Cycling Campaign for North Bedfordshire
Pegasus Crossing - St Neots Road - Opening Waiting for Bridge Completion
Newsletter No 58 October 2010 1
CYCLING CAMPAIGN FOR NORTH BEDFORDSHIRE Founded 1992 Committee Chairperson Vice-Chair Secretary Treasurer Membership Secretary Other members
Hazel Mitchell Peter Blakeman Carole Blakeman Neville Hobday John Franklin Veronica Brown Hywel Davies Ian Osborn
Other positions: Newsletter Editor Newsletter Distribution
Peter Blakeman John Franklin
E-mail: ccnb@ccnb.org.uk Internet: http://www.ccnb.org.uk
Campaigning Representation CCNB is represented on the following committees: Bedford Cycle Strategy Group Bedfordshire Rural Transport Partnership Forum and is a key stakeholder on the preparation and implementation of the: Bedford Green Wheel Bedford Stations Travel Plan Local Transport Plan (LTP3) It is affiliated to the following organisations: cyclenation (previously the Cycling Campaign Network - CCN) Sustainable Transport for Eastern England Region (STEER) 2
Contents Committee 2 Campaigning Representation 2 Editorial 4 New Members 4 Horse Riders Mount 5 CCNB Christmas Dinner 5 Cycling in Bus Lanes 6 Can Bus Drivers See Cyclists? 7 Cycle Security 8 Allocations and Designations Plan 8 A Strategy for Bedford High Street - SPD 8 Cycle Path Obstructions 9 Kings Mead Approach Improvement 10 St Neots Road - Pegasus Crossing Update 10 Borough’s Green Office Guide 11 Advertisement - Bicycles For Sale 11 Cycling to Bedford Station 12 Bedford to Milton Keynes Canal 12 Winter Maintenance 12 Circular Riverside Track - Grange Estate 13 CCNB Summer 2010 Events 14 20mph Speed Limit Update 15 National Cycle Statistics 16 National Highways & Transport Survey - 2010 16 Cycle Numbers 16 Cycle Markings - Harpur Street (BT) 17 Cycling in Luxemburg - Hywel Davies 18 A Cycle Package - Summer Holiday 2010 - Janet & Neville Hobday 19 Cycle to Work Scheme - HMRC Clarifies Rules 20 Center Parcs Development - Update 21 myjourney - Central Beds LTP3 - Cycle Strategy Draft 21 London Cycle Hire Scheme 22 Cycle Map 23 Active Life - Richard Hutchins 23 European Mobility Week 24 Manual for Streets 2 (inc Street Clutter) 26 clenation/CTC Autumn Conference 2010 27 cyclenation/CTC Spring Conference 2011 27 Diary 28 CCNB Vision and Objectives 28 3
Editorial With national and local budget cuts starting to bite and a fresh wave of bad news expected in the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review on 20 October 2010, cycle campaign groups are bracing themselves for what could be a bleak time in a period which is starting to see the resurgence in cycling. One rumour is the possible demise by the Government of Cycling England, set up three years ago to replace the National Cycling Strategy Board. Since its formation it has been instrumental in the increase in cycling through its Cycling Demonstration Towns project which has shown that if sufficient funds are allocated to active travel, people can be persuaded to change their mode of travel to cycling. Yet another important project has been the Bikeability scheme ensuring that all school children have the option to be trained in cycling proficiency. Before the election, the Conservative Party said that ‘encouraging cycling will be a major priority for a future Conservative Government’ and in one of his first speeches the prime minister said that he wanted the new coalition administration to be ‘the greenest government ever’. CCNB urges Bedford Council in its budget deliberations for the next financial year not to cut back on active travel. Cycling achieves a lot for very little and the benefits to the Borough, and society and the environment, of getting more people cycling are immense not only in terms of reduced congestion and pollution but also for a more efficient transport network, improved health, fewer accidents, accessibility to those on low incomes and much more. The Borough’s proposed savings will be available for consultation on the website www.bedford.gov.uk/budget2011 from 27 September 2010 with a closing date for responses of 30 November 2010 to allow for any comments to be considered by the Council’s Executive at their meeting on 15 December 2010. Worldwide there are now almost three times more bicycles sold each year than motor vehicles (page 16) while in the UK middle-aged men are purchasing expensive bikes instead of sports cars due to a growing cult around cycling and triathlons. The latest national travel statistics for 2009 (page 16) have shown an increase in cycling for the second year running while in Bedford cycling to the railway station is still gathering momentum (page 12).
New Members We welcome to CCNB - Lewis Chantal, Lee Quince and R J Harpley. 4
Horse Riders Mount A number of members have asked what the concrete sculptures are that are at the top of the slopes of the cycle track on either side of the northern underpass of the A6 between Elstow and the Wixams. The answer is that they are to help horse riders get on their horses. A similar mount but in wood (see below) is on the bridleway/cycleway between St Neots Road and NCN Route 51 near Castle Mill lock,
CCNB Christmas Dinner This years CCNB Christmas Dinner is once again at the Skyline Restaurant at Bedford College. The date is Wednesday 15 December 2010 A booking form with the menu details will be sent to all members later in the year. In the meantime please make a date in your diary for what is always an enjoyable occasion at which to meet other members.
