Today I went to see a new pedestrian/cycling bridge being lowered into position across the R Beam, nr Western Avenue Dagenham, joining Beam Valley Country Park with Bretons Outdoor Recreation Centre. The bridge should be ready for use in about 3-4 weeks time - marki it on your maps now - and the formal opening will be on 28 April 2015, which is the 80th birthday of veteran walking campaigner Michael Cullen, who has doggedly campaigned for a bridge in this vicinity for many years.
The bridge is a Sustrans project funded by TfL. Some photos and moving pictures I took are here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/105158567856821703505/CullenBridge20141020
Showing posts with label sustrans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sustrans. Show all posts
Monday, 20 October 2014
Monday, 21 July 2014
Gascoigne Cycling
Sustrans' Gascoigne Cycling Project delivered by Trailnet and various volunteers goes from strength to strength. They now have a shop from where they operate their bike repair / training / exchange projects. See http://www.trailnet.org.uk/gascoigne-cycle-centre
Saturday, 23 February 2013
What kind of London cycle network?
Sustrans, the National Cycle Network charity, have started a petition to persuade the Mayor of [Greater] London to create the world's biggest cycle network by 2020, which they have called the London Cycle Network - a name I think they'll find is already taken. It's a nice headline, and the concept of spending less than the cost of a new Underground train is attractive.
I don't think the cycling advocacy community in London is particularly impressed by Sustrans' independent move - apparently there was no consulatation with LCC or CTC, but I'm looking here about what kind of cycle network Sustrans favours, and the pros and cons.
Sustrans favours off-road and quiet routes. The advantage of these is that they encourage new and less confident cyclists. They can, being quiet, be attractive to experienced cyclists too, if they are prepared at a given time to put up with the disadvantages.New off road links can be valid additions to a cycle route network if they shorten journeys (that is do not parallel other routes/links) and ublocking quiet roads is also perfectly valid. These improvememts really come under 'permeability'.
The disadvantages of quiet routes are several. They could be to the exclusion of improving all roads for cycling, they can take people to secluded areas where they may not feel / be socially safe, especially after dark, and they don't equip cyclists with the skills to ride in mixed traffic on ordinary roads.
Intellectually, the 'answer' to this dilemma really depends on how much weight is given to the individual pros and cons of quiet route networks, but I want to make some empirical - anecdotal really - observations. The approach of training people to cycle in general traffic is a good one, but how do you get to people who are not confident, and are (probably as a result) very resistant to cycling on any but the quietest roads? I dis some volunteering with such novices over the summer, and is does seem to me that carefully and slowly conducting them over the quietest of roads to the local park for a less inhibited cycle does have its merits. The location of the participants homes does constrain the scope of rides (severance by A13, A406 and surface railway lines) and this is exacerbated by the fact that some participants had trailers to carry non cycling children.
To see some of the participants in the saddle at these events is to see people that are far off from day to day cycling in mixed traffic. This is based on their self-perception as well as my observation. Many participants were on bikes borrowed from the organisers (Sustrans), so they get to ride basically once a week. Improving vehicle control, strength and stamina is genuinely a high priority for such people, and more than enough to be going on with in the short amount of time that they have available. From these people's perspective, the Sustrans approach of increasing the network of quiet routes makes perfect sense. They are unlikely to go out cycling unaccompanied at all, let alone in the dark. They perceive cycling as a day-time leisure activity.
Who knows if these people might develop into utility cyclists, cycling for transport as they commute or go about their personal business, or do the school run? The cycling they are attracted to is off-road leisure cycling, and Sustrans may well be right to try to tap into that particular vein. It may be the one way into cycling that is most widely possible/available.
I don't think the cycling advocacy community in London is particularly impressed by Sustrans' independent move - apparently there was no consulatation with LCC or CTC, but I'm looking here about what kind of cycle network Sustrans favours, and the pros and cons.
Sustrans favours off-road and quiet routes. The advantage of these is that they encourage new and less confident cyclists. They can, being quiet, be attractive to experienced cyclists too, if they are prepared at a given time to put up with the disadvantages.New off road links can be valid additions to a cycle route network if they shorten journeys (that is do not parallel other routes/links) and ublocking quiet roads is also perfectly valid. These improvememts really come under 'permeability'.
