Racing Team; checking the course to carry out a formal risk assessment (thanks to Pam Ashton).
The ride itself went of pretty well flawlessly, apart from the idiot who tried to spray the riders from an aerosol. We got his number, I reported it to the city centre police station on my way home, the phone went as I had just put the kettle on and I was told that a very surprised resident of West Bowling had already received a caution! Justice for once.
Day 2: Five Mile ChallengeWacky Bikes, Spokeswomen and Road Safety and decent weather, what more could we have asked for? A decent turnout? Yup, got that as well.
Days 3 & 4: Kids Fun Evenings - Tradition reared its head but we managed to avoid the rain. However, the threat of it kept numbers down on some previous years, but the Wacky Bikes, the pallets, planks, pipe and boxes all combined to make the skill challenges the best ever.
Day 5: Women Only Ride Over to Spokeswomen – certain gender specific characteristics prevent me from being able to report on this. The Weekend: I was at York, at the Rally, on British Schools Cycling Association business. All in all, it was a great week. Thank you to everyone who helped: Pete, Pam, Barry, Marie Curie, the Marie Curie Racing Team, who found time between races on day 1, Val at Road Safety and anyone else I’ve forgotten (also traditional).
Mike (phew, thank goodness that’s over) Healey.
BCAG keep getting asked about where you can
cycle in the Bradford area - so we want your
favourite routes. This is offered as an
inadequate attempt to document my favourite ride... Start
and Finish: Forster (EM) Square. Distance:
c. 40 miles Toughness: moderately strenuous Time:
Takes me ages (6-7 hrs)‘cos I include essentials
such as reading, snoozing, musing on the brevity
of life, but others could do it in much
less... email smcarr@zetnet.co.uk
if you get too puzzled by
this map...
Dear All/Mis Amigos,
16276miles in 10 months and 5 days - I made it!! 26022Km en 10 mesas y 5 dias!!
I have little time but just wanted to inform you all that at last I have realised a dream which has been with me for almost 11 years. On Sunday, July 23rd 2000 at around 2.30pm, against a fierce and biting northerly wind, I fought my way into Deadhorse, Alaska, 299miles above the Arctic Circle having cycled the length of the South and North American Continents (excluding Colombia).
I cycled over 500 miles in my final 6 days (less than) along a road which presented me with some of the steepest hills of the whole journey, constantly taking me up and down with no reprieve for the first 200miles north of Fairbanks, before taking me through the final areas of slow-growing pines and out onto open tundra where huge clouds of mosquitos would chase me up the hills and drink my blood as I tried to fight them off. The scenery was absolutely stunning, the silence magical.
I was always concerned at how I was going
to get myself home as I cycled further and further north, away from the
major cities. The people seemed to have more respect for me as I
made it closer and closer to the Arctic Ocean and I was even offerd a bed
along the way - my first in 27 nights. Just 14miles from my finishing
point a vehicle approached me from behind. I kept looking forward but as
it came alongside two familiar faces peered out from the Land Rover, obviously
very excited to see me. I recognised them as a Danish couple I had
met in Chile who told me then they were intending to drive to north Alaska
- to meet up with them here was such an amazing coincidence and we hugged
each other in excitement and - for my part - in relief also. I struggled
into the grotty oil settlement of Deadhorse, the fierce wind turning over
the surface
waters of the many Arctic lakes and almost
blowing me from the road on many occasions. I had serious chest pains
the whole of this final day and feared a heart-attack, though I didn't
know what was causing it - excitement, relief?
The Land Rover's occupants stood outside their vehicle as I drew close, shouting and applauding me and holding out a bottle of Tequila which we all drank a glass of to toast our achievements. I felt relief and nothing more at this stage, total exhaustion affecting my whole self, the wind causing me to shiver. I pedalled to a nearby motel to use the telephone and let people know I'd made it and here I began to feel real excitement, real pride. A group of bus tourists stood taking my photo and fired questions to me, halting, temporarily, my progress to the 'phone. As my Danish friends - Soren and Liselotte - came into the warmth of the Motel corridor, we hugged again and waved clenched fists in jubilation.
Now I'm making my way back south with them and will then hitchhike the final 450miles to Whitehorse where I'll catch a Greyhound bus to Toronto - a journey of 85 hours (!!) - before catching a flight back to Manchester and cycling home from there. I hope to be in Shipley, Bradford, by late afternoon on Wednesday 2nd August for some much awaited catching up!!