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Cycling in Bus Lanes Bedford and Kempston currently has five bus lanes as follows: Kingsway Link (1996) Kingsway and Cauldwell Street (1997) Greyfriars, River Street and Horne Lane (1997) Bedford Road Kempston, and Kempston Road Bedford (2003) Ampthill Road and Progress Park (2004) Cyclists have been allowed to use the first three bus lanes since they were introduced but the last one only since October 2009. The bus lane from Kempston to Bedford has always been prohibited for cycles. However from 23 August 2010 all five can be used by pedal and electrically assisted cycles and for an experimental period of 18 months also private hire vehicles (PHV) and motor cycles.
Cyclists using bus lanes Look out for buses, motorcycles and taxis in bus lanes Never pass buses on the left when they're pulling in or stopped at a stop 6
Can Bus Drivers See Cyclists? (taken from Cambridge Cycle Campaign Newsletter 91) There was an unusual attraction at the 2010 Cambridge Bike Fair: a bus! Steve, who deals with training for Stagecoach Cambridge, brought one along to let people see what a bus driver sees. These images will surprise many cyclists. In the first image, Steve is standing in a typical position for a cyclist next to a bus. The next image shows what the bus driver sees – the cyclist is not visible to the driver at all.
We then asked Steve to move backwards. In these next two images, the cyclist is therefore positioned further back from the coach. Only now is the cyclist just becoming visible to the driver.
What is the solution here? Better mirror design, or cyclist education? 7
Cycle Security Bedfordshire Police reported during the early summer that nearly 2,000 bicycles had been stolen from the streets of Bedford over the last three years with only 69 returned to their owners. The figures show how important it is to securely lock your bicycle using a good quality lock or bike chain to an immovable object, such as a stand, railings or lamppost, if you have to leave it unattended for no matter how short or long a time. Tagging a bicycle is recommended to ensure that if it is found it can be identified and returned to the rightful owner. Bedfordshire Police regularly organise events where you can get your cycle marked and receive crime reduction advice For further advice on bicycle crime reduction visit: www.safer-beds.org/rmwebportal/rm_desktop/files/ Crime%20Reduction%20-%20Push%20Bikes.html
Allocations and Designations Plan More than 4000 responses (including one from CCNB) were made to the consultation which ended on 19 July 2010 (see Newsletter No 57) although there were no major cycle network issues. These are now being collated and assessed by the Borough. The comments will help inform the next draft of the Plan (the Pre-Submission draft), which is scheduled to be published for a further six weeks' consultation between January and March 2011. It is anticipated that the Plan will then be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval in July 2011.
A Strategy for Bedford High Street Supplementary Planning Document Bedford Borough Council on 21 July 2010 adopted ’A Strategy for Bedford High Street’ as a Supplementary Planning Document following public consultation earlier in the year to which CCNB sent a response. The document is part of the Bedford Development Framework and sets out a strategy for the regeneration of the High Street. It has three main themes - restoring the fabric of the existing buildings, broadening the use of the buildings and the public spaces and moving towards the removal of general traffic. The latter will include a north-south cycle route. The adopted Supplementary Planning Document, Adoption Statement and Statement of Consultation are available to view at www.bedford.gov.uk/hss. 8
Cycle Path Obstructions Motorists do not expect to find obstacles to be placed in the carriageway of a road, except for calming purposes, so why is it that on a path or cycleway, pedestrians, people in wheel chairs, families with pushchairs or double buggies, the infirm, blind, partially sighted and cyclists have to negotiate lampposts, bollards, sign posts and mobile phone masts and cabinets. One of the reasons is that most planners and project engineers are not pedestrians in the true sense or indeed cyclists and do not appreciate the obstacle free requirements of these people. In the last few months CCNB has managed to have the installation of a telephone mast together with two cabinets within a cycle/pedestrian track stopped. The installation would have resulted in a 30% reduction in width of a path for a distance of about 8 metres and created a potential safety hazard for the people who use it. In a statement by a planning officer stating one of the reasons why it should be approved it was cited that the footpath was wider than standard (1.8m) without appreciating that for a dual use pedestrian/cycle path a width of 3 metres or more is recommended. Below is one that got away in Polhill Avenue.
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Kings Mead Bridge Approach Improvement A low gradient zigzag ramp (see photograph below) has now replaced the steep steps on the west side of Kings Mead Bridge over the New Cut of the River Great Ouse between National Cycle Network Route 51 and the Riverfield Drive Estate making it much easier for cyclists as well as for people with pushchairs and wheelchairs to use this grassed route across the flood plain.
