Bike Maintenance Workshop

Two people fixing bikes

Do you have a problem with squeaky brakes, slipping gears or noisy chains? Would you like to learn how to change a tyre or mend a puncture? Well get yourself down to our FREE bike maintenance workshop at Ace Space in Newbury on Saturday 4th October between 1pm and 4pm. Ace Space is located at the end of St Nicholas Road, off St Michael’s Road in the West Fields area of Newbury (the postcode is RG14 5PR).

Our friendly, trained mechanics will be on hand to advise and assist you and answer your questions. We will provide all the tools you need together with workstands and a stock of the basic parts that wear out regularly (e.g. brake pads, cables, inner tubes, patches, etc). If you need anything else, then Banjo’s is just rounds the corner and Spokes members get 10% discount on bike parts!

Where possible, we ask that you book a 30 minute slot so we don’t keep people waiting. For further information and to make a booking. contact Caroline on 07712 470405 or email training@westberkshirespokes.org.

Sharing Towpaths Consultation

Kennet and Avon TowpathCanal towpaths represent a historic and much valued resource. Although originally built for horses, they now have to meet the needs of a disparate group of users including walkers, cyclists, anglers, boat owners, and canoeists. This means that towpaths can become congested in popular locations, such as on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Newbury.

In March, the Canal and River Trust consulted on their ‘Sharing Towpaths’ project. This sets out the Trust’s proposed approach to towpath management and includes a set of principles and actions, together with a ‘Towpath Code’. The Code encourages considerate usage of towpaths by all users, giving pedestrians priority. Cyclists are encouraged to drop their pace, dismount where required and use common sense in busy or restricted areas.

A total of 2,148 people completed the online survey, supplemented by email responses and three workshops with stakeholders, local authorities, and other partners. The Trust has now published the consultation results on their website.

The survey results showed that leisure uses of towpaths predominate, including walking for leisure, cycling for leisure and boating. However, there is evidence that towpaths are also being used by people for everyday journeys (e.g. commuting).

A common theme throughout respondents’ feedback was the need for better control over ‘speeding’ cyclists. Whilst respondents saw the ‘Towpath Code’ as being a starting point to reduce this problem, further suggestions included:

  • Cycling permits (tried before and found to be unenforceable)
  • Apply a speed limit (again, unenforceable)
  • Erect barriers and chicanes to slow cyclists (this would impact upon other users)
  • The Trust should develop relationships with cycling clubs (great, but most cyclists are not members of clubs)
  • The Trust should appoint a cycling liaison officer
  • Widening the towpath to encourage greater use by cyclists (unfortunately this was the view of a small, but vociferous minority)

There were strong views in relation to towpaths forming part of sustainable transport routes. A majority believed that the principles should make it clear that whilst cycling is permitted, the towpath should not be classed as utilitarian cycling route. Conversely, a minority thought there should be a coordinated policy to establish towpaths as part of national traffic-free network for walkers and cyclists, especially around towns and cities, and that this should form part of the principles.

Less than 10% of respondents suggested that improved maintenance could encourage sharing. This figure is surprisingly low, since in many places grass has encroached to make the towpath a narrow strip (see photo above), while overhanging vegetation often makes it difficult for users to pass without one stopping and stepping aside.

Most of the comments on infrastructure related to stopping high-speed cyclists (e.g. speed bumps at bridges), but a minority were also to facilitate use by those who wanted to travel faster (e.g. widening to 4m).

We will wait to see how the results of the consultation influence the ‘Sharing Towpaths’ document. The current version is reasonably well balanced, recognising the needs of all users. It would be a shame if there was a hardening of attitudes towards cyclists, as towpaths are a valued cycling resource, catering predominantly for leisure trips, but also for utility trips within urban areas. We were pleased to see that the draft document includes commitments to improve towpaths where needed and to reclaim towpath width for safer shared use where practical and appropriate.

Recent developments in Newbury means that we have our doubts about the likely impact of a Towpath Code. As one respondent put it: “Whoever is going to read the code and suddenly awaken to the fact that they should be considerate and share the space because the code says so?”

