tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90653736916015575872024-03-05T13:59:36.795-08:00Manc Bike MummyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-15584150791647714542014-02-04T05:08:00.005-08:002014-02-04T05:08:46.272-08:00A Close Shave<br />
I love my commute to my 'other' place of work.<br />
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It mostly consists of quiet roads and the Trans Pennine Trail.<br />
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I have written about small parts of my route which are annoyances, but not insurmountable.<br />
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But a recent incident has troubled me and kept me off my bike longer than it should. I am hoping that, as it often the case, a blog post on the subject, can be a cathartic process and hopefully clear my mind and get me back out on two wheels.<br />
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My route, once I venture across the Mersey, gets to this point. Just before here is a large rubbish dump and the only traffic that uses this bridge seems to be bin lorries. <br />
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Crossing the bridge on the RHS, Is a large brick yard. Lorries often queue here, as I presume space inside is limited and it would be dangerous for so many HGV's to operate in such a small space.<br />
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Coming back towards the roundabout on my return journey, there were (I think) two lorries parked outside, waiting to go in.</div>
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I suppose, with hindsight, I should have stopped and carried on along the pavement. There are no pedestrians around here really. I don't think I have ever seen one. But hindsight is a wonderfully exact science. I continued, careful to give myself room and ensuring there was no oncoming traffic. </div>
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Then I am not too sure what happened. I can only presume, either a lorry had come over the bridge that I hadn't spotted early on. Or that a lorry turned right out of the brickyard. </div>
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But I found myself on the hatching with a lorry on either side of me.</div>
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I am sure neither driver knew I was there.</div>
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Now I am not suggesting the usual "get out of jail" card motorists play. The lorry certainly did not come from out of nowhere. </div>
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But on the right-hand side of a stationary HGV overtaking, it is perfectly possible that I did not see another lorry turning right from the brick yard.</div>
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Almost all cyclists will have either an accident or at least a close shave at some point. With the recent spate of cyclists going under lorries etched into my mind, this close shave has really shaken me.</div>
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Now how to get back on the metaphorical horse?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-77944212143005380872013-11-20T05:28:00.003-08:002013-11-20T05:29:49.994-08:00ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. CYCLING CARNAGE By Luke Vernon http://www.lorry-driver.com/<div style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
Yesterday I tweeted about this-</div>
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http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24925390</div>
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Shockingly the 4 cyclists to die in a week, yes a week, and this one on one of London's shameful 'Cycle Superhighways' (more of that later). Then I wake up to this, chilling number 5 -</div>
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http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24936942</div>
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This is getting ridiculous. I can imagine what both sides are saying, motorists blaming cyclists and cyclists blaming motorists. And of course one side, or both, will carry some blame for these tragic tragic accidents. Yes some cyclists seem to ride like they've a death wish, but many drivers dive exceedingly badly too. Simply blaming each other is not the answer.</div>
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No, in my opinion the answer is our roads and on this occasion Im going to focus on London roads. In the run up to the Olympics these so called 'Cycle Superhighways' sprang up which are in reality nothing more than badly implemented painted bits of road. I thought they were cheap till someone on twitter corrected me on that point.</div>
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Why does a first class city like London have such third rate cycle infrastructure? Obviously you know that I drive a truck as you are on my site. I happen to drive a huge amount in London. Space for cyclists has often been made at expense of other road users. In parts of London I have to straddle two lanes because they have squeezed in a 'cycle lane'. Or at least what they call a cycle lane. We all need to start lobbying Transport for London (TfL) to sort the appalling road network out. Crossrail is great, but while billions are being spent underground multiple cyclists are being killed A WEEK though lack of proper infrastructure and bad design.</div>
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The Cycle Superhighways are a case in point. Look at them, they are a complete joke. In fact I believe TfL should find them embarrassing in all honesty. 'Thats a superhighway? That stretch of painted road? Really?'. I'd find them funny were they not so tragically flawed with the horrible inevitable consequences. Transport for London has blood on its hands, and I know that sounds bad but its true.</div>