St Neots Road - Pegasus Crossing Update The new Pegasus crossing of St Neots Road just east of the roundabout with Norse Road although started at the beginning of March 2010 has still not opened due to a number of problems. The construction of a new bridge over the Renhold Brook has now had to be downgraded to using the existing space between the edge of the carriageway and the existing bridge parapet. This is currently being modified but is not expected to be finished for at least a further month. Until then the Pegasus crossing itself can not be opened. (see cover for current scene). It is unfortunate that this important crossing of a leisure route to Willington has not been available for the 2010 summer season. 10
Borough’s Green Office Guide The Borough Council has adopted its first Green Office Guide at a meeting of the Sustainability Committee on 8 September 2010. The guide is a continuation of the council’s commitment to reduce the Borough’s and its own carbon emissions and will be a ’one stop’ source of information for staff to advise them how they can be more sustainable both at work and at home. It will also help the council to reach its 40% aspirational carbon reduction target by 2015 and the 10% reduction by April 2011 for the 10:10 Campaign. In the Cycling section it mentions the cost savings that can be achieved by cycling to work, the Borough’s Cycle to Work Guarantee, its Bicycle User Group (BUG), the CCNB Town Cycle Map, the mileage allowance of using your own bike to meetings and visits, how to borrow a bike from Borough Hall or Town Hall or to obtain a bike through the Cycle2Work Scheme as well as staff discounts. CCNB applauds the introduction of the guide. As a major employer in the area it has a huge impact on the environment and needs to be seen to be doing its bit for the environment and sustainability and is an encouragement for other businesses, community groups and residents to change their behaviour and reduce their impact on the environment. As a signatory of the Nottingham Declaration*, the council has committed to publicly declare, within appropriate plans and strategies, the commitment to achieve a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. *The Nottingham Declaration on climate change was launched on 23 October 2000 and although not part of the central government programme, over 300 local authorities have signed up to the declaration committing them to work towards reducing emissions. See website: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/nottingham
For Sale Dawes Super Galaxy (gents) - £200 Dawes Galaxy (ladies) - £125 Handbuilt top-of-the-range tourers, c20 years old. ‘Drop’ bars replaced with ‘straights’. Dynamos, pannier racks and ‘comfortable’ saddles. Telephone (01234) 215445
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Cycling to Bedford Station What a better time to change your mode of transport and cycle to Bedford Railway Station. From 1 June 2010 the station car park charges increased to £6.75 per day and £1200 for an annual premium tariff. Cycling costs virtually nothing - just think what you could do with the extra money saved. Bedford station has 466 cycle parking spaces available and although there is a high demand within the working week with up to 350 cyclists already using them it is starting to become very difficult for a commuter in a hurry to readily find a place available. With the old ‘Focus’ store site to the south of the station due to be demolished and turned into more car parking spaces until it is required for development and the new station, CCNB has ask the Borough to provide some more cycle parking spaces on a temporary basis. Latest News - Cycle commuting to the railway station this year over the summer season (1 April to 30 September) has continued the upward trend with a 12% increase over last year and 35% since 2006.
Bedford to Milton Keynes Canal The Bedford to Milton Keynes Waterway project has now been handed over to an eleven strong consortium of organisations including Bedford Borough Council who between them have the resources and structures to take it to the next phase. The new 26km long canal when completed will be the first major one for 200 years and will link the Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes with the River Great Ouse at Kempston. The canal is, however, not expected to be fully open for a number of years although as part of the new A421 dual carriageway from the M1 to Marsh Leys in Bedford which is now nearing completion an underpass of the road has been built near Stewartby Lake which will be used not only by the canal but also a new route for the National Cycle Network Route 51. More information on the canal project can be found under: www.b-mkwaterways.org.uk.
Winter Maintenance The Head of Highways in a report in July said that a review is to be carried out to examine the need for establishing a prioritised network of footway and cycleway routes and the need for procuring specific equipment for salting of footways / off carriageway cycleways. This is good news after the problems some cyclists had during last winter. 12
Circular Riverside Track - Grange Estate Two important projects have been going on along the Circular Riverside Track over the last few months. The first has been the completion of a new bridge across the track and River Great Ouse to facilitate the access (see below) of gravel lorries to and from a new site on the north side of the river. The second has been the creation of habitats at the Grange Estate by digging back channels to bring water from Elstow Brook and the Ouse into the neighbouring woodland to allow refuges in which fish can spawn and escape peak flows after heavy rain.
More information on what is happening at the River Valley Park can be found under: www.bedfordrivervalleypark.org. There has been some concern that the LaFarge lorries have created a thick liquid mud deposit at the level crossing along the track, particularly during the wet weather, which has made it very unpleasant for vulnerable walkers and young children as well as cyclists. LaFarge have been asked to carry out a periodic cleanup at this point. 13
CCNB Summer 2010 Events Following on from the joint displays with Sustrans earlier in the year at Bedford Central Library, Kempston Town Library and the Town Hall under the Green Hub umbrella, CCNB again joined up with Sustrans and had a stand outside the Central Library in Harpur Square to mark the start of Bike Week on Saturday 19 June 2010 (see Photograph below). A number of residents came to the stand to talk about cycling in general and the problems they face while cycling. CCNBs new updated Bedford and Kempston Cycle Map was ever popular for those wanting to know how to get from A to B without using busy roads. During the day Councillor Phil Merryman, the Borough’s Member Champion for Cycling, gave a plug for the stand while talking about Bike Week on BBC Three Counties local radio.
