NEWTON AREA CYCLING GROUP  

NEWS PAGES 2007-8


12th,Mar,2008		 Newtons cyclists get dirty!

The DEVON DIRT bike ride takes place on 20th April starting from Newton Abbot.
The route is 50K or 70K of lanes and off-road cycling around some of Devon's most beautiful parts.The ride is organised by the CTC and costs six pounds to enter.

Details: www.devondirt.co.uk

15th,Feb,2008

New Cycling leaflets for Newton Abbot.

Devon County Council have produced some new cycling maps for Newton Abbot.
Although they show lot's of detail about where to cycle in the town, the group has some reservations about some sections of the map, and there is some confusion on one section from Penn Inn, and also about 2-way cycling in the newly pedestrianised areas around Bank Street.

The maps are also available as .pdf downloads:

www.devon.gov.uk/cyling

13th,Feb,2008		 E-petition for the Bristol to Bath Railway path.

West of England Partnership, composed of local councillors, propose to install the first of four bus rapid transit routes along the Emersons Green to Bristol city centre section of the famous and hugely popular Sustrans Railway Path. This bus route will take most of the width of the already narrow path ;leaving only a 3 metre strip for cycles, walkers, dogs, children and disabled buggies to share. This green corridor is likely to become an ugly, concrete, fenced in busway devoid of vegetation and wildlife. In addition to cycling, this greenway is used for walking to school, shops and shortcuts: many crossing paths will be lost and communities severed. Evidence that this £49 million scheme will reduce congestion is lacking.

<<CLICK HERE>> to sign the petition against this scheme.

Bristol to Bath Cycleroute
- under threat.

10th,Feb,2008

Sheldon Brown has died.

Few who have browsed the web looking for technical information about bikes and cycling can have failed to find the amazing website by Sheldon Brown - the Harris Cyclery USA.
There was sad news today the Sheldon has passed away.
Born in Boston he was also a keen photographer and camera repairer, - a man of many talents whose general contrubution towards the wider interests of cycling was huge.
He will be hard to replace but has left a great legacy with theinformation and work he has done.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/index.htm

30th,Jan,2008		 Dangerous potholes in Devon's lanes.

CTC and NACG members are again calling on the authorities to carry out urgent remedial work on Devon's lanes.
The areas around Newton Aboot are particularly bad, with some huge water filled potholes, and debris which make riding at night in the lanes almost impossible.

Click <<HERE>> for Devon County Councils On-Line road defect report.

Pothole in Edginswell Lane.

12th Dec 2007

Tactile paving in "The Avenue" removed.

The authorities have removed the slippery tactile paving in "The Avenue", and replaced severeal sections with the correct type of slab.

This was in response to concerns of this group and several local cyclists who had expereinced serious skidding problems along this track., << MORE >>

Slippery slabs.

10th Dec 2007		 "CONNECT2 " WIN peoples lottery vote..

SUSTRANS CONNECT2 has won the vote in the peoles millions lottery vote. This is good news for the Newton Abbot Area where there are two main schemes which should eventually be built - the Kingsteignton cycle route behind the racecourse, and the Decoy-Aller link.

28th Nov 2007

Cr*p Cycle Lanes book - get it for Christmas.

A midly amusing and also slightly depressing book has been produced featuring 50 of the worst cycle lanes in the UK.
This has been produced via the "Warrington Cycle Campaign" website which features a different ridiculous cycle facility each month.

Produced by "Eye Books" and available via Amazon and other outlets - £4.99.
Royalties on this book go to the cyclists defence fund.

12th Nov 2007		 "CONNECT2 " peoples lottery vote..

There are local Connect2 schemes in Devon.
In Newton Abbot there is a vitally needed link to join the community of Kingsteignton to Newton Abbot town centre and other areas, plus a proposed Aller Cycle link across the busy and often grid-locked A380.
Kingsteignton, a community of 10,000 people, is linked to nearby Newton Abbot only by the main heavily trafficked Newton Road. There are no separate footpaths or cycle routes despite the two communities being scarcely more than a mile apart. This proposal would utterly change the existing map of the area by building a new route along the edge of the Racecourse and then crossing the River Teign on a bridge adjacent to the railway line.
Another vital link across a main road, railway and stream would connect the residential areas of Aller and Milber to Decoy and the south side of Newton Abbot. A number of other links and connections would allow many everyday journeys to be done on foot and by cycle, whilst the nearby proposed restoration of the Stover Canal towpath and link under the A38 trunk road would open up the way to reach Bovey Tracey and Dartmoor
CONNECT2 MUST HAVE YOUR VOTE - TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT IT.
 
 

12th Oct 2007		 "Cycling Bus " is a huge success.

