LCAG

Mark Cavendish said winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2011 is a victory for his beloved sport of cycling.

Here is some of his acceptance speech…

“Thank you to everyone at home who has voted. This is a landmark in cycling and I take this on behalf of cycling.”

“It makes me incredibly happy and so proud that I can play a part in making cycling a mainstream sport.”

“Its incredible to see, its incredible to be part of that, and see the amount of people out riding bikes to work commuting and doing it as a hobby.”

“I see a lot of people out and about riding bikes and it always makes me smile every time I see a family or a child on a bike.”

Change is caused by campaigning – whether shouting loudly or more traditional letter writing.

There has been a Cycle to Work scheme for many years now, set up by the government to encourage cycling. It encourages employees to start commuting by bicycle with discounted costs (of the initial bike purchase and accessories using tax rebates – see www.bike2workscheme.co.uk for details). Most employers are happy to encourage this as it is no charge to them and simple to operate. Indeed, they may be attracted to the benefits of healthier and happier employees, less pollution, congestion etc.

However Leeds City Council seems to be less enthusiastic than most employers. Our inside contact has told us that the council may not run the scheme this year, though their HR department often receive enquiries about it, perhaps two per week.

Whether the senior council leaders are pro-car anti-cyclists or simply apathetic about this issue, it is LCAG’s view that the council should be encouraged to operate and actively promote the Cycle to Work scheme, particularly as it is a public sector organisation with responsibility for transport infrastructure and public health. In fact the council has publicly stated environmental aims (see www.leeds.gov.uk) yet in relation to this matter it does not seem to be serious when it says, “We want to lead by example and to encourage others to improve their environmental standards”.

Letter – print out or e-mail LCAG encourage you to send a letter to your councillors about this issue. Cross ‘X’ appears in four places where you need to make the letter personal (these are your address, Councillors address, Councillors name, and your name under your signature). The linked to letter provides further suggestions but please feel free to amend it for yourself, indeed it would be better to use your own words as far as possible.

To find out who your councillors are (everyone in Leeds has three) simply enter your postcode into the website democracy.leeds.gov.uk/mgFindCouncillor

Here are some tips for riding through the winter months.

Dave’s tips
Always ride with two lights at the front and two at the back. As well as increasing your visibility this is vital insurance as batteries can and do go flat, or even on a couple of occasions I’ve accidentally switched one off but fortunately the other was still running.

There is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong cloths. Time for a trip to your local bike shop.

Richard’s tip
The more lights, the better. You can put one or two on your helmet if you wear one, as well as on your bike. With a little ingenuity and a rubber band or two, it can be done!

Angela’s tip
Thin silk gloves inside your winter gloves…makes a massive difference.

Jon’s Tip
I do not wear a helmet when cycling except when mountain biking or when its icy. I didn’t use to but a few tangles with black ice made me decide that I was quite likely to have a low speed spill in these conditions so that on balance (no pun intended!) it was worth wearing one. Also I was unlikely to have an overheated head in this conditions, which is one of the reasons I don’t usually wear a helmet.

Martin’s tips
Lightweight waterproof trousers keep you warm and dry.
Change to wet lube for your chain.
Use good brake blocks or pads.

Allan’s Tips
Choosing a route: As the temperature dips below zero use bus routes only. They are always gritted first and often swept clear of snow & ice by cars and buses. Ride in the cleared area of the lane. Cars really will go around you.

No tyre (except one with metal studs) is stable on ice so avoid ice that is not well covered with grit. Snow packs into the wide treads of a tyre so knobblies become a ring of ice. A fairly slim tyre
(28 to 35mm) with fine tread is better and cuts a groove in snow and slush that aids stability.

Steven’s tip
Good mudguards. They are the difference between a wet rear, muddy back and bike that’s dirty and clogged up and must be cleaned straight away if you don’t want it to seize up and, well, simply not having that hassle.
After not having any for a while because mudguards don’t look cool (silly), then trying ones that the mud was able to fly round somehow, then ones that didn’t fit and scratched finally I have found mudguards that are just right – light, narrow, black and hug the wheel perfectly without touching it.

Leeds Cycle Point have generously decided that LCAG members can store a bicycle for free during the daytime (it is £1 a day for non-members).

This is an excellent opportunity to spend a short time or indeed a full day in Leeds city centre confident that your bike will be secure.

Whether arriving by train or cycling there, just show your card to the staff to arrange free storage.

Opening hours of 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. Monday to Friday (10-6 weekends, 9-5 BHs). A shop with repair facilities run by Evans Cycles, is conveniently located near the railway station. See www.cyclepoint.org for further details.

Note how easy it is join LCAG, membership is only £7 per year! Just click on the link shown on the right.

Attached here is the latest Leeds City Council drawing showing a proposed arrangement on the A660 near Golden Acre park. They had hoped to bring this to the next cycle forum but the scheme needs to be progressed. If you wish to make comments please email Bobby Virdi at bobby.virdi@leeds.gov.uk by 23rd December 2011.