CCNB also had a stand in the Borough’s Active Travel area at the two day River Festival on Saturday/Sunday 17/18 July 2010. In between on Saturday 3 July 2010, CCNB held its annual summer social with cream teas followed by strawberries and cream on the bank of the River Great Ouse in Clapham. The popular event this year had its highest turnout of members and their friends. 14
20mph Speed Limits Update CCNB is a member of cyclenation which with numerous other organisations is campaigning for the introduction of 20mph speed limits not only just outside schools but for most urban and residential streets which are not major through routes. School children are not just vulnerable outside the school gate but also on their way to and from school and out of school time when they are out and about in their neighbourhood. Also vulnerable are the elderly, the infirm, blind and partially sighted and families with young children. 20mph limits were endorsed by the last government in their Active Travel Strategy published in February 2010 (see Newsletter No57) in which they said that: Our ambition is to see local authorities introduce 20mph zones and limits into more residential streets (and other streets where there are many pedestrians and cyclists), making streets safer and more attractive for cycling and walking. In August 2010, the UK standard setting body for public health - The Faculty of Public Health - also called for more 20mph speed limits as well as more investment in cycling infrastructure. Active travel they said, keeps people fit and cuts millions off the health bill. For the full press release see the website www.fph.org.uk. More and more towns and cities are taking up 20mph and the latest local authority, Cambridgeshire County Council, has just started a 12 month trial in Cambridge where the 20mph limit now applies to all the city streets in the area bounded by the inner ring road and the River Cam. Further trials are also being carried out in other areas of Cambridge as well as in Soham, St Ives and Whittlesey. Bedford over the last few years has introduced 20mph zones into several small areas; around Alexandria Road, Carron Road and Stanley Street and also in Church Lane outside Woodside School and part time in Wentworth Drive outside Mark Rutherford School. The Borough’s Environmental, Regeneration & Corporate Services PRD Committee are due to receive a position statement on the wider introduction of 20mph speed limits at their meeting on 14 October 2010. The Borough’s new Road Safety Strategy is to be considered by the Executive on 10 November 2010. Why 20mph? Studies have shown that the speed at which vehicles travel is directly linked to the severity of injuries sustained in the event of an accident. Reducing vehicle speeds has a direct impact on pedestrian and cyclist safety. 15
National Cycle Statistics The latest travel statistics for the year 2009 from the Department for Transport released in June 2010 have shown that cycle use in Great Britain increased for the second year running to the highest since 1991 while motor usage declined for the second year running. Although casualty statistics showed cyclist deaths to be 10% lower than 2008 (104 versus 115), the number of seriously injured rose 6% to 2,606. Total casualties among cyclists rose 5% to 17,064. One interesting table in the statistics (NTS0315) shows where cyclists usually cycle for each year from 2002 to 2009. Cycling mainly on the road showed a 20% reduction while cycling mainly on pavements, cycle paths or cycle lanes that were not part of a road increased by 24% and cycling mainly off the road in parks, open country or private land increased by 50%. The results clearly illustrate that with the increase and speed of traffic on today’s roads cyclists feel much safer and prefer off-road rather than on-road facilities (see page 15 for 20mph update). Full results can be seen on the websites: www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/nts www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/roadstraffic The growth in cycling appears to be the highest amongst those on high incomes.
National Highways & Transport Survey - 2010 Bedford Borough has again participated in the 2010 transport survey carried out during July 2010 by Ipsos Mori. Full data tables will be available shortly but preliminary results confirm the National Cycle Statistics above, that is, to the question ‘What would make you use your car less?’ More off-road routes came 4th (1-3 were related to buses), Safer on-road routes 6th and Better cycle parking facilities 12th out of 19 possible answers. Of those residents that do cycle in the Borough the top destination was to leisure facilities (27%) followed by for shopping and visiting friends/ family (19% each) and to work and the doctors (12% each).
Cycle Numbers There are now more than 109 million bicycles sold per year in the world compared to around 42 million cars. The top five bike producers are China, India, the EU, Taiwan and Japan which are responsible for 87% of global production. 16
Cycle Markings - Harpur Street (BT) It has been seven years since CCNB first campaigned for the markings on the contra-flow in Harpur Street and the cycle lane in St Loyes at the Lime Street/Harpur Street/St Loyes junction to be remarked due to a potential safety hazard at this point. The revised markings were finally put in place in mid September 2010. Bedfordshire on Sunday in their issue of 6 October 2003 had highlighted the safety concerns of BT staff in finding that as part of the expanded pedestrianisation of Harpur Street cycle markings led cyclists travelling south along the Harpur Street contra flow across the front of their office door and round a blind right angled bend into St Loyes.