I've had it extremely tough at times but
I always had faith in myself that I would make it. There were those
who were ready to strike me off without knowing a thing about my character
but just look at what I've done. The desire to fulfill a 10 year
dream was a very powerful motivator for me but I also wanted to succeed
for Marie Curie Cancer Care. When I felt totally down and out on
many occasions, when I felt so lonely, so isolated, so sick, so in need
of a hug, of good food, of a warm fire or a cold drink I always thought
of my charity and of those in greater need than myself. I hope you'll
give generously and know many already have. Can I thank all of you
for your donations, for your support, your Emails, your phonecalls, your
letters and presents; for your friendship and hospitality along the way
and for helping me to make it through. I now feel great and extremely
excited at having achieved this goal. Now it's back to Bradford to
try and earn a
little money before returning to Bradford
Uni for the final year of my degree course. For now though, this
is.......... THE END
Wanted touring bike. 531 Dawes 23" 700c.
Horizon or Galaxy.
Contact:Arif Mohammed 01274 502897.
Mobile 07939 876414
E-mail arif@hairybottom.freeserve.co.uk
Ed.
A website that’s proved a little controversial
is the Carbusters website, wonderful as it is: go to
http://www.carbusters.ecn.cz
The controversy is due to their selling stickers that might, if you were
naughty enough, go on someone’s car and not be easy to get off. And they
are shocking easy to buy - just send them a cheque in pounds for £2,
no foreign exchange, etc, needed! The address is
Car Busters
Kratka; 26
100 00 Praha 10
Czech Republic
enclosing cash
or a cheque
Their
web site says “Big, hard-to-remove "cancer warning" stickers for cars.
They say— "Warning: This vehicle emits carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide,
nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, hydrocarbons, benzene, methane, aldehydes
and VOCs. Causes respiratory disease, cancer, death and ecocide. Especially
harmful to other species and children." Lots of useful, and aesthetically
pleasing, other things there too... e.g. the ‘selfish
parking sticker’ as illustrated here.
Ed.
It was Tuesday 12th
, and for some reason the phrase ‘Glorious Twelth’ came immediately to
my mind. Inappropriate you might say, being September not August combined
with my complete ignorance of hunting, shooting or fishing - I’ve led a
more constructive life. The petrol/oil/fuel dispute had gained momentum
during the weekend along with increased public support, including my own
approval. However, our house supplies were
dwindling and my curiousity
was increasing. I wanted to see how bad or awkward conditions were. Time
for a bit of cycle shopping. I had woken later that morning, there being
no roar of traffic to wake me. The stillness increased my curiosity.
After a short spurt along the backstreets of Wibsey my attention was drawn
to the near emptiness of St. Helena Rd, with almost the same conditions
when passing through Wibsey High St with vehicles present in ones and twos.
What was noticeable were the parked or abandoned cars in odd groups along
the kerbsides.
I began to really enjoy
my ride on entering Holroyd Hill, having the centre of the road almost
completely to myself while turning towards Odsal Top at the bottom, I was
free from any mad motorists trying to overtake me on that dangerous bend.
On arriving at Odsal roundabout I looked at my watch - 10.05am - by 10.10am
I was passing Jacob’s Well buildings having crossed over four empty traffic
lanes in preparation for my right hand turn past the Town Hall. I had gone
through two roundabouts (Odsal and Mayo Ave), three sets of lights in my
favour at green and about three miles of downhill road in just about 5
- 10 minutes. What a ride! The added pleasure was to be able to avoid the
worn-out patches and awkward manholes while not being half-killed in the
process. On towards Forster Square via the bottom of Leeds Rd, where
a pedestrian on a crossing
said that ‘I would
not be needing petrol for that’!’ I smiled in acknowledgement and went
on to Canal Rd and Frizinghall to purchase my quartery magazine. The return
journey via Manningham Lane was almost as quiet, helped by the absence
of Heavy Good Vehicles. The bulk of my shopping was done on the return
journey. Morrisons at Mayo Avenue was quiet - the garage closed but there
were still quite a number of cars parked and other customers were ‘stocking
up’. With loaded panniers and some sunshine, I set off on my final stretch
- what a pleasure it was to pass through Odsal roundabout without shivering
in fear and having to have
eyes in the back of
your head. At last, a pleasant town cycle ride.
Michael Hollins (PS what hopes have we after the sixtieth day?)
These are what you need before the police
will be prepared to contact the driver who has just cut you up and caused
an accident - or nearly caused one. If no witness gives you their
name and ‘phone number (no address needed) you in for a rough ride to prove
anything. If you’ve a poormemory for registration numbers, you could try
remembering to put a pencil and pen in your panniers/rucksack before setting
off, just in case... Also record the location and the time. Until
now, when I’ve been cut up by a car, I’ve reacted with a lot of shouting.