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I cant begin to imagine how hard it would be to be involved in one of these accidents. For the family of the poor cyclist to the driver, often lorry driver, who is just doing his job and finds one split second has the capacity to ruin his life. I am super careful in towns and cities around bicycles especially in London but even then have regular near misses. And most of the time its because no one has any idea who should give way to who</div>
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Education is the key also. And I think we should be all educated together. In one classroom to get each others perspective. Cyclists often just need to be made aware of the limitations of the trucks they are riding around to change their habits. No one goes and gets on their bike aiming to be killed. I for one would happily go to a mixed class and talk about both sides of the debate and hear the other side.</div>
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But mostly, I think until Transport for London pulls itself together and stops endowing a first class city with a second rate road and cycle network cyclists will still be killed with tragic regularity, ruining many lives in the process. But hey, we'll be able to get from Heathrow to Essex soon on one train, so who cares about a few lives.....</div>
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Luke Vernon</div>
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<a href="mailto:lorrydriverluke@live.com" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.3s; color: #009eb8; display: inline; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s;">lorrydriverluke@live.com</a></div>
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Finally a video I made a couple of years ago from a lorry drivers perspective-</div>
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<i>Mancbikemummy here:</i></div>
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<i>The original post can be found here <a href="http://www.lorry-driver.com/2013/11/enough-is-enough-cycling-carnage.html" style="background-color: transparent;">http://www.lorry-driver.com/2013/11/enough-is-enough-cycling-carnage.html</a></i></div>
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<i>I am at a loss to understand why more people in the haulage industry aren't also asking for more #space4cycling. Surely it is in everyone's interest? </i></div>
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<i>I would not want the responsibility of driving a large vehicle around London where one small mistake by anyone, whether it be the cyclist, the lorry driver or any other road user, can result in someone's death.</i></div>
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<i>This is what happens in countries where they have actually thought about solving the problem rather than lashing the road with blue paint.</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-71201521050386850742013-10-21T11:53:00.001-07:002013-10-21T11:53:15.616-07:00Showing the wrinkles - solving the problemsThe idea that cycle campaigns are accentuating the danger in cycling<br />
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I may actually scream.<br />
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Seriously<br />
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May<br />
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Scream<br />
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The idea that I shouldn't worry, because, statistically, cycling is safe.<br />
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Statistically, I wont be another woman under a lorry.<br />
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Statistically, I am more at risk sitting on my arse.<br />
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There aren't enough expletives in my vocabulary to express my anger at being patronised in such a way.<br />
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Because no matter what you get statistics to say, I have real genuine fear cycling along some roads. Some are a complete no go. <br />
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That fear is magnified a million times when I think of my children taking to the streets.<br />
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To give me a virtual pat on the head and tell me my fear isn't real, has enraged me.<br />
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I am off to calm down<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-22288347256468553792013-08-06T06:04:00.002-07:002013-08-06T06:12:40.271-07:00Grow Up??? Sorry what???Apparently I am immature.<br />
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If you read my blog, you are probably nodding.<br />
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If you know me then I have a steadfast confidence that you are going "no shit Sherlock".<br />
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That's fine.<br />
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You either 'know me' or you know me.<br />
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What I really object to, is some moron at an ad agency, telling me I am childish or immature.<br />
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Yes.....you guessed it......its those NICE PEOPLE again<br />
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I really don't know where to start.</div>
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I do cycle on the road. Along a main arterial road that is 4 lanes of extremely busy and hostile traffic. Compounded by a huge amount of heavy goods vehicles and buses. Yes you are absolutely fucking right I use the pavement. Especially when I am cycling with my toddler in his trailer or my 8yr old son.</div>
