newsnet 5.01.07

The weekly newsletter for members of CTC

 

 

News

 

Fee wheeling kids could be quids in

Parents could be paid to get their children to cycle to school rather than take the bus under new plans to help tackle obesity. The Government said the proposals would improve school transport, cut congestion and encourage children to lead more active lives. These are laudable aims, but we can’t help but feel that we shouldn’t need financial sweeteners to get kids onto bikes – good local cycling conditions would be good for starters. Story as reported this week in the Daily Mail  

 

Excess baggage

CTC information officer and resident cycle touring expert, Mark Waters, will at 10am on Saturday morning be a guest on BBC Radio 4’s Excess Baggage. Tune in for an interesting insight into the early days of cycle touring, its current resurgence and a taster of what’s on offer from CTC – our 2007/2008 tour guide includes cycling holidays to over 35 countries. Whether you choose 3 days in Somerset or 23 days in India, as it says in the tour guide, “you only have to turn up and enjoy the bit you came for – namely the cycling. All the rest is sorted.” Details at cyclingholidays.org If you miss the programme, you can go online and ‘listen again’ here

 

Bad architecture can be bad for you health…

We all know that a diet of Krispy Kremes and chicken nuggets is a sure path to elasticated trousers - but did you know that architecture can be bad for your health, too? asks The Guardian newspaper this week. It's an idea that the government advisory body, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), will be urgently promoting this year. CABE argues that town planners and architects must help tackle Britain's obesity epidemic by designing cities and housing that encourage walking and cycling. Just as well, then, that the incoming president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Sunand Prasad, is a keen cyclist.

 

...or good for your trails riding

Talking of City Cycling, the online magazine of the same name is everything a good web-based publication should be; easy to read, well designed and free. Its last issue included a review of the best cycling films to be found on YouTube. My favourite? Four minutes of the best urban trails riding I’ve ever seen – little did the town planners and architects who designed the seemingly drab surroundings in the film know what a two-wheeled playground they were creating. Be amazed here

 

New Year honours

Cycling historian and former CTC Councillor Derek Roberts has been recognised in this year’s New Year Honours List for services to the History and Sport of Cycling. In a similar historical vein David Higman, founder and curator of the National Cycle Collection in Llandrindod Wells gained his award for services to tourism in Wales. The third cyclist to receive an honour is Thomas Lynch for services to BMX racing and to Ambulance Service Cycling.

 

California dreaming

In Los Angeles, the throne-room of the motor vehicle, the bicycle is not quite as improbable as it might seem — not as far-fetched, say, as icebergs in Santa Monica Bay, writes the Los Angeles Times. Indeed, urban bicycling as a mix of activity and cause has been on the upswing in Southern California for a few years now. An interesting account of cycling on the other side of the pond here

 

What’s on?

 

Cycling event is just capital

London’s Capital Woman event on Saturday 3 March will include a cycling seminar, group rides to and from the event, and some basic cycle maintenance - all led by women of course. Organisers will also be providing cycling information through the ‘Good Going’ and Tour de France stands that will be present. More info

 

In your area…

The CTC online events page is regularly updated. Find cycling events in your area here

 

Products

 

Are you keen to maintain your level of fitness or work off those mince pies but can’t face the weather? Turbo trainers are ideal for winter months to keep the fitness you’ve built up over the warmer months. There’s a type to suit every budget and you can even afford to sell your Playstation, the Tacx I-Magic model is interactive.  

 

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

 

CTC Campaigns

 

Safer streets needed to tackle climate change

CTC has responded to stakeholder consultation on the 3-yearly review of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy. We have argued that, if the Government wants people to be able to “do their bit” to reduce their climate emissions from transport, then the focus of road safety policy must be to create safe and attractive walking and cycling conditions especially on “community streets”. This in turn requires a number of actions under the following broad headings: reducing traffic speeds; driver training, attitudes and awareness; traffic law and enforcement; safer vehicles (tackling particularly the threats from motorcycles and HGVs), designing our road network to be safe and attractive for cycling, and the provision of quality cycle training.

 

Member benefit

 

CTC members are now able to join the exclusive healthcare plans offered by Civil Service Healthcare, the non-profit making friendly society run solely for the benefit of its members. Benefits include a 24hr medical advice line and, as a special offer to CTC, one month's free membership. To receive your no-obligation quotation and information pack either visit www.cshealthcare.co.uk/ctc.asp or call CS Healthcare free on 0800 917 4325 (quoting reference CTC165).

 

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