News : 2002

7 November 2002[Top]

BCC Meeting 7 November 2002

Here's a brief summary of matters discussed:

Correspondence
Local Transport Plan. We've received an update on the LTP and will respond.
Helen Holland has replied to our letter complaining about the lack of 20mph areas in Bristol. Both letters will be posted on the website.
Letter from member re lack of bike space on the new Adelante trains.
Bench Marking
John Roy came to talk to us about the benchmarking process that Bristol City Council is involved in. This scheme was instigated by the CTC and the idea is to find best practise for cycle provision. Richard will attend the meeting on 10 December on behalf of BCC and wants to hear people's views. Contact: burtthebike@blueyonder.co.uk
South Gloucestershire
South Glos council have produced a new scheme for the discredited cycle lanes at Rudgeway junction on the A38. However, the new plan does is not much of an improvement.
The South Glos Public Transport Forum (which cyclists are excluded from) have put forward a recommendation that cycles be moved out of the bus lane on the A38 and onto the pavement.
Cycle Campaigns Network conference in Liverpool
BCC sent a representative to this and a full account will be published in the newsletter.
BCC Newsletter
Will be put together quite soon. Material for publishing should be sent to either Simon or Steve. Rides for the diary should be sent to Robin.
Events
Social: there will be a social on the Sabrina on 16 January. Live music and a quiz.
Create Centre Festive Fair: 5 December 4-9pm at the Create Centre. Will also feature a Bike Market. Ffi Stuart on (0117) 930 4355 or email There will also be a BCC stall there. Come along to chat or help (or both).
2 November 2002[Top]

Volunteering opportunities at Cycle West

Cycle West runs practical projects to help people take up cycling. We have a small full-time and part-time staff and depend on volunteers to help implement much of our work.

Three voluntary posts are listed here. If you're interested in knowing more, please get in touch with Peter Andrews for an informal chat. Here are the key points to bear in mind:

Contact peter@cyclewest.org.uk or phone (0117) 929 0440.

Volunteer needed (1)

Here's an opportunity for a keen cyclist to help improve conditions for bike users at community buildings, doctors' surgeries, shops, schools and a host of public places.

Cycle West runs a very popular scheme called Take a Stand. Under the scheme two Sheffield stands are available to non-profit-making organisations. We need someone to assist with the project, to:

It's satisfying work. After a while you'll be able to point to cycle stands across the city and think I got those installed! And, thanks to you, hundreds of cyclists will have somewhere secure to park their bikes.

Volunteer needed (2)

We're looking for a friendly, outgoing person to help us promote Cycle West's work. You must have a bit of time to spare and know your way around the city.

Your mission is to visit libraries, cafés, bike shops, health centres and community buildings, ask nicely for permission, and then display Cycle West's publicity materials on their notice boards.

It's a bit like painting the Forth Bridge. Just as you stick a poster on notice board number 100, it's time to go back to notice board number one, because our stuff has been covered up by someone else's. Nevertheless it's enjoyable work, a chance to get out and about, visit interesting places, and make new friends.

Volunteer needed (3)

We are looking for an organised person with experience of office work to help with day-to-day administration. You will be based at our offices at 86 Colston Street. The work includes:

It is useful if:

You'll find Cycle West a friendly place and there's a great variety of things to do. Join us!

24 September 2002[Top]

Google News

The famous Google internet search engine now has a new way of searching for news items from all sorts of sources around the world. You can search for any topic that you're interested in; try this for example:

The amount of information on the Internet never ceases to boggle my mind. I can't hope to keep this page up to date with even local news, but luckily services like Google are there to do the job for me.

24 July 2002[Top]

Bikes to the Rescue!

Paramedics on bicycles get to emergencies quicker than ambulances in Central London (quel surprise!).

According to an article on the BBC News website, a trial of the scheme showed that the bike got there before the truck in 88% of cases, and in a third the cycle paramedic was able to deal with the incident and cancel the conventional ambulance, freeing it for other calls.

London paramedics plan to beat the capital's traffic jams by using a fleet of bicycles. The Cycle Response Unit - which is led by a former European BMX champion - is being launched on Wednesday after a successful trial two years ago in the West End. A team of three ambulance technicians and three paramedics will patrol the streets during the summer in their specially adapted mountain bikes to attend non-life threatening 999 calls. If it is successful the London Ambulance Service (LAS) will consider continuing the service through the winter.

