newsnet 23.12.05

The weekly newsletter for members of CTC

 

 

News

 

Clarkson swaps 4X4 for 1X2

Christmas came early for Jeremy Clarkson this week when he was presented with a bicycle by a group of campaigners including CTC. This followed Jeremy Clarkson’s pot shot at cyclists earlier this year when warned us to “…not pull up at junctions in front of a line of traffic. Because if I'm behind you, I will set off at normal speed and you will be crushed under my wheels.” CTC’s Roger Geffen, said: “This presentation is a good-natured gesture to encourage Jeremy to mend his ways and swap his 4x4 for a far cleaner and safer 1x2 bicycle. It’s a shame that Mr Clarkson was unavailable to receive the bicycle, because to sweeten the pill we made sure the bicycle was an off-road model manufactured by Land Rover. We hope that Mr Clarkson will make good use of it and remembers that a bicycle is for life and not just for Christmas.”

 

Police issue confession
Lothian & Borders Police statisticians will be re-sitting their maths exams after a miscalculation of crash statistics. In September, the Police announced an "alarming" rise in cyclist deaths and injuries over the previous five years. However, they now admit that ‘there were errors in these figures which led to an erroneous conclusion that cycling had become more dangerous in recent years. A re-examination of the accident records for Edinburgh shows that this is not in fact the case.’

 

Cyclists see red

An article in the Guardian this week focuses on the subject of cyclists going through red lights. Despite suggesting cycle training as a possible solution to the problem, we feel that the author underestimates the positive effect it can have on the behaviour of current and future cyclists. It can also serve as an alternative to a fine, in much the same way that the Government proposes offering re-training courses for offending motorists. Read the article, including its mention of CTC, here.

 

Products

 

A passion for the bike

Bob Chicken has been at the forefront of the cycle industry since the end of the War. He is a great champion of all aspects of cycling, as a sport and leisure pastime, and is the subject of the latest book to be published by author and CTC member Graeme Fife. For stockists of Bob Chicken: A passion for the bike visit www.bobchicken.co.uk

 

Wear a CTC long-sleeved jersey with pride, and help support the work we do for cycling. Currently reduced from £25 to £9.99, you’ll find all kinds of other CTC merchandise here

 

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

 

CTC info

 

At home…

We promise not to mention Land’s End – John O’Groats again for a while, but this is just to say that, after a slight delay, the pack is now fully updated and ready to post out to you, as reported recently. Emailing is back to emergencies only (the pack is not available from the website) so it’s all down to an A4 envelope with 47p stamp affixed.

 

We have just been informed that the DFDS ferry service between Harwich and Cuxhaven has stopped running.

 

..and abroad

Vladimir Fillipov of the Russian Cycle Touring Federation has been in touch to advise us of the dates of next year’s ‘Golden Ring of Russia’ cycle tour, which are 2 – 15 July. More information is available on here. As an introduction to cycling in Russia you probably couldn’t do better

 

Thanks to everybody who has taken the time over the past year to send us new information or waded through an existing information sheet pointing out the mistakes or things which needed updating. We couldn’t manage without you all. Have a great Christmas one and all!

 

CTC Campaigns

 

Shadow Transport Ministers and the Road Safety Bill

Cyclist and Tory leader David Cameron MP has announced his shadow ministerial team for Transport. His Shadow Transport Secretary is Chris Grayling MP, who is known to support lower speed limits and the promotion of combined cycle-rail travel. Julian Brazier MP remains a junior shadow-minister for transport, and recently expressed to CTC some very sensible views on road safety; the Party’s recent emphasis on the environment and quality of life issues could make a significant difference to the tone of the Commons debates, and to the chances of some wins for some of the measures which CTC is calling for. We have also met Tom Brake MP, the shadow minister dealing with the Road Safety Bill for the LibDems. He agreed to support virtually everything on CTC’s agenda.

 

If you have not yet managed to email your MP about the Road Safety Bill, please do so over the Christmas break!  The Bill’s final stage in the Lords will take place on January 10th and it will probably enter the Commons in the latter part of January.

 

Local authorities lower cycling ambitions

A study for Government by Atkins Consultancy finds that 78% of English local authorities’ draft 2^nd Local Transport Plans (LTPs) contain a cycling target. However, these targets are well below the tripling of cycle use by 2010, which was the norm in their first LTPs five years ago. Of LTPs reviewed, 10 set a 0% growth target over the next 5 years, in response to the Government’s advice (tucked away in Appendix C of its Full Guidance to local authorities on LTPs) that “no reduction in cycling levels” would meet the minimum standard for a “satisfactory” local cycling target. Most authorities are in the 11-20% bracket, with only 8 seeking a doubling or tripling.

 

Member benefit

 

Peace of mind

CTC’s Cyclecover insurance guarantees new-for-old replacement and there is almost no limit on the value of the bike being insured. Benefits include worldwide cover, free personal accident cover for CTC members, protection against vandalism and crash damage and up to 30% no claims bonus. www.cyclecover.co.uk   

 

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