South Dartmoor College at Ashburton ran a " Cycling Bus" to school last week, (8th - 12th October) with children riding in escorted groups from Bovey Tracey and Buckfastleigh.
Seventy Six children took part in the scheme, which has been hailed as a great success, and the College should be justly proud of it's acheivement.


Children cycling to South Dartmoor College.		  

2nd Oct 2007

Concern over skidding on Cycle route

There is concern about the type of tactile paving installed on teh cycleways in Newton Abbot.

There have been many reports of skidding in The Avenue, particularly on a piece of tactile paving which is a textured surface to assist the visually impaired, << MORE >>

Slippery slabs.

19th Sept 2007		 Cycling could save UK half a billion.

The British taxpayer could be saved more than £520m over the next decade if more cyclists are encouraged back onto the nation’s roads according to a new report released today.
Cycling England – the body charged by the government to encourage more people to cycle more safely and more often – says a 20% increase in journeys by bike would trim down healthcare costs while cutting congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. In their report, 'Valuing the Benefits of Cycling', the body estimates that, through an annual investment of £70m in cycling initiatives, up to 54 million car journeys a year could be reduced by 2012. This proposed decrease would subsequently cut CO2 emissions by 35,000 tonnes.

According to their findings, an adult who swaps a car for a bicycle on a return journey of 2.5 miles (the average cycle trip) could make an annual saving of £137.28 through reduced congestion.
What’s more, the typical cyclist saves the NHS £28.30 per year. The study, undertaken by SQW Consulting, says that if the number of cycle journeys returns to 1995 levels (currently down 20% - from 43 journeys per person per year to 36), then by 2015 around £523m could be saved. The breakdown of this figure takes in premature adult deaths (£107m), adult NHS costs (£52m), absence from work (£87m), pollution (£71m), congestion (£207m).
"There are very few activities that tackle so many of the things that the government is concerned about, from health and obesity to government and pollution," claims Phillip Darnton, chairman of Cycling England. "An investment of £70m is small in terms of government spending, and this study shows that it will work."

11th Sept 2007		 Tour of Britian comes to Devon.

Exmoor was bathed in warm sunny weather this morning as The e-On Tour Of Britain ran it's second stage from Yeovilton, through North Somerset, crossing briefly into Devon before finishing at Taunton.
The toll road at Porlock was lined with crowds, including many from most local cyling clubs and CTC groups.
There was then the opportunity to ride down to Exford which had a garden party atmosphere, and see the race again.
Others cycled up to watch at Dunster, Wheddon Cross, Simonsbath and Watersmeet.

Tour of Britain - Stage 2 - EXFORD.

24th Aug 2007		 Newton Abbot cyclists complete Epic 1200Km ride

Several cyclists from the Newton Abbot area have completed the 1200Km PARIS-BREST-PARIS event this week. The conditions were poor with lot's of rain and it was quite windy.

28th July 2007		 Bicycology visit Exeter

The environmental and cycling group "Bicycology" based themselves in Exeter for a weekend at the end of July, and hosted many events for cyclists and potential cyclists.		 Bicycology

15th July 2007 		CTC launch " CYCLEHERO" film trailer.

July 14th to 22nd is " Cyclehero" week. Last month the National Cyclists Organisation launched a short trailer film promoting cycling as a thing to do to help avert the chaos of climate change.
You can view the trailer at:
WWW.CYCLEHERO.COM
There is also a DVD which has extended versions on it, plus other cycling films.

11th, July,2007		 Local cycleways are underwater.

Local cyclists were surprised to find that sections of the Templer Way cycle route had been washed away, and parts of it were underwater. The track is almost at river level, and recent rains mean that the area has become heavily flooded. Recently a 12 foot hole appeared in the track, - this area is now a running stream, and has a temporary log footway over it.

10th,July,2007		 Sustainable transport consultancy bans bikes!

A large consultancy with a specialism in sustainable transport advice banned staff from travelling on bicycles or motorbikes because they say they are too dangerous. Jacobs Babtie's clients include Transport for London.
In an e-mail to all employees, a copy of which has been obtained by The Times, the company's health and safety manager says: "It's patently obvious that if you are struck by a wayward vehicle when you are on a bicycle or motorbike you are going to be more severely affected than if you were in a car. The reason for this policy is to protect our employees from other vehicles on the road""

9th,July,2007 		Heated debate over Newton Abbot cycle routes.

