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CYCLETALK
The Newsletter of CTC ScotlandNumber 17: August 2001 Editor of this issue:
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Access & LiabilityThe Ramblers are backing up their response to the access consultation with a petition which they are calling a 'pledge of responsible access' - stating that although we would like more extensive access rights we would agree that this should be at our OWN RISK, i.e. without landowners incurring extra liability. The pledge is available on the ramblers website, and we would encourage you to sign up. |
CTC Council ElectionsAlthought it's less than a year since Pat Harrow was elected as Councillor to succeed Brian Curtis, it's election time again. One-third of the Council members were elected for only one year so that the normal rota of one-third being elected each year could kick in three years after the complete re-structuring. Nominations have to be in now (you will find the date in the magazine). If we have a contested election this time, please vote. Last November the Scottish poll was only about 10% of the members. |
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Birthday Tea at Forfar RallyBookings closed at the end of April but you are welcome to attend the Birthday Tea on Sunday 5th August 2001. Rides of 20, 40 and 60 mile leave Lochside Caravan Park, Forfar from 0915. Refreshments in Glamis Village. Eat picnic lunch in grounds of Glamis Castle. Return for tea at Lochside approx 4pm. Cost £2.50 if not booked for the Rally. Numbers please to Pat Harrow. |
Money for cyclingAll the councils in Scotland have ben allocated additional money in this financial year for walking, cycling and safer streets. This is for capital expenditures only. They have to act quickly to make sure the money is used. Please WRITE to your local council — ask them what plans they have for using this money, and if you have any useful suggestions, tell them what they are. You should write to the relevant department (probably Transport or Planning or Roads) and copy to your own Councillor and the Cycling Officer. |
Chester v ChesterfieldA recent DA News advertised the next CCN Conference on October 13th as being in Chester. We are reliably informed that it should be CHESTERFIELD. CCN — Cycle Campaign Network, brings together campaigners from all over the country to discuss issues, share problems, and sample local cycling facilities. |
European Car-Free DaySeptember 22nd. Another chance for cyclists to show how efficient their form of transport can be. (Edinburgh has decided not to keep this day as the shops in the Grassmarket were afraid of losing trade if cars were banned for the day!) |
Bigger and better — definitely! This third gathering in the West of all sorts of cyclists is moving on from trying to show that cycling is a possibility to getting more people involved in the fun of cycling. The much more professional look to the organization and presentation of the day this year was matched by the early feedback that everyone enjoyed themselves and had a good time.
New features this year started with guided rides into Kelvingrove Park from around Glasgow. As well as new 'Slow as you can go' and 'Folder bike' races there was a popular 'Turbo Trainer Time Trial' for speed and distance. An innovative 'Courier challenge' was run by the Glasgow professionals, simulating an hour in a bike courier's day.
There was a much bigger trade presence this time, including good food, as well as the usual CTC, GoBike!, Sustrans, Health Board, police and other stalls.
The spectacular criterium races had to be run earlier this year so that Kelvin Way could be reopened to allow the West End Festival carnival to close Byers Road for the afternoon. A small contingent of cyclists joined the fancy dress parade.
The full programme of guided, themed rides took cyclists around Glasgow and beyond, with record numbers doing the 5 mile challenge — including a unicycle — while MTB Orienteering and the kids' Challenge 2001 continued in the Park.
The problem for Cyclefest was that a list as long as your arm of other Festivals, nearby pop concert, charity mass bike ride and racing; let alone the Fest at the Meadows and Vets' Triennial meant that there were not enough of the target cyclists to take advantage of all the goodies.
Everyone concerned is already determined that Glasgow Cyclefest 2002 will be the real bumper event; in the inclusive, friendly spirit, which 2001 has now well established.
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Return made to Festival of Cycling :
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The day was officially opened by Minister, Sarah Boyack (who did not arrive on her bike — as she only lives across the road!). Despite dull weather reducing numbers, there was a steady flow of visitors, and an impressive procession, complete with cycling policemen, visited Princes Street.