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Now don't get me wrong. I am happy to fly along this road on my road bike and keep up with the traffic on a Sunday morning, but if anyone is to suggest I am childish for not cycling in amongst rush hour traffic while I am with my son, leaves me apoplectic with fucking rage.</div>
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Not only am I fucking furious at being called immature, what I am doing is perfectly fine according to the Government.</div>
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From : <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CC8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parliament.uk%2Fbriefing-papers%2FSN00623.pdf&ei=E-4AUteOBcaU0AWit4EQ&usg=AFQjCNHvVon8YhEUxvMfgHFo4yhoHWmTBg&sig2=m6STXgbyJGnTylLNc0FGqA&bvm=bv.50310824,d.d2k" target="_blank">House of Commons Library Standard Note SN623</a></div>
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"The arguments for including cycling on the footpath in the fixed penalty regime were given in a Home Office consultation paper issued in July 1996:</div>
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<i>Cycling on the pavement is an offence which presents particular difficulties for enforcement. Many cyclists, not just children and teenagers, feel anxious and exposed when riding in traffic and therefore use the pavement for safety. This is understandable and must be taken into account in enforcement. But pedestrians also have the right to use the footway without facing the hazard of cyclists approaching them or coming up from behind. This practice can be especially worrying for the elderly, the infirm and the very young, and accidents have resulted.</i></div>
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<i>Against this background, it is considered desirable to have a more flexible- system to respond to the varying nature of the situation. The existing enforcement arrangements are limited, in that the choice is normally between issuing a verbal warning and instigating prosecution in the courts. The provision of a fixed penalty would provide a middle course of action and greater flexibility of enforcement.</i></div>
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<i>It is recognised that the enforcement of cycling offences can be more difficult than for motoring offences because of the absence of special identification for individuals and their cycles. But these difficulties can be taken into account by the police when deciding on their response to the problem. The police's discretion on how to enforce the law in this area will be particularly important in establishing the right balance. It is considered that the addition of a fixed penalty should help.</i></div>
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There is a letter from the then Home Office Minister, Paul Boateng, reproduced frequently on cycling sites on the Internet, which states that in relation to enforcement of this offence:</div>
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<i>The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so. Chief police officers, who are responsible for enforcement, acknowledge that many cyclists, particularly children and young people, are afraid to cycle on the road, sensitivity and careful use of police discretion is required."</i></div>
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I consider myself responsible. I am out cycling with the two most precious people in my life. Why would I not be. I don't whiz. I give pedestrians their legal right of way.</div>
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But here we have the same situation. The (not) Nice Way Code tarring all cyclists with one great big shitty brush. </div>
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Maybe its not me that needs to GROW UP!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-86981890660439589762013-08-01T13:31:00.002-07:002013-08-05T04:04:45.945-07:00The Nice Way CodeAs pretty much everyone who has a vested interest in cycling, walking and sustainable travel will know, this week saw the launch (before the actual launch) of the <a href="http://nicewaycode.com/">Nice Way Code</a><br />
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I was a bit amused that a company entrusted with nearly £500K of public money chose to launch and have a press call before the actual launch.<br />
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It produced odd pictures such as this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHNUtIQtTijiIgyH6FmH2v1cBHlKT-4ydRZ-hUn-LObSBj0j87IT8CXYWGjI45EYgWe7AjYnQM46aO7LeuyhSPYWN9FLDwD_4p7hL2yZGMM6oqRhMPkvKeCuDN1NYuKHsIn6C9trmwUY/s1600/nicewaycode2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHNUtIQtTijiIgyH6FmH2v1cBHlKT-4ydRZ-hUn-LObSBj0j87IT8CXYWGjI45EYgWe7AjYnQM46aO7LeuyhSPYWN9FLDwD_4p7hL2yZGMM6oqRhMPkvKeCuDN1NYuKHsIn6C9trmwUY/s400/nicewaycode2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I believe it has since been removed. But it took a number of people to point out why it was a very much flawed picture for a road safety campaign. I will leave you to play Highway Code Bingo with it.......<br />
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This was also part of its launch<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/VTFIGpUVe2g?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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The Nice Way Code is based on a theory of mutual respect. I quote " Let’s face it we all have to share the roads. Until the world is a perfect place there are some simple rules we can all follow to make it safer for everyone out there"<br />
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I quote the video "targeting pedestrians, cyclists and motorists"<br />
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I won't spend my time pulling apart the Nice Way Code Campaign. That is been covered much much better than I ever can here <a href="http://beyondthekerb.wordpress.com/2013/07/31/the-car-and-the-kitten/">The Car and The Kitten</a><br />
