Shopping Locally, Cycle Lanes and ..... Looking Stupid

“Cycled into town again today. Along advisory cycle lanes that that don't mean much to many motorists. Cycle lanes that appear and disappear for no apparent reason. In streets choked with motor traffic even outside rush hour. Overtook by drivers apparently desperate to overtake no matter what might be coming the other way or how little space there might be between us. Despite this almost all cycle parking spaces were full with bikes of all kinds. Parked outside shops who’s owners are at best lukewarm about bicycles, or oblivious to the evidence of the benefits of bicycle use for the local economy and physical environment. Did some shopping in some local shops, as people on bicycles have done since bicycles were invented , and for years before motor cars appeared on the roads to take local people to distant and out of town shops. And people on bicycles will still be doing when the price of petrol or traffic choked streets makes more people realise it's better (and usually quicker) by bicycle.”

I wrote this a little while ago. Since then I have cycled into town regularly and could have written this after each occasion. I exchanged a few emails with the organiser of a local campaign to encourage people to shop locally about the importance of people riding cycles to go shopping and the importance of these people to the local economy. I informed of the research that has shown their contribution to the local economy is greater than those who drive in by car, and urged them to consider this in their campaign. I have to say I was slightly disappointed with the response as the website noted my comments and the research, but then described the campaigner's own views about the “advantages” of the motor car and the “disadvantages” of the bicycle; not feeling safe riding in heavy traffic etc, and not wishing to look” stupid”. Mmmmm. Wonder what his cycle-riding customers would think about that. Leaving the comments about looking stupid. These are exactly the reasons to develop cycling infrastructure....

Oh, the campaigner did say that perhaps he wouldn't look so stupid if he rode a Pashley.....

After a series of emails with the county council about the state of the worn out paint on New Walkergate in Beverley, and the possibility of green shading being used to continue the cycles lanes through the zig zag areas either side of pelican crossings, where no other lane markings can be used, I have been informed that these will be re-painted and the green shading introduced. One small victory? I hope so.

Bikes, Trains, and Politicians

I talked in my last post about the difficulties, (or rather virtual impossibility) of transporting bicycles by train. Since then I have had a series of emails with Northern Rail, and  Sky, or rather British Cycling. The latter have made it clear that they are concerned with, and funded only, for the sporting side of cycling, but would like to see more cycles used for transportation. They pointed me in the direction of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) saying the more comments they get about cycles on trains the more likely things are to change. My email to them was specifically about difficulties getting to Sky Rides by train but this wasn’t commented upon. When I emailed back saying I had become an ambassador for The Cycling Embassy of Great Britain and how I wanted to see Dutch-style infrastructure, I got an email back thanking me for my interest in British Cycling. Sorry guys, I have very little interest in British Cycling until you take any active interest in cycling as transport.

Northern Rail didn't address my comment at all, even about the loss of revenue for them. They stated they give priority to foot passengers as they clearly see it as walking versus cycling passengers. i.e either / or. What a dreadful marketing ploy, trying to defend a crap service and missing out on so much extra revenue because they can't see beyond this.

There is now increasing recognition that the Government is isolated over its cycling policy and the vote in the House of Commons in favour of taking up the recommendations of the “Let's Get Britain Cycling” report” which the Government has not signed up to. The Labour Party Lab 8 point manifesto on cycling gives a commitment to the “long term funding of the infrastructure needed for dedicated separate safe cycling routes”, with monies from the roads budget being ring-fenced for this.

Now that would be a start. But don't get too excited yet....

Sky Rides and Sigh Rides

Due to a last minute change in circumstances, my wife and I were able to participate yesterday in our nearest Sky Ride (Hull). Both of us really enjoyed the experience which gave a taster of what everyday cycling could, should, and will be like when cyclists and the 1000s of potential would-be cyclists who are put off because of being forced to ride amongst busy motor traffic, persuade our politicians to develop Dutch-style infrastructure and facilities. Even the lycra-clad CTC (irony) and fast racing boys and girls, who appeared to be the majority at the event, appeared to enjoy the experience of riding  (a bit too quickly at times) through the segregated narrow streets of the Old Town. The Sky and British Cycling stalls were very much focussed on cycling as a sport and not as an everyday form of transport (never mind developing high quality infrastructure).

 

There were two downsides to the day.

 

Firstly, my wife is a new cyclist, not used to riding very far, and not very confident amongst traffic. We planned to make the ten mile or so journey to Hull by train. I had been told the day before by the helpful man in the ticket office at the station that space for bikes was at the discretion of the guard and it isn’t possible to pre-book bikes on the train. So, we turned up the station the next day, along with a number of other people also planning to Sky Ride, and were told by the guard there was space on the train for just one bike, and told we could have pre-booked, but the train is “only allowed to carry two bikes by law”. Sigh. This shows how integrated our "integrated transport sytem" really is.

 

Second, I cycled on the road again today, back among the heavy traffic and everything that goes along with that. What a contrast to yesterday. Sigh.

