I think it's really coming along. There's an addy at the bottom for people who want to subscribe. I've cut out a couple of items, but this still gives you a good idea of the contents.
IN THIS ISSUE OF NEWSNET
Free bike hire in Cardiff
Cycling Scooby Doo
This week it was announced that Cardiff will be the first Sustainable Travel Town in Wales. Over the next two years, the Welsh Assembly Government and Cardiff Council will spend £28.5 million on offering free bicycle hire, free bus travel within the city centre, and more routes for cyclists and pedestrians. In addition to encouraging more people to travel by sustainable means, Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones noted the potential this scheme has to encourage physical activity.
Pedalling raw data
You can now see a map of the location of all cycle crashes that have been reported to the police. Directgov, released data this week to make it easier to see where cycle crashes take place. CTC Campaigns Manager Roger Geffen said, “Road safety data is always useful and we welcome its publication. However, we would caution against the suggestion on the Directgov website that it can be used to see which roads are dangerous and which ones are safe. A road with lots of cyclist casualties isn’t necessarily a “dangerous” road, it might just be one that cyclists use a lot. Conversely, you won’t find many cyclist injuries on the M1, yet that doesn’t make it a safe cycle route! To view the data on a map you’ll need to download Google Earth, then download the Directgov files.
Legal threat to parked bikes
Plans for council workers in London to arbitrarily remove parked bikes have been blocked. Earlier this week, the Lords Committee examining the Bill also rejected its proposals to allow different London boroughs to choose what fines they would levy for pavement cycling, depending not on the gravity of the offence, but merely on how strongly ‘anti-cyclist’ their Councillors wanted to be.
Formula 1 bicycle
What has Formula 1 racing got to do with bicycles? The Science Museum in London opened a new exhibition this week about how F1 technology is shaping other machines and changing the world. The star attraction is the ‘ ultimate training bike for cyclists’, which incorporates instant data sensors designed for racing cars and there’s even a touch screen built into the handlebars.
Danube by Bike Tour 2009
You may have read the feature ‘Down the Danube’ in the latest issue of ‘Cycle’; now here’s your chance to cycle beside Europe’s second longest river for free. As CTC belongs to the European Cyclists’ Federation, CTC members are invited to join a free cycle tour along the Danube. Cyclists from all over Europe will ride together on the ‘ Danube by Bike Tour’ from 23 June to 27 June 2009. Participation and accommodation during the tour is free, but you’ll have to pay your own travel costs to and from the beginning and end of the route. Spaces are limited and registration closes on Friday 1 May 2009.
Don’t forget your bike
As you know, CTC spends time lobbying for cyclists to have better access to public transport, including ferries, so we were intrigued to hear about the story of a cyclist in the USA who forgot to take her bike off a one. If you do likewise, the thing to remember is that the coastguard may think you have decided to swim to shore and start searching for you.
No Bike Week
According to The Bike Show, a podcast from a community radio station in London, right now it’s No Bike Week, a time when keen cyclists don’t ride, but record their thoughts in an audio diary. To find out if they survive without their bikes, you can download the show from their website.
You can’t beat a bit of Scooby Doo on a Friday afternoon. In this random episode, Shaggy’s bike gets stolen by a monster, so there’s a cycling link and therefore a legitimate excuse for you to watch it! Go on, you know you want to.
Rough Ride
Rough Ride is now in its seventh year and has moved back a week to 14 June. The mountain bike challenge starts in Herefordshire, the most rural county in England, and crosses moorland in the county of Radnorshire in the Welsh Marches. There's not a jot of forestry and a small amount of road, so if you're interested in a laid back proper mountain bike challenge, have a look at http://www.roughride.co.uk/.
Beaumanor Hall
CTC East Midlands Region are inviting CTC members to join them at Beaumanor Hall for another cycle camping weekend from 22 - 25 May. Enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Beaumanor Hall near Loughborough, Leicestershire and a range of cycle rides for all abilities. For more information and a booking form email Ray Clay.
Cycle in China
CTC Holidays is cycling through Yunnan this autumn, which promises to be a journey through China's most varied province. There will be plenty of sightseeing opportunities, including the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge. China is a 17 day tour from 17 October to 2 November. CTC holidays are not-for-profit and are exclusive to CTC members. For more information or to book your place see the CTC Holidays website.
Product of the week: New tools
Save 20% on a Lifeline Workshop Tool Kit which costs just £39.99 from the CTC Shop. Every purchase you make through the CTC Shop helps to support the campaigning work we do and it is now run in partnership with Wiggle, who are offering CTC members exclusive deals and discounts.
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