The bicycles will be sent to answer calls at the same time as normal ambulances. They are fitted with blue lights and sirens and have panniers carrying life-saving equipment. Previous trials in an area around Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Soho and Covent Garden found the bikes arrived at 88% of calls before normal ambulances. A third were able to cancel the ambulance, meaning the vehicle could be diverted to more serious incidents.

The scheme is the brainchild of former BMX UK and European champion, Tom Lynch, who has been an ambulance technician for nine years. He carried out the trial and trained the other members of the team. He said: The main thing about bicycle ambulances is that they enable us to get to a job very quickly, especially in the heavy traffic of central London. To us every second counts and this can help save lives.

[more...]

May 2002[Top]

Free Money!

From the DTLR (or whatever it's called this week), via its National Cycling Strategy board (whoever they are):

Cycling Projects Fund
First Bid Window
April - 31 July 2002

A £2m Cycling Projects Fund has been launched to support the growth of local provision for cycling across England.

[Their] leaflet sets out the eligibility and criteria for making bids for funding in this first bid window, which closes on 31 July 2002. Priority in this round will be given to projects for which promoters can give convincing assurances that project work would be complete within no more that 6--9 months from notification of a successful bid.

There will be at least one other opportunity to submit bids within the next 9--15 months.

Details, and an application form are available on the National Cycling Strategy website.

May 2002[Top]

Ferry 'cross the Avon

From the council's e-bristol news service:

FERRY SERVICE SAVED...SO YOU CAN STILL TAKE THE WATERWAY TO WORK

Busy commuters who want to beat the traffic in style can enjoy an improved waterbus service. Bristol City Council is financially supporting Bristol Ferry Boat Company so that they can retain and enhance the popular service to meet the needs of city centre workers.

Monday to Friday, the Temple Meads to Hotwells ferry will now run:

The service makes stops at any of 18 landing stages on request. All will now call at the city centre. Fares are fixed by the council and will range between 50p and £1.

That's one less reason to go by car...

March 2002[Top]

Public Trespass at Junction 32

Local group Friends of Baptist Mills have asked us to publicise the following event.

Update: There will be a meeting at Easton Community Centre, 1pm, Sunday 24 March to produce placards, banners, etc. Please go along - meet, talk, plan and paint!

Another update: See what The Bristolian has to say on the subject.

Result! The event was hailed as a great success—at least 70 people walked twice around the Easton Way roundabout, and got good coverage in the local media.

Press Release

Information follows of a Public Trespass onto the Easton Way/M32 Roundabout - Junction 3 on the M32.

Fed Up Of Muggings?

Join the Junction 3 Trespass!

Walk the M32/Easton Way Roundabout
Monday March 25th

Meet Baptist Street 7.30am
Trespass onto the roundabout 8am-8.30am

Demand Safe Crossings at this Junction!!!
Say NO to Underpasses!!!
Say NO to high level bridges!!!
Say YES to a safe community!!!

For further Information contact Friends of Baptist Mills:
at Planet Easton (0117) 954 1409 or Living Easton (0117) 939 1571
or e-mail: livingeaston@blueyonder.co.uk

February 2002[Top]

Air Quality Management Areas

All local authorities are now obliged to produce air quality strategies for reducing pollution. Two Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) have been identified in Bristol. Consultations will take place shortly. To get a booklet about this phone (0117) 922 4488.

February 2002[Top]

St. James Barton Re-development

The Bristol City Council is asking for comments (by 1 March) about plans to change the layout of the St. James Barton roundabout and pedestrian subways.

The option of putting the cars underground has been rejected as too costly for the time being. Other possibilities are described in displays around the city and in leaflets available from the public libraries or by calling (0117) 922 3010.

There is also a web page on the council's site where you can view the leaflet and complete the questionnaire.

The full report from consultants Urban Initiatives can be viewed at

Department of Environment, Transport, and Leisure
Brunel House
St. Georges Road
Bristol
or
Wilder House
Wilder Street
Bristol
To check for opening hours, telephone (0117) 922 2169.

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