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What I will say is Keith Brown MSP goes on to say "trying to increase the tolerance that should exist between users of the road" and "trying to encourage people to be more tolerant of each others needs"<br />
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AND<br />
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"Thats how we got good figures in terms of drink driving, over a period of time trying to change the culture"<br />
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Ohhhhh kaayyyyyy<br />
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Rewind there........<br />
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Back to ANY drink drive campaign you have EVER SEEN.<br />
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Yup, he IS RIGHT. They do try and change the culture.<br />
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OF THE FUCKING DRIVERS! WHO ARE DRINKING AND DRIVING AND KILLING PEOPLE<br />
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They did do a great job.<br />
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Because people were dying, they had a targeted campaign to explain to the people doing the killing, it just wasnt fucking on.<br />
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Can any of you remember one campaign for drink driving that said....<br />
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"Pedestrians, try not to walk around between the hours of 1 am and 6 am because there may well be drunk drivers about and you might get run over by them"<br />
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"cyclists, try not to run red lights because its illegal and a drunk driver might be coming through the opposite way and you will most likely be killed. You are a vulnerable road user and you need to take responsibility for your own safety by not doing illegal shit"<br />
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"kids, always wear a helmet because you don't know when you are cycling in the morning if the person next to you in the huge car hasn't been drinking until 3 am the night before"<br />
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Putting the responsibility of the guilty party onto the shoulders of the vulnerable road users in this instance sounds perverse doesn't it?<br />
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But that is exactly what they are doing and exactly the parallels they are drawing, Not me.<br />
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Just when I thought it couldn't get much worse.<br />
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They actually launch.<br />
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And what was it we were all told to patiently wait for?<br />
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This.....<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/3V37xHRA4C0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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I am now patiently waiting for the videos that will play on other stereotypes. The one of the 'White Van Man' followed by the usual parody of 'The BMW/Audi/Mec Driver'.<br />
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Because so far, that is all the Nice Way Code seems to have done.<br />
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Reinforce stereotypes and give misinformed motorists a mouth piece.<br />
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Beyond that they seem to be having fun with the twitter account<br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/farnie">@farnie</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CCSteV">@CCSteV</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AAPresident">@AAPresident</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NicewayCodeGB">@NicewayCodeGB</a> Farnie, you're back, what +ve message would you like to share with the Road Haulage Association?<br />
— Nice Way Code (@nicewaycode) <a href="https://twitter.com/nicewaycode/statuses/363758195505762305">August 3, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Lovely, just what a Road Safety campaign needs. People being sarcastic about people being killed by HGV's<br />
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Thank goodness the Nice Way Code is in Scotland. I think they would probably be lynched if they were in London where the death toll amongst cyclists continues to rise.<br />
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Next we try to compare the campaign to the Kick It Out Campaign<br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/farnie">@farnie</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ytjaz">@ytjaz</a> 'kick it out' comes to mind, players, fans, clubs, sponsors, associations, media, and governments. Granted still a way go.<br />
— Nice Way Code (@nicewaycode) <a href="https://twitter.com/nicewaycode/statuses/363767369917005824">August 3, 2013</a></blockquote>
Seriously? This is getting beyond parody now.<br />
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I could not find a better analogy than one tweeted to me "I think the equivalent would have been asking black players to be less annoying as well as asking white fans not to abuse them"<br />
