Bike Darlington - The Darlington Cycling Campaign blog

Shopping by Bike

2011-11-16T14:04:00.001Z

An interesting northern online discussion has been taking place this month about shopping by bicycle. Kim Harding in Edinburgh has been arguing for better cycle access to shops, a tax on car parking space, and more convenient secure cycle parking. Tom Bailey in Newcastle argues:

"You take places where the majority of shoppers are already walking, you make them a bit more bike friendly, you put in a few cycle routes covering the last mile or two in each direction and then you do a bit of advertising. These places are called High Streets".

So how does this apply to Darlington? Back in 2007, as part of our ultimately successful campaign for cyclist access to the newly pedestrianized town centre, we blogged an article about the economic benefits to retailers of cyclist shoppers, something that Kim echoes in his article. But just how convenient is it to shop in Darlington?

Well, once you are in the pedestrian area, and the comfort of access to it is pretty variable, shopping right in the centre is pretty convenient. There is good quality bike parking at a number of key points around the main shopping streets, from Northgate at the north end to Blackwellgate to the south. But try almost anything else, and you soon discover that the design of the pedestrian heart was carried out without cycling in mind.

Kim quotes Jan Gehl telling us to invite people to walk and bike in cities by developing quality streetscapes. He might have added that we should actually think about what it is like getting from A to B in these landscapes on a bicycle. Three examples spring to mind in Darlington:

1. Travelling from the town centre to the railway station, a major route for cycling in Darlington. Starting from the Pease Monument in the centre of town, you would hope to be able to cycle down the direct route towards the station, Priestgate. But no, this is one way for motorised traffic in the opposite direction, with no contraflow for cyclists. So there are two alternative options. One is to cycle round a large detour, taking in Crown Street, to arrive at the foot of Priestgate, and then on to the officially signed route to the station via Borough Road. The second is to use the cycle path below the Town Hall, but this delivers you to the wrong side of Parkgate, one of the busiest roads in Darlington. Many cyclists opt here for the obvious and use the pavement.

2. Travelling along Skinnergate and on to Duke Street. This is part of the pedestrianised zone between 10am and 5pm, so is relatively pleasant during these hours. But before and after it is used, one way, by motorised traffic. The fact that cyclists use the street in both directions appears to have confused motorists and police alike, judging from the reactions I have received whilst cycling along. A year ago, as previously reported, one motorist felt it necessary to stop me and tell me off.

3. Cycling to and from the town centre to the nearby Sainsburys on Victoria Road. This supermarket is just a few minutes' cycle from the town centre, yet there is simply no provision been made available for cycling access. Given that it lies on the dual carriageway that is the inner ring road, most cyclists choose to use pavements to access the store. Moreover, returning towards town via the obvious route (S. Arden Street), cyclists are confronted with two short one way streets going the wrong way.

A market town like Darlington still has enough small shops to make shopping by bicycle a pleasant experience. But the devil is in the detail. Planners have clearly not thought through properly what shopping on a bicycle means. These three examples do not require large sums of money to resolve. rather, as Jan Gehl says, they need planners to be thinking more seriously about how to invite cyclists to shop.

Why it is not enough to just train cyclists: Infrastructure is needed if you want to get people on bikes:

2011-11-07T11:08:00.008Z

David Hembrow surprises us again with an excellent post about the "efficiency" of simple training for cycling: Without the development of cycling infrastructure (where it is needed not just where it does not disturb the car) the work of e.g. "Bikeability" will be done in vain. He also argues that with the (cheap) expense for cycling infrastructure Britain could solve some of its state budget problems.

Critical Mass Ride in Darlington?

2011-09-13T08:07:00.000+01:00

Saturdays Critical Mass ride was a complete success.Not from the from the sheer number of people that didn't turn out for it but for the fact that it brought new people together and demonstrated a group of people riding bikes can promote positive reactions from non riders..Eight riders turned out,some in fancy dress,some dressed as they normally do for a bike ride.
The reasons for fancy dress were twofold,a bit of fun and also to soften the impact of a group of cyclists riding together in a busy town centre.The main reason behind the Critical Mass ride was to celebrate a birthday with a group of like minded people that have one common factor,everybody for whatever reason rides a bike.

Photo by kind permission of Simon James.

The group gathered,greetings were exchanged and hands shaken.It was time for the off.A slow ride to South Park through the Pedestrian Heart and stopping briefly in the Market Square.
Making our way down Duke Street along Skinnergate turning left in Blackwell Gate and onto High Row.At this point readers may start to think how stupid can someone be to take a group of cyclists along a very busy pedestrian street on the busiest day of the week? well,I did and I am not stupid(educationally challenged yes but not stupid).But cyclists have a right to ride through the Pedestrian Heart,a right that was fought for long and hard by the Darlington Cycling Campaign,any day of the week.
The route was a cycled at walking pace,saying "hellos" and "thankyou's" to lots of people along the way.We had a "wow" factor and a really big "cute" factor and that was the in the form of a Tricycle complete with Mother and child in fancy dress,people even came up to chat to them and ask about using a Trike.And so it was that we headed on to South Park for Ice Cream and a drink.
Slowly the group broke up,other commitments,family duties,meetings to go to.Before we all drifted off we agreed on one thing,that we would do it again,soon.
So I say a big thank you to all that took part,Darlovelo,20's Plenty for Me,Darlington Cycling Campaign,Kranksbikes,Dr.Coffee's Cafe,Sally,Brian,Geoff,Mathew,Annie,Simon,Bel,Miri and Duncan.

Post Script;
As I was riding across town to meet up with the others,I noticed at the last two junctions cars had "given way" to me,stopped and let me turn when they had right of way.Making my way through North Lodge Park,several people said good morning.On arrival at the Arts CentreI thought about this and I wondered if it was because I was dressed as a Vicar.Was it the power of the cloth or the bicycle?
Duncan

Birthday Critical Mass Ride

2011-09-02T11:00:00.000+01:00

This event is open to anybody,you just need a bicycle to take part,so please come join in,meet new people and enjoy a cycle around town.

A Bridge too far..............

2011-08-27T09:51:00.000+01:00

A bridge too far........................

As a Cycle Demonstration Town,Darlington cycle users can have a hard time.We have cycle lanes,cycle routes,a cycle hire scheme and obstacles.It is the obstacles that give us the hard time.One of these obstacles is a railway bridge on the Haughton Road.It is on an arterial cycle route connecting the town centre to the Eastern Transport Corridor.The railway bridge is also on the main route to Darlington College and the newly opened College and sees a lot of traffic,vehicular,pedestrian and cyclists.

Approaching the bridge,on either side,is a cycle path.Clearly sign posted at the end/start of the cycle paths are "cyclists dismount" signs and "end of cycle route" signs.This does not prevent some cyclists using the footpaths over the bridge or using the road as shown in this short video clip.

The Latest News from 20’s Plenty for Darlington

2011-06-14T12:49:00.000+01:00

Darlington Friends of the Earth's Matthew Snedker continues to go from strength to strength with his work on the 20' Plenty for Darlington campaign. Here is his latest update on how the campaign to introduce 20 mph speed limits on residential roads - with out speed humps - is getting on.

First some national news
The Department for Transport has announced that it is relaxing the requirements for 20 mph signage. In a move to remove red-tape and allow local authorities more power to implement 20 mph schemes without unnecessary cost and constraints, the DfT has announced new relaxations to allow far more flexible town-wide 20 mph schemes.

Liverpool city council is entering into consultation over plans that could result in 70% of the cities roads having 20 mph speed limits. It is estimated that this plan could provide savings of over £5.2 million per year in costs associated with traffic casualties.

What has been happening in Darlington
After our successful Green Fair stall we were invited to attend the launch of Green Park’s new play area. It is a lovely space and local residents have worked very hard to update and improve the play facilities.
We met local residents and talked about all the benefits that 20’s Plenty for Darlington will bring. Face painting and the ‘Breaking distance challenge’ proved popular, we sold car & bike stickers and we added another 30 signatures to our petition.

We are pleased to announce that we have received support from George Dent Nursery School. Carol Dawson, head teacher, said "When the policy was explained to me I thought 'What's not to like?' If you care about children and other vulnerable groups how could you not support this campaign. It has been proved to be successful in other parts of the country and it's time we had it in Darlington."

More support comes from Acorn Dairy. Graham Tweddle said “a 20 mph speed limit, would help reduce the noise generated by vehicles using the roads at night and also improve the fuel economy.” He also went on to say “What is of more concern, is the increasing number of sleeping policemen (of different styles) used by the council. These do have a significant impact on vehicle suspension.”

I have already had an approach from one councillor asking that roads in their ward be included in any trial of 20 mph speed limits.
Does your councillor know that you want slower speed on the roads where you live?

Community Carnival
We will be at the Community Carnival, with a stall in Stanhope Park. The Carnival takes place on Saturday 25th June between 11 am and 5 pm. Please come and meet the team and find out the latest news.

The next month...
I am arranging a meeting with Michael Straugheir, Traffic Management Officer, Durham Constabulary. We will be discussing the 20’s Plenty policy and looking at how to make Darlington’s streets saver for all road users.

I will be looking to meet chairs of the Borough Council’s scrutiny committees to discuss a formal request that they investigate the 20’s Plenty for Darlington policy.

You can get involved

As well as coming to see us at the Community Carnival there are plenty of ways to get involved:

Talk to you friends, neighbours and work colleagues about the benefits of 20’s Plenty.
Print out copies of our campaign leaflet and pass them around.
Print out copies of our petition and collect signatures, please ask for e-mail addresses so that we can keep people up to date with the campaign.
Contact you councillors. Let them know of your support for the campaign and ask for their opinions on road humps, child casualty rates and the latest news fro the Department of Transport.

If you want to help with the campaign, you can contact Matthew at darlington@20splentyforus.org.uk

Stockton Cycle Festival

2011-04-23T09:34:00.001+01:00

The first Stockton Cycling Festival will take place on July 16th and 17th 2011 and will give all people and abilities a chance to get involved.

There will be two main events - the Sportive Challenge on July 16th will be a mass participation and non-competitive event in which people can cycle anything from 30 miles to 100 miles. On July 17th, there will be a series of races on a traffic free circuit for everyone to become involved.

The festival will close with an elite race, giving people the opportunity to see at close hand a dramatic and fast-moving race by riders battling at high speeds on a tight street circuit.

There will be a chance to try lots of different bikes, learn to unicycle or have a go at stunt riding or join in on a virtual bike challenge.

Sustrans staff from The Hub, in Stockton will offer advice on bike choice, what to wear, local cycle routes avaliable in Stockton, or a bike checkup from Dr Bike. There will also be guided walks and bike orienteering to help riders to discover new places.

Cycling Campaign Regular Meetings

2011-04-13T09:11:00.000+01:00

Date: Tuesday 19 April, 7.30pm
Where: Baydale Beck Public House, Coniscliffe Road.

One thing that cropped up at our recent AGM was the need for regular get-togethers. Members want to be able to keep in touch and have their say. So your committee have agreed that in future we will meet regularly at the Baydale Beck Pub, a short, pleasant ride out from town, good beer, and food if you want it. Anyone interested in helping the Cycling Campaign with its work is welcome to come and join us. Dates of future meetings will be posted here in the near future.

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20 mph crucial say Transport and Health Group

2011-04-08T16:40:00.000+01:00

More on our joint election campaign with Darlington Friends of the Earth for a blanket 20mph speed limit in the town's residential streets. New research entitled “Health on the Move 2” evidences why 20 mph limits in residential areas are key to improving the health impacts of local transport.

The book, published by the Transport and Health Study Group, evidences the interactions between transport, health and inequalities. It firmly recommends making 20 mph or lower speed limits the norm for residential streets. Dr Stephen Watkins, Chair of the Transport and Health Study Group, said:

“The difference between travelling two miles at 20mph and travelling it at 30mph is only two minutes. Those who oppose this measure are saying that two minutes off journey times is more important than children’s lives.”

Large parts of the street system should be closed to through motor traffic (with a 20mph speed limits on vehicles using them for access) and developed primarily for walking, cycling and community interaction, according to a group of health and transport professionals in a book welcomed by the former Chief Medical Officer of England, Sir Liam Donaldson.

Traffic in streets reduces social interaction leading to people having fewer friends and less commitment to their community. As social support networks have been shown to increase life expectancy the group contends that creating “living streets” will increase community cohesion and improve health, as well as creating new cycle routes.

Health is impacted by transport in positive and negative ways. Moving around is a way to access to goods, services, jobs and amenities. Walking and cycling offer excellent ways to build activity into everyday life. But transport also causes injuries, stress, disruption of communities, noise and air pollution, and emissions. Transport’s effects exacerbate inequalities, with gains from motorised transport accruing particularly to the better off, while the adverse effects fall disproportionately on the disadvantaged.

The connections between transport policy and other policy areas such as health and economic inequalities are often ignored by local politicians, who tend to deal with such issues in a highly compartmentalised way. But candidates for the coming election would do well to compare the conclusions in this book with the aims of our council's core strategy for the next 10 years, One Darlington, Perfectly Placed. If they are serious about narrowing the gaps in life chances, nurturing a strong, vibrant and cohesive borough-wide community, tackling the gaps in health and well-being across the borough, and doing all that we can locally to reduce our contribution to global CO2 emissions (all verbatim quotes from that document), 20mph for residential streets is a crucial component in the solution mix.

With the Local Elections Approaching

2011-04-01T13:41:00.001+01:00

With local elections due in Darlington on May 5th, Darlington Cycling Campaign has joined forces with Darlington Friends of the Earth to ask all council candidates whether they support a 20mph speed limit for all residential streets in the town. The Campaign has argued for such a policy since our 2007 AGM.

The full text of the letter, which is self-explanatory, is set out below. Council candidates are free to comment on their position re a default 20mph for all residential streets below this post. There is also a Facebook group for the 20'splenty in Darlington campaign here.

Dear Candidate,

With local elections approaching, politicians and voters alike are looking for policies that make real improvements to the lives of people in the borough of Darlington. You may be aware that in surveys conducted last year over 80% of members of the public were in favour of 20 mph for residential roads. This mirrors the developing view across the country that our current speed limit of 30 mph is just too high in residential areas where it is inevitable that vulnerable road users will be at greatest risk.

In fact, if we compare it with the speed limit in Northern European towns it is 60% higher than the 30 kph (18.5 mph) limits that they have for residential streets. No wonder perhaps that 92% of pedestrian deaths are on urban roads in the UK and at 21% we have a higher proportion of pedestrian deaths on the roads than any of our European neighbours.

In Hilden, Germany, the setting of their 30 kph limit in the early 90's was the foundation of them encouraging cycling and walking. In fact now 23% of in-town trips are now made by children and adults using bikes instead of cars.

You may be wondering about how much this would slow down our car journeys and cause congestion. Well, the campaign is only for residential streets to be changed with most A, B and arterial roads remaining at their current speed limits. As almost every house, office or school is within 1/3 mile of such an arterial road then the maximum increase in journey time would be just 40 seconds. Surely worth the benefit in lives and injuries saved.

You may also be wondering about the cost and inconvenience of all those speed bumps. Well, many authorities are using changed Department of Transport guidance which encourages lower speeds to be set without necessarily involving physical calming. With education, consultation, social pressure and some enforcement, authorities such as Portsmouth have implemented a council wide default 20 mph limit for residential roads without any physical calming at all. While we are on the subject of cost, latest DfT figures (for 2009) show that the cost to Darlington of Road casualties is £16,435,990. Even more alarmingly the DfT estimate that the total cost of sedentary lifestyles to Darlington is an eye-watering £23,752,582 per annum.