After viewing the standard of cycle lane that could be provided, and after initial feedback from cyclists, they have taken the view that cycle lanes would not be the correct solution at this location.

They will retain the item on the Agenda for the next Forum and take the opportunity to discuss provision of central hatching and/or right turn pockets versus cycle lanes.

On Wednesday 16th November a deputation consisting of members of Leeds Cycling Action Group, the Leeds University Bicycle Users Group and CTC made a statement to all 99 Councillors calling for better consideration for cycling in Council policies. Pointing out that cycling brings benefits to health, the environment and traffic congestion, the statement lamented the slow progress on cycling facilities in Leeds, the lack of adherence to DfT guidelines on facilities, and the failure of the Council to effectively publicise the facilities and training opportunities which do exist.

You can read a copy of the statement here. Council asked that the matter be referred to their executive, and required a report on our complaints to be prepared.

We await their response and hope it will generate some action.

This Thursday 1 Dec, LCAG hold our first “Action Planning Evening”, your opportunity to share your cycling issues, and together look for ways LCAG can make things better. This may be gathering evidence, contacting authorities, or anything else to empower us to take Action.

By popular demand we’re using an informal environment – a pub – it will also be a great opportunity for pre-Xmas cyclist socialising. The venue is an experiment, we have some alternative suggestions for next year if this doesn’t prove ideal.

Please come if you can – if successful these could be a real campaigning force. Planned action would take place during Jan and Feb 2012, and we’ll get together to see how it went and plan more action on Thu 1 March 2012.

When Thu 1 Dec
Time 7.30pm for a 7.40 start
Food Same place from 6pm
Where Mr Foley’s, The Headrow, back room. Map

The long dining table has been reserved from 7.30 in the name of Dave Holt, and there should be a LCAG logo on the table. Other tables will be commandeered as needed. Please buy at least one drink to support this venue who are providing their space at no cost to LCAG.

Parking? Cycle Point is free to LCAG members, park before 7pm when they close, make sure I know to let you back in to collect your bike when we’re done (approx 9.30pm).

Further information? Just ask!

2nd December – 8.45 PM – Hyde Park Picture House

FROM THE INSIDE OUT – A FREERIDE MOUNTAIN BIKE FILM is the highly anticipated latest release from Anthill Films, the guys behind FOLLOW ME and THE COLLECTIVE. Combining stunning cinematography, a cracking soundtrack and the world’s best freeride mountain bikers, INSIDE OUT captures the lifestyle of these riders set against the backdrop of British Colombia and filming the riders who are at the very top of their game doing what they do best.

Followed by: FOLLOW ME – From Baja to New Zealand, Anthill Films travelled the globe to capture the world’s best freeriders pushing each other to their limits and sometimes beyond.

TICKETS: £8 Full/£6.50 Conc.

OK, so dealing with the Council is less exciting than riding your bike. However, every time you think the roads could be better, remember that Leeds City Council is responsible. Therefore LCAG helped by other local groups are presenting a 5-minute “Deputation” to the full Council meeting, this Wednesday 16 Novemeber 2011 at 1.45pm. Come along to the Civic Hall and watch. Whoop and cheer, if you must!!!

Council and democracy

Read all about it here!!!

Challenge for Change currently have a job vacancy in Leeds which might be of interest.

Challenge for Change work with the CTC to get more people cycling across the UK through their successful behaviour change programmes. They’re currently recruiting for a Project Manager to join their operations team in Leeds. More details including a Job Description, Covering Letter and Application Form can be found at www.challengeforchange.com/awesome-jobs.

Join Green Drinks Leeds on Tuesday 22nd November for a panel discussion on the topic of improving transport sustainability in Leeds.

As a city of 750,000 people, and a regional capital, the demand for travel to & within the city is massive. With transport responsible for 27% of CO2 emissions nationally (and a similar percentage within Leeds), mostly by car, how do we reduce transport’s impact, not only on CO2 levels, but also on other aspects of Leeds social, economic & environmental sustainability?

PANELLISTS

Lisa Brannan, Project Manager for UTravel Active, an innovative, cross-University project to promote sustainable travel among students, staff and members of the local communities around The University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan University.

Matt Barker, Corporate Manager at City Car Club. Based in Leeds, they are a nationwide pay by the hour car hire company. They are committed to sustainable travel, but recognise that at certain times it is useful to have access to a car so offer access to low-emissions cars.

James Bennett, Asset Manager from Metro works within the Local Transport Plan (LTP) team. Currently James’ role involves looking after the Asset & Network Management part of the LTP and also recently working on developing the West Yorkshire Transport Fund proposals. Previous roles include assisting in the development of the 3rd LTP, being the My Bus Yellow School Bus project manager and bus real time information system coordinator.

Venue – Lounge Bar & Grill, St Johns House, Merrion Street, LS2 8JE. It will be in terrace section to the right of the venue