Blog Summaries weekend Jun 17 Written by: Tony Vickers 17/06/2007 12:54  Began Bike Week with a photo in front of Town Hall by Caroline, who 'challenged' us councillors. Just myself, Ian Grose and my wife Martha. All of us Spokes members, all Lib Dems, Northcroft Ward councillors. The other two are Newbury Town Councillors. Spokes colleagues shamed me by pointing out my bike chain was overdue some oil! We all live in the flat, central part of town, which makes it easy not to use a car. Our Ward had over a quarter of households without cars in 2001 (the last census), which is twice the number of car-less households than West Berkshire as a whole. Over a half its residents either walk or bike to work. I work from home and am only 5 minutes walk from the Council offices where I (sort of) work occasionally. I shop every day in the town centre and use the train quite a lot to get to London, where is occasionally lecture at universities. It didn't seem a great challenge to give up the car for a week, because I often don;t get in a car all week. First use of bike was, appropriately, to deliver 80 hand-addressed envelopes containing copies of the Newbury Walking and Newbury/Thatcham maps to the new households in West Fields estate. Last month's elections (when the Lib Dems won all seats in Northcroft again) saw a flurry of people registering to vote. If they are new to the area, I thought it would be useful to help them find their way round town without a car. All the best bits of Newbury are off-road! First problem with the Challenge came Saturday evening. We planned to all bike to a Lib Dem party (to thank our election helpers) the far side of Thatcham. But two of our helpers are very old, don't have a car and needed a lift. Not knowing who else was going to be able to offer a lift, we decided it was more important to give these two stalwart Party workers a lift than to bike. Just as well - it poured later on, as we started our drive home! Ian biked though!! Almost had a similar situation Sunday morning. We are regular church-goers and on a rota for giving a lift to a parishioner living on Crookham Common, 3 miles walk from church. Although not our turn to give him a lift, he rings half an hour before we're due to bike up to Wash Common to church, saying the rota has a problem - can we help. Luckily he rings again just as we're about set off in the car, to say someone has just turned up with their car and we're not needed. So we arrive at church a bit late - but by bike. Nice bike ride in the afternoon, to West Woodhay House for a garden show. Quiet lanes, not too hilly, good healthy exercise. We're not great leisure bike riders but this was a great way to enjoy a few hours in the countryside. Only problem: not much room to carry plants home - let alone the new garden furniture we ordered. Luckily there's no delivery charge. Trackback Print Location: Blogs Challenged District Councillor Tags: 0 comment(s) so far... Login to Add Your Comment

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