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"I thought the obstacle course was a success. It was well used by all ages of kids and adults! There were a number of kids who had no bikes and were simply in the park anyway. They borrowed one of the spare bikes we had, and had fun. No accidents - although there were a few spectacular mishaps on the ramp and rumble strip.
"The course was well run by qualified leaders and fully covered by public liability insurance. We paid the Cycle Activity Leaders involved as it would have been hard to recruit enough volunteers otherwise. If we want this sort of obstacle course to be run in the same professional way in the future then it is going to cost some money!"
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The four foreground characters shown here at the Edinburgh Bike Breakfast are (L to R) Pat Harrow, Matthew Simpson (Edinburgh's cycling officer), Ron Harrow and Bristow Muldoon MSP (Chair of the Cross Party Group on Cycling). Bristow is signing the book in which the riders have recorded all the towns and cities they visited. In the background are the North Sea group which Pat was leading from Berwick to Aberdeen. |
Saturday 23rd June saw the second Aberdeen Cycle Fest in Duthie Park. Led cycle rides, challenges for the younger cyclist, displays in the park, face painting etc were the order of the day. The day started overcast and there were few members of the public in evidence, but as the day rolled on towards the arrival of the cyclists from both the North and South routes of the North Sea Cycle Route (NSCR), the sun came out and so did the public. There was a mass cycle parade planned as the finale to the NSCR, on which we hoped to get 80 - 100 riders. There was no way that could have envisaged getting 200 on the road, which was the estimated number. This even included one intrepid cyclist on a replica Penny Farthing. The police were fantastic and safely marshalled us to a civic reception at the other end of the impressive Union Street (1 mile long), where the Lord Provost welcomed those cyclists who had left Hamburg on May 5th.
I was so pleased to have taken part and enjoyed the company of Horst and Michael from Germany who were riding the whole of the southern leg from Hamburg, Irene and Eva from Gothenburg who had been dreaming of this for a year and who joined at Berwick and Simon from Switzerland who cycled with us in the Borders. We arrived at the Edinburgh BikeFest just before it finished and Dr Bike was visited by our long distance cyclists.
The heavy rain on the Tuesday had almost passed when we reached the Bike Breakfast in Edinburgh. We were delighted when cyclists joined us along the route especially the large number from Fife and Kinross DA who cycled with us for two days, CTC members who provided a picnic lunch in Dundee's Botanic Gardens, a piper to play for us at Discovery Point, and who put all of us up on the last night
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Our numbers swelled on the last day as a variety of cyclists joined the rather circuitous route to Aberdeen from Stonehaven. What a welcome sight as we rounded the lighthouse to see the Granite City in front of us, of course there was a rendering of "The Northern Lights"! Thanks to all members who made this a very special ride for our foreign visitors. |
Well, at least the final episode of the Prologue. At last, it has been agreed that a crossing will be provided in the form of a tunnel; so it's 'up and over the railway, and down and under the road'. The Scottish Executive has been persuaded of the value of this route, and will encourage East Lothian to promote it, both in its publicity and by signage.
If you have been dithering about this - it's now too late for the reduced price conference fee, bu there are still ways in which you can be involved, and might even manage to get in to some of the conference sessions. Ian Maxwell is still building a team of people to help in various ways — escorting the delegates on rides (Pedal for Scotland, the 'ride-through' from Edinburgh to Glasgow on the Wednesday, early evening rides to blow away the dust of conference discussion) as well as to help in the conference centres, offer accommodation to visitors (not all cyclists have unlimited expense accounts, some are struggling to afford even to get to Scotland!) and also to help with the events centred on George Square in Glasgow on the Wednesday.
Dates, in case you have forgotten, are 17-21 September. Contact Ian Maxwell if you can help (imaxwell@gn.apc.org or 0131 669 6542)
Copy for next issue to the Editor by 1st Sept
CycleTalk 17 compiled and edited by Mike Harrison