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Cycling in Luxemburg - Hywel Davies Echternach is the oldest town in Luxembourg, sitting on a bend in the Sûre, or Sauer River. A few miles south the Sauer meets the Moselle amongst the vineyards which may make that name familiar. Either side of the Sauer the hills rise eastwards into the Mullertal region of Luxemburg, and to the west into the Rhineland. Whilst the rivers provide level or gently inclined routes, the hills of ‘Little Switzerland’, as this region of Luxemburg is known, offer more of a cycling challenge. This was the area to which some 320 cyclists were drawn for a week in August, for the 2010 International Tandem Club rally. The majority were based at ‘Camping Alferweiher’, a family run campsite about 1km south of the centre of Echternach. This was rather smaller and probably a little more ‘local’ than some of the large sites we saw during the course of our travels. And travel we did – to Vianden, with its cobbled main street and medieval castle, to Junglinster, home of the three aerials of Radio Luxemburg, high on the hills above the town, to Beaufort with its own castle on the hillside, complete with spiral stairs to the top. We also rode into Germany and the edge of the Moselle vineyards, south east towards the ancient city of Trier, and to Mullerthal itself, with its waterfalls and pools. CCNB was represented by the Davies and Greenwell families, with two tandems, a solo and a bike trailer. This was Plan B for the Davies stoker. We wanted to have an alternative for Geraint when he’d had enough of pushing his mum up the hills, so we took the child trailer. In the end it was occupied a little less than half the time, as Geraint enjoyed being on the back of the tandem and being able to see all around. Each day offered a range of rides, from just over 30 miles for those with families or wanting time to see the sights, up to 60 miles for those keen to ride far afield. We opted for the shorter rides, generally, though that did not spare us some climbing; on the Monday, our second day out, we climbed some 3,000 ft in the course of the day. We found it a very pleasant area in which to cycle. There is a network of smaller roads, which are well surfaced (anyone at Bedford Borough, please note, good surfaces make cycling more enjoyable and popular!) and lightly used. The busier roads all tend to have separate cycle tracks. There is a disused railway line from Echternach to Luxemburg City, which has been turned into a very enjoyable cycle route, complete with a long tunnel. Unlike the two tunnels on the old railway line from Northampton to Market Harborough, this one was fully lit and surfaced. We were also spoiled by the quality of the maps available – the 1:100,000 map we had is one of some 75 such maps covering much of Germany and its bordering lands, showing clearly the cycle routes and steepest hills, all in a clear, laminated format. 18
For anyone wanting a cycling holiday not too far afield, with attractive country to ride in, not lots of ‘attractions’, Mullerthal is well worth exploring. Just be sure that you have a low gear for those occasions when there is no flat option.
A Cycle Package - Summer Holiday 2010 Janet & Neville Hobday For a number of years now our summers have included a cycling holiday overseas. Nothing to compare with Dervla Murphy or Josie Dew, of course, but a softies excursion tailored for new, occasional or less adventurous cyclists. A number of companies organise this type of break which can include flights, transfers, accommodation, cycle hire, and support. There is no extra travel insurance premium, route maps are provided but do not necessarily have to be followed and help, if needed, comes from a locally based representative. Luggage is normally moved between hotels by the holiday company. Such measures, however, do not mean that the holiday lacks a challenge. We have been lost on more occasions than we care to remember, taken significant detours to view features which turn out to be of dubious merit or interest, missed trains, been rescued from remote locations and experienced the Spanish health service. Accommodation has been generally good with odd exceptions. In one case our demand to move rooms because of a leaking ensuite toilet required the proprietor to relocate his mother-in-law. At other times we had a first floor library as a bedroom with a stroll across an adjoining flat roof to the toilet and a chateau-type stop on the Loire would have been refused by Miss Haversham. This year we spent ten days on the Moselle staying at Trier, Trittenheim, Bernkastel, Zell and Cochem. The cycling terrain was flat, mainly on marked cycle paths separated from traffic and the required daily mileage was modest [25mile max]. The scenery was splendid with vineyards, wine towns and villages, wooded hills and green meadows on both sides of the river. In the larger places we stayed two nights allowing us the opportunity to explore the area and take a boat, train or bus trip. As in earlier years we enjoyed the open air and the different sights, sounds and smells of "abroad". Good cycling facilities and tolerant drivers were also major contributors to that enjoyment. Editor - Thanks to Hywel Davies and Janet & Neville Hobday for their interesting articles on their 2010 summer holidays. If any other person has a cycling storey to share with our members in future editions please let us know. The next Edition of the CCNB newsletter will be January/February 2011. 19