The disadvantages of quiet routes are several. They could be to the exclusion of improving all roads for cycling, they can take people to secluded areas where they may not feel / be socially safe, especially after dark, and they don't equip cyclists with the skills to ride in mixed traffic on ordinary roads.
Intellectually, the 'answer' to this dilemma really depends on how much weight is given to the individual pros and cons of quiet route networks, but I want to make some empirical - anecdotal really - observations. The approach of training people to cycle in general traffic is a good one, but how do you get to people who are not confident, and are (probably as a result) very resistant to cycling on any but the quietest roads? I dis some volunteering with such novices over the summer, and is does seem to me that carefully and slowly conducting them over the quietest of roads to the local park for a less inhibited cycle does have its merits. The location of the participants homes does constrain the scope of rides (severance by A13, A406 and surface railway lines) and this is exacerbated by the fact that some participants had trailers to carry non cycling children.
To see some of the participants in the saddle at these events is to see people that are far off from day to day cycling in mixed traffic. This is based on their self-perception as well as my observation. Many participants were on bikes borrowed from the organisers (Sustrans), so they get to ride basically once a week. Improving vehicle control, strength and stamina is genuinely a high priority for such people, and more than enough to be going on with in the short amount of time that they have available. From these people's perspective, the Sustrans approach of increasing the network of quiet routes makes perfect sense. They are unlikely to go out cycling unaccompanied at all, let alone in the dark. They perceive cycling as a day-time leisure activity.
Who knows if these people might develop into utility cyclists, cycling for transport as they commute or go about their personal business, or do the school run? The cycling they are attracted to is off-road leisure cycling, and Sustrans may well be right to try to tap into that particular vein. It may be the one way into cycling that is most widely possible/available.
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
Gascoigne family bike rides
The Sustrans led rides starting at the Gascoigne Children's Centre held successfully over the summer, will continue, though at the later time of 4pm to fit in with school. Bikes can be provided for those that don't have their own, and there are some child trailers too. It is helpful to know if you want to borrow a bike/trailer. Contact
Christabel Buchanan / +44 7833 057603 for more details and to reserve your bike.
I'm not sure yet how much longer the rides will continue - perhaps until the clocks go back.
I'm not sure yet how much longer the rides will continue - perhaps until the clocks go back.
Friday, 31 August 2012
Bike "M" Checks
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/assets/files/free%20range%20kids/families/frk_bikemcheck.pdf
The basic ABC check of a bike is often suggested ride organisers for quick checks of participants bike.
The M check is a more extended check regime devised by Sustrans.
The basic ABC check of a bike is often suggested ride organisers for quick checks of participants bike.
The M check is a more extended check regime devised by Sustrans.
Friday, 27 July 2012
stibasa widens official net
I am now the local (ie B&D) rep for http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk/ and a volunteer for www.sustrans.org.uk. Sustrans has a paid officer working in Barking (Gascoigne Estae, mainly) and thios means there will be more cycling and walking events, to which all will be welcome (usually if not always). I will advertise these on Stibasa.
These organisations aims are compatible with LCC's and definitely fit into the stibasa philosophy. Threre's a formal lonk at local level now, though.
These organisations aims are compatible with LCC's and definitely fit into the stibasa philosophy. Threre's a formal lonk at local level now, though.
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Bike Belles
http://www.bikebelles.org.uk/ is a new Sustrans micro-site subtitled "What every woman needs to know to get out and about by bike".
Saturday, 24 November 2007
Sustrans needs your vote for £50M to be spent on walking and cycling
Sustrans' Connect2 project www.sustransconnect2.org.uk needs your vote at www.thepeoples50million.org.uk
to get money to spend on the project from the lottery. The People's £50 million projects will be shown on ITV1 and telephone voting will be open from Friday 7 - Monday 10 December.
to get money to spend on the project from the lottery. The People's £50 million projects will be shown on ITV1 and telephone voting will be open from Friday 7 - Monday 10 December.
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