Other authorities are taking Portsmouth as an example and Transport for London recently announced the intention for all London Boroughs to adopt 20 mph as the default for residential roads as part of the Breaking Point report. Lewisham, Islington and Southwark have already implemented such a default.

Most significantly City Councillors in Norwich recently unanimously voted to have a default 20 mph in residential roads. Such support from all local political parties shows how 20's Plenty is a universal aspiration for communities, constituents and politicians rather than a party political one.

At the time of writing this letter I have just heard that Warrington Council have voted to increase the number of residential roads that will be protected by a 20 mph zone by 200 and a Hartlepool scrutiny committee has recommended to the council adoption of Total 20 for the town.

And of course 20's Plenty saves lives. A recent PACTS (Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety) identified that child casualties fell by 67% where 20 mph schemes were introduced. I do hope that Darlington people can rely upon you to follow through this excellent policy for the sake of its communities. It would have all the following advantages:-

Encourage modal shift to walking and cycling leading to healthier children and adults.
Lower pollution
Lower noise
Create a better environment on residential roads
Save lives and injury

Most people involved in transport development recognise that, at some time, 20 mph will become the default speed limit for all residential roads in the UK. Darlington can "hang on" till such a time and in the intervening period vulnerable road users in Darlington will die or be injured as a result of such a delay. The sooner we adopt the 20's Plenty initiative then the greater the saving in lives and injury and the earlier the benefits in quality of life on our streets. There are already 5.4 million people in the UK who have the benefit of living in places where it is agreed that 20 mph is the correct speed limit for residential roads.

Darlington children and adults want and need 20 mph as a default speed limit in the roads where they live and 20's Plenty For Us will be continuing its campaign for early adoption of this life saving move. I trust that our communities can count on your support for this initiative and that Darlington can be a "can do" authority when it comes to taking such sensible steps to make all our lives better and safer.

Please pledge your support for default 20 mph speed limits on Darlington’s residential roads and add this promise to you campaign. If I can assist in explaining the initiative, its benefits or its implementation then I would be very pleased to help.

Yours sincerely

Matthew Snedker

darlington@20splentyforus.org.uk

01325 488313 or 077 80 80 70 59

Velo City - from Copenhagen to Seville

2011-03-23T10:04:00.003Z

Velo-City Global 2010 from Velo-city Global 2010 on Vimeo.

Velo-City, the annual international conference about everyday urban cycling, provides an excellent focus for cycling advocacy best practice from around the world. Last year's event in Copenhagen was, not surprisingly, wowed by that city's track record in encouraging more people to cycle as part of their everyday lives. Though it must be repeated, much of the wowing can also be put down to PR. We ourselves have worked in Bremen, which has more than twice the amount of off-road cycle paths as Copenhagen - and that excludes green areas like parks and riverbanks. And of course it has been well documented elsewhere that much of the Netherlands has far superior standards than Copenhagen.

The 2011 event opened yesterday in the Spanish city of Seville. To coincide with this year's event, a new magazine called Cycling Mobility is being launched there. Darlington is featured in the publication via an article about Beauty and the Bike. But there is also a substantial piece about Seville itself, and how the city transformed itself in just a few years from a car-dominated and congested regional capital to a cycling-friendly place to live. In less than six years, Seville has increased cycling's share of journeys from 0.2% to 6.6%, with the number of people cycling daily from 2,500 to 70,000. This compares with Darlington's figures, regarded in the UK as a great success, of 1% to 3% over five years.

Spain is not noted for its cycling-oriented mobility culture. So how come Seville has been so successful? The article lists seven action points that were central to the plan:

DO have a thoroughly researched master plan that develops cycling as an integral part of the transport system
DO create a fully linked network of routes that offers the public a practical, pleasant and convenient means of transport
DO ensure that cycle lanes are safe, and physically separated from cars where necessary
DO make sure that cycle lanes follow main routes where there are shops, public transport points and people
DON'T go for the easy option. Creating routes around the back streets is straightforward but not always best.
DO expect stiff political opposition when trying to fund projects like these.
DO remember that the alternative is to continue to spend billions on new roads which will simply add to the problem.

Seville offers an example of what can be done with strong political will. Most of these action points echo exactly what Darlington Cycling Campaign has been advocating for our own town. With local elections looming here in May, there is precious little sign that such political vision will be on offer for the voters of the borough.

Spring is Sprung - Darlovelo Celebrates

2011-03-22T16:52:00.000Z

Spring is here! And Darlovelo celebrated today by bringing some of its new dutch bikes out to show off to the public. The bikes are available for long term hire for a small fee.

Darlovelo organiser Annie Ravazzolo is also leading cycle rides around Darlington over the coming weeks. They will be heading off from the Arts Centre at 2pm on Saturday 26th March and Saturday 9th April. You can bring your own bike or try out one of the Darlovelo collection of Dutch style bikes. A contribution of £2 is requested (which can be offset against membership, if you decide to join).

Its a great way to get out, meet people and learn about the cycle highways and byways of Darlington.

If you are under 16 please ensure you are accompanied by and adult.

Please contact cool@darlovelo.org if you plan to come, or log on to facebook and join the event.

Whoops - No Brakes! Never Mind, I've Got a Helmet

2011-03-04T11:29:00.000Z

An email from the Environmental Transport Association today announces news of the latest campaign to force everyone under 14 to wear a cycle helmet. The call for compulsory legislation comes from the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust, a charity that promotes helmet use amongst children. Their latest campaign will shortly be hitting every school in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, in the form of teachers' packs and DVDs.

But there are a few catches. Despite widespread evidence showing that head injuries amongst children occur in a wide range of circumstances, and particularly whilst in a car, this campaign is targeted at under 14's only when they are on a bicycle. Second, the campaign is being funded by GEM, the motoring organisation. What would a motoring organisation be doing funding a campaign that wants to see cycle helmets compulsory for under 14 year old cyclists?

But perhaps most remarkable of all, GEM themselves have produced a "guide to safer cycling" featuring a child on a bike with a disconnected front brake. This potent brew of motoring interests, cycle helmet compulsion and dodgy brakes has provoked a stream of critical comments on the GEM blog. Have a look for yourself. Interestingly, whilst I've been writing this, GEM have pulled the link to the document in question.

The sad thing is, this is precisely the sort of "advice" that reaches our decision makers via well-paid lobbyists, whilst the real knowledge that is out there about cycling safety, and has been regularly featured on this blog, gets routinely ignored.

Perhaps the last word should go to our great friend and film-maker Mike Rubbo, who made this short film a while ago about an Australian cyclist who refuses to obey the compulsory helmet law down there.

Anything But an Accident

2011-03-02T12:59:00.006Z

Anti-cyclist attitudes amongst a minority of motorists in Darlington are well known. We have had many reports of aggressive drivers shouting and abusing cyclists on our streets. And I have previously blogged about the reaction to cyclist Norman Fay's death on the Croft Road in 2008. Most traffic planners, and many politicians, in the UK blindly continue to encourage this kind of "the roads belong to us" attitude amongst motorists. But this shocking video from Porto Alegre in Brazil is in another league.

It shows a motorist deliberately ploughing through a large group of cyclists. The incident took place last week during a Critical Mass Ride there. It has provoked a string of solidarity rides in Latin America, and indictment of the driver for attempted murder. It is not a video for the squeamish.

Critical Mass rides reveal the poverty of current traffic management thinking in countries like our own. Cyclists are expected to share road space with motorised traffic, but when there are enough cyclists on the road we suddenly become "an obstruction". My own understanding is that "congestion" is the correct term, and that it is an issue at the top of the agenda for traffic planners to do something about - like providing better infrastructure.

And I refuse to label this post "accident"!

You can see more world-wide condemnation of the incident on Beauty and the Bike's Facebook page.

EDIT: Picture from the Buenos Aires solidarity ride:

Darlovelo Spring Ride

2011-03-01T11:24:00.002Z

When: 12 March · 14:00 - 15:30

Start at: Darlington Arts Centre, Vane Terrace.

An opportunity to test out Darlovelo's Dutch bikes and prepare yourself for the spring. The ride should last about an hour, with a refreshment break. Please book a place by contacting Darlovelo. There will be a small charge of £2 for the hire of the bike and if you are under 18 please ensure you are accompanied by an adult.

2011 Annual General Meeting - 18th February

2011-02-15T19:28:00.000Z

The Darlington Cycling Campaign is holding its Annual General Meeting this Friday, 18 February at Darlington Media Workshop, (behind the Arts Centre, Vane Terrace). The meeting will provide an overview of what has been achieved for cyclists in Darlington throughout 2010 and will include an illustrated talk featuring current examples of Darlington’s cycling infrastructure demonstrating what has and has not been achieved. This will be followed by a question and answer session.

Darlington Cycling Campaign Chair Nick Bagshaw said:
“With savage cuts looming for all public sector organizations, it is more important than ever that people take every opportunity to voice their concerns and draw attention to the issues that impact upon their daily lives. More and more people are considering using their bicycle for that short trip to the shops or to get to work. The question is does our current and planned future provision for the everyday cyclist meet that need? This is where the work of the Darlington Cycling Campaign is focused, to raise the concerns of local cyclists with the decision makers”.

The message then, is simple - if you love riding your bike, ride a bike for the convenience it offers, or would like to ride your bike more often, but have concerns about doing so, then come along this Friday and share your thoughts with some fellow cyclists. We look forward to meeting you.

Entry is open to all and secure cycle parking is available at the Arts Centre
The event is being held at Darlington Arts Centre on Friday 18th February, starting from 7.30pm in the Media Workshop, Entry is free and open to all.

65% of Motorists "Don't Have a Clue" About Emissions

2011-02-13T11:20:00.000Z

One of the main arguments made by UK politicians, and indeed many cycling campaigners, is that people can be "persuaded" to cycle more once they realise its health and environmental benefits. Accepting UK road infrastructure as "immutable fact", they believe that people can be "nudged" in the direction of cycling through little changes in behaviour. So how open to ideas about environmental benefit are non-cyclists? Well, a good place to start, given the tiny levels of regular cycling in the UK, is with motorists.

A new study by car comparison site car buzz asked new car buyers what they looked for first in a new car. The result is summarised in the graphic above. Most were, not surprisingly, most interested in price, seating space, and running costs. Only 1% considered CO2 emissions important, and of these two-thirds did so to save money. Only one in ten expressed concern about the environment, ie just 0.1% of all surveyed.

This echoes an earlier survey conducted by the Environmental Transport Association in 2008, which found that 65 per cent of drivers “didn’t have a clue” how much CO2 they produce when driving. The survey also found that men are less worried than their female counterparts about the effect their driving has, with younger drivers being more environmentally aware.

But most UK cyclists are also car drivers. Might there be some sort of conversion to environmentalism once we mount the saddle? Although there is no definitive equivalent survey for cyclists available - most cycling-related attitudinal surveys seem to be asking non-cyclists "what would make you cycle?" - anecdotal evidence such as the proliferation of T shirts like this one would suggest that at least some cyclists rank environmental reasons as important. On the other hand, the few times cyclists are asked to say why they cycle, they come up with all kinds of other - often philosophical and contemplative - reasons. Helping the environment, it seems, is all a bit too altruistic for most people.

It is clearly a waste of time hammering on about moral reasons to get people cycling more. At the end of the day, cycling needs to be more convenient, cheaper, quicker and more pleasant than driving. Good quality infrastructure delivers this. But as long as our politicians gaze upon our urban roads without any awareness of how backward our urban environment has become, they will continue to declare that a UK cycling experience of necessity involves rubber knickers.

Town Centre Cycling

2011-02-10T09:26:00.000Z

Today, the Borough Council's Economy and Environment Scrutiny Committee receives a report about cycling in the town centre during 2010. As most people will recall, when the centre of Darlington was pedestrianised, there was considerable resistance from a number of quarters to the idea that cycling could be part of the new arrangements. But following a number of studies, including our own, that showed that town centre cycling posed little danger to anyone, the council backed cyclists. At the same time, and to calm the fears of others, it agreed to set up a monitoring programme and regularly review the decision. Today that review takes place.

You can download the full report here. Here are some interesting extracts:

"whilst cycling continues to increase across Darlington and at high levels through the town centre, no personal injury accidents have been recorded by the Police and incidents reported to the Transport Policy team do not show any collisions between a cyclist and a pedestrian."
During this period, there have been three collisions between pedestrians and cars (two taxis and a private car) in the Pedestrian Heart. The private car failed to stop. The manner of the reporting suggests that the pedestrians were at least partly to blame. All injuries were described as slight.
The only cyclist/car accident reported was not strictly within the Pedestrian Heart. A car decided to do a U-turn at the Stonebridge/Tubwell Row/Crown St mini-rdbt. A cyclist attempted to avoid a collision, contact was minor, but as a result he collided with a kerb and then a wall. This was rated as a serious injury. There is no comment as to prosecution or outcome of injury.
There has been only one 'reported incident' in the year - by a cyclist, of cyclists: ".. two young cyclists overtook him at close proximity on Tubwell Row and then appeared to nearly collide with two pedestrians before performing a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre on a car."

A representative from the Campaign will be at the committee meeting today to argue that the monitoring process should now be terminated.

Cyclist Safety - Two Approaches

2011-02-07T11:08:00.004Z

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Ever since the death on the A167 Darlington to Croft road in June 2008 of cyclist Norman Fay, and the serious injuries sustained by his friend and fellow cyclist John Stephenson, I have been meaning to blog about the circumstances, and the wider ramifications, of this tragedy. The Cycling Campaign has for some years now been calling for a separated cycle path along this stretch of road. As is clear from the picture above, for most of the length of the road, this is eminently possible on the grass verge. It is widely recognised as one of the most dangerous for cyclists in Darlington, and indeed discourages many residents of Croft and Hurworth with whom we have talked in the past from cycling at all.

When Norman and John's accident occurred, the Cycling Campaign raised the incident at the following Borough Council's Transport Forum (which has now, by the way, been abolished). The response was appalling. One death, and another life-threatening injury it seems, was not enough to justify considering any kind of cycling facility. Some members of the committee took it upon themselves to laugh at our concern.

We also attended the inquest into the tragedy, which took place in September 2009 in Chester-le-Street. The inquest was extensively reported here in the Northern Echo. As the article noted, in this accident the driver of the car involved never faced prosecution.

This incident reflects the two core problems for cyclists in the UK - lack of infrastructure where it is actually needed, and motorist behaviour. But it also reflects a third and related problem - the attitude of our establishment to cyclist safety. This was brought home to us all, literally, in last night's episode of Top Gear, when cyclists' "favourite" Jeremy Clarkson jokingly suggested that cyclists deserve to be "cut up" because they don't pay road tax. Top Gear is one of the BBC's top income earners from sales abroad. A campaign of complaints to the BBC about the show has already been initiated, and follows hard on the heels of comedian Steve Coogan's attack on the programme's presenters for their casual racism.

Disinterest in cyclist safety locally, and institutionalised backing for aggression nationally, reflects a deeper belief in the UK that cyclist safety is something the cyclist should worry about, not wider society. So the one element of Cycling England that gets retained following its demise next month will be Bikeability, the cycle training programme - training, that is, for survival on our car-oriented road system. If cycling safety was really deemed a collective concern, society at large would take much greater responsibility for developing safer infrastructure. Now, what little that was being developed nationally is to be dropped. Cyclist safety will be strictly a private affair.

Contrast the reaction in Darlington to the Croft tragedy, and the BBC's love of Top Gear, with how the media in the Netherlands dealt with an accident involving cyclists and a car, as described in this great little video from Mark Wagenbuur.

