Campaign to improve cycling infrastructure and uptake in Ely, Cambridgeshire
I’m in Holland, house sitting for friends in their house in Utrecht. We arrived by plane on Sunday, Monday I hired a cargo bike to transport my kiddies about, we’ve really only been using it to get around – this isn’t a cycling holiday but our transportation is predominantly by bike. We’ve covered miles, rain and shine and it’s been easy, seamless and well, just getting around.
I came across a link to an article about working mums cycling that made my heart sink [pdf]
HALF of British working women would love to cycle to the office but don’t think they have the time, a new survey has revealed. Juggling children, changing into cycle gear, carrying everything in a backpack and securing a bike means employed women reckon cycling to work is just a dream. The poll by salary sacrifice firm Computershare Salary Extras (CSE) may help explain why only a quarter of regular cyclists on our roads are women. Exactly 50 per cent of women say “time worries” push personal image issues into a distant second. Just 26 per cent of the female respondents said a “fear of looking flustered at work” was their reason for not cycling. “This survey reveals just how stretched British working women really are,” said CSE managing director Julian Foster. “We know from the responses that many would love to cycle, for all sorts of reasons. “It’s such a shame that so many feel it’s too much time because, very often, cycling would actually save time.” He added: “The tone of the responses was ‘it would be perfect, but who’s got the time to mess about with bikes in the morning?
After one of the City of Ely councillors informed me that you can’t do your supermarket shopping by bike, I have been inspired to keep a record of just how much shopping I can do by bike. This evening’s £63 shop in Sainsbury’s, including 6 pints of yoghurt, a litre of washing up liquid, a large bag of fruit and veg, a dozen eggs (none broken) icecream tub, Tirimisu Magnums!!! so not watching my weight figuratively or otherwise. I now can cycle up Lisle Lane in 2nd gear, that might be the lack of child on the back. I do only have 3 gears, 2 being the flat gear mainly. This can also be my way to brag about my fitness regime, no donations to charity necessary, although Ely Cycle Campaign is a bargain at £6 a year.
Just when I’d calmed down and stopped spitting fire about cycling on the river, crossing Lynn Road with my kids and their bikes without being run over, how long the S106 money is taking to get actually used, Back Hill Junction stalemate, the paint around the potholes on Lynn Road being so old, it’s almost totally faded… Oh, and fellow City Councillors who stay stuff like “Cyclists should pay road tax”, I got an invitation.
As some of you may know there is currently a series of cycle race events going on around the country called the Tour Series.
These are city / town centre races involving some of the biggest names in UK national cycling, including Olympic Champions like Ed Clancy. The races happen in the early evening and bring in large crowds (see photo). They are also broadcast on TV.
We will meet at Ely Station at 1pm leaving 1.15 sharp.
For women, kids and families wanting to get a bit further afield on their bikes, this is an excellent chance to discover a new route.
NCN11 from Ely to Wicken is very easy and is almost entirely off road or on very quiet b roads. It’s about 5 miles, there are no hills and takes between half an hour and an hour at a very gentle pace. We will keep together as a group and no-one gets left behind. The paths are suitable for trailers and trailer bikes and this is doable for kids on their own bikes from about 7, my 6 year old has done it now a couple of times.
There is a Facebook group Ely Women and Families Pedal Power Rides in East Cambs for updates and a chance to suggest routes, ask questions, suggest dates and create your own bike ride if you like.
If you want to come, you can contact Christine via the contact email.
Yet again this week “Anti-Social Cycling” is reported in the paper. This time it’s the City Council who feel it is an issue. The truth is that cycling is actually a very “Pro-Social” activity, unlike driving around in cars.
This is the first year that we as the Ely Cycling Campaign have organised the ride to Reach Fair from Ely. I went last year with my then 5 year old son who cycled with us to Wicken and got taken the rest of the way by car. This year he’d initially said, no way, too far! 6 year 
olds are far more aware of when they want to expend their energy it seems. But then at the 11th hour, as I was getting my bike out to leave, he runs out the door, bare foot, half dressed announcing he’s coming after all.
As some of you will be aware the shop at the BP filling station on the A10 / A142 junction recently changed hands from Budgens to M&S. As part of the refurbishment the nasty cycle parking has been removed. Unfortunately it’s not been replaced, despite there being ample room to put in 3 or 4 cycle hoops to provide some good quality cycle parking.
The Get Britain Cycling Report Report is published today. It is an initiative of the All Party
Parliamentary Cycling Group (APPCG), a cross party body with members
in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
You can download the Summary and Recommendations here [PDF]
We have pulled out the vision and recommendations below. If you think these should be implemented then you can sign an e-petition here
Continue reading “Get Britain Cycling Report – What it recommends”
Ely Cycling Campaign