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If the people at the Nice Way Code can't see this, then I despair.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-90566990691906412962013-07-18T12:34:00.001-07:002013-07-23T05:27:27.324-07:00Get Britain Cycling Debate in the Houses of Parliament - 2nd September<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 18px;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3812880.ece">From the Times Cities Fit For Cycling Campaign:</a></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Britain’s cycling revolution is to move a step closer, with MPs due to meet in the House of Commons in September to debate a landmark report on how to design safer streets, reduce traffic jams and boost public health.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">On the first day back after summer recess, on September 2, the debate will take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons to discuss the findings of the <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/thetim.es/cyclingrevolution" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(45, 69, 99); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #2d4563; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">‘Get Britain Cycling’ inquiry</a>, set up in response to the Times <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3306502.ece" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(45, 69, 99); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #2d4563; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Cities Fit for Cycling campaign</a>.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In February last year, 77 MPs from around the UK gathered in Westminster Hall to raise concerns over congested streets and a lack of cycle paths in their constituencies and the need for cyclists to be better trained. They now have the chance to support measures which would address these issues and encourage people to commute by bike instead of car.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A panel of MPs and peers submitted the ‘Get Britain Cycling’ report in April with <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/137929998/Get-Britain-Cycling-report" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(45, 69, 99); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #2d4563; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">18 recommendations</a> on how the Government should increase investment in cycling infrastructure, improve training for cyclists and motorists, lower speed limits in residential areas and introduce stricter planning guidelines for how roads are designed.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Between October 2011 and September 2012, 3,270 cyclists were killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads — a 29 per cent increase on the 2005-2009 average — while 15,800 cyclists suffered minor injuries.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Times</i><i> is calling on all MPs to attend the ‘Get Britain Cycling’ debate, to be held in the Chamber of the House of Commons on Monday September 2</i>.<i>"</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So I have written to my MP to ask him to attend:</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Dear Graham Brady,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I am asking that you attend the Get Britain Cycling debate on Monday </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">2nd of September.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The issue is so important for very many different reasons.</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We as a nation are the fattest in Europe. </span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Our towns and cities are becoming choked with unnecessary motorised transport holding back the economy and stunting growth. Most of these journeys are of very small mileage (DoT own figures) and it should not be the default that someone hops in their car for a trip of around 3 miles.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">The Lancet has recently published a report that draws a link between air pollution and a 20% increase in lung disease and heart failure.</span></span></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><div style="text-align: left;">
20%! </div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">We need a government that will stand firm against the motoring lobby like previous governments did with the powerful tobacco lobby. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And the intolerable deaths mostly but not only on the roads in London.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">You only have to look in Trafford to see what an effect decent</span></span></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><div style="text-align: left;">
infrastructure can have. The Bridgewater Way is responsible for significantly reducing the number of cars on the A56. But we need to see this everywhere and not the piecemeal approach we have seen in the past.</div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Please, please, as my MP attend the debate and show a commitment to Get Britain Cycling.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Yours sincerely,</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
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Emma</div>
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To his credit, he has replied. Sadly with an 'unable to attend' RSVP.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiHx_Nib-XUn7CeUNjxJ_48-ZYcX71Fe4mdOPWznN4IhDM4qZTTA1i1rEoy06jqCE3qvPQXoKRES3k478eJLt-HfNfeaot-tMLVLoYMltNamEZ0_5pqRFBZY4OfVQ7dzJ0gviImPyhxc/s1600/20130723_131824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiHx_Nib-XUn7CeUNjxJ_48-ZYcX71Fe4mdOPWznN4IhDM4qZTTA1i1rEoy06jqCE3qvPQXoKRES3k478eJLt-HfNfeaot-tMLVLoYMltNamEZ0_5pqRFBZY4OfVQ7dzJ0gviImPyhxc/s640/20130723_131824.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-18075498280484748122013-07-08T06:45:00.001-07:002013-07-23T04:53:50.627-07:00Altrincham Festival 2013What a day!<br />
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We managed to get a 'cycling float' included in this years Altrincham Festival Parade. A wonderful idea by Pippa a fellow Breeze Champion.<br />
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The interest from other cyclists was overwhelming and we had to eventually promise not to swell too greatly in numbers once the organisers caught whiff of our float snowballing. <br />