EDIT: In the light of all the Jeremy Clarkson hoo-ha today, one member of the Cycling Campaign has suggested we jest back:

2011 Annual General Meeting - 18th February

2011-01-28T13:34:00.000Z

The 2011 Annual General Meeting of Darlington Cycling Campaign will be held at 7.30pm on Friday 18th February, in Darlington Media Workshop, at the rear of Darlington Arts Centre. The Annual General Meeting shall:

*receive an annual report from the committee
*receive a financial statement from the Treasurer
*elect officers and committee
*consider amendments to this constitution
*consider any motions from attending members

If you would like to have any matters put on the agenda for discussion, please forward these to us by email by 10th February, after which an agenda will be sent out with further details. If you would like to view our full constitution, click on our constitution page.

Local Transport White Paper - So Farewell Cycling

2011-01-22T23:36:00.004Z

We better get used to it. There are going to be a lot of goodbyes in the coming weeks and months, as public sector cuts kick in, coupled with the new government's declared end to the love-in - oops, I mean war - on motorists.

Last Thursday came the first cycling farewell in Darlington - the council's Cycle Forum. The Forum gave local people - cyclists or not - the chance to get involved in the local authority's ongoing plans for cycling. This became especially important once our status as one of the first Cycling Demonstration Towns was announced in 2005. The Council explained that they could no longer justify the expense of officers' time at the Forum, especially as attendance by the general public had dropped.

Next to go will be the coordinators of the Cycling Demonstration Towns initiative, Cycling England. Use the link whilst you still can! Sacrificed in the government's so-called bonfire of the quangos, Cycling England had a paltry £60m a year to spend on cycling, or £1 per UK citizen. This compares with about £25 per citizen in the cycling-friendly Netherlands.

But now that funding is set to drop even further, to something like 20p per person. The new government's Local Transport White Paper sets out plans for the demolition of direct national funding for cycling, and its replacement with a competitive pot of money for all sustainable transport - including buses. Meanwhile, cycling funding will be reduced to sustaining Bikeability, the cycle training initiative. Then, the Local Sustainable Transport Fund will have an impressive £560m to spend - but over 5 years, and for all sustainable travel options. An excellent analysis of the Local Transport White Paper can be found here, on the excellent Lo Fidelity Bicycle Club blog.

In the name of "localism", the coalition refuses to take responsibility for a coordinated policy to increase cycling numbers. Meanwhile it announces 24 new road schemes. As Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said, " I am pleased that spending on transport was treated as a priority for the Government in the Spending Review."

With local authority budgets set to be viciously squeezed, the next farewells are likely to be the various cycle-related jobs currently attached to the public sector - whether directly employed, or via organisations like Sustrans.

It's not openly stated, but the lack of any coherent policy to make cycling attractive - like developing the kind of infrastructure enjoyed in countries with high levels of cycling - is the other side of the Bikeability coin. As the Lo Fidelity Bicycle Club blog states: "you can train all the people you like to cycle, and even experience a slight rise in numbers, but if the roads look dangerous, then the numbers will fall again and the expense would have been in vain. There’s a reason cycling is flatlining at between 3-4% and (the Local Transport White Paper) doesn’t address it directly in any way".

British cyclists don't need cycle paths! What they need is good quality training that gives them the guts to get out on these busy roads and tussle with all the new motorised vahicles that are going to enjoy all these new roads! So come on chaps (assuming the continuing exclusion of chapesses)! British cyclists have balls!!

Learning from Copenhagen (and elsewhere)

2011-01-18T14:34:00.007Z

More evidence that informed thinking about successful cycling policies is coalescing around the Cycling Campaign's call for a move towards high quality and safe infrastructure on our arterial routes, couple with traffic calming on all residential streets. An interesting exchange of letters between Richard Lewis, a principal town and transport planner at the London Borough of Newham, and Dave Horton from Lancaster University, asks how much we can learn from the "Copenhagen model", a somewhat PR-influenced shorthand for "best European practice" as spelt out lucidly and repeatedly by our friend from Assen, David Hembrow.

Dave Horton visited Copenhagen at the beginning of December as part of a wider piece of research called On Our Own Two Wheels, documenting the experience of riding a bicycle in cities around the world. The exchange of letters followed that visit.

As David Horton concludes:

I think increased provision of specific and segregated cycling infrastructure might be key to getting the velorution rolling. The current and massive problem with otherwise wonderful initiatives such as Bikeability (a UK cycle training scheme, not to be confused with the Danish research project of the same name!) is that, given the existing cycling environment, we’re destined to lose the vast majority of those we train. However well we train them, only the hardy minority will stay on their bikes for long. We have strategically to crack, and then mine, the current dominance of car-based urban automobility, and the establishment of cycling corridors – a la Copenhagen and (in a fashion) London – on key, highly visible arterial routes seems one way of doing so.

This echoes the conclusion of Darlington Cycling Campaign following the completion in our town of the Beauty and the Bike project, which we published a year ago. What is becoming clear is that such policies cannot be delivered at a purely local level, whatever the new government rhetoric about localism. Local cycling policies are dominated by the DfT's and CTC's hierarchy of provision, which ironically puts infrastructure at the bottom of the list in a table of "considerations" for local authorities to follow. Unlike the fate of Cycling England, this particular policy is likely to survive for some time.

Dave Horton concludes his post with notice of a gathering of like minds at The Phoenix Digital Arts Centre in Leicester on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th June 2011. Perhaps this will come up with strategies for making national in the UK, cycling policies that clearly are "best practice" elsewhere.

Northern Rail Cycling Forum

2011-01-14T22:10:00.008Z

News that the Northern Rail Cycling Forum is coming to Darlington next week is a timely reminder of that company's attempts to encourage integration between two forms of sustainable travel. The forum brings together a range of cycling organisations with representatives of Northern Rail at regular meetings held around the North.

Despite their leaky and ancient rolling stock, Northern have an excellent and helpful policy towards cyclists. I, and many friends, have found their staff to be extremely accommodating and helpful. You get the feeling that, if they had the money - or state encouragement - Northern might start investing in the kinds of carriages that are used by cycling-friendly operators around Europe. As part of that cooperative approach, the Campaign has been invited along next Wednesday to the Dolphin Centre.

Sadly, our colleagues from Newcastle Cycling Campaign have had less luck. There, Nexus-run Tyne and Wear Metro use "health and safety" considerations to ban cyclists from bringing their bicycles on to their trains. Metro train drivers are known to call the police out to evict a cyclist from an otherwise empty carriage. Newcastle is currently going through the consultation stages of a cycling strategy for the city, as well as its Local Transport Plan 3. Neither mentions the metro bike ban. Newcastle Cycling Campaign have raised this strongly in their response to LTP3.

Which leads us neatly to what we thought we had in store in the near future, the Tees Valley Metro. Funding was in place and work was ready to commence - until the Con-Dem government came along. Like much else in the area, the whole project is now up in the air, thanks to the government's spending review.

So for now we are stuck with Northern's rickety old trains. But at least they have pleasant staff who are welcoming to cyclists. A reminder, perhaps of the days when British Rail once catered for somewhat more of us:

Red Rag at Red Barns?

2011-01-13T18:58:00.008Z

Last year, the otherwise excellent cycle path along McMullen Road was cruelly interrupted by the installation of the above barrier. Just when the Campaign thought that such needless interruptions had become a thing of the past, this appeared. The logic is sadly obvious.

Cyclists approaching this point from the south are riding down a relatively steep incline. Here, they cross a side street into the Red Barns estate. Because of the incline, it has been deemed insufficient for cyclists to have a "give way" sign painted on the cycle path. So a barrier has been installed. Apparently, this followed an accident, though details have so far not been forthcoming.

So why is this junction dangerous? The only reason that there is any danger is the totally obscuring fence that the residents have been allowed to build, and which can easily be modified so that emerging drivers can see the path, but passing pedestrians and cyclists cannot look into the adjacent property.

When we took the above picture we witnessed the result - a young cyclist simply jumped the pavement 20 yards uphill and continued his journey on road, rather than stopping and negotiating the barrier.

This stretch of cycle path was the subject of Campaign consultation when it was first mooted a few years ago. At that time, we urged the council to begin the process of driver education by giving cyclists right of way at this junction. The reason was simple. The side road is in fact a private cul-de-sac servicing a handful of houses. Traffic is so light that even the most dedicated petrolhead could not argue that giving way to cyclists constituted a great inconvenience. And without the obscuring fence, there would be a perfectly clear view between cyclists and any emerging vehicle.

To many, this might indeed seem like little more than an inconvenience to cyclists. But the philosophy behind its construction is deep rooted in the average British traffic planner's psyche. As the little inconveniences aggregate together into a giant pain in the bum, it is little wonder that the UK continues to be a world loser in the cycle rates league, and a world leader in the crap infrastructure league.

Next week (Thursday 20th January, 6.15pm in the Town Hall), the Campaign will be bringing our views on this little gem to the council's next Cycle Forum. This is open to anyone with an interest in cycling, so please join us if you can.

Whinfield Road - A Step Forward?

2010-12-25T12:54:00.018Z

Darlington Cycling Campaign was recently consulted on proposals to develop new cycling infrastructure in the north of the town. Such consultations occur on a regular basis. but what makes this particular proposal exceptional is that it is the first that is being made on a busy arterial road, Whinfield Road, and will involve the reduction of space for motorised traffic in favour of cyclists. The map here shows the proposed stretch in red, connecting existing routes marked in yellow (advisory) and green (actual cycling infrastructure).

For some time now, we've been arguing that more visible, and more direct cycle routes are needed if more people are to get on their bikes. The core of the local authority's strategy had been to try to avoid busy roads altogether by developing signed "alternative routes" on quiet side roads. Thus, rather than cycling down North Road, we are encouraged to use the signed route down Pendelton Road, running parallel. The advantage is that a series of signs are relatively cheap to install, legally simple, and of course they do not incur the wrath of the motorist by threatening their road space. The disadvantage is that they can be, as is the case with the West Park route, somewhat roundabout, and still requiring the use of relatively busy roads.

The Cycling Campaign believes that the UK needs to adopt the best and most successful European practice. Cycle routes should be direct, continuous and safe. This therefore requires the best infrastructure to be developed where traffic is heaviest, and where cyclists are most likely to want to travel. So for example Parkgate, between the railway station and the town centre, should be the "dual carriageway" of cycle routes. It is one of the busiest roads in urban Darlington, yet one of the key cycle routes for everyday cyclists. So it is good to see the local authority taking an important step forward by tackling one such busy road.

The process is still in its early stages, and we cannot yet predict whether existing plans will in fact be carried out, or what opposition might lie around the corner. We have expressed our own views about the proposals. The off road cycle path proposal between Sparrowhall Drive and the Haughton Education Village is an excellent addition to safe routes to school in the town. However, the proposed on-road cycle lane along Whinfield Road itself, from Whinbush Way east to the Stockton roundabout, whilst commendably reducing space for motorised traffic through the elimination of central hatching, is only advisory. It is interesting to consider why.

The satellite image above shows a short stretch of Whinfield Road, where the proposed new cycle route is to be developed. As with much of the road, there is ample space for an off-road cycle path on either side of the carriageway. On busy main roads like this, with significant HGV traffic, this is our preferred option. Subjective safety is crucial if we are ever to attract people who don't cycle now, to use such roads. This option has been rejected on grounds of cost.

Our second preferred option, at least as an interim solution, would be an onroad mandatory cycle lane, something along the lines of our artists' impression below.

Since there is ample off-road parking, this would surely be a solution that offers a small degree of subjective safety to cyclists, without the recurring problem of motorists parking on the cycle lane (which would, unlike an advisory lane, be illegal). However, even the cycling community appears to be somewhat unclear about a way forward here. The objection put forward by the local authority is that such a lane would prevent motorists from accessing off-road parking, since they are legally not allowed to cross the continuous white line. This reasoning was confirmed when we asked Sustrans.

Yet it seems a great pity that arguments about the legality of crossing a white line at the side of the road (think of these lines along the side of that other busy road we have surveyed in the past, the A167 to Newton Aycliffe) can prevent rational discussion about best practice. These kinds of rules existed in Germany. They got round them by amending the law and introducing different widths of continuous white line for these new circumstances. These can be crossed by motorists wishing to access parking spaces.

In fact, to return to the need for continuity, good cycle routes can embrace both off-road cycle paths and on-road mandatory cycle lanes, as long as the one seamlessly transfers to the other. There is no good reason why certain sections of this route, where most appropriate, run behind parking areas, whilst others run between parked vehicles and moving traffic. There are examples of such situations in the council's proposals, but the "advisory lane" approach inevitably means that cyclists again have to give way to motor traffic. Rather than continuing on their own dedicated and protected cycle route, they are deemed to be "re-joining the carriageway", as in the detail from the proposals below.

The irony of all of this concern about crossing white lines to park a vehicle is that the supposed "hierarchy of road users", which places pedestrians and cyclists first and private motor vehicles (and particularly stationery ones) last, is turned upside down. New infrastructure has to be designed around the needs of those wishing to park their private vehicles along the public highway.

We all know how much there is still to do in the UK to encourage cycling. So we should give credit to Darlington Borough Council for tackling a difficult but important stretch of road. But perhaps David Cameron should take a leaf out of his own policy book, and ask his Ministry of Nudging to shove an elbow the way of his Transport Secretary, Mr Hammond, and ask him to sort out his white lines.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

EDIT: To add yet another model to this debate, have a look at this proposed new cycle lane in Cambridge. The Cycling Campaign there have also expressed concern about motorists parking on advisory cycle lanes. Here they proposed, and appear to have won, the idea of double yellow lines along the length of the cycle lane.

Contraflow Signage

2010-11-10T20:44:00.004Z

Earlier this year, Cambridge Cycling Campaign succeeded in winning local council support for the setting up of trial "cyclist contraflow" signs in parts of Cambridge. And as one of Darlington Cycling Campaign's members pointed out to me today, Cycling England has been encouraging all cycling towns to make one-way streets two-way for cycling.

Here in Darlington we have already asked officers on a number of occasions to consider this. One area where this is perhaps more urgently required, however, is at the Duke Street exit of the Pedestrian Heart. Here, cyclists who leave the town centre are confronted with a particularly narrow road outside the Coop Bank, a road that is designed to be one-way for motorised traffic.

This picture shows the view from outside the town centre. This evening, on my way home from the station, I was cycling out of the town centre on this stretch when I noticed a car accelerating towards me and beeping his horn (at 8pm in the evening). He seemed in a great hurry. The reason soon became clear. He screeched to a halt before I was able to exit the narrow road into Duke Street to tell me off for cycling "the wrong way down a one way street".

Having obligingly opened his car door to tell me so, I hung on to it in order to inform him that, in fact, he was entering the Pedestrian Heart, an area in which cycling is allowed both ways. But this was not enough for my car-centric friend, who clearly believed he had the right to speed into the pedestrianised Skinnergate because the bollard had been lowered.

Clearly, there is an education job to be done here. And what better way than to introduce, as is the case in many other countries, contraflow signs on one way streets. The usual safety "experts" will of course argue that "for safety reasons" this just cannot be introduced. But why is this deemed so unsafe, and ONLY in the dear old UK? Because we continue to pander to bad motorist behaviour, rather than developing an expectation of care when driving in built up areas. Contraflow cycling contributes to this.

Look again at the picture above, and you can see a so-called "flying motorcycle" sign. This is supposed to signal a road that is two-way for cyclists, but not motor vehicles. But how many motorists understand this? Especially when there are time restrictions which run out in the evening.