Cycle to Work Scheme - HMRC Clarifies Rules The Government’s Cycle to Work Scheme since it was introduced under the 1999 Finance Act to promote healthier journeys to work has been extremely successful and has allowed more than 400,000 people to purchase a new bike through a salary sacrifice arrangement with their employer. Basically the employee hires a new bike of their choice from their employer under a type of hire purchase agreement and then pays back the cost through deductions taken before tax from their salary, usually over a period of one year. The employee then buys the bike from the employer at a reduced rate. This meant discounts as much as 50% if the bike was bought after one year at a nominal fee of 5% of the purchase price. In mid August the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) issued a clarification on what it thought the nominal purchase price should be and this was nowhere near the 5% usually used by employers. In a table issued under EIM21667a they stated that the acceptable disposal value as a percentage of the original price should be 18% after one year for purchase values less than £500 and 25% for values more than £500 with progressive reductions over 5 years to values of ‘Negligible’ and 2% respectively. With this new ruling the advantages of the scheme would be significantly less and could be less than purchasing a bike directly and obtaining a discount. However HMRC add that employers can use lower values if it can be demonstrated that it had had excessive wear and tear (on the ‘qualifying journeys’ main use condition for exemption) together with evidence that it would have realised a lower value in a private sale or a sale to a cycle retailer. The Cycle to Work Alliance, a consortium of some of the larger companies that have promoted the scheme has examined the ruling in detail and established with the HMRC that as the statutory exemption for cycles loaned to employees is not subject to any time limit and will apply as long as the conditions about use and availability are satisfied there will be no problems if the employee is offered to buy the bike at a later date than originally expected when the market value percentage is lower. In EIM21664 examples of the safety equipment which can and can not be included in the scheme are quoted. Included are: Cycle helmets which conform to European standard EN 1078 20
Bells, bulb horns and lights including dynamo packs Child safety seats Reflective clothing along with white front reflectors and spoke reflectors. Not included are: Cycle computer Waterproof clothing that is not reflective clothing Cycle training. Full details of the clarification rules can be seen under www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/EIM21601.htm and looking at EIM21664, 5, 6, 7, 7a and 8.
Center Parcs Development - Update The Center Parcs holiday village site at Warren Wood, Fordfield Road, Millbrook is back on track with a Reserved Matters Planning Application submitted to Central Bedfordshire Council in August 2010. In 2007 Mid Beds District Council rejected the planning application but this was eventually overturned by the Government. If everything now goes to plan the centre could be opened by summer 2013. The Section 106 agreement calls for a roundabout at the A507 junction to be built, proposals to widen the existing A507 north footway to cater for cyclists from the junction to Woburn Road, Ampthill and footway/cycleway improvements along Fordfield Road from the junction to the site entrance. The Reserve Matters can be seen on the website www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/portal/searchresult.asp?appnumber=CB/10/03096
and the original outline plans on =MB/05/01066 and =MB/08/00614.
myjourney - Central Beds LTP3 - Cycle Strategy Draft myjourney is the name given to Central Bedfordshire’s Local Transport Plan which is currently being prepared for adoption by 31 March 2011. myjourney will cover all modes of transport - car, cycle, walker and public transport - and will set out to improve, maintain, manage and make safer all of these modes, and make transport and local services more accessible. In July 2010 a draft cycle strategy was published for consultation More People Cycling - A Strategy for Central Bedfordshire. To view see the website: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/policy/LTP/default.aspx
and follow links. 21
London Cycle Hire Scheme London Mayor, Boris Johnson’s newest addition to the capital’s transport network, the Barclays Cycle Hire was finally launched on 30 July 2010. It is self-service public bicycle sharing scheme for short journeys.
When complete the scheme will have 6000 cycles and 400 docking stations within 300-400 metres of each other throughout the city, 24 hours a day, all year round. When you reach your destination, simply redock the cycle at the closest docking station. You pay a small access fee to take a cycle, plus a usage charge that depends on how long you ride. All journeys under 30 minutes are free of charge but then increase steeply from £1 for 1 hour to £50 for 24 hours. If you take a cycle for more than two hours it might be cheaper to hire a bike from a normal cycle hire shop. Beware also of other charges such as £150 for late return and £300 for non-return. You can buy your access in two ways - either by signing up as a Member or buying access as an Occasional/Casual User. The access fee is £1 for 24 hours, £5 for 7 days and £45 for 1 year (scheme members only). If you want to travel further than for 30 minutes, simply re-dock your 22
cycle at the nearest docking station within the 30 minute free limit and take another cycle. Using this method it is then possible to cycle all over the city free of charge for as long as you like. Further information on the scheme can be found on the Transport for London website: www.tfl.gov.uk/barclayscyclehire. The scheme has been based on one used in Montreal in Canada - The Bixi project and uses similar bikes and is the world’s third largest urban cycle hire system after Hangzhou in China using 50,000 bikes and the ‘Vélib’ in Paris with 24,000 bikes. Smaller scale versions already exist in Blackpool, Reading, Dumfries and Cardiff. The bikes (as shown in the picture opposite) are fairly heavy, have three gears and cost around £350 each. One disadvantage is that it does not have a proper basket on the front and as a lock is not supplied to leave it for a few moments to visit a shop it is advisable to put it in the nearest docking station to avoid it being stolen and nonreturn charge being applied. The scheme is already a success. Within the first two week of operation around 44,000 people had registered to be members and more than 100,000 journeys made. By mid September this had increased to 60,000 registered people making 15,000 journeys a day. However due to slight teething problems casual use without registration will now not happen until the end of the year.
