Author: Secretary

Mind the Gaps

Posted on by Secretary

A4 Bath Road, Newbury

The Council has recently set up a working group to look at where and how facilities for cyclists can be improved, and we are delighted to report that Spokes has a seat at the table.  This is a fantastic opportunity for us to influence how and where the Council spends their future highways budgets and to make sure that cycling is properly represented in their programmes.

We need your help to identify the gaps in provision for cycling and what new or improved facilities you would like to see, such as:

  • cycle parking
  • cycle routes
  • junction treatments
  • priority over side roads
  • parking restrictions
  • traffic management schemes
  • speed limits
  • surfacing improvements
  • signing and lining enhancements
  • lighting upgrades

We would like to hear from people living and cycling in all parts of West Berkshire from Hungerford to Calcot, Streatley to Brimpton Common, and everywhere in between. The focus will mostly be on encouraging cycling for everyday transport (e.g. journeys to work, school or the shops). However, we are also keen to hear about your suggestions for new or improved facilities for leisure and sports cycling.

You can share your ideas by emailing highways@westberkshirespokes.org or by contacting us via the website.

Bike Week 2015

Posted on by Secretary

bikeweeklogo

Bike Week is an annual campaign designed to promote cycling, encouraging ‘everyday cycling for everyone’. Demonstrating the social, health and environmental benefits of cycling, the week aims to get people to give cycling a go all over the UK, whether this be for fun, as a means of getting around to work or school, the local shops or just to visit friends. The 2015 event will take place 13-21st June.

As the biggest nationwide cycling event in the UK, Bike Week encourages over half a million people to join in events, rethink their everyday journeys and choose cycling as the most convenient, healthy and fund way to get around. There are lots of  events planned for 2015.

This year’s Bike Week has a special focus on encouraging people to use their bikes to cycle to work. Why not use Bike Week to organise your own events? Organise a social ride with colleagues, scope out the easiest route to your place of work, find a cycle buddy, or take part in a workplace challenge.

Spokes are running two social bike rides during Bike Week, which are open to members and non-members alike:

We are also holding our AGM during Bike Week, so if you are a member or would like to join, then please come along.  We are really in need of people to help with all the cool projects that we have planned for the coming year.

Also, if you would like advice on any aspect of cycling from what kind of bike to buy to how to fix a puncture to choosing a route, or if you are interested in learning to ride or brushing up on your cycling skills with a bit of Bikeability training, then please contact us.

Spokes Needs Your Help

Posted on by Secretary

volunteer wordcloud

Spokes is inviting all of its members to come and join us for this year’s AGM, which will take place at 12:30 on Sunday 21 June, at the outdoor seating area at the rear of The Hatchet in Market Place, Newbury.

It’s been a fantastic year for Spokes, with notable successes including:

  • Monthly pub meets at venues across West Berkshire
  • A successful programme of social bike rides
  • Cytech home mechanic training for our Dr Bike volunteers
  • A well-attended bike maintenance workshop at Ace Space
  • Bikeability training for adults and children
  • Provision of loan bikes to local kids from low income families
  • A screening of ‘Bicycle: The Film’ at The Corn Exchange
  • Representation on the Cycle Forum and Cycle Working Group
  • Undertaking the annual cycle counts

We have a really good core of active members who are keen to get involved on a wide range of tasks. However, with additional projects on the horizon, such as the potential opening up of sections of the disused Newbury to Didcot railway line, we desperately need more people to step up and get involved.

Every year at the AGM, we invite our members to nominate themselves to get involved in the Spokes committee. If you can spare just a couple of hours a month, then we would love to hear from you – no experience necessary.

If you would like to find out more, then please email Graham Hunt at secretary@westberkshirespokes.org.

Hungerford Big Wheel 2015

Posted on by Secretary

The_Big_Wheel

The Hungerford Big Wheel has been a staple of the local charity ride calendar for a number of years. This year’s event will take place on Sunday 7th June.

There are three cycle routes: a 33 mile off-road for the more experience cyclists; a 26 mile family route; and a 12 mile route for those with younger children. The bike rides will start and finish at Hungerford Rugby Club at 10:30 am, with registration from 9:00 am onwards. The organisers would appreciate advance bookings where possible. Booking forms are available from www.hungerfordbigwheel.info.

There will be a BBQ available at the end of the ride. For those participating in the two longer routes, cake and refreshments will be available in Savernake Forest around the halfway mark.

The bike ride will once again support two charities, Noreen’s Kids and Swings & Smiles. An on-line donation page has been set up at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com.

Please note that cycle helmets be worn by all participants.

Gearing Up for the Election

Posted on by Secretary

General-Election-2015

Although West Berkshire Spokes is a politically neutral organisation, we thought that it would be interesting on the run up to Thursday’s election to have a look at what our local candidates and parties are promising with respect to cycling.

Our starting point was CTC’s ‘Vote Bike‘ website, which we used to ask each of our candidates to state how they would respond to the five core challenges of:

  • Ambition: Increasing levels of cycling to 10% of trips by 2025 and 25% by 2050.
  • Funding: Committing to an average government spend of at least £10 per person per year on cycling.
  • Design standards: Creating consistently high design standards for cycling in all highway and traffic schemes, new developments and planned road maintenance.
  • Safety: Measures to improve cycle safety by strengthening road traffic law and its enforcement and revising the Highway Code.
  • Positive promotion: Supporting positive promotion of cycling, including cycle skills training, for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

At the time of writing, only Jonny Roberts, the Labour Candidate had responded, so we moved on to search the websites for each of the candidates and their local parties for what they have to say about cycling.  Here’s what we found:

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Candidates may well have views on cycling that have not been captured here, so if you would like to find our more, then we suggest that you contact your candidates directly.

Addendum: Since posting, we have been contacted by Peter Norman who says:

“I have been a strong proponent on cycling for many years and would point to our Sandleford campaign where I have pushed not just for dedicated cycle routes (as opposed to shared routes such as a long Monks Lane) but that these routes should be protected routes that prevent cars from parking in them (such as happens at the bottom of Andover Road).  Without these measures the bulk of the population will steer clear of cycling as the mode of choice for getting to and from work.  But rest assured whether at local or parliamentary level I will push cycling to the fore.”