Whatever the outcome, we will be happy to work with the Canal and River Trust and offer what help we can to ensure that the Kennet and Avon towpath meets the needs of local cyclists and other users.

Got the post-TdF blues? Roll on the ToB

The 2014 Tour de France was memorable in so many ways. There were the unprecedented crowds that turned out to line the route of ‘Le Grand Depart’ in Yorkshire, as the tour made a once in a generation trip across Le Manche. Then there was the crushing disappointment as we watched Chris Froome crash out on stage five. And we can’t forget the spectacular sprint finish on the Champs-Elysées.

With the tour now over, you could be forgiven for feeling a bit flat. However, the good news is that we have less than six weeks to wait until the start of the Tour of Britain. Even better news is that the tour will be coming to West Berkshire for the first time since 2008.

The race begins on 7 September, with eight stages taking place over eight consecutive days, taking the riders from Liverpool to London. On Friday, 12 September, stage six of the tour will see the riders race from Bath to Hemel Hempstead, with nearly 30 kilometres of the route passing through West Berkshire!

Riders are expected to arrive in Hungerford at around 12:24 pm. They will ride down the High Street before turning right along the A4 towards Halfway. They will then turn north towards Hoe Benham, Boxford and Leckhampstead, before leaving the district via the B4494 Wantage Road.

It promises to be a thrilling race. Nine teams have confirmed that they will be taking part, including the Great Britain national team, Team Sky and Omega Pharma Quick-Step. More announcements about teams and riders are expected towards the end of July with provisional rider announcements throughout August.

VMS is not the answer to safety problems

Think-Bike-MVIS.jpg

You may have come across this recent article in the local media, which suggest that West Berkshire Council are considering putting up Variable Message Signs on the A4 between Thatcham and Theale to encourage motorists to look out for cyclists. Spokes does not feel that variable message signs are the right solution, since they are simply an attempt to tackle the symptom rather than the cause of the problems experienced by cyclists along this busy main road.

There are several Spokes members who regularly cycle this stretch of the A4 and the consensus opinion is that the main problems relate to locations where central islands have been constructed. These have presumably been installed to reduce vehicle speeds and / or to prevent overtaking at key locations along the route.  However, they have been found to create significant problems for cyclists as motorists try to overtake at the islands. Our members have cited several near misses at these locations and we feel that the islands compromise the safety of cyclists.

The ideal solution would be to have a high quality, fully segregated cycle track alongside the A4. This would make it safe and pleasant for people to cycle between the various towns and villages along the A4. Failing that, the next best solution would be construction of cycle bypasses at the road narrowings, or to come up with a completely different design that does not place cyclists and motor vehicles into direct conflict.

We will seek to work with West Berkshire Council to come up with an effective solution and will raise this at the next Cycle Forum.

West Berkshire Spokes AGM 2014

West Berkshire Spokes would like to invite our members to attend our AGM, which will take place at 2:30 pm on 22 June at the kiosk in Victoria Park, Newbury. Click on the following links to download copies of last year’s AGM Minutes, this year’s AGM Agenda and a copy of the Spokes Constitution.

We will receive reports from the current committee members and elect people to the various posts for the coming year. The current committee looks like this:

  • Chair – William Pitt
  • Vice-Chair – Vacant
  • Secretary / Membership Secretary – Graham Hunt
  • Treasurer – Alan Lane
  • Publicity Officer – Caroline Lane
  • Web site Editor – Gordon Oliver
  • Highways Officer – Vacant
  • Cycle Count Co-Ordinator – William Pitt
  • Event / Stall Manager – William Pitt
  • General Campaigners – Ed Cooper
  • Training officer – Caroline Lane

Any member can stand for election to any of the above committee posts. We would love for more people to get involved – it’s a lot of fun and you will get the chance to be involved in some really interesting projects.

If you would like to put your name forward or find out more about any of the above positions, then please get in touch before the AGM.