The recent meeting of the NACG included a fairly heated debate about cycle routes in Newton Abbot, and considerable frustration was expressed at the inability to get from Kingsteignton to the town centre via any route that would be safe for children.
Firm support was given for the proposed connect route behind the racecourse down to Town Quay, but there is concern that this route may not be a priority for funding when there will be a TV vote for these facilities in the Autumn.
The meeting was attended by local Teignbridge Councillor David Corney-Walker, and John Halliday from Devon County Council Highways Area South who has recently taken on this area after spending several years managing the South Hams service group.
See bottom of this page for a link to the NACG minutes and Notes.

7th,July,2007

TOUR DE FRANCE comes to UK

Thousands of cycling enthusiasts were in London and Kent at the weekend to watch the Tour De France with it's prologue Time Trial in central London, and the first stage finishing at Canterbury in Kent.

18th,June,2007 		Vehicles continue to block "The Avenue" cycle route.

Newton Abbot's pavement parkers are still at large.
A cyclist was forced to ride against the traffic tonight after two cars were parked adjacent to each other blocking both cycleway and footway.
The incident was photographed and copies sent to councillors and police.

A girl has to ride against oncoming traffic
- cycle lanes blocked by parked cars.

18th,June,2007 		NEWTON ABBOT cyclist attacked for not riding on pavement!

Police are hunting for the driver of a silver VW Passat who attacked a cyclist in Courtlands Road on 9th June at 8pm
The 15 year old boy was cycling on his BMX bike along the road, when the driver pulled alongside and shouted at him saying he should be on the pavement.
When the boy tried to argue with the driver the man got out of the car and pushed him onto the ground casuing cuts and bruises.


18th,June,2007 		BMX event cancelled.

Heavy rain has dashed hopes of running the first ever BMX slopestyle event at Decoy.
The course was partly washed away and it was not possible to reconstruct it in time for the event which had attracted riders from worldwide.


5th,June,2007 		Highway Code petition suceeds.

Proposed changes to the Highway Code that would mean cyclists would have to use cycle tracks where available have been quoshed.

 		 


3rd,June,2007
 The Buzzard is back!

Th notorious Buzzard who hates cyclists is back in North Devon again.
It's been bombarding cyclists in the area for the fourth year running.

Cycling groups have called on authorities to try and take some form of action but to date there is just advice to cyclists to stay clear of the area.

Feathered friend or foe?

15th,May 2007		 DARTMOOR CLASSIC - hundreds face the downpour.

Many hundreds of cyclists completed teh first Dartmoor Classic Cyclosportif on 13th May.
At the field of Ten Tors walkers was evacuated from the moor fearinf rising river levels the Clasic riders set out.

www.dartmoorclassic.co.uk

22nd, April,2007

Seventy four riders turn out for DEVON DIRT.

This years Devon Dirt was a great success with over seventy riders turning out.
The route was the same as 2006, through Great Plantation, and on viab Lustleigh Cleave to Hunters Tor, North Bovey and returning through Houndtor Woods and Pullabrook Woods.
The afternoon section was over to Torbay via Stokeinteignhead, and a newtwork of tracks and lanes back to Newton Abbot.

WWW.DEVONDIRT.CO.UK

4th, April,2007
New Highway Code revision is a threat.

Further revisons in the Highway Code proposed by the DSA mean that cyclists who don't use cycletracks where they are available will be deemed to be breaking the Highway Code.
In our area where there are virtually nocycling "Networks" and just bits of track going here and there , the proposed revision is ludicrous.
 

4th, April,2007		 Cycling on the right track...from Jon Snow.

Cycling and rail travel are perfect partners. The combination provides a 'doorstep-to-destination' option for longer-distance journeys which might otherwise be possible only by car. It is also a really simple way to set about tackling a whole range of problems all in one go: obesity, air pollution, congestion and climate change to name but a few!

The Government is currently working on a White Paper which will determine rail policy and spending plans for the next 30 years. It's due out in July, so the time to influence it is right now. You can automatically email your MP urging them to support cycle-rail integration using a website set up by CTC - the UK's national cyclists' organisation. Personal anecdotes about the problems (or examples of good practice) you have encountered will help them to impress on Ministers that this is an issue which really needs addressing. So I'd urge you to visit www.ctc.org.uk/cyclerail and follow the instructions from there. And do pass this message onto other cyclist friends. Remember this is a "once in 30 years" opportunity to influence Government policy on this vital issue. Please get emailing - every message counts!


CTC President Jon Snow.

20th,March,2007		 Smooth road surface causes crash.

Despite the danger of our badly potholed and rutted lanes in the area, two local cyclists fell from their bikes near Woodland because the surface was too smooth.
John Beesley and Jackie Brodie were riding towards Denbury near Venn Cross when their wheels went from under them. Both suffered minor injuries, and damage to bikes and clothing. The surface was so slippery they could hardly stand up, and Johns bike skidded again further along the same section of road.

