newsnet 3.02.06

The weekly newsletter for members of CTC

 

 

News

 

CTC beats Southern Trains bike ban, but there’s a catch

CTC was given permission this week to take a full-size, non-folding bicycle on board a peak-time Southern Trains service, but there was a catch; the bike was made from cardboard. We asked for permission to board the peak-time service with the full-size model bike to draw attention to the fact that the ban is ill-conceived; not only do many peak-time services have enough space to accommodate bikes, but other bulky items – such as full-size cardboard models of bikes – are allowed to travel. Read more and see a photo of the bike here

 

CTC puts brakes on Easyjet ban

Following intervention by CTC, Easyjet has lifted its recently-imposed ban on cycles equipped with hydraulic disc brakes or fluid suspension forks. The ban has caused concern and cancelled bookings amongst the increasing number of mountain bikers that uses the low-cost airline to reach the warmer and drier trails of southern France and Spain. CTC Public Transport Campaigner, Dave Holladay, said: “The ban was due to an over-zealous interpretation of CAA regulations on prohibited substances. Following talks with CTC, Easyjet has sorted out the problem and advised its agents to not refuse any bike.” Read full story here

 

Bike crime up at stations

The latest edition of Transport Trends, issued by DfT this week, reveals that theft or damage to bicycles at rail stations has increased by around a third over the six years 1999-2005, and with the theft from a motor vehicle coming down by almost 50%, cycle theft and damage is now the most significant reported crime at stations. “The train operators’ work to improve security and management for car parking is clearly not being extended to their cycle parking installations, with a few notable exceptions” said CTC’s Dave Holladay. Read more here

 

What’s on?

 

Night riders

If you do the same thing every Friday evening, why not break the cycle and join a CTC group ride with a difference? On the first Friday of each month choose between an evening ride along the Thames or leave at midnight for a thrash to the coast.  find out more

 

Products

 

The CTC Shop sale is now on and we have some amazing deals. With our spring and summer range due in anytime now, we need to clear space - Sale items are going fast so get in quick!  Find out more about the sale

 

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

 

CTC info

 

Small ads online

The new edition of Cycle will let you know about changes to the small ads section in the magazine, but recently launched is a new online version has a pretty diverse range of items on offer. Have a browse here

 

Semaine Fédérale

Information sheet FRINF9 now contains detailed information on completing the registration form for the annual French cycling festival the Semaine Fédérale. The form itself is downloadable from www.sf2006.org or you can email mark.waters@... for the same thing.

 

It might be cold, but…

The current dry weather is making off-road trails super-rideable at the moment – make the most of it!

 

If you have any questions, please give us a call 0870 873 0060.

 

CTC Campaigns

 

Cycle magazine correction

The article in the current “Cycle” magazine about the Road Safety Bill contains a couple of small errors in the charts on pages 38 and 39. In the graph showing how the severity of injuries increases with vehicle impact speeds, the labels in the key have been swapped. So the yellow line marked (“fatalities”) is actually the graph for “all casualties”, whereas the blue “all casualties” line actually shows fatalities.

 

The second error is rather more obvious.  The x-axis on the chart showing people’s perceptions of antisocial behaviour should have been labelled “% of people concerned”, and not “impact speed”!

 

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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