Perhaps more pertinent in this case is the question - why do motorists, other than commercial vehicles loading and unloading, require access into Skinnergate at all? Their only possible destination is a couple of hundred yards from this exit anyway. Would it not make sense "for safety reasons", and indeed to save the NHS some money by encouraging a bit more walking, to simply keep motorised traffic out of the town centre altogether?

Darlovelo Autumnal Excursion

2010-10-11T08:38:00.007+01:00

Darlovelo is organising an Autumnal Social Cycle Excursion for members and friends on Saturday 23rd October 2010. The Darlington Cycling Campaign-backed dutch bike hire scheme was set up earlier this year as a follow up to the Beauty and the Bike project, and has recently appointed a Promotions Officer to organise events and manage bike hires.

Darlovelo has been constituted as a member-run organisation, and is open to all cyclists who support the aims of the project, not just people who wish to hire bicycles. Membership is just £5 per year, and you can get in touch via the Darlovelo website.

The ride will start at 2pm on Saturday 23rd October 2010 at Darlington Arts Centre. It will take a tour of the bicycle friendly streets in the town, through russet parks, and amber lined avenues, returning to the Arts Centre for a warm drink and a slice of home made cake.

If you have a biking buddy, or would like to introduce someone to the delights of cycling then bring them down. Darlovelo can provide bikes and they can share the experience with you. There may be a very small charge for hire for non members. (If you would like to ensure that there is a bike available, please let Darlovelo know in advance that you will be coming.)

Wrap up warm, and put your peddling boots on to join us!

Bikes Stolen in Darlington (Again)

2010-10-11T08:32:00.002+01:00

A poster at Singletrackworld has just posted about another bike theft in Darlington. Two bikes in fact, a Whyte E120 and a Boardman FS Team. The owner had three bikes stolen last year, and beefed up his security as a result. This looks like a targetted theft. The E120 XT was black with silver rock shox rebas and flow wheels with silver spokes. The Boardman was a standard FS team in silver with a fizik saddle as the only change.

Darlo Pedal Picnic This Sunday

2010-08-20T11:31:00.005+01:00

Come along to Darlington Cycling Campaign's Pedal Picnic this Sunday! The pedal picnic is an alternative to a "critical mass". The aim is to stimulate discussion on cycling around Darlington using the infrastructure that we have. It is designed for everyday cyclists, and is more a social, rather than a sports, event.

Meet at the Arts Centre, Vane Terrace at 1pm(1300hrs) this Sunday (22nd August).

Bring a bike, some food or food to share and some waterproofs,just in case of inclement weather. The route I have in mind and have already "test" ridden, is to leave the Arts Centre and head to Cockerbeck Park/LNR, using the advisory route(yellow) on the Tees Valley Cycling map, Darlington. On leaving Cockerbeck, we shall cycle around the edge of Branksome until the off-road cycle path is reached. This path is then followed to Westpark where we shall stop and picnic. After the picnic the route follows West Auckland road, on the roadside cyclepath, until the junction of Brinkburn Road. We'll then follow the advisory route back to The Arts Centre via Willow Road, Pierremont Road, Pierremont Crescent, Millbank Road, Cleveland Avenue, Trinity Road and ending back at the Arts Centre.

For those who would like to join a critical mass ride, the nearest event is organised by the soon-to-be-born Newcastle Cycling Campaign on the last Friday of every month.

Edit: A low turnout, but a lovely day. Darlington will always be in the forefront of the "slow town" movement, so these things will take time to develop. Unperturbed, the organisers are meeting on 31 August to plan the next ride. Watch this space!

Launch of DARLOVELO 25th July 2010 at the Cycling Festival

2010-07-21T17:00:00.005+01:00

On Sunday 25th July 2010 we shall launch our Bicycle Hire Scheme and Club: DARLOVELO at the Cycling Festival in Darlington's South Park!

The Cycling Festival will be on from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open for everyone!

We shall bring brand new bicycles for you to try. They will be presented by the girls from our project "Beauty and the Bike".

All our bicycles are city bikes for your everyday transport. Most of them are comfortable red Dutch bikes with a basket for your bag and lights powered by a hub dynamo. Many of them have skirt guards and chain guards, so you can cycle with your best clothes and still look relaxed and comfy!

In Europe, Dutch bikes are used by men as well as by women, because they are wonderfully easy to ride, you have a great overview and can chat with everyone from your saddle.

At our stall there will be also "Kranks,Bicycle Servicing and Repairs": You can ask Duncan everything about bikes, their maintenance and repair. Bring your bike, he will check it.

And the Cycling Campaign members will talk to you about anything around cycling in Darlington. We shall bring maps for you to take. And we shall discuss difficult bits of infrastructure with you and give you tips how to treat awkward car drivers and how to smile at nice motorists.

You can also put wishes for social rides forward, the DARLOVELO club will take your requests and develop a social-bicycle-ride-program on the bases of your wishes.

Come along on Sunday!!!! Bring your friends, family and bicycles!!!

Vancouver: Preparing a Cycling City

2010-06-25T17:24:00.006+01:00

A Cycling Campaign Talk with Bonnie Fenton, former Chair of the City of Vancouver's Bicycle Advisory Committee

When: Friday, 2nd July 2010, 7 pm
Where: Darlington Media Workshop (Arts Centre)

How does Darlington compare with other towns and cities around the world that are starting out, from a low base, to make cycling a popular everyday means of transport? Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada, is a city with a similar transport history to ours. But a new regime is trying to change things. On entering office at the end of 2008, Vancouver's centre-left local government pledged to make Vancouver the greenest city in the world by 2020 and cycling is part of that plan. Vancouver currently has a cycling mode share of about 4% and has set a goal of 10% by 2020.

Cycling advocacy was a rather slow slog for many years in Vancouver but the seeds that have been sown seem finally to be bearing fruit. Bonnie will take a look at the development of cycling in Vancouver (and the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition) over the past 10-15 years. She will touch on issues like:

* getting started: making friends at city (town) hall
* knowing what you want: with car traffic or separated facilities?
* reaching the non-converted: education and promotion
* the money question: can we afford (not) to do it?
* "the next Paris": public bike sharing
* signs of progress: peer pressure forces and two Vancouver city councillors to take a cycling skills course

Many of these issues are central to Darlington as well, and reflect much of the work of the Cycling Campaign here:

* consulting with the council over infrastructure
* cycling in the Pedestrian Heart
* arguing for good cycling infrastructure on main and busy roads
* the film and book "Beauty and the Bike“ (which has already been screened in Vancouver!)
* our Bike Hire scheme Darlovelo (10 bikes, rising to 30 bikes soon)

Come along and meet Bonnie next Friday evening, July 2nd, at 7pm, and enjoy a rare chance to meet a cycling advocate from across the ocean.

Darlington Cycle Challenge

2010-06-22T10:49:00.004+01:00

The Darlington Cycle Challenge is a free, incentive based initiative organised by Challenge for Change and the CTC working with the LocalMotion team at Darlington Borough Council to promote cycling in Darlington Borough.

The Challenge takes place this year between 5th July and 25th July and we're hoping to get 50 local companies to register and over 600 people logging trips during the Challenge period.

The Darlington Cycle Challenge is not about cycling to work, but just about getting people to discover the joys of cycling. By registering on our website, you are automatically entered into a draw to win a bike worth £450. People who log trips during the Challenge can win High Street shopping vouchers and people who encourage others to try riding will be given Odeon tickets.

Companies who encourage the highest percentage of staff to try cycling will also win cycling "packs" to distribute to their staff and also gain excellent positive publicity.

Please check out the website to see what is happening.

Darlington Cycle Challenge website

My workplace took part in this last year with a lot of staff getting involved, including getting a mention in a retirement speech as something that had got a colleague into cycling as something she'll continue in retirement.

The Ecotopia Bike Tour Starts Here!

2010-06-21T19:01:00.003+01:00

Darlington Cycling Campaign, in cooperation with Darlington Friends of the Earth, is hosting the start of the Ecotopia Bike Tour of Europe! Come and join us!

Where: Clow Beck Eco Centre, near Croft
Time & Date: Saturday, 8pm - 10pm June 26th 2010
What to Bring: Food, drink, bike

The Ecotopia Bike Tour 2010 will ride through the UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. Their 1700km itinerary is focused around climate justice issues, and will take more than two months: from 26 June until 31 August 2010. The journey starts with us here in Darlington.

Tour members arrive throughout the afternoon at Darlington Bank Top station with their bicycles, and will be heading for the Clow Beck Eco Centre for an evening social and overnight camping. We require a few Campaign members to accompany the group from the town centre to Clow Beck. An initial group will be arriving mid-afternoon, and will join us in Stanhope Park for the Community Carnival. A second group will arrive at Bank Top station at 18.34. We plan to accompany the cyclists to Clow Beck at 18:45, starting in the Market Place outside the Dolphin Centre.

As hosts, Darlington Cycling Campaign will be screening the film Beauty and the Bike. We would also hope to provide our guests with food and drinks, but this depends on our members stepping forward to help out with a contribution. If you can help with food, drinks, or cycling out to Clow Beck, please email us, or ring Richard on 07967 972092. But most important of all, please come along to the social!

If you are coming to Clow Beck, it is situated about 1 mile west of Croft Village. Take the A167 (carefully - renowned for blind motorists) to Croft on Tees, cross the bridge over the river, and follow the main road through the village. Just outside the south end of Croft, turn right and follow the signs to Clow Beck Eco Centre. See the map of the Clow Beck area below.

Bringing the Arms race to Darlington

2010-05-30T20:05:00.005+01:00

As one local cyclist yesterday commented on Twitter, apparently it is OK to incite violence towards cyclists. From the letters page of the Northern Echo:

READERS afflicted by pavement cyclists may be interested in a device my brothers and I made a few years ago for a TV programme. It consisted of a steel plate studded with spikes and hinged at one end which could be attached to a walking stick and folded up. On the approach of an errant cyclist on the footpath, a flick of a finger could deploy this mini stinger into the cyclist’s path. The resultant punctures to a bike tyre immediately transformed the rider to a pedestrian.

P W Anderson, Consett , County Durham

This declaration of cold war by the Echo has just been warmed up somewhat by a snappy response by blogger Karl McCracken:

The thing is, I’ve been thinking for some time that I need a sting in my own tail . Just as PW Anderson feels the need for a first-strike weapon against bicycles, I feel I need one against certain drivers. In this crazy arms race, I’ve realised that I need something to really discourage those drivers who think they can pass as close as they like - so long as they don’t actually hit you , there’s no harm done. Here’s what I’ve come up with:

Could this be what is termed the "Green Economy" in action, the "jobs answer" to the proposed slashing of North East jobs by our new government? Whatever, we look forward to the Northern Echo's next joyful celebration of cyclist bashing.

PS Memo to Peter Barron : Many new cyclists use pavements, particularly alongside busy roads, when there is no cycle path. Discuss.

Cycling in the rain of the Netherlands

2010-05-26T09:19:00.004+01:00

This last week, cycling to work has been an absolute pleasure. The weather has been perfect for cycling on a morning (cool but dry and sunny); in fact, since the snow cleared, we've had pretty much perfect cycling weather in Darlington for the last three or four months.

But I still see the same few cyclists on the roads and bike paths. maybe three or four other riders on a good day, on my 2.5 mile to work that goes through the town centre.

Meanwhile, on a rainy day in Utrecht in the Netherlands...

(Mark Wagenbuur's excellent video found via David Hembrow's excellent blog: A view from the cycle path - Utrecht in the rain

The cycling potential of UK towns

2010-05-14T13:29:00.005+01:00

A new tool to help identify where the best places are to invest in cycling has been launched by consultant Steer Davies Gleave.

The cycling potential index aims to provide an objective measurement of cycling potential by scoring three attributes of an area: its hilliness, socio-demographics, and length of journey to work trips.

The index can provide results at different levels of spatial detail, such as an entire urban area or a neighbourhood. You can download the paper for more information on how the index was calculated, along with the full rankings of the 47 towns and cities that were surveyed.

Child Traffic Safety - Compare and Contrast

2010-04-24T20:04:00.003+01:00

Netherlands-based Mark Wagenbuur has just uploaded another fascinating video on his youtube channel, this time about child traffic training in the Netherlands. Little needs to be said, except that Mark states towards the end that there were 15 child traffic deaths last year in the Netherlands. This compares with 124 in the UK in 2008. The UK population is 61.4m, the Netherlands 16.5m. Do your maths. Then have a look a look at this video and think for a second about how it differs from the UK.

The vast amount of energy, money and peoples' focus on self-defence measures for cyclists in the UK appears to be diverting us from the real problems.

Simple Logic for Cycle Infrastructure

2010-04-19T08:59:00.015+01:00

Netherlands-based Mark Wagenbuur has recently uploaded several new videos, one of which shows those situations in the Netherlands where you have cycle paths vs. those where you do not:

The logic is simple and obvious - the greater the amount and speed of motorised traffic, the greater the need for safe and high-quality cycling infrastructure. David Hembrow explores this logic further with a recent post on his blog.

But behind this policy lies a wider approach to urban planning. Residential streets are designed for residential use, and road planning ensures that rat-running, the scourge of many of Darlington's streets, is simply not possible.

A few examples of this have appeared in Darlington, notably on the Haughton cycle route on Brunswick Street. But this is the exception rather than the rule for residential streets. Developing a cycling culture in Britain requires town planners and politicians to consider urban development more holistically. Cycling cannot simply be bolted on to an existing plan. Rather it needs to be an integral, and contributory factor, in a wider vision for residential streets, urban mobility, and the place of motorised traffic in our living spaces.

The opportunity is now there for Darlington, and other UK towns, to adopt just this approach, with Local Transport Plan 3, which will frame future transport thinking until 2025, now under consideration. But rather than being scared off by the excellent standards of infrastructure apparent in David and Mark's videos, local authorities in the UK would do well to look again at the example of Bremen in our own film, Beauty and the Bike. In Bremen, levels of cycling are high (25%) despite very patchy standards of infrastructure. Here, cycle paths were first installed in the 1970's, at a time when traffic levels - and infrastructure build standards - were generally much lower than today.

But behind the development of cycling infrastructure even then was a policy of urban planning that recognised where and how motorised traffic should be organised. The infrastructure pictured here also includes a ramp across every side street that slows down turning traffic, and gives priority to cyclists on the cycle path. Moreover, these side streets all have 20mph speed limits, are typically one way for motorised traffic but two way for cyclists, and lead to nowhere for through traffic.

The double concerns of everyday cyclists in the UK - poor infrastructure and motorist behaviour - mirror perfectly the wider perspective that has lain behind core urban transport policy in this country. Thankfully, a debate is now opening up that questions this. As this post is being written, Lynn Sloman is speaking in Darlington on the findings of a report commissioned by the Department for Transport to independently quantify the results obtained by the three Sustainable Travel Demonstration Towns; Darlington, Peterborough and Worcester. Her excellent book Car Sick offers a way forward for de-motorising our urban centres. Cycling Campaign members are there to meet her.

LTP3s around the country really have to decide - is cycling going to continue as a bolt on to car-centric urban transport policy? Or is it time for the UK to begin the long process of de-motorising our towns?

Beauty and the Bike-What Happened Next?

2010-03-31T12:21:00.006+01:00

The excitement of the film premiere is over. Back we go to "normal" life in Darlington. We've managed to keep the beautiful dutch bikes - in fact we're going to buy 40 more this year and expand the bike hire scheme. But how many girls will keep on cycling? We know that cycling is still "uncool" for many UK teenagers - perhaps because it feels so unsafe on our meagre infrastructure? Here, one of the girls from Beauty and the Bike, Lauren Pyrah, comes behind the camera to ask what is happening to the Darlington girls now. Kate, one of the original group, is joined by Francesca to shout the praises of everyday cycling. But Ashley has stopped. Why? And will politicians listen?