20th,March,2007		 DARTMOOR CLASSIC - full entry at 1200 places.

The inaugural Dartmoor Classic has already exceeded expectation, as the event now has a full field of riders increased from 1000 to a new maximum of 1200.
The event is being organised by the Mid Devon Cycling Club and now has it's own website where you can enter and look at the route.
Devon County TravelWise is a partner in promoting the event.

www.dartmoorclassic.co.uk

19th,March,2007		 Connect2 routes for Newton Abbot area.

There was a meeting of Devon County Council officials, Sustrans, and NACG repesentatives in Newton Abbot to look at cycle routes across the town as part of the "CONNECT 2" initiative.

A promising scheme is the one to link Kingsteignton to Newton Abbot via a cycle route around the back of the racecourse which would avoid the heavily trafficked main road, and narrow bridge.
Another scheme which is being pressed for is a bridge crossing at Aller proving a walking and cycling link from Aller to Decoy, avoiding the need to go under the Penn Inn Subways, and through the narrow railway tunnel in Keyberry Road.

www.sustransconnect2.org.uk#

Connect2 for Newton Abbot.

1st,Feb,2007
New Website for reporting potholes is launched.

The CTC have launched a national website for reporting potholes.
The site features on line mapping to guide you to the location of the pothole. The report is then referenced and then sent to CTC HQ where it will then be forwarded on to the relevant authority for action.
Have a look at this site - it's easy to use, so if you spot a pothole when out cycling, log it straightaway.


27th,Jan,2007		 Cyclist who refused to stay in the gutter wins re-trial:

A cyclist who was found guilty last year of inconsiderate cycling, whilst cycling in accordance with the National Standard for cycle training, has today won a re-trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

CTC member Daniel Cadden was cycling fast downhill on a single-lane carriageway when he was stopped by police who believed that the position he had taken in his lane was forcing cars to cross the solid white line in the centre of the road illegally in order to overtake. But rather than stop the cars that had broken the law, the officers decided to charge Daniel Cadden with inconsiderate cycling.

The judge and two magistrates accepted the arguments put forward by Cadden’s barrister, Francis Fitzgibbon, that there was no legal obligation for cyclists to use cycle tracks, that the police’s evidence did not support the alleged offence and that causing only a short delay to drivers did not constitute “inconsiderate cycling”.

<<CLICK HERE>> to read more.		  

24th,Jan,2007

CTC funded to back awareness of climate change.

The Government has awarded the UK's national cyclists' organisation, CTC, almost £300,000 to raise awareness of climate change amongst cyclists. At the heart of the project will be a thought-provoking short film to be shown this summer in cinemas and on other media.

CTC has been getting cyclists onto their bikes for 128 years. In 1896, just as the first cars were venturing onto the cyclists' roads and CTC members were equipping themselves with the new pneumatic tyres, Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius realised that carbon dioxide released from burning coal would lead to global warming. Today the science has been confirmed - over the last two hundred years levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have increased by 30%. Just under a third of the greenhouse gas missions that we produce come from transport, households and industry.

CTC Fundraiser, Chris Peck, said: "Cyclists are already ahead of the game - every trip we make on the bike rather than the car does something to reduce our own impact. As we and the rest of the population understand more about the challenge of climate change we will begin to do more about it. "





CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS FROM NATIONAL WEBSITE

24th,Jan,2007		 Over 500 sign up for dartmoor Classic Cyclosportif.

The inaugural Dartmoor Classic Cyclosportif takes place on 13th May 2007. Already 550 riders have entered the ride, which is hoped to attract all abilities of ridres from Elite to Novice.
The event is being organised by the Mid Devon Cycling Club and now has it's own website where you can enter and look at the route.
Devon County TravelWise is a partner in promoting the event.

www.dartmoorclassic.co.uk

24th,Jan,2007		 New Bikes for the Aces!

Abbrook Aces - the junior section of the MDCC have received a dozen new bikes as part of lottery funding. The hybrid bikes are suitable for all different types of riding including the regular training sessions run at the Abbrook Park Sports and Social centre.

22nd,Jan,2007		 Cyclists urged to report dangerous roads.

Following reports from the County Council that the government are not going to allow any extra money for roads maintenance this year, cyclists are being urged to report potholes and dangerous roads to highlight the problem and get them repaired promptly.
CTC and NACG members are organising a campaign to try and lobby councillors, and MP's to try and get more cash for repairs.

As cycling is part of the "global warming" solution to which governments and councils are committed - it follows that money should be spend on schemes which make it easier to cycle - e.g. Well maintained roads network.

Click <<HERE>> for Devon County Councils On-Line road defect report.
Poholed road near Satverton - December 2006

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