Cycle Map The new third edition of CCNB’s Bedford and Kempston Cycle Map published in May 2010 in conjunction with Bedford Borough Council has been so successful that a reprint has had to be made.
Active Life - Richard Hutchins CCNB’s oldest member, 95 year old Richard (Dick) Hutchins, has been in the media recently. Dick a former Clerk of the Harpur Trust returned four years ago to his family’s former estate at Ardnagashel in County Cork where he has been busy restoring a number of the horticultural features bequeathed by his ancestors. In April 2010 this work was featured in a German TV travel programme on the ’Wild Gardens of South West Cork’. He joined the Ramblers just after it was founded in 1935 and in the Summer 2010 edition of their magazine ‘Walk’ was the subject of their ‘My Walk of Life’ feature. The article entitled ’I got my money’s worth’ included a link to a 7 minute podcast. This can be seen on: www.walking.co.uk/features/my-walk-of-life-i-got-my-moneys-worth 23
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European Mobility Week European Mobility Week (EMW) is an initiative following on from ‘In Town Without My Car!’ (ITWMC). ITWMC started in 2000 when local authorities were asked to show their urban centres in a different light by closing one or more streets on the 22 September each year and opening them up solely for people to enjoy walking, cycling, street theatre, live music, dancing, public art and children’s play areas thus encouraging the use of sustainable modes of transport and raising awareness on the environmental impacts of residents travel choice. Although many towns in the UK have participated in the event since that time including Luton, CCNB has never been able to get Bedford involved. After the organisation of two successful ITWMC events in Europe, the year 2002 marked the start of a new initiative, the European Mobility Week. This runs from 16 to 22 September every year focusing on a particular topic relating to sustainable mobility, the so called focal theme. This year’s events took place with health and mobility being the overall topics with the theme ‘Travel Smarter, Live Better’. Either by bike or simply on foot - active travel is a great recipe for keeping fit. This years campaign aimed to encourage local authorities to promote soft modes of transport and highlight their positive impact on public health. In their introduction to the week organisers stated that: “The massive increases in motor vehicle traffic over recent years, especially in our cities, has led to a strong public reaction against the noise, air pollutants and congestion that result; vulnerable groups such as children and elderly people in particular suffer the worst consequences. Road traffic injuries directly affect hundreds of thousands of people in the EU through accidents and kill tens of thousands of European citizens. Indirectly, motorised transport has an impact on both our respiratory and cardiovascular systems and causes stress; the latter again influences our health.” Participants in EMW have to sign up to three criteria defined in the European Charter. Criteria 1 - Organising a week of Activities, taking into account the 2010 focal theme: ’Travel Smarter, Live Better’ Criteria 2 - Implementing at least one new permanent measure which contributes to modal transfer from private car to environmentally sound means of transport. Where possible, at least one of these measures should be a permanent reallocation of road space in favour of walking, cycling or public transport (for example, road closure, wider pavement, new cycle or bus lane, new traffic calming scheme, lower speed limit). Criteria 3 - Organising the ‘In Town Without My Car! (ITWMC)’ event, ie setting aside one or several areas that are reserved solely for 24
pedestrians, cyclists and public transport for at least one whole day (that is, 1 hour before to 1 hour after normal working hours). The ITWMC event should preferably be held on Wednesday 22 September 2010. An award is given each year the following March to the city/town that has proved to be the front runner in terms of sustainable transport and managed to communicate the campaign’s message to its citizens. Last year’s winner was Gävle in Sweden, with León (Spain) and IvanicGrad (Croatia) as finalists. This year 41 countries took part in events, including 8 outside Europe representing 2081 cities and towns. The top country was Spain with 567 participants followed by Austria (429), France (147) and Poland (114). The UK came 12th with 43 participants. Bedford Borough had provisionally planned a full programme for everyday of the week but due to time and resources was only able to carry out activities on 5 days. They were not able to close a road on the ITWMC day, Wednesday 22 September, but instead requested local businesses to support the day by asking their employees to forgo their car for the day. The Borough provided extra pedal cycle racks in the town centre with Dr Bike providing pedal cycle health checks at an adjacent market stall. Sunday 19 September saw an off-road Family Cycle Ride from Priory Park to the town centre and back and on Tuesday 21 September a Commuter Challenge involving a pedal cycle, motor cycle, car and bus, all travelling to Bedford in the am peak period, starting at the same .point at the same time, with all modes finishing at the same point in the town centre. The results were as expected but the Borough must take the credit for releasing all the details in their press release which at time of publication of this newsletter was still awaited. Other towns near towns Bedford participating in the EMW were Cambridge, Leighton Buzzard, Milton Keynes and St Albans. Full details can be found on the website www.mobilityweek.eu.