Beauty and The Bike film in Velosophie magazine

2010-03-30T20:57:00.003+01:00

Beauty and the Bike makes an appearance in German magazine Velosophie, page 22.

I don't read German, but Beatrix does:

Note: On page 13 John F. Kennedy praises the bicycle!!!
And on page 27 they advertise a pedelec with a trailer (young mum and toddler)

I am quite impressed by the variety, Chic and Charme of Velosophie.

The next article will be in „Radwelt“ the magazine of the ADFC (the CTC of Germany) in April
And after that a review of the film in „Radtouren Magazin“ in May

Dear driver of baby poo brown Renault Scenic

2010-03-25T09:26:00.005Z

Please don't overtake me over the top of the railway bridge on Haughton Road. It's not wide enough.

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Hint: that's why I was riding in the middle of the lane.

Lucky you got in to the left before going head on into that car coming the other way, eh?

So, please don't do it again, thanks.

Blocked bike path on Borough Road

2010-03-24T11:20:00.002Z

Another regular annoyance on my ride to work, is the red Astra that parks over the bike path exit on Borough Road.

This short length of bike path allows cyclists to legally bypass the No Entry on the northern end on Borough Road, and forms part of one of the main radial routes into town, as well as being on the Sustrans NCN14 route.

When heading into town, cyclists using the bike path alongside Haughton Road have to cross the entrance to Bannatyne's gym and then use the filter to get onto Borough Road. As shown in the Google Streetview below*.

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This isn't the easiest manoeuvre and is made harder by the fact there are also often pedestrians crossing in the same place, so cyclists have to watch where they're going while looking behind themselves back up Haughton Road for gym members turning left, forwards on Haughton Road for people turning right and into the gym car park for people heading for Haughton Road. Add in people sometimes driving out of Borough Road, or the access the the Bannatyne's HQ, which is also behind you, but on the left and behind a wall and you've got a situation that's not made easier by the parked car!

I've reported the car to the police via email, with the above photo (but with visible car reg plate) attached, so look forward to their response.

(*Incidentally, if you have a look up the bike path on the Streetview photo, you'll see that there's a family on the bike path. Doing the illegal, but safest, thing of using the pedestrian side of the segregated path to avoid them at the point they were photographed would have you heading for a bin.)

2010 AGM

2010-03-22T20:58:00.000Z

Darlington Cycling Campaign is holding their Annual General Meeting at 7pm on Monday 29 March at the Media Workshop (behind Darlington Arts Centre). Whether you ride a bike or simply have an interest in cycling as a means of everyday transport and sheer good fun, then Darlington Cycling Campaign would like to meet you.

As well as electing members to the committee, the meeting will set out its aims for the coming year and give some information on the exciting new project darLOVElo. This is your chance to help influence the way the needs of all types of cyclists will be met by Darlington Borough Council this year beyond. So, whatever your interest – more cycle parking, dealing with dangerous potholes or the provision of safe cycle lanes that actually take you to where you want to ride, then the Darlington Cycling Campaign is for you. Membership is currently free, but this may change, and the emphasis is on having fun for a good cause.

Darlington Cycling Campaign’s 2010 Annual General Meeting. 7pm on Monday 29 March at the Media Workshop (behind Darlington Arts Centre). Cycle parking is available at the Arts Centre.

Traffic Pinch Points - A Hazard To Cyclists

2010-03-16T21:20:00.003Z

Karl McCracken, our guest speaker for Friday night has a post on his blog about pinch points and the hazard they present to cyclists.

This struck home to me, because there are three pedestrian refuges that I pass in quick succession on my way home from work each day which have caused me more than a few worrying moments recently. Actually, it's not the pinch points that cause the problem, it's the average motorist's inability to judge speed and distance that causes the problem, and this inability is highlighted at these pinch points.

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The first isn't too bad, but there are often parked cars around making the approach trickier. This is also the point where cars "released" from the throughabout back down the road catch up with me, meaning a nice succession of cars to pass me.

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The second is a bit trickier, as it's on an odd bend just after the top of a slight rise in the road and before a descent. It is not wide enough for a car to get through at the same time as me yet I often have cars desperately trying to get by me here. I often ride down the following hill swearing and gesturing to the car (now) in front of me.

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Then, still swearing, I meet pinch point number three where another car races past.

There's another one just after this, but I turn off here (squeezing past the car-for-sale parked half blocking the pavement, but that's a separate rant).

I'm going to be taking Karl's advice for dealing with these from now on:

I’m trying a modified technique:
I. Will. Own. That. Road. (Girlfriend).
Never mind this looking over the shoulder and pulling across if it’s safe - my moves will be accompanied by the full arm-out hand signal, and I will be riding through these kill zones at about 50-60% of the distance from the road’s edge. I will be doing this on every single one, and only IF when I get into one, I find that it’s ridiculously wide, will I then pull across to let cars pass safely.
It’s time to reclaim the streets

Karl McCracken Guest Speaker

2010-03-07T11:03:00.003Z

Leading cycling campaigner, Karl McCracken is the guest speaker at Darlington Cycling Campaign’s forthcoming open lecture event.

The second event of the new DCC season is on Friday 19th March when we welcome Karl McKraken. He has titled his illustrated talk "What's needed to make riding a bike part of the transport rather than the sports & leisure agenda"

This will certainly chime with any cyclist who views their bicycle as a legitimate means of everyday transport and yet wonders to themselves…’Surely, things could be better than this?’?

Karl’s talk will be very much an open forum, with everyone encouraged to ask questions and voice opinions. For more information on the McCracken view of everyday cycling, please visit his website at www.mccracken.me.uk

The talk is being held at Darlington Arts Centre on Friday 19th March, starting from 7.30pm in the Media Workshop, Entry is free and open to all.

Bike Film - Now for the Politics

2010-02-02T19:45:00.006Z

After cinema screenings here in Darlington and in Bremen, Germany, Beauty and the Bike was released on DVD along with the accompanying book in December 2009. The short online film has attracted over 35,000 views in less than three months. Enquiries have been coming in from all over the world. Now cycling advocates are starting to use the film as a starting point for debate about the state of cycling in their own towns and cities.

For example, this local councillor in Vancouver, Canada, has posted the online short on his blog, and there will be a public screening in the city soon.

Screenings in New Zealand, USA, France, Spain and Germany, as well as in various UK cities, are all now taking place or being planned. In most cases, women are taking the initiative and organising these events.

The political challenge implied by the film revolves around how to make cycling more attractive than driving in towns and cities. Here in Darlington, we have ideal conditions to do so. The town is just the right size, and with relatively easy topography, for cycling. If you strip away all the urban planning junk - extra right-turn lanes for little side streets, railings to herd pedestrians like sheep, silly short stretches of parking - that car-centric planners have thrown up these last 30 years, the main arterial roads are generously wide. There would be no problem designing safe, pleasant cycle paths along these key routes.

Then there is the safety issue, one that is known to deter a majority of women from cycling. A useful review of a number of studies that examined the relationship between cyclist safety and infrastructure concluded, not suprisingly, that good quality infrastructure that gave space for cyclists, resulted in far fewer accidents. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand this. Prevent the chance of accidents in the first place by giving cyclists safe space, rather than making such a big issue of cyclist self-protection having just decided to throw him/her into dodgy situations.

Many (mostly male) cyclists go on about "dangers" being exaggerated. Very true. Once you are confident on a bicycle, there's plenty of "dangers" that can be handled. But this "machoer than thou" approach misses the point. The question needs to be asked, what would most ordinary people prefer? Cycling amongst fast, speeding traffic, or cycling on a separated cycle lane? On such preferences, people choose to cycle (in Copenhagen, Bremen or Amsterdam) or not (in most towns and cities in the UK, including Darlington).

Our good friend David Hembrow, who appears in Beauty and the Bike, has been showing the world what good cycling infrastructure can be like, with excellent posts about his home town of Assen in the Netherlands. He describes this safety issue as "subjective" safety in the following terms:

Subjective safety - Are you near fast moving traffic ? Is it easy to make a turn across traffic ? Do you have to cycle "fast" in order to keep up ?

And you can improve subjective safety by improving the conditions for cyclists. And in response to the macho school he says:

Don't make the mistake of thinking that subjective safety is a concern only for inexperienced cyclists. No-one suffers from cycling being pleasant.

Interestingly another regular blogger near London, who says he was previously in favour of road-sharing with cars, has now come out in favour of separate cycle lanes. Not least after studying the example of David Hembrow.

Then there is the relative convenience of driving or cycling. In most cycling-friendly towns and cities, a conscious decision is taken to make much of the urban environment people, rather than car, centric. The design of streets tends to relate to the needs of the communities living on them, on the assumption that these streets are shared space, and not private car parks. Town and city centres are typically car free, and around such centres, one-way systems are organised in such a way that driving across town is difficult and complicated. Only delivery services make regular use of such streets. Cyclists are generally not bound by such one-way traffic rules.

Consequently, car drivers learn that these spaces are predominantly for pedestrians, children and cyclists, and unlike the average Darlo motorist tanking down Skinnergate at 5.30pm after the bollards come down on the Pedestrian Heart, they get into the habit of driving with care.

British motorists' driving habits were one of the shocks for the visiting Bremen girls in Beauty and the Bike. But when you look at the amount of road space car drivers have in this town, it's almost as if the authorities are begging us to zip through the town. Why this hypocrisy about road safety? Surely if we want drivers to slow down, we should be designing our roads in a way that encourages slow speeds?

Which brings us to the virtuous circle of the busy urban street - take space away from cars to slow them down, and give it to separated cycle paths. The carrot of quality cycling infrastructure. The stick of less space for cars. Where the fuel escalator failed - it changed nothing but the money in peoples' pockets - this approach to tackling congestion is working elsewhere. Berlin is the most obvious example. Here, the financial crisis has forced the city council to adopt cycling as the answer to congestion, rather than building new, expensive roads.

Are we beginning to see a coalescing of views around building cycling infrastructure where it is needed most - alongside busy urban roads - rather than where it is easy, and doesn't disturb the car driver? With a Darlington-made film at the centre of such debates around the world, Darlington Borough Council is currently consulting on a Local Transport Plan for the next 15 years. Would this not be an opportune time for such a debate to take place in Darlington itself?

Carlton Reid Talk in Darlington

2010-01-11T12:02:00.004Z

Carlton Reid, that’s Mr. Cycling to you and I, is the Darlington Cycling Campaign’s first guest speaker of the 2010 season. Carlton possess an unrivalled knowledge of all things cycling and certainly has a thorough understanding of the issues and concerns as well as solutions for the likes of you and I, that is, the every day cyclist, be that for leisure and pleasure or simply getting from one place to another.

The evening promises to be insightful, amusing and fun. Entry is free, alas the beer is not…you could of course bring your own!

Check out Carlton on the following websites…enjoy.

www.bikebiz.com
www.bikeforall.net
http://quickrelease.tv/

Where Darlington Media Workshop (The Arts Centre)
When Friday, 15 January 2010
Time 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Beauty and the Bike Premiere

2009-11-22T19:24:00.010Z

The UK premiere of this 18 months-in-the-making documentary finally hit the big screen on Wednesday December 9th at 7pm in Darlington Arts Centre. The event was a sell-out, with a second screening needed to accommodate everyone that wanted to attend. It was a fantastic evening, with acclaim for the work coming from both cycling advocates and film-makers. This, and the world-wide interest being created by the 8 minute short drawn from the full documentary, suggests the film is set to make a significant impact on cycling policy.

"Why do British girls stop cycling? By simply asking this basic question, the film reveals the damage that has been done by 50 years of car-centric transport policies. Whilst we fill our lives with debates about risk assessment, cycle helmets, cycle training and marketing strategies to try to persuade people to cycle more, the basic barriers to cycling remain untouched - generous urban planning towards the car, and the resultant poor motorist behaviour towards cyclists. Is it any wonder that most people find cycling unattractive in the UK, but attractive in cycling-friendly towns and cities? It's the infrastructure, stupid!"

Darlington Cycling Campaign has been closely involved in the Beauty and the Bike project, which has already resulted in a successful bid to Bike Hub for funding to expand the Bike Pool established by the film project.

The film is being released on DVD, together with an accompanying book. Details are available on the Beauty and the Bike website.

Riding through Darlington town centre this morning, I saw...

2009-10-15T09:18:00.006+01:00

... a council van and trailer, parked in the contraflow bike lane on Northgate while power washing the pedestrian 'tunnel' to Union Street;

... a motorbike and a scooter parked in the bike racks outside Barratt's shoe shop, which must have both illegally ridden down Northgate to get there;

... a Citroen Piccasso waiting to get into the gated alleyway by Evans, which must have illegally driven down Northgate to get there;

... a Veolia bin wagon driving through the No Entry signs on Bondgate and then the wrong way down the one way street.

Update: and yesterday, Ralph's daughter saw his stolen bike

20mph limits cut speed, crashes and casualties in Portsmouth

2009-10-12T15:31:00.002+01:00

The first city in the UK to introduce 20mph limits on almost all residential streets has seen very encouraging results published in an interim report (Surveyor 1/10/09).

In March 2008, Portsmouth completed a nine-month programme to implement signed-only 20mph speed limits on 410 of its 438km road network.

A report commissioned by the DfT has revealed that on roads where the average speed before the scheme was above 24mph, a reduction of seven mph has been achieved. This change was described in the Atkins report as ‘statistically significant’.

The report also found collisions dropped by 13% and the number of casualties by 15%.

Duncan Price, branch head of road safety at the DfT, said there was ‘general support’ for a ‘substantial expansion of 20mph areas’.

Simon Moon, Portsmouth’s head of transport and street managements, said: “This interim report is limited in what it can say about the 20mph scheme – we’ll have to wait until it has been running for three years before we get the full picture.

“But there are some encouraging signs, especially on roads where speeds were significantly higher than 20mph when we imposed the new limit.”

Darlington Cycling Campaign has been calling for a similar scheme to be introduced in the town at our AGM in February 2007.

Who, where and what is the real danger for pedestrians in Darlo?

2009-09-07T10:36:00.004+01:00

If you would like to get a flavour of our town's view about tolerance towards young people, and the strange sense of perspective that underpins "risk assessment" thinking around cycling in Darlington, read the report of "The Economy and Environment Scrutiny Committee“ on the 10th of September 2009 about cycling in the town centre, monitoring accidents and incidents and behaviour involving cyclists during the summer of 2009:

„There have been six incidents involving pedestrians either on the ring road or in the town centre.” Now you are waiting for a report about rowdies on bikes injuring innocent pedestrians:

„One incident was with a HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle), two with a car and three with buses. Two of the casualties were classed as serious.”

So we know now that there were at least two serious accidents in the summer 2009 involving motorised traffic injuring pedestrians. But then the report continues with its real subject, i.e. reported incidents with bicycles:

„During the period 1^st June to 31^st July there were two emails recorded regarding people on bikes in the town centre. One comment gave information about a report from a member of the public regarding youths sitting on bikes blocking the pavement on Tubwell Row near the Nags Head pub. The second email was regarding young people doing ‘wheelies’ on High Row. A phone call was also recorded regarding an incident that had occurred in Northgate Subway when a cyclist, carrying a stick, almost hit someone. Nobody was hurt in the incident and the caller did not leave contact details or a time and date for the incident.”