This is a natural response to the emergency that you’ve just dealt with,
as your adrenaline surges and
heart pumps furiously. But it won’t get
you very far with the drive who’s disappearing into the distance, laughing
loudly through the open window [unless you catch him in the next jam -
HA HA, evil laughter, etc - Ed.]. Instead, you need a cool head, quick
eye for the registration and a loud voice to appeal for that witness. And
what do you do when a moment later, you find yourself on a zebra crossing
besides three white stretch limousines, parked in a line across the zebra
crossing and blocking it completely? A quiet word with the driver, who
tells you to f*!$ off. Well then, it’s time to reach for that notebook
and seek a witness. Or take a photo - 
packing
an inexpensive camera might be further than you’re prepared to go, but
if you do the police may just listen where otherwise they’d say it was
your word against someone else’s. In this country we need to fight to combat
dangerous driving, as the shocked cyclist provokes laughter, where the
right of three limos to park where they like goes unquestioned.
When I reported the incident, it was to officers
in a police car - an estate which put me in mind of the limos again. Where
are those police bikes in Bradford? There are countries elsewhere in Europe
where motorists respect cyclists’ rights and respond not with a f$*!
off but with an instant apology and remedial action. In these countries
the rights of the cyclist have been protected and set in law effectively.
And the cyclist’s status tops the limos’. Later on in my ride, still feeling
like the victim, I slink-cycled past a horsey show, with red riding coats
and bloodhounds in evidence. I thought, if only we could give foxes notebooks
and a witness! 
Then
there was the hill with the joy-rider’s abandoned car, with ‘F*!* the Law’
scribbled across the bonnet. The last time I climbed up that hill, there
was a ‘Police Aware’ sticker on it. The sticker wasn’t there this time.
If the police aren’t aware of each and every incident which has infringed
your rights as a cyclist - rights of courtesy from other road users - then
it’s up to you to tell them. Remember the witness. Remember the registration
number.
Guy Killingbeck.
Editor’s comment: there’s a most interesting website where you can download remarkably genuine looking ‘Vehicle Infraction’ noices - http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/urbanspace/ticket.html [‘the whole web site is a vertiginous pleasure’ - Marcel Proust]
Imagine a gathering of cyclists, their families and friends for a week of riding and celebrating cycling. Imagine there are over 11,000 like minded pro-cycle touring people camping and caravaning round the headquarters. Imagine it is superbly organised by volunteers from all over the region with the active support of the Ministry for Sport, the regional government offices and the city council.
Imagine that at the start you get a pack of appropriately scaled, OS based maps showing the organised riding routes every day with a choice from an easy 50 kilometres to a hard over 200. Imagine that, overnight, the routes are marked on the road and signed at junctions so you don't even have to use the maps if you don't want to. Imagine the routes offer quiet country roads and lanes to the west and steady mountain climbs to the east in brilliant riding country. Imagine that at the start and finish points of the rides the police control the traffic all day long in favour of the cyclists and smile and joke with you while they do it. Imagine the town council closes the city centre to traffic one evening and organises a promenade street theatre and spectacle for your entertainment.
Imagine that in all the villages you pass through bicycles decorated with flowers and bunting and craft sculptures with cycling themes greet you at the road side. Imagine that if you go to the organised feeding stops you are greeted by a radio show, the town band and good basic food served by happy volunteers. Imagine that if you have a mechanical problem with the bike, professional Mavic and Shimano mechanics are on hand to fix it for free.
Imagine that for those who want it, good quality four course meals are served in the evenings with as much wine, beer, water or soft drinks as you wish (for around £7 around head). Imagine that, each evening, you share a table with different groups of cyclists from all over Europe. And then imagine you can go to a permanent exhibition of local and regional produce and every kind of bike specialist shop and frame builders you can imagine. And imagine that, because of the sheer number of cyclists gathered there, the shops are all making amazing special offers.
What you have imagined is being at the annual Semaine Federale organised by the French Federation of Cycle Tourism (FFCT) which was held at Bourg-en-Bresse this August. We had the good fortune to go this year for the first time - it won't be the last! Next year the Semaine will be held at Crest, in Provence, and we will be there, not dreaming! Meanwhile, if you want more information about contacting the FFCT I'll be happy to provide it.
Pete Latarche (pyotr@legend.co.uk)
Articles,
Poetry, Piccies, Adverts, Lonely Hearts, Revolutionary Statements. etc,
all welcome
-
to Steve the Editor (see end of Newsletter for contact info)
A
map of Bradford for cyclists was launched on 17th June in Centenary Square.
A goodly company of cyclists gathered. See the photo on the next page.
The map is a great addition to provision for cyclists in the Bradford Met
area. It’s something BCAG have been pushing for since a little while ago.
It’s something quite a few cities
have now - I believe
that place just a bit to the left of Bradford, err, forget the name, has
got one too... Anyway, it can be purchased at all good bookshops - in particular
it’s on sale in Waterstones in the city centre (£2.95). It is a quality
piece of work showing cycle facilities of all sorts and produced in consultation
with cyclists - so it’s not some bureaucratic hand-me-down but by the people
for the people. Anyway, below is the launch photo... (it contains many
of the usual suspects...) 
Ed.