Workplace Cycle Challenge 2011 - Help!

We've had this message from Liz Ashburn, Transport Group Coordinator of SLACC:

The lead up to the Workplace Cycle Challenge is well under way, with the new website about to go live early next week, and the job list lengthening. So a Transport Group meeting will take place on Tuesday 31 May at 7.30pm in the Intro Bar at the Brewery to check on progress and see how things are shaping up.

It would be great if as many people as possible could make it, or if not possible, please let Sonny know in advance if you are able to help in the last push to sign up as many participants as possible. We have leaflets and posters to distribute. This year the challenge runs from 13 June to 22 July and there are prizes for greatest total mileage for team of up to 5 people, greatest number of trips for a team of up to 5 people, greatest number of trips by a new or returning cyclist and several other group prizes.

Please contact Sonny if you can help in any way.

Update on Arnside–Grange cycleway/footpath

ATOG have sent us a link to an article in the North West Evening Mail which looks hopeful that there may be a route across the viaduct at some point in the future...

Click here to read all about it!

Survey results in on Arnside viaduct

We've had the following update from Stuart at ATOG (the campaign for the Arnside to Grange cycle/footpath):

’The results of County Councillor Ian Stewart’s survey are in and out of 800 sent out and 464 replies, 371 were in favour of the proposal for a cycle/footpath alongside the viaduct and 93 were against. In addition there were 48 in favour from Arnside School.

Ian says that the next step is to get this included in the Cumbria Local Transport Plan, and then to try and overcome the obstacles which have been pointed out.

Then someone will have to come up with a design that works, and then we need to see how it could be funded.

We are still waiting for a Sustrans to let us know whether Network Rail have come up with a price for the work.

Thanks to all who were able to respond to the survey.’

Since then, the Gazette have picked the story up. You can read their report here.

Update on Arnside–Grange cycleway/footpath from ATOG

Counciller Stewart's questionnaire has started to arrive in Arnside and we only have until 11 March to reply.

The introduction to the survey says that if there is sufficient support in favour of creating this access then Councillor Stewart will seek to have the project included in the Local Transport Plan 3 (2011-2026). The first step will be to have a feasibility study to look at the technical and safety issues. This project would sit alongside many other projects all needing funding, so there would be no guarantee that it would become a reality any time soon, particularly in view of the current harsh financial climate.

The document then lists 3 positive and 4 negative points that Councillor Stewart has heard so far.

Positive
It will make Arnside less of a 'bottleneck' during the busy season.
It will link in with potential Arnside station improvements.
It would be a useful short-cut over the estuary, forming part of the proposed coastal trail route.

Negative
It is not wanted by Arnside residents.
It would spoil the look of the viaduct.
It will be of no benefit to Arnside because walkers and cyclists don't spend money in the shops.
Arnside gets full already and can't cope with more visitors, and there is nowhere for people to park.

There is a Yes/No reply slip with comments enclosed with the letter.

Sadly, the survey is not available on line but the councillor says that he looks forward to hearing from us by Friday 11 March.

If you live in Arnside, you can use the following freepost address:
Freepost, Area Support Team, County Council Offices, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4RQ.

If you do not live in Arnside, you cannot use this address but you could still send your comments to the councillor c/o the County Council offices (marked 'urgent' or with 'Arnside to Grange cycleway' because of the 11 March deadline).

Sustrans are still waiting to hear from Network Rail what the cost of the work would be so that they consider raising funding.

Please encourage anyone you know who will be getting the survey to respond positively to the proposal for the cycleway.

KDCS has its say on proposed spending cuts

CHAIRMAN ANDREW JUDSON WRITES... Liz Ashburn and I have composed the following contribution to Cumbria County Council's consultation on the proposed spending cuts, stressing the importance of maintaining the county's Public Rights of Way:

As Chairman of Kendal and District Cycle Scene (KDCS) I am responding on behalf of members to the proposed spending cuts which may directly affect cyclists. KDCS considers that the network of Public Rights of Way(PROW) throughout Cumbria is a resource which needs to be safeguarded and maintained at all costs, for the following reasons:

1. Tourism is worth £1.14 billion annually and provides around 21,000 jobs in Cumbria. Cumbria is major attraction for resident and visiting cyclists, who generate substantial income and employment for the county. Cycling, whether on or off-road is increasingly popular as a daily mode of travel, as well as for sport and leisure activity. There are numerous annual cycling events which take place within our area. Cumbria County Council’s Annual Traffic count shows a 52.3% increase in cycle usage from 2007 to 2010 in the Kendal District alone. Cafes, restaurants, pubs, B&Bs, cycle, outdoor clothing and independent food shops all benefit from the trade provided by cyclists. The PROW network will only continue to contribute to tourism success and cycling if users find it attractive, accessible well signposted and well maintained.
2. The benefits of maintaining PROW in good order for residents and visitors are essential in encouraging the well-being, good health and independence of young and old. There are quantifiable spin-offs because the service helps to tackle such issues as obesity, mental ill-health and improved general well-being, whilst making a positive contribution to sustainable transport and carbon reduction. So financial support from the County Council for PROW helps to fulfil a wide range of Council policy objectives, and at modest cost when compared with the cost of maintaining the highways network. This consultation does not propose, or invite comment on reductions in the comparatively large budget for the roads in Cumbria. In view of the cuts proposed for the PROW network and other cuts to vital children’s and vulnerable adults’ services, this omission seems illogical.
3. The PROW service represents good value for money because it draws in monies and assistance from cycling organisations such as Sustrans and CTC. The work of CCC staff is enhanced by the benefits of time and labour given freely by the numerous volunteers involved.

Andrew Judson
Chairman – KDCS

Update on Riverside Route/New Road, Kendal

LIZ ASHBURN WRITES:

I am often asked about progress (or lack of it) on the section of the Riverside Route along New Road, so in the light of the consultation process currently being run by SLDC on the proposals for the common land used for parking I thought an update was due.

Some time ago Cumbria CC asked Capita to assess the effect on the traffic of closing the inside lane of New Road between Gooseholme footbridge and Miller Bridge. The conclusion of this study was that this would increase traffic congestion slightly, and so Cumbria CC decided that this should not happen, and the cycle route should be located off the highway and run through the proposed open space to be established by SLDC on the area of common land used for parking.

SLDC's proposals for the common land do not include a cycle route, since they consider that this would be best provided on the nearside lane of the highway which is little used by traffic now that Miller Bridge is now narrowed to one lane. Also the legal position of common land is such that a cycle route cannot be located there. SLDC are very keen for the Riverside Route to be completed across this area, and have asked Cumbria CC to reconsider the decision not to use part of the inside lane of the highway for the route. I have had a recent discussion with Mark Brierley (Cumbria CC Cycle Development Officer), who considers that if a decision to locate the route on the inside lane was made, this could not be constructed until the car parking on the common land ceased, as cars enter and leave the parking area most of the way along the nearside of the inside lane.

So it is important that the New Road scheme goes ahead as soon as possible. I have also spoken to Graham Vincent (SLDC Councillor promoting the New Road scheme) and Clare Feaney-Johnson (my Cumbria CC Councillor) who are both very pro Riverside Route and the wider cycle network and appreciate our support.

So... if we are to influence this process the two most useful things that KDCSers can do are;

1. To respond to SLDC's consultation (click here) by pointing out that the absence of a cycle route is noted, and that linking up the recently constructed section of the Riverside Route with the existing cycle route past Waterside should be a high priority and that this section should be located on the underused inside lane of the highway. I will be responding to this as KDCS spokesperson.

2. Email or write to their County councillor in their own words (find your Councillor) to point out
a. That the inside lane is used very infrequently, mostly by cars entering and leaving the illegal parking area on common land.
b. The present situation is unsafe as pedestrians walk in the highway between Gooseholme Bridge and the pelican crossing because there is no footpath along New Road. Frequently people with buggies and pushchairs are forced to use the highway as there is no space between parked cars to get to the pelican crossing.
c. The traffic lanes on New Road are relatively wide, and if they were narrowed to the same dimension as the two lanes in Kirkland then space on the nearside could be created for a cycle route.
d. A high priority should be given to establishing both a footpath and cycle route along New Road to join up the presently fragmented
Riverside Route, address safety issues and fulfill Cumbria CC policies for transport, health and wellbeing and carbon reduction.

I apologise for the length of this update; if you are still reading this I am very grateful! It may seem that nothing is happening, but things are moving behind the scenes, and can be influenced if we can make it clear to our elected representatives that there is widespread support for these measures among the people who elect them.

Four Seasons Fred Whitton Challenge

Last Sunday saw around 1000 riders take part in this years Fred Whitton Challenge, the annual 112 mile sportive challenge event was won this year by Rob Jebb with a time of 5.47, and as usual even getting a ride in the event was a challenge in its self, as event entries are oversubscibed very quickly.

Now you can ride the Fred Whitton Challenge which covers the most famous mountain passes in the Lake District, in the Four Seasons Fred Whitton Challenge Bike Tour, this can be completed 365 days a year and  at your own pace.
 
The new tour uses state of the art timing facility developed by SORTident UK, making it accessible to those who don't get a place on the annual event, and those who would prefer to take up the challenge at a more leisurely pace.

 You can register and collect a loaned timing card and a rider information leaflet at Coniston Tourist Information Centre. You're then ready to go to the start point and do your ride that day if you like, or you can register and collect a timing card in advance. It's probably best to contact the Tourist Information Centre to check they'll be open when you visit.

More details on the Fred Whitton web site - http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.org.uk/fourseasons_details.php