So there we have it. A few lads sitting on a wide pavement with their bikes requires the attentions of a council committee. Six accidents with cars and HGVs, two classed as serious? Well, that's the natural way of things, is it not? Clearly, however, wasting council time is not enough. More must be done to stamp out this appalling behaviour (by youths on bikes, not accident-causing motorists).

Luckily there is a Code of Conduct for Cyclists in Darlington printed on glossy paper: "The Neighbourhood Policing Team“, says the committee's report, „have taken a supply of the Code of Coduct leaflet to give out in schools. The leaflet will be used as part of a schools education programme to teach children about responsible cycling.”

Perhaps most pupils would rather see a Code of Conduct for Darlingtonian Car Drivers that reminds them of their responsibility (and the Highway Code) and is handed out to any driver parking around the town centre with the parking ticket.

Cycling Campaign Wins Bike Hub Funding

2009-07-27T14:18:00.001+01:00

Darlington Cycling Campaign has been awarded one of just three New Ideas Fund to build on the work of the Beauty and the Bike project. The Campaign's submission is for a bike pool of the kind of dutch-style bikes that are proving so popular amongst young women who want to cycle. With funding for between 60 and 100 bikes, and support staff to promote the bike pool in workplaces, colleges and schools, the aim is to kick-start a cycling culture in the town that is more attractive to women in particular.

The documentary Beauty and the Bike, which will be premiered in Darlington Arts Centre on Wednesday 9th December, found that peer group culture is an important barrier to young women cycling. But where small groups got together to start using stylish bikes, the barriers began to crumble.

The Campaign also hopes that a growing culture of gentle cycling in the town will lead to better quality infrastructure. As one of the Beauty and the Bike girls said, "We're getting the lovely bikes, we've got the lovely girls to ride them. Now we are looking forward to the lovely cycle paths".

Beauty and the Bike - Our Changing Face

2009-07-20T18:31:00.005+01:00

Darlington Cycling Campaign organised a farewell party on Thursday for the many participants of the Beauty and the Bike project. It marked the end of one year of filming the remarkable story of these young women by Darlington Media Group, who hosted the event. Girls from cycling-friendly Bremen in Germany had just spent a week in Darlington exploring what it is like to cycle in a typical British town.

Editing now begins in earnest, whilst photographer Phil Dixon will be continuing to document the Darlington girls for a few more weeks. He and German portrait photographer Sabine Bungert are working towards a book about the project, which will also feature an essay by cycling activist and Cycling Campaign member Beatrix Wupperman.

The project began a year ago with just one regular cyclist amongst these teenagers. Now there are 13 bikes out on long-term loan, and a waiting list of 7 more. Plans are now afoot to formally constitute the scheme.

The film, which will be premiered in December, explores why so many British teenage girls give up cycling - and what needs to be done to reverse the trend. Perhaps these photographs are a clue. They are all regular cyclists, and most are now members of our Campaign.

Another incident at the Dolphin Centre bike racks

2009-07-07T09:22:00.003+01:00

After at least two, but possibly more, bikes were stolen from the racks outside the Dolphin Centre recently, the racks have been modified to make them more secure. However, there now looks to be a new method being used:

Left it outside the dolphin centre at 8 this evening, locked on rack. Went out to ride it home at 9 and some helpful person had attached a massive padlock to one of the spokes so that I couldn't ride it home. Managed to wheel it into the dolphin centre where the duty manager attempted to remove the padlock. Unfortunately he was unable to so the bike is spending the night at the doli pending use of some serious bolt cutting equipment in the morning.

This sounds similar to a strategy I've heard is used by thieves in several places. They will use their own lock to lock a bike to a rack, sometimes with "their own" bike also attached. When the owner comes back, they assume that someone has accidentally locked their bike up, and will get home by some other means, thinking they will be able to retrieve the bike the following day. The thief them comes back in the night, and cuts the owner's lock while nobody is around.

If this happens to your bike, make sure you report it, and do as much as you can to keep your bike safe and secure. In this instance, as there was just a padlock attached to a wheel, the bike could be moved to safety.

We will be pushing for extra CCTV coverage on these racks.

Darlington: stolen bike (updated)

2009-06-25T10:00:00.005+01:00

A silver Carrera Vulcan (black wheels, skinny Conti sports contact tyres, Flite TT saddle & big red flat pedals, LX cranks, XT mech, Avid Vs) was nicked from outside the Dolphin centre yesterday evening - all locked up through both wheels & the frame.

(Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike_mc/3651479680/)

Update: As a result of this theft, we noticed that it was possible to pull the vertical posts apart and so remove a horizontal bar and unthread any locks on that bar. The council have repaired the racks, and have welded the bars in place.

Extra: A teenager is appealing for help to find his bike, which was nicked from outside Darlington College a few weeks ago.

The Guardian launches new bike blog and podcast

2009-06-17T16:39:00.002+01:00

The Guardian's award-winning portfolio of podcasts will soon be welcoming a new addition to its ranks. The Bike Podcast will be the first UK-based podcast to cater for everyday cyclists, and the first edition will be available on the brand new Bike Blog on guardian.co.uk on Wednesday 24 June.

Released monthly, the podcast will feature reviews of new bikes, essential biking accessories, discussion of issues important to cyclists, interviews with celebrity cyclists and reports on cycle holidays and expeditions. The first edition of the podcast includes an interview with Triple Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy.

Matt Wells, head of audio for the Guardian, who will also be one of the voices of the Bike Podcast, said: "Like all businesses, the Guardian office is full of staff – including me - who ride their bikes to work, go on cycling holidays or just enjoy cycling in their spare time. Although there are a number of fantastic podcasts out there which do a great job catering for professional and competitive cyclists with high-end knowledge, we began to realise there was nothing aimed at general cyclists.

"Unlike other Guardian podcasts, there will be no single presenter and no studio-based links. Everything will be recorded out and about as we’re testing new bikes, speaking to cyclists and generally having a good time on our bikes, which is what it's all about.

"We are also delighted to have partnered up with Evans Cycles for the first show, so anyone interested in getting a 10% in-store discount should listen to the first edition to find out how."

The podcast is being launched 'in tandem' with the Guardian's new Bike Blog, which has gone live this week to coincide with Bike Week - the biggest nationwide cycling event in the UK. Guardian reporter Peter Walker, who is editing the new blog, said: "The new Bike Blog is part of the Guardian’s popular Ethical Living blog, and is for every cyclist – commuters, beginners, families – not just the Lycra brigade. As well as the new podcast, the blog will include a wide range of cycling features, analysis of cycling initiatives and – as with all of our blogs – loads of input and participation from our readers."

Northern Echo: Transport seminar to discover project results

2009-06-03T09:23:00.001+01:00

TRANSPORT, health and environmental professionals will hear how residents' travel habits have changed across Darlington during the past five years on Wednesday. A seminar has been organised to hear how the Local Motion project has changed how people travel across the town.

-Read the full story at The Northern Echo: Transport seminar to discover project results

Great north bike Ride 2009

2009-06-02T15:54:00.002+01:00

GREAT NORTH BIKE RIDE 2009

Seahouses to Tynemouth Northumberland
54 miles of beautiful Northumberland coastline.
Sunday 30th August 2009 (bank holiday weekend)

Last year 1800 cyclists took part, the oldest was 76 years young. We raised £100.000 towards childhood cancer research. www.chrislucastrust.com

Transport to and from start can now be arranged if booked early.

Only £10 to register free refreshments Nike t-shirt and well earned medal.
You can register on-line......

www.greatnorthbikeride.com or www.chrislucastrust.com

Tel 0191 2632884

This event started with only 6 cyclists last year 1800 took part comming from all over UK to Northumberland to take part.

Would it be possible to give your support to this event or our charity in any way maybe put the word around enter a team?

Every penny raised goes to childhood cancer research. Our son was named by Evening Chronicle A TRUE LOCAL HERO.

We have raised over £500,000 by events. No funding from lottery, etc.

Beauty and the Bike film wins poster competition at national conference

2009-06-02T11:07:00.008+01:00

On Saturday, myself and Richard represented the campaign at the CTC/Cyclenation/GMCC spring conference: "Cycling as a solution".

Between the morning's speakers (Koy Thomson of London Cycling Campaign, Roger Geffen of CTC) and discussions on Health (Joe Mellor, NHS), Wealth (Bruce Macdonald, SQW Consulting/Cycle England), Environment (Richard George, Campaign for Better Transport), Community (Juliet Jardine, CTC) and Style (Amy Fleuriot, Cyclodelic) and the afternoon's workshops, there was a poster competition.

We entered four posters for the campaign-supported Beauty and The Bike film and won first prize as the poster with the most votes from delegates!

Special praise should go to Darlington photographer Phil Dixon, who is doing the stills work for the project. His photographs, and those of German portrait photographer Sabine Bungert, will feature in a book and exhibition of the same name.

Campaign Rapid Response for Bike Beauties

2009-05-31T19:27:00.008+01:00

Nicole watching on as Andy and Marie crack on with the repair.

The Campaign was called out today on its first urgent repair job for the Beauty and the Bike project. The Cycling Campaign has been commissioned to provide a repair and maintenance service for the wonderful dutch bikes for the duration of the project. The bikes are being hired by the young women from Velodarlo, a self-managed bicycle sharing scheme that makes attractive dutch bikes available to the people of Darlington for a small charge.

Until now, we've been dealing with minor issues such as cabling, basket installs and re-tightening nuts and bolts after bike transit. But today Nicole called with a rear tyre puncture, after a thorn got into the inner tube. The Excelsior bike, like most in the Velodarlo fleet, has 28" wheels. A call to Halfords revealed that these are regarded as "rare these days" in this country. Funny how a town can be so behind the times that "modern" here is already becoming "out of date" elsewhere, but that's so-called entrepreneurial capitalism for you.

So a 27" inner it had to be. Step forward the heroes of the hour, Campaign members Andy and Marie. They were over to Nicole's house within the hour complete with tool kit, and had the tube replaced after another 30 minutes. After the job, they both said that the task with a dutch bike is totally different to the usual UK mountain bike, with chain guards and hub gears to grapple with. And with the size and type of spares also differing, the chances are that one of the local bike shops would have had problems. But they reckon that with a few more tube changes, the Campaign should have the collective knowledge to manage future issues without a problem.

Nicole is now back on two wheels again, and will be seen on the roads of the town tomorrow morning on her way to her Maths GCSE.

Good Luck Nicole!

Reducing car use by promoting cycling - how is Darlington doing?

2009-05-10T07:46:00.008+01:00

In his excellent blog, David Hembrow posts to a story about how many of the ten most likely measures to decrease short car journeys made in towns involve promoting cycling. (I'm reproducing the list below, but you should click through to his blog, as he provides links to real life examples of each measure.)

Here's the list, with bike-promoting measures highlighted:

* priority for cyclists at traffic lights
* make a town impossible to traverse by car (segmentation)
* providing good and safe bicycle routes
* improve accessibility of schools for cyclists in comparison to motorists
* decrease number of parking places
* parking at a fee/higher parking fees
* maintenance of bicycle parking facilities
* free/high-quality bicycle parking
* delivery services
* promote independent cycling by children

As you can see, six of the ten measures involve promoting cycling.

Now for a fun game. How many of these measures have been implemented in Darlington?

Priority for cyclists at traffic lights? No. There still isn't a single Advanced Stop Line in the whole town. At some tucan crossings in town which are not signalised (i.e. not synchronised with other lights to promote traffic flow) there are very long waits when there's no reason they couldn't change straight away.

Make a town impossible to traverse by car (segmentation)? No. Though it is impossible to traverse by bike, if you still to "safe" routes.

Providing good and safe bicycle routes? There are now some safe cycle routes (such as the ETC, the Riverside Route, the black path) but they often require indirect routes, have missing sections, require dangerous road crossings, are ungritted in winter or have long sections which would feel unsafe in the dark.

Improve accessibility of schools for cyclists in comparison to motorists? Increasing the numbers of children travelling to schools by bike has been one of the major successes in Darlington. However, this has been through soft measures like bike training, reward schemes and easy infrastructure like covered bike parking. I don't know of any schools where measures have been put in place to actually make it easier to get to a school by bike than by car.

Decrease number of parking places? Not in public car parks, though I think new building schemes have had the parking spaces limited. There are several resident only parking schemes around the town centre periphery.

Parking at a fee/higher parking fees? The hourly parking charge has recently increased in council car parks, though parking is free after 9pm, all day parking is still very cheap and the 3 for 2 offer is, I think, still running.

Maintenance of bicycle parking facilities? What bike parking facilities? There are some sheffield stands scattered about, but parking when quickly calling in to the town centre or visiting a school or other building is still very poor.

Free/high-quality bicycle parking? See above. Also, where is the secure parking for commuters to the town centre?

Delivery services? Pretty much all the supermarkets offer deliveries for internet shopping, and some offer the chance to have shopping bought in store delivered. Is there scope for an enterprising person to offer a drop-off point in the town centre for people to leave their shopping and then deliver it later in the day?

Promote independent cycling by children? There has been a lot of promotion of cycling to school, but is there any to encourage children to cycle to their friends' houses, to after school clubs or the cinema? If they did, would there be secure parking available or safe, legal routes?

Have I missed any brilliant schemes? Car use in Darlington has supposedly fallen, but how much of that is down to the recession or limited to the school run? How much more could it be reduced with the above methods?

Bike and Trains Study Tour, Netherlands

2009-05-07T10:00:00.003+01:00

>
The All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group visited the Netherlands in April 2009 with officials from British cycling organisations. This excellent video by Newcastle-based Carlton Reid of QuickreleaseTV documents the group's findings.

Carlton Reid will be a guest speaker of Darlington Cycling Campaign this coming autumn.

The Forgotten Art of Political Rebellion

2009-04-25T12:03:00.005+01:00

Darlington's Beauty and the Bike project includes a youth exchange with the German state of Bremen.

On Monday one of the project's researchers will be meeting Dr. Reinhard Loske, Bremen's Senator for the Environment, Europe and Transport, to discuss his work on improving Bremen's already good cycling infrastructure.

He also appears in the following video, advocating speed limits for Germany's motorway network. In fact, he is imposing these speed limits on all the motorways in Bremen State anyway.

In Germany, motorways without speed limits is gospel. Like America's freedom to bear weapons, the vast majority of Germans see fast driving on motorways as sacrosanct. Dr. Loske is not exactly the establishment's favourite politician, limiting their god-given freedom to burn fuel. But he understands when it's necessary to confront national orthodoxy - to rebel. Even when this means taking on the most powerful political lobby in Germany, the car industry.

Our own "national orthodoxy", as far as transport is concerned, also revolves around the car. To deny our citizens their god-given right to drive the kids 500 yards to school, to the shops, or to the local office, is not only too much for our politicians, but "corridors of certainty" are required to make the trip faster, easier, and more direct.

Heaven forbid the idea that we might disrupt this sacred tarmac by taking a square inch of road space away from the car to construct safe cycle paths. The only space available for such fanciful stuff round here seems to be pavements. If there is a definition of the political rebel that we need here in Darlington, it is the politician brave enough to state the obvious - road space, especially on our main roads, needs to be taken from cars.

The local authority have successfully encouraged many Darlingtonians to switch from car to bicycle. But a cursory count on the streets of the town will tell you that, unlike we seasoned cyclists, these beginners are very often seen on our pavements. The main roads are clearly regarded as just too dangerous.

