Chesterfield Cycle Campaign

The Campaign had a stall at the Energy Saving Week exhibition held in Chesterfield Town Hall on Thursday 22nd October. The event was open to the public from 12.00 until 7.30pm. Thanks to all members who came along to help.

CTC, Cyclenation and Pedals are organising an Autumn Conference in Nottingham on Saturday November 14th. There will be speakers and workshops relating to cycle campaigning issues.

PDF version of the poster available here.

The Bluebank Loop, a section of bridlepath between Wheeldon Lock and Bluebank Lock on the Chesterfield Canal, has now re-opened following resurfacing work by Derbyshire County Council.

The path had previously been extremely muddy and the subject of complaints by a number of Campaign members.  The new surface, suitable for both cyclists and horses, is smooth and easy to ride on.  The work has also involved cutting back vegetation and laying concrete around bench bases.

The Campaigns 2009 AGM will take place on Tuesday 13th October at 7.30pm in Meeting Room 1 upstairs in the Market Hall.

In June the Prime Minister announced that the Department for Transport would produce a National Cycle Plan to start a cycling revolution in England - separate processes are underway elsewhere in Britain, such as the recent consultation on the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland.

The proposal for a National Cycle Plan is welcome and badly needed. Cycle use in England has grown slightly in the last ten years, though much of that growth has been a consequence of the increase seen in London and a few other areas. The Plan represents an opportunity substantially to increase the use of cycling, and should set out what the aim for cycling should be, how much investment it requires, and what needs to change in order to achieve that increase.

Although Transport Ministers seem genuinely keen to promote cycling, their officials have been given very little time to prepare the Plan, and CTC understands that a public consultation exercise is unlikely. CTC still believes the National Cycle Plan can be an inspirational document which sets us on course for really substantial increases in cycle use. They are therefore seeking your views on what policies and proposals should be included in the Plan, and how to prioritise these.

On conclusion of the survey CTC will compile a report which will be presented to the Department for Transport.

To fill in the survey click here.

From 12th October, the Trans Pennine Trail will be closed to cyclists and horses between Tapton and Brimington Common.  However, the path will remain open to pedestrians.  The section which descends steeply from Grove Road has become significantly water damaged and is now considered to be unsafe.

Derbyshire County Council are currently trying to secure funding for the repairs needed but this may not be possible until the next financial year, from April 2010.

Derbyshire Police have signed up to the Government's Cycle to Work scheme through Halfords' Cycle2Work fully managed service.  By buying bicycles through their employer, cycle commuters can benefit from an average of 40% reduction off RRP.  The scheme initially ran for one month from April 2009 and was so successful that they plan to run it again in May 2010.

Over 120 bikes were purchased with an average value of £560 each, with the Boardman racer/hybrid proving to be very popular.  However, any manufacturer can be purchased in the scheme and Halfords will price-match any store discounted price within a 20 mile radius and also give free 10% extra vouchers for accessories.  Derbyshire Police would recommend any employees to persuade their employer to adopt the scheme as it has a zero cost to the employer, and adds benefits for all their employees.

Halfords is just one of many companies that provide this managed service.  For more information about the Cycle to Work scheme, see Chesterfield Cycle Campaign's fact sheet.

Transport MInister, Lord Adonis today announced that £14 million would be spent to create 10 new cycling hubs at mainline stations and 10,000 extra cycle parking spaces across the country too… although those with good memories will remember that he made a similar announcement in June when he promised £5m to create 10 new bike hubs at mainline stations.

Before we get all cynical it should be said that £5m of this is new money and it will have an effect. We also now know where the

Twenty cyclists joined our ride around town on 22nd September. Most of them stayed for a drink and something to eat at the Crispin. Photo shows us arriving at the Crispin.

On Thursday the Secretary joind with officials from DCC and CBC and with representatives from Sustrans and the TPT to conduct a cycle audit of the north - south route through Chesterfield. There is a further meeting planned for this coming week. Photo shows some of the group looking at the missing bridge on the potential route to the railway station.

Local authorities need more cohesion to offer children safer and healthier lifestyles through better access to play, according to Sustrans.

Sustrans today published Routes to Play, which calls for more joint working across council departments - especially children's services, planning and transport - to ensure young people can get to play spaces actively and independently.

Routes to play responds to research which has highlighted traffic as one of the main barriers to play.