A Reversal on Advance Standing

Cycled into town again today. Along advisory cycle lanes that that don't mean much to many motorists. Cycle lanes that appear and disappear for no apparent reason. In streets choked with motor traffic even outside rush hour. Overtook by some drivers apparently desperate to overtake no matter what might be coming the other way or how little space there might be between us. Despite this almost all cycle parking spaces were full with bikes of all kinds. Parked outside shops who’s owners are at best lukewarm about bicycles, or oblivious to the evidence of the benefits of bicycle use for the local economy and physical environment. Did some shopping in some local shops, as people on bicycles have done since bicycles were invented , and for years before motor cars appeared on the roads to take local people to distant and out of town shops. As people on bicycles will still be doing when the price of petrol or traffic choked streets makes more people realize it's better (and usually quicker) by bicycle.

One disappointment is that the advance standing areas coming out of Saturday Market Place and at the traffic lights in Lairgate have been removed as part of the developments to Saturday Market Place. I understand from the council that the one in Lairgate will be replaced when the street is resurfaced in early 2014.

In the meantime, turning right from Lairgate into Hengate is now much more difficult and potentially more dangerous for people on bicycles. It certainly feels much less comfortable for cyclists in this area. Perhaps a young child or old person could accelerate up to 20 miles per hour and “take command of the lane” as per vehicular cycling. Or perhaps not. I certainly wouldn't advocate it.

Interestingly, I have written to my local councillors and more than one officer of the local council about this and other issues, inviting them to cycle around Beverley to experience what this is like, and  to talk to local cyclists, not just lycra-clad, sporting or touring types, but the everyday ones of both sexes and all ages in everyday clothes, going to work, doing their shopping, visiting friends and relatives. None of the councillors and council officers I invited have so far taken this up.

But then you probably knew that any way.

Beverley's Biggest Car park

If anyone thinks the closure of the Flemingate railway crossing will “cut Beverley in half”, I'm afraid they ain’t seen nothing yet.

Many people who walk along Flemingate, Eastgate, Lairgate and many other roads have thought Beverley has been cut into half and many other smaller pieces for a long time now, by the volume of traffic using our town centre streets.

With three and half thousand new houses being planned in and around the town, without radical plans to change motor vehicle access around the town centre, I'm afraid Flemingate, Eastgate, Champney Road, Lairgate and other town centre streets, will all become Beverley's biggest car park. Anyone who has had the pleasure of sitting in a traffic jam in Beverley has seen the future of our town unless we do something to change it.

We have a medieval street layout in the middle of Beverley. How long can that and 21^st century traffic continue to mix?

I haven't yet had chance to view  the council's Transport plan. I hope it includes development of high quality, Dutch-style cycling infrastructure with priority for access to the town centre given to pedestrians and cyclists to save us from a traffic congested future and improving the quality of life for residents and other users of the town centre.

 

Well I can hope.

Cobbles

One of the major attractions in Beverley is its Georgian market place. The main street running through the square is made of cobbles, or more accurately, stone setts. This has been the subject of much public debate recently as the local county council are going to replace this with tarmac or tiles, or whatever, to give the market place a “makeover” to give it a more modern character. The opponents of this (myself included) feel this will rob Beverley of both an old structure, which would have been listed if it had been a building, and also remove some of its character. “Modernising” the road will leave Beverley just like many other towns in the country, bland, and a counterfeit of so many others, with the same shops. Ironically some of the local shopkeepers, who are apparently in favour of the “modernisation” of the street as they seem to believe this “progress” will be good for trade. As Beverley's blandness increases and they're replaced with another chain store, I wonder if they'll be so keen then. Or perhaps they will. I like the setts, even as a cyclist, and I'm not going to repeat the old joke allegedly told recently by an English Transport Minister about two nuns on bicycles riding over cobbles (oh! I just have done).

Anyway, I went today with camera in hand to record the setts before they pass into history, and to take a few photos of local bicycles and bicyclists. The weathermen here having been promising us an Arctic blast that was going to come in December, but has maybe just arrived. Despite the deteriorating weather conditions, there was a surprising number of “sturdy steeds” around as people went shopping in local shops. Like the Dutch, they just “dressed for the weather", no lycra in sight. I saw quite a few roadsters as well as the ubiquitous mountain bike. Many of the latter were equipped ( I can't bring myself to say “accessorised”) with mudguards, baskets, rear racks and panniers showing their utility rather than sporting credentials. There aren't too many mountains for down hill racing in this part of Yorkshire anyway. Adding these, what are accessories for mountain and racing bikes must add quite a bit to the cost the owners paid for the bike in the first place. If I was a cynic I might say that this , together with the price of servicing and oft-needed spares, is why mountain and racing bikes are popular with the cycle trade. Ok, I am a cynic, so I will.

These “accessories”, which have always been essential components of English roadsters and Dutch-bikes, are added to “modern” bikes to make them more practical for everyday use. Also, roadsters and Dutch-bikes are often found by their owners to be much more comfortable due to their frame geometry and riding position. Having grew up on roadsters, I couldn't get on with mountain bikes and racers for riding any distance, or even short distances in traffic. I'm also one of the lucky number of cyclists who discover the comfort of a leather saddle at an early age, and bypassed the years some riders spend on a seemingly perpetual quest to find a comfortable seat. Plus one of the heavenly creations by Brooks might be more expensive to purchase initially, but owners change their bike several times and keep the same leather saddle that has moulded to their shape. Roadster saddles tend to be wider and better sprung than their plastic, razor-like equivalents as well, which suits me and many other roadster riders as well.