Our "national orthodoxy" reaction to this, of course, is to curse and scream at those wicked cyclists - and we all know how easily this attitude spreads to include all cyclists. But the brave politician, the politician willing to reflect and understand, must rebel against this orthodoxy, defend cyclists, and state the obvious conclusion. These new cyclists need proper infrastructure.

So until the day we hear this on our own transport agenda, lets celebrate the art of political rebellion, German style.

...and by the way, we hope to invite Dr. Loske to Darlington in the future.

20MPH in Darlington Getting Closer

2009-04-21T14:29:00.003+01:00

Darlington Cycling Campaign's policy of a 20mph speed limit for the town is a step closer to becoming reality.

Proposals to bring down speed limits in areas of Britain where there is a higher risk of accidents have been announced by the government.

Reductions from 30mph to 20mph in urban locations and 60mph to 50mph in the countryside are being considered.

Road safety minister Jim Fitzpatrick said the way people learn to drive and are tested is also set for reform.

The plans are part of a new strategy to reduce road deaths in England, Scotland and Wales by one-third by 2020.

Places such as Newcastle, Portsmouth, Oxford and Leicester already use 20mph speed limits in residential areas, and other local councils will be given new guidance to cut speed limits in residential areas and outside schools.

Darlington Borough Council have been introducing 20mph zones in selected residential areas, but have been hampered by a "can't do" mentality amongst local professionals, who for example cite the need for regular signage and speed bumps as a barrier to the wider use of 20mph.

Create more bike-friendly streets by empowering councils

2009-04-17T16:22:00.005+01:00

Councils should be given greater powers to create designated streets that favour cyclists over cars, a national inquiry has concluded.

'Active communities: cycling to a better quality of life' is the report of an inquiry held by the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) and Cycling England.

This report has found that transport regulations should be reviewed to give councils greater control over cycling routes to get more people out of their cars and onto their bikes.

Councils would be able to design the street to favour cyclists while also making it accessible for cars and pedestrians.

For every car driver converted to a bike, the UK economy saves around £400 a year through reduced medical bills, congestion and pollution, according to research conducted by Cycling England.

The inquiry report - downloadable as a PDF here - also calls for every public building to be an exemplar to encourage cycling, for example by implementing storage facilities and bike loan schemes.

LGiU Centre for Local Sustainability policy analyst Gemma Roberts said: "Councils should be given greater control over cycling routes to ensure more roads are made cycle friendly. We need to make it easier and safer for people to cycle.

"Local authorities need to take the lead and make cycling a priority in their communities," she said.

"But the efforts to promote cycling do not stop with the council. We also need the professional and political backing to invest more heavily in cycling so we can really tackle some of the wider issues communities face, such as obesity, climate change and congestion."

Darlington Girls visit Bremen

2009-04-08T21:08:00.003+01:00

Seven girls from the Beauty and the Bike project are this week visiting Bremen to experience cycling in a cycle-friendly environment. The project has been running in Darlington for almost a year. It is documenting, via video and photography, the reasons why teenage girls typically stop cycling in the UK, but continue in cycling-friendly countries.

The girls are documenting their trip on video on a daily basis. You can catch their vblogs at the Beauty and the Bike site, www.bikebeauty.org, or on the project's youtube channel. Or watch one of the videos right here.

Do It By Cycle

2009-03-25T16:34:00.002Z

Do It By Cycle has been designed to help people in the Tees Valley area get back into the saddle again. In it, you'll find a host of top tips, local cycle routes, cycling events, information on cycle training, videos describing everything from what clothing to wear; to how to tackle roundabouts, and a forum to share your thoughts about cycling and maybe find some cycling buddies.

Crossing of the ETC cycle path over Arnold Road

2009-03-18T09:29:00.004Z

At the Council Cycle Forum, we were asked for ideas for making the crossing of the ETC cycle path over Arnold Road cycle path safer, as riders on the ETC were able to carry a lot of speed down the slope.

We pointed out that it was a bad idea to take cyclists down a hill and then back up again, and we should have been taken onto the bridge, so it's a problem that should never have happened. Nobody suggested anything (other than a monster under the bridge), so were were told to think about it for next time.

This morning on my way to work, I noticed some spray paint marks on the cycle path, which look like the markings for where to place some barriers. We hope that this isn't the case, as it would effectively make the route unusable for anyone with an unusual bike, a trailer, panniers and possibly even people with kids on the back. If barriers are needed, ones with no gate and a large enough gap to allow unusual bikes and trailers through would be preferable and would still slow bikes down adequately to avoid a collision.

Update: Have heard back from Council. Barriers should be 3 metres apart, which sounds ok. I agree that something is probably needed to slow down cyclists, but worry that they will attract 'yoofs' and associated broken glass.

Update: Had a look on my way home from work and got some funny looks pacing out the gap between the paint marks. They're ten of my shoes apart, which is about 3 metres (I have big feet). Even after pacing them out, they look closer than that, which is why I was concerned this morning. I could get my relatively long bike between them fine, and think a trailer would get through too.

Darlington Cycling Campaign on Facebook

2009-03-15T12:01:00.001Z

We now have a presence on Facebook: Bike Darlington Facebook group. If you're on Facebook, why not join in?

CO2 Reduction More feasible With More Cycling Infrastructure

2009-02-21T10:09:00.003Z

According to research bureau CE it is much more effective to reduce CO2 by improving bicycle infrastructure than by investing in a better flow of motor vehicles. It is however unknown how much CO2 benefit bicycle measures would provide. Therefore effects should be better monitored.

The CE-study 'Minder emissies door investeren in infrastructuur' has investigated several options to reduce CO2 emissions. These are measures to improve traffic circulation, change the modal shift and reduce energy use of vehicles. According to CE improving bicycle infrastructure provides the highest return of all 'mobility measures' studied.

Investments in (car) infrastructure primarily aimed at improving traffic flow prove to be ineffective in fighting climate change. Improved traffic flow does cause lower emissions per vehicle kilometre but in the long term also an increase in overall traffic, states CE.

A better bicycle infrastructure may contribute to a substantial CO2 reduction according to CE. CE works out that if, for example, bicycle policy in a town results in 2,500 people driving 5 kilometres less a day that would save 1 kilotonne of CO2. The maximum potential for the Netherlands might possibly be in the range of 100 to 250 kilotonnes a year. Improving bicycle infrastructure has many positive side effects on air quality, noise pollution and public health, besides climate effects. Various measures are feasible to improve bicycle friendliness by adapting infrastructure, like:
- construction and/or improvement of bicycle parking facilities;
- construction of bike paths or e.g. bicycle routes through residential neighbourhoods or town centres, preferably separate from car traffic;
- construction of bicycle tunnels;
- adjusting traffic lights and adapting priority arrangements at intersections and roundabouts. It is however hard to quantify the potential of these measures as there are insufficient evaluations which quantify the effects of improved bicycle facilities on the decrease in car use, CE states. Better monitoring of the effects on investments in bicycle infrastructure is therefore recommended.

A wealth of information about Dutch cycling initiatives and research available here, the website of Dutch cycling consultancy company Fietsberaad.

Velodarlo: Dutch bike loan in Darlington

2009-02-13T14:45:00.003Z

A FASHION show on bikes will launch a cycle sharing scheme tomorrow.

Velodarlo will make stylish Dutch city bikes available for use by Darlington residents for a small weekly charge as part of Darlington Media Group's Beauty and the Bike project.

The project involves a film crew and photographer following a group of young women as they cycle around Darlington, showing that cycling can by stylish and has raised grants needed to fund Velodarlo.

To launch the bike hire scheme, members of the Beauty and the Bike project will be on their bikes modeling clothes from the Leggs, in Skinnergate, in the town centre at noon tomorrow.

If you are interested in joining Velodarlo call Darlington Media Workshop on 01325-488139 or e-mail velodarlo@mediaworkshop.org.uk.

- The Northern Echo: Beauties show model behaviour on bikes

The event will be held in Pease Place (below the statue) at 12noon.

Had a Boardman hybrid nicked in or near Darlington?

2009-02-10T11:31:00.000Z

The stolen bike is described as an 18 speed Chris Boardman hybrid with a 49cm frame. Its frame number is SA61190771.

- The Northern Echo: Police seek owner of stolen bike

Statistics v Anecdotal Evidence – An Explanation

2009-02-10T09:55:00.003Z

Why have there been so many reported “near misses” between cyclists and pedestrians in the pedestrian heart? When the Cycling Campaign’s own documented video evidence has found these incidents to be extremely rare?

Perhaps my experience on the way to the railway station this morning is one explanation. As usual I cycled into the town centre from Woodland Road and, on reaching the top of Priestgate, slowed down to walking pace (Bondgate was still relatively empty) to prepare to push my bike down the narrow pavement on the one-way part of that street. Nobody on the pavement, so a short one legged scooter to the first obstruction (a traffic sign) a few metres down and I stopped to get off. An elderly couple were slowly approaching from the other direction. I waited 15 seconds or so for them to approach, did my usual pleasant “good morning” (Code of Conduct rule 3?) to let them pass, and got an immediate earful of complaints.

“Why are you not on the road?” they complained to this stationery cyclist?

“Well, because it is a narrow, one-way street full of buses”, I replied. “Could you show me the cycle path, please?”

“You’re just totally selfish. You shouldn’t be on the pavement. You only think of yourselves”, and off they went, perhaps ready to announce another “near miss”. Certainly it was an unpleasant encounter.

But it also points to the problems inherent in definitions of “pavement cycling”. I scootered the first few metres (one leg on ground, the other on a pedal) simply to reach a point where I could fully dismount. If I had dismounted and pushed before these elderly people passed me, as opposed to stopped, I suspect the space was too narrow (two elderly people, a bike and a dismounted cyclist) for us all to comfortably pass. Better, I thought, to stop altogether behind the obstruction, take up less space, and allow them to pass. Was I breaking the law because I was not fully dismounted?

I have always felt that consideration for others should take precedence over strict legal concepts. Good cycling always involves judgement and interpretation on the road. With so little dedicated cycling space on Darlington’s streets, it is also needed on pavements. And the Home Office agrees.

Bonkers Bike Lanes in Gateshead

2009-02-09T12:57:00.003Z

A one metre wide bike lane on the pavement outside a college, when the road is traffic-calmed with a 20 MPH speed limit, seems a bit bonkers.

Karl has posted a video of an accident he almost had on the bike path, in the hopes that Nick Clennett, the Council’s Head of Transportation and Highways, will see what sort of problems the “safety” features he's allowed to be put in can cause, and will consider changing them.

Darlington Pedestrian Heart: Yes! You can ride your bike

2009-02-03T20:22:00.003Z

Just over four years since Darlington Council agreed in principle to allowing cycling in the then to-be-created pedestrianised town centre, more than two years after work began and after two separate six month trial periods, the Cabinet of Darlington Borough Council this evening grasped the nettle and made cycling in the pedestrianised area a permanent arrangement.

By all accounts, just eight months ago in the wake of a lot of vocal opposition (despite the majority of residents being in favour), it was a very close run thing getting the trial extended for another six months. A lot of work has been carried out in the last few months to try to secure access. The town centre is a vital link in the cross-town cycle routes and having it closed to cycling would have been a major blow to cycling in the town.

The Council's officers had produced a fantastic, comprehensive report setting out all the evidence in favour of allowing cycling permanently and, thankfully, the Cabinet made their decision based upon the evidence available to them.

Darlington Cycling Campaign are overjoyed at this result.

A View From The Cycle Path

2009-01-27T20:52:00.003Z

I've had a couple of stories from David Hembrow's excellent blog, A View From The Cycle Path, that I've been meaning to blog about but haven't found the time.

David is Brit abroad, living in Assen in Holland. He makes and sells custom bike baskets and leads study tours of bike infrastructure. His blog does an excellent job of summing up the facilities there and highlighting the differences between the UK and Holland. When I realised that I had his last four posts marked as unread in my feed reader, I thought I should get around to linking to them, even if I didn't have time to write a full post about each!

* Funding priorities
* Anatomy of a reliable, everyday bicycle
* Leaving a village
* Cyclists are ill less often - Dutch companies gain competitive advantage

While you're there, have a look at the rest of David's site for a flavour of how cycling in Darlington could be.

20mph Zones - Now Politically Attractive?

2008-12-10T09:03:00.006Z

Rewind back nearly two years to our call in February 2007 for Darlington to introduce a town wide 20mph zone. At the time we were told the whole idea was "impractical" by our Labour-controlled local authority.

Now Lib Dem run Newcastle upon Tyne are rolling out a programme of 20mph zones that will, over three years, result in a blanket 20mph speed limit for all non-trunk road streets. Given the experience in this Sustainable Travel and Cycling Demo Town of ours, you would imagine the Labour opposition in Newcastle would be crying "impractical"?

Far from it. The Lib Dem council has been criticised by Labour for being too slow off the mark. In fact, the Labour Group called for such a scheme in April 2006. Labour leader Coun Nick Forbes said:

This is exactly what we called for two years ago. The Lib Dems would have saved a lot of time and money by accepting our proposals at the time. I’m delighted they’ve finally seen sense.

Answers on a postcard, please, as to why Sustainable Travel Town status gives us more backward policies than towns and cities without.

An upside-down approach?

2008-12-03T09:31:00.003Z

So, after my last post where we see it done right in Holland, here's a link to a post on Copenhagenize about Australian plans for cycle paths.

At first glance, the proposed design looks good. The kerb is moved slightly into the road and the widened path is to be shared use by cyclists and pedestrians. In fact, it's almost the approach being used in Darlington, except some space is actually being taken from the road, rather than just doing it where paths are already wide enough.

However, as the post explains, this approach has a host of problems, so why not simply do it properly in the first place and have an on-road segregated cycle lane?

A Dutch Shopping Trip by bike

2008-12-03T09:10:00.002Z

Imagine riding your bike 2km to a supermarket. Imagine being able to ride your bike right up to the doors, in through the doors and to park it inside. Imagine doing your shopping while enjoying a free cup of coffee. Then, imagine riding home again.

Now, imagine doing this on cycle infrastructure so good that you can hold a digital camera in one hand in front of you while doing it. 2km, on a loaded bike one-handed.

Impossible? In Darlington: yes. In Assen, where bike paths are gritted, well surfaced, get right of way when crossing roads, bypass traffic lights and traffic lights, and are of a decent width: no.

David Hembrow explains how it is possible on his excellent blog, A View From the Cycle Path and you can watch it for yourself in the video below.

Cycling Campaign Xmas Cards

2008-11-27T09:11:00.003Z

Could this be Darlington Cycling Campaign going all commercial? Well at just 50p a shot, they're not exactly going to make us financial crisis millionaires. But we thought, why not send something different this year?

These cards are printed on high quality gloss paper, folded to A5 size, and come complete with white matching envelope. If you'd like to order some, please email us now with phone contact details and how many you'd like, and we'll arrange to cycle round and drop them off. Limited numbers available, so hurry, hurry, as they say. Long distance orders may require a postage charge!!!

Three bikes stolen last night

2008-11-24T12:46:00.003Z

3 Bikes taken last night Sun 23 Nov Darlington:

Santa Cruz Heckler MTB - Black, Black Pikes suspension forks, XT gears, Hope M4 disk brakes, Race face & Thompson kit

Santa Cruz Chameleon MTB - Orange, white Revs suspension forks, XT gears, Hope mini brakes and Easton kit

Cannondale F600 MTB - Silver, Fox Talas suspension forks, XT gears, Hope Mini disk brakes, Easton kit and electrical tape

(posted on the STW forum)

If you see anything or anyone suspicious, either email us or contact Kevney using the email address on the STW forum.

