newsnet 2.12.05

The weekly newsletter for members of CTC

 

 

News

 

“Get on my land”

CTC today welcomed Government proposals to spend £1.2 million encouraging landowners to voluntarily dedicate their land for public access. CTC Off-Road Campaigner, Richard George, told newsnet: “These proposals are great news for off-road riders and mountain bikers. The Government has set the ball rolling: it is up to us to make the most of it!” Read the press release

 

…and talking of MTBs

As sponsor of Best MTB Initiative in this year’s Singletrack magazine awards, we are delighted to announce that the winner is the 7Stanes Project. Find out more about the place they call ‘Scotland’s biking heaven’ here. More information about the awards and a full list of the winners here

 

Cycle parking put First

Train operators First Great Western and First Great Western Link have installed secure bicycle parking for more than 200 bikes as part of a partnership with the Department for Transport (DfT) and CTC. CTC Public Transport Campaigner, Dave Holladay, said: "We were able to survey the vast majority of stations in the UK thanks to the commitment of local members across the country. We looked at the type and location of existing cycle parking, and where demand clearly exceeded supply, and are delighted that First Great Western and First Great Western Link have taken on board our suggestions for improvement."

 

UK’s biggest cycling holiday guide launched this week

A new guide featuring more cycling holidays than any other in the country has this week been launched by CTC Cycling Holidays. CTC Tour Leader, Mark Waters, said: “Cycling holidays are a unique way of experiencing the best a country has to offer; whether it’s a long weekend exploring Hampshire, or the world’s longest cycle descent from Everest Base Camp to Kathmandu. As the most experienced cycle tour operator in the UK, we have the expertise, track record and people to make your holiday one that you won’t forget.” To plan your trip for 2006, simply call 0870 235 1356, email info@... or visit www.cyclingholidays.org

 

Products

 

All tyred out

Your choice of winter tyre will be dependent on the type of riding you do. If you’re on the road, you will probably want something with a little more tread and possibly a little thicker. If you’re off road, then often going for a thin mud tyre is a good. Wherever you cycle, we have a tyre to meet your needs. Browse our tyre section...

 

The CTC shop can be found at www.ctcshop.com or feel free to give us a call on 0870 873 0069

 

CTC info

 

Roadside repairs

Following on from our basic bike maintenance supplement in the October/November issue of Cycle, we're running another on roadside repairs in the February/March issue - and we want your feedback. In no more than one or two sentences each, tell us about: the item in your toolkit that you never leave home without; and your favourite roadside 'bodge' you employed to get your damaged bike home. Please send contributions by 16th Dec, by email only, to chris.juden@..., with the words 'Roadside repairs' in the subject line of the email.

 

Bordeaux or bust

Anyone planning on starting or finishing their holiday next year in Bordeaux might find our information sheet about getting to and from the airport and Bike Bus drop off point useful. The sheet has just been updated and can be downloaded from the web site, reference FRINF8.

 

CTC Campaigns

 

Road Safety Bill update

The Government’s Road Safety Bill is now close to completing its passage in the Lords – only its 3^rd Reading is still awaited before it passes to the Commons, probably in the new year.

 

The Government belatedly introduced what we believe is a well-intentioned but misguided proposal for a new offence of “causing death by careless driving”. This scraped through in the teeth of (much more seriously misguided) opposition from Lords, who argued that the proposed maximum sentence of 5 years was far too steep (the Government has now promised to reduce it).  CTC will seek ministerial discussions about alternative proposals to ensure that bad driving is treated much more seriously, whilst overcoming the discrepancies in the existing system which are giving rise to widespread misunderstandings (such as those expressed in the Lords).

 

More positively, the Lords have backed an amendment (which was opposed by the Government) to ring fence the funding from speed cameras to road safety improvements.  We hope this amendment will now be tweaked in the Commons, to ensure that this does not simply prompt the Government to reduce other sources of road safety spending. 

 

London Cycle Network scrutiny

The Greater London Authority’s transport scrutiny committee has endorsed a report, drawn up by Green Party member Darren Johnson AM, into the London Cycle Network plus (LCN+).  The report catalogues a variety of problems – including delays, the high cost of consultants’ reports and poor design standards – and makes some useful recommendations.

 

However the report itself is a serious missed opportunity to point out that many of the identified problems would be resolved if the Mayor was actively pursuing his policy commitment to make 20mph the default speed limit for residential streets.  The report can be downloaded in PDF or RTF formats.

 

Would you like a job in cycling?

The Parliamentary cross-party cycling group, which lobbys for cycling in the House of Commons and House of Lords, is looking for a part-time Parliamentary Officer to provide research, press and administrative support. The job is based at the Houses of Parliament. More details

 

Member benefit

 

50% off ETA membership fees to CTC members

ETA is a roadside rescue service with a difference. The company provides rescue within one hour, full recovery, home rescue and rest-of-Europe cover at very competitive prices, 365 days- a- year. ETA uses its profits to campaign to raise awareness of the impact of excessive car use and helps individuals to make positive changes in their travel habits. For further information call ETA on 0800 212 810 or visit their website www.eta.co.uk  Please quote reference number 1281-2001 to benefit from a 50% discount when joining.

 

Receiving this newsletter

 

SUBSCRIBE: If you have been sent this newsletter by a friend and would like to receive it directly, simply send your membership number (or post code) and email address to publicity@...

 

UNSUBSCRIBE: If you would no longer like to receive the newsletter, send the word unsubscribe and your membership number in the subject box of an email to membership@... 

 

If you would like to comment on this newsletter, or any other aspect of CTC, please visit the message board at www.ctc.org.uk

 

CTC will not disclose the information you provided whilst joining CTC or using CTC’s support services to any other person or organisation, except for the purpose of providing you with CTC membership services and membership benefits available to you as a member of CTC. If you do not want us to contact you about CTC membership benefits, products or services, or if you have any query about the use we make of your data, please write to the Data Controller at Cyclists’ Touring Club, Cotterell House, 69 Meadrow, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 3HS.

 

________________________________________________________________________
This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Star Internet on behalf of CTC, the UK's National Cyclists Organisation . The
service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive
anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit:
http://www.star.net.uk
________________________________________________________________________