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Continental Style Roundabouts - Patrick Lingwood Manual for Streets 2 Continental Style Roundabouts - Patrick Lingwood xx latest guidance document from The Chartered Institution of The xx Highways & Transportation (CIHT), Manual for Streets 2 - Wider Application of the Principles, was launched at a conference in London on 29 September 2010. The new guidelines take the principles set out in the original Manual for Streets and demonstrates through guidance and case studies how they can be extended beyond residential streets to encompass both urban and rural situations. The document has been designed to assist local highway and planning authorities as well as their consultants and contractors, to bridge the gap between Manual for Streets and the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges to deliver more contextually sensitive designs for new or existing highways. The conference programme gave an insight into the guidelines and looked at the research undertaken for the project. Some case studies were presented to demonstrate how the documents principles could be implemented and there were workshops on particular aspects such as dealing with an ageing population, street de-cluttering and shared space. The conference is also taking place in Birmingham, Durham and Cardiff during October 2010. Street Clutter On 27 August 2010 councils were urged to clear clutter to improve the public realm by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Transport Secretary Philip Hammond. In a letter to local authorities they urged councils to use street furniture sparingly and have recommend that technical advice is interpreted so it suits their local area. The Government believes that in some cases traffic signs and railings are installed by councils in the mistaken belief that they are legally required. However, although some signs are required by law, Government advice is that for signs to be most effective they should be kept to a minimum. To help councils do this the Department for Transport is reviewing traffic signs policy and new advice on how to reduce clutter will be published later this year. The advice that is contained in Manual for Streets 2 compliments the Government's call to reduce street clutter and recommends that designers should start from a position of having no street furniture and only introduce these elements when they serve a clear function. CCNB has already pointed out to the Borough the inconsistency of the use of cycle roundels and symbols on cycle tracks and routes due to the lack of a clear policy on the matter by the previous County Council. 26
cyclenation/CTC Autumn Conference 2010 The cyclenation/CTC Autumn Conference will be held in Edinburgh on Saturday 6 November 2010 hosted by The Lothian Cycle Campaign (Spokes). The theme of the conference will be ‘Cycling Across the Border’. Edinburgh transport chair Gordon Mackenzie and Cycling England chairman Phillip Darnton will be among the speakers comparing national cycling policies in Scotland - the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland - and England - the Active Travel Strategy, as well as focusing on the cycling plans of London and Edinburgh, both of which have ambitious plans to increase cycling. As usual there will be afternoon workshops on topics such as ‘smarter choice’ measures, cycle parking in tenement buildings (flats), Bike Club in Scotland and also to reflect on the ‘segregation versus integration’ debate in the light of feedback from the Velo-city conference held in Copenhagen held in June 2010. Delegates arriving at Waverley station will have the chance to sample some of Edinburgh’s cycle facilities, including the cycle lanes on the Mound and the paths through the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links in the 20 minute cycle to the venue. For those arriving in Edinburgh the night before, there will be a social evening at the Bike Station with a chance to see Scotland’s pioneering social enterprise which refurbishes and sells donated bikes (20,000 donations since 2001) as well as organising cycle training for children and adults, self-help repair workshop sessions, build your own bike courses and a £750,000 travel behaviour change campaign “A Better Way To Work”. On Saturday evening, Spokes will host a ceilidh, and Lothians CTC will organise a range of cycle rides on Sunday 7th November. For booking details and other information on the conference see the website: www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress Further information on the Bike Station can be seen on the website: www.thebikestation.org.uk.
cyclenation/CTC Spring Conference 2011 The cyclenation/CTC Spring Conference will be held in Sheffield hosted by CycleSheffield, previously called Pedal Pushers. Information will be available in the new year. 27
Diary 8-10 October 2010
- Cycle Show 10 - Earls Court London
Sunday 17 October 2010
- Bromham Mill Apple Day
Saturday 6 November 2010
- cyclenation/CTC Conference - Edinburgh
Wednesday 15 December 2010 - CCNB Annual Christmas Dinner at Skyline Restaurant Bedford College
cycleBedford creating a Town of Cyclists and Cycle Friendly Communities
Cycling Campaign for North Bedfordshire Objectives To promote, encourage and support cycling as an important means of transport and recreation. To encourage consideration of the needs of cyclists in all aspects of transport planning and management, access issues and recreational use.
Membership If you have not already joined, or if you know a friend or relative who would be willing to lend their support, we would be delighted to welcome you as members. Please write to: Membership Secretary, 20 Haylands Way, Bedford, MK41 9BU Please include your name, address, postcode, telephone number and e-mail address (if available) together with your subscription. Adult £3.00 (£13 for 5yr); Under 16 £1.00; Family £5.00 (£22 for 5yr) 28