Cycling in the Pedestrian Heart - Talking Together Event on Thursday 6th November 4.30pm

2008-11-04T12:04:00.011Z

Should these cyclists be banned?

Following nearly 18 months of probation, the council is planning to make a decision about whether to allow cycling in the pedestrian heart to become a permanent feature of the town, or ban cyclists in some way from our town centre. This is a crucial issue for the future of cycling in the town. The Pedestrian Heart is the only safe way across the town centre for cyclists.

Government guidelines state clearly:
'For any new pedestrianisation scheme, there should be a presumption that cycling will be allowed unless an assessment of the overall risks dictates otherwise. In conducting this assessment, the risk to cyclists using alternative on-road routes should be taken into account’.

The Campaign conducted a CCTV study of cyclists in the Pedestrian Heart last year, monitoring Bondgate for three days. We spent some 60 hours analyzing the footage, noting any indication of pedestrian unease, annoyance or change in direction/behaviour due to a cyclist. We found five examples where a pedestrian slightly changed their behaviour – slowed down or changed direction. We found no examples of a risky “close shave” or similar incident.

You can view and download a PDF version of the CCTV study here.

We have concluded that cyclists pose no significant risk to other users in the Pedestrian Heart. Moreover, when the second part of the government recommendations is considered - the risk to cyclists using alternative on-road routes – it is clear that such a conflation of “risk” is made to look ridiculous. Shortly before the Pedestrian Heart opened to cyclists, in March 2007 a cyclist was badly injured on the inner-ring road, breaking a collar bone and missing work for three weeks.

Darlington Cycling Campaign recognizes that, for a minority of users of the Pedestrian Heart, there is a subjective perception of risk from cyclists. As so few people in our culture cycle, it is hardly surprising that they do not understand the attentiveness normally associated with everyday cycling. We have therefore called on the council, police, disability groups and other community groups to engage with us in launching a Code of Conduct for cycling in the Pedestrian Heart. Together, we can ensure that EVERYONE is safe in our town centre. Divided, a climate of fear and mutual suspicion will grow and poison community relations.

If you can make the Talking Together event, please come along and say hello to us on the Cycling Campaign stall. It takes place in the Central Hall of the Dolphin Centre, starting at 4.30pm. The debate starts at 5.30pm.

If you are unable to attend the event, you can make your views known
via the Council message board at
http://www.websitetoolbox.com/mb/darlingtonbc?forum=128606, or by
contacting your Councillor (find out who they are at
http://www.darlington.gov.uk/Democracy/Wards/All+wards.htm).

Helmet hair and perspiration prevent women getting in the saddle

2008-10-21T15:30:00.002+01:00

New research commissioned by Cycling England has revealed that two thirds (64%) of women say they never cycle and just 2% cycle every day.

Men are still three times more likely to cycle than women. Today’s poll suggests that the perceived effect of cycling on appearance, together with a lack of confidence in cycling on the road, is behind this gender imbalance.

Women are three times more likely to cycle indoors on an exercise bike (14%) than to work (4%). When it comes to cycling to work, it seems that fear of being anything less than well groomed in front of colleagues is an off-putting factor. Among 18-34 year old women:

* 58% wouldn’t want to arrive at work sweaty
* 50% would be worried about getting wet in the rain
* 38% wouldn’t want to have to carry a change of clothes
* 38% say there is nowhere to shower at work
* 27% would be concerned about ‘helmet hair’
* 19% wouldn’t want colleagues to see them without make-up or stepping out of the office shower.

What the research fails to consider, however, is just how ethno-centric such perceptions are. When attitudes are compared to those amongst women in cycling-friendly cultures, concerns about helmets, showers and sweating miraculously disappear - because they are simply not needed.

The study contrasts with a film and photography project currently underway in Darlington and in Bremen, Germany, which explores the attitude of teenage girls to cycling in both communities. Cycling is highly popular - and seen as fashionable - in cycle-friendly Bremen. Most girls in Darlington lose interest in cycling by the time they are 15 years old.

Attitudes and infrastructure appear to be strongly connected - good, safe cycling infrastructure that offers car-free routes most of the time means that cyclists can travel at their own pace, and not have to battle with motorised traffic. Attitudes to cycling change as a result. When teenagers in Bremen were asked how they deal with rain, they replied "we use an umbrella, of course".

Sustrans NCN14 Ride - Sunday 19th October

2008-10-14T20:19:00.003+01:00

We have recieved an email from Neil from Sustrans about a ride this Sunday. I'll hopefully be going along and it would be great if more Cycle Campaign members could join in.

I am planning a trail blazing ride to celebrate a new bridge opening and to highlight the next phase of completion of NCN14. For those who are not aware NCN14 is a route that starts from Darlington town centre and travels along the route of the first ever passenger railway before heading towards Stockton town centre. The route is a mixture of on and off road (off road until you get near the airport and off road again when you get into Stockton).

The ride is approximately 12 miles long and will start in Darlington town centre (outside the Dolphin Centre) at 10:00am on Sunday 19th October.

We will have a photographer and lots of flags with a few stops along the way. The pace will be gentle and relaxed. If anyone would like to join us please feel free to turn up on the day.

If you want any further information please email me - neilDOTmitchellATsustransDOTorgDOTuk (swap the DOTs and AT for dots and an at)

More evidence air pollution is bad for our health

2008-09-10T22:14:00.002+01:00

Air pollution from traffic hinders the heart's ability to conduct electrical signals, a study has suggested.

- BBC News: Pollution 'hinders heart pacing'

Judy O'Sullivan of the British Heart Foundation said: "It has been established for some time that exposure to high levels of air pollution can exacerbate symptoms in people with heart and circulatory disease.

"Our advice to heart patients is to avoid prolonged exposure to high levels of air pollution."

I'm not really sure where they expect you to go however...

[via Car Free Tokyo]

Pedestrian Heart: Post King's Head fire

2008-08-28T14:59:00.002+01:00

At the moment, part of the town centre Pedestrian Heart is sealed in behind fencing, after the King's Head fire. You may need to change your route through the centre as a result of this.

I've tried drawing this out, but it's an old aerial photo.

I often used to ride up Priestgate, then turn right to get to Bondgate. This is currently blocked, so I either carry my bike up the steps onto High Row, or turn left and use the ramp to get to High Row.

It is possible to get between Northgate and Bondgate, but the gap between the fence and the building is fairly narrow - the width of the 'pavement' style section. It might be worth pushing the bike through here, unless it's very quiet.

Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor open

2008-08-25T22:32:00.003+01:00

According to the Northern Echo, the Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor is due to open tomorrow.

We will be very interested to hear from any members who use the route over the next few days. Please either leave a comment here or email on darlocycling@googlemail.com, with your opinions and experiences. Please tell us whether you used the on- or off-road options and where you were going from or to. For example, tomorrow I will be riding on the road from Haughton Road to Haughton Road, heading into town on my way to work and from off-road from Haughton Road to the ETC on my way home.

Five new 20mph areas

2008-08-21T18:37:00.002+01:00

Five areas of Darlington are to benefit from new speed restrictions in a bid to improve road safety.

From September, a 20mph limit will come into force in Bank Top, Lascelles Park, Red Hall, the Corporation Road area of the Denes and Oakwood Drive estate.

- The Northern Echo: Residents help shape new reduced speed limits

It must only be a matter of time before we see a blanket urban 20mph speed limit.

Obligatory Olympics post: The Active Spectator strategy

2008-08-20T21:02:00.003+01:00

The London Cycling Campaign has set out some recommendations for the 2012 London Olympic Games:

The Active Spectator strategy

Promoting cycling and walking is a cost effective way to enable many spectators to reach Olympic venues without contributing to pollution or congestion. Walking and cycling are also highly accessible to all Londoners as well as visitors from abroad.
Cycle parking
Ubiquitous secure covered cycle parking needs to be provided at all Olympic venues and local stations.
Cycle promotion
Use of pedal cycles should be integral to all aspects of activities relating to the Olympics, including service vehicles and deliveries, as well as journeys within Olympic sites by athletes and officials.
Access for cycle users and pedestrians
Olympic facilities should be as accessible as possible to cyclists and pedestrians, within the constraints of security.
Cycle hire
Flexible cycle hire facilities at convenient London locations need to be provided for those who wish to rent bikes.
Cycle routes
An active spectator games will need dedicated routes from Central London (highest hotel capacity, and hence many visitors) to the main Olympic zones.
Integrated transport
Multi-modal journeys which include cycling will be a key factor in delivering the Active Spectator Games.
Paralympics and Disabled Spectators
The Paralympics are an opportunity for the Olympic Family to act as role models for people with disabilities, and to demonstrate the ways in which modified and companion cycles can allow them to participate as active spectators.
The Olympic Legacy
Residential and commercial developments in the Stratford area should both include adequate cycle parking and, in the case of commercial and public buildings, changing and storage areas for cyclists.

[via Competitive Cycling on Velorution]

Dave Gorman's new car

2008-08-14T19:59:00.003+01:00

Comedian Dave Gorman has just got a new car which isn't a car, it's a trailer for his bike.

Pedestrian Heart: Duke Street bollard broken (Update: No, it's not)

2008-08-05T09:29:00.004+01:00

Cllr Mike Barker has blogged a couple of times about the broken bollard on Duke Street meaning that cars are ignoring the signs indicating that the street is closed to motorised traffic (Oi! Where's our bollard?, Protests Grow and Still no bollard).

I posted a comment on one of his posts that I thought I'd reproduce here:

Policing of traffic offences in the Pedestrian Heart is terrible (and it's pretty bad in the rest of the town).

For years, cars have been turning left into Duke Street from the car park behind Barclays Bank, in order to get into Skinnergate.

Since the PH work went ahead, vehicles repeatedly park on the double yellow lines in the contraflow bike lane in Northgate, which is supposedly only open to buses and bikes. Some delivery vehicles try to get around the double yellow lines by parking on the footpath side of the markings. The Boots delivery wagon parks right across the opening, so cyclists have to cross over onto the pavement to get past - an ambulance trying to access the PH in an emergency wouldn't be able to get in.

Delivery vehicles also regularly park on the double yellows on the bus loop below the steps up to High Row and cars are often parked in the little bypasses that cyclists are supposed to use to avoid riding between the No Entry signs on Bondgate.

But, mention riding a bike through there and the cries of anguish and potential deaths begin...

So, take care on Duke Street as there may well be cars about.

Update: It's back. I'd like to take credit, but I suspect it was fixed before I blogged that it was broken. As mike says in his post, you'll still need to be careful in Skinnergate, because of the cars illegally turning left out of the car park.

Bike parking in multi-storey car parks

2008-08-04T14:02:00.003+01:00

No, there's none in this Cycling Demonstration Town, but I spotted some in a page about some nifty signage in the Eureka Tower Carpark in Melbourne (firt of the 'down' photos). Brilliant signage, too.

Hopefully, our forward-thinking council will insist on some being made available in any future car parks built in Darlington (as proposed for Feethams and the Oval).

Today Programme on Cycling - A Tory Travel Mode?

2008-07-22T13:45:00.003+01:00

This morning's cycling item on Radio Four's Today programme raised the idea that cycling is a natural Tory past-time. No doubt prompted by the number of Tory MPs who now cycle to work at the House of Commons, correspondent Norman Smith asked Tory MPs what was so "right wing" about cycling.

This intriguing answer emerged from Ed Vasey MP:

The heritage of cycling (is) very much woven into the British character. It's also a right wing issue, because it's about the freedom of the individual. It's about taking one's own action against an over-bearing state.

Setting aside for a minute the vast numbers of Tory councillors we see regularly cycling through Darlington, does this imply that the next Tory government will be challenging the hegemony of the motor car, due to the latter's role as the bastion of our over-bearing state?

Or will this lead to cycle-friendly towns and cities becoming the new bastions of state control, with Tory MPs (and councillors) driving their cars as a statement of individual freedom?

Discuss...

Cyclist killed on A167

2008-06-21T05:28:00.002+01:00

Some very sad news. Our thoughts are with the cyclist's families.

A CYCLIST was killed and another seriously injured in a crash with a car today.

Two men were cycling along the A167 Croft Road outside Darlington at 10am when they were involved in a collision with a passing Citroen C4.

The Northern Echo: Cyclist killed in crash

Cycling round the world: Alastair Humphreys - 19th June, 7pm

2008-06-11T20:39:00.001+01:00

Alastair Humphreys
19th June, 7pm Crown Street Library

Round the World cyclist, author and adventurer Alastair Humphreys will be talking about his book 'Thunder and Sunshine' in Crown Street library at 7pm on 19th June.

'Thunder and Sunshine' is the second volume of Alastair's account of his cycle trip around the world. Copies of the book will be available on the night with all profits going to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

www.alastairhumphreys.com

There is no charge but places are limited so booking is essential - to book a place contact Greg McDougall on 01325 388721 / greg.mcdougall@darlington.gov.uk

60 years ago...

2008-06-08T05:48:00.003+01:00

The average U.S. citizen completely ignores the regularity with which the automobile kills him, maims him, embroils him with the law and provides mobile shelter for rakes intent on seducing his daughters. He takes it into his garage as fondly as an Arab leading a prize mare into his tent. He woos it with Simoniz, Prestone, Ethyl and rich lubricants -- and goes broke trading it in on something flashier an hour after he has made the last payment on the old one.

By last week, this peculiar state of mind had not only sucked thousands of American oil wells dry, stripped the rubber groves of Malaya, produced the world's most inhuman industry and its most recalcitrant labor union, but had filled U.S. streets with so many automobiles that it was almost impossible to drive one. In some big cities, vast traffic jams never really got untangled from dawn to midnight; the bray of horns, the stink of exhaust fumes, and the crunch of crumpling metal eddied up from them as insistently as the vaporous roar of Niagara.

"The Last Traffic Jam", Time Magazine, Monday, Dec. 15, 1947

[via Kottke.org]

Darlington Cycle Forum Bike Lane Tour

2008-06-03T20:51:00.003+01:00

Tonight's Cycle Forum meeting was a tour of the bike routes in the town, instead of just talking about them. Eight of us braved the rain, and got very lucky staying dry on the ten mile tour of the town.

Councillors' charity ride to Mulheim

2008-05-30T20:20:00.001+01:00

On 3rd June a group of cyclists which includes Councillors Barker, Nutt and Long, cycling group members and residents will be setting off on a bike ride from Darlington to Mulheim in Germany, one of Darlington's twin towns. On arrival participants will help Mulheim residents celebrate the 200th anniversary of their town charter.

The ride is trying to raise sponsorship which will assist with funding town twinning projects aimed at helping young people in priority areas of Darlington who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity of travelling abroad. In recent months a number of young people have struggled to travel with their football teams and schools and the town twinning fund aims to make it easier for young people to take part in such events.

If you would like to sponsor Councillor Barker, Councillor Nutt and Councillor Long please contact the Darlington Partnership on (01325) 346773.

Event: West Park 4X, Sunday 1st June

2008-05-30T20:16:00.002+01:00

For those who are interested or want to find out more about 4x there is an open day at the West Park 4X track in Darlinton this Sunday, 1st June. Helen Gaskell will be making an apperance, too. The event starts at 10am and finishes around 4pm.

Event: The Round 50, Sunday 1st June

2008-05-30T20:11:00.002+01:00

The first of this year's Tourist Trial rides is taking place on Sunday 1st June. The Round 50 is, as its name suggests, a 50 mile ride. Registration begins at 8:30 in the Dolphin Centre, with 9:30 being the latest you can start the ride. It's £2.50 for a standard entry on the day, or £6 if you want the T-shirt.

Details of other rides, including longer and shorter ones, are on the Council website.