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Without telling too many people what we had planned, we suddenly had 40 or so people agreeing to come along.<br />
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We were joined by <a href="http://www.bikeshak.com/">Altrincham Bike Shak</a>, <a href="http://madcyclelanesofmanchester.blogspot.co.uk/">Mad Cycle Lanes of Manchester</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Cllr_JaneBrophy">Councillor Jane Brophy </a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Cyclinstructor">Richard Alderson</a>, and the all ability cycle group <a href="http://www.wythenshawe-wheelers.org/">Simply Cycling with their adapted bikes</a>.<br />
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I went for the frock and heels look, whilst towing a trailer. Mainly in part to show, what you wear need not be a barrier to cycling. We are not all Lycra Louts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgX5vTU05YXrgj-v939QxjYqII2V3OQa9YmNQ7QxknXEzV3nlyJO0NAo3k5yWdALLmTYQYFdA2KuMcS4g0sIcsfiU3LvBedQq8Cug6dGGuhwgbhrtWgpZIlZJ4k1ZA8ABCh-RDGzYeNU/s1600/20130706_122138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgX5vTU05YXrgj-v939QxjYqII2V3OQa9YmNQ7QxknXEzV3nlyJO0NAo3k5yWdALLmTYQYFdA2KuMcS4g0sIcsfiU3LvBedQq8Cug6dGGuhwgbhrtWgpZIlZJ4k1ZA8ABCh-RDGzYeNU/s400/20130706_122138.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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We assembled at St Margaret's in Bowdon. It was very hot but the lovely leafy street kept most of the sun at bay. Thanks to <a href="http://www.halfords.com/">Halfords Altrincham</a> who came with lots of hooters for the kids and were on hand in case anyone had a mechanical problem.<br />
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The parade got underway and it was a slow stop/start downhill into Altrincham<br />
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So slow and stop start, Richard started an impromptu Brompton folding lesson.</div>
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A great picture of some of the Simply Cycling adapted bikes.</div>
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Andrew from <a href="http://www.bikeshak.com/">Bike Shak</a> managed to capture us on camera.</div>
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I found this YouTube clip which made me smile.</div>
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Towards the end about 8.30 is us. The lady remarks "They've never had cyclists before", to which her friend replies "Its good though! Why not?"</div>
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We also won a commendation!<br />
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Considering how last minute we organised it all, the day went wonderfully well, mainly thanks to Pippa being a whiz at organising things and approaching everything with a 'if you don't ask you don't get' attitude.<br />
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I can't wait to do it all again.<br />
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For those that asked, my dress is the <a href="http://www.greatplains.co.uk/product/j1cr9/Velo+Bike+Print+Dress.htm">velo dress from Great Plains.</a> Its on special offer too at the moment!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrj-7c2lRDkfkKwAUOJFT6Q-sAaTeDT3aRWd5UdjCe-CG3SPONICDdfdjjyFAPisbWUyKuhzLVq1BOiirvdsMD0qbvbLcTMWmyDxP3us0JnxA315MYr10JmPIbGSwjA0CcRB1OQ9qEeI8/s1600/j1cr9_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrj-7c2lRDkfkKwAUOJFT6Q-sAaTeDT3aRWd5UdjCe-CG3SPONICDdfdjjyFAPisbWUyKuhzLVq1BOiirvdsMD0qbvbLcTMWmyDxP3us0JnxA315MYr10JmPIbGSwjA0CcRB1OQ9qEeI8/s400/j1cr9_red.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5NBBN81dedRIB6eyJxORTwuxN96iosOQkrhSZtr_Jj5si84dZePabv5qJSQdpqlyEdD_qEfJEYIWcu0axgwg6xG4__U_EL-vcMDiVZ-vYx_ndcGPBaYQq0pcSt9p7EtNfIHN-9H18W4/s1600/J1CR9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5NBBN81dedRIB6eyJxORTwuxN96iosOQkrhSZtr_Jj5si84dZePabv5qJSQdpqlyEdD_qEfJEYIWcu0axgwg6xG4__U_EL-vcMDiVZ-vYx_ndcGPBaYQq0pcSt9p7EtNfIHN-9H18W4/s400/J1CR9.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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It is a lovely dress and so many people have commented on it. Thank you xAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-18747489879985309912013-07-08T03:36:00.002-07:002013-07-08T03:43:59.224-07:00Womens DZR Link - A reviewA bit of light relief and a product review...<br />
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I have coveted the <a href="https://www.dzrshoes.com/linkcharcoal">DZR Link Charcoal</a> shoe for some time now. My quest to find clothes to cycle in that don't make me look like a cyclist is a lengthy mission. The market for men's 'Urban'cycle clothes is booming and as I have <a href="http://mancbikemummy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/roll-up-roll-up-trouser-debacle.html">previously mentioned</a>, even H&M are about to jump on the band wagon.<br />
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Sadly, as its often the case, manufacturers are slow on the uptake when it comes to catering for women. This is one reason I like companies like <a href="http://www.vulpine.cc/">Vulpine</a>, who, from the outset have tried to provide equally for both sexes and present images of women in a positive way.<br />
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Anyway, I digress. This is why I don't usually do product reviews. I do go off at tangents.<br />
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<a href="http://www.alwaysriding.co.uk/bmz_cache/f/fa5ccf5ae4e1356b674248be5160ea83.image.420x420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.alwaysriding.co.uk/bmz_cache/f/fa5ccf5ae4e1356b674248be5160ea83.image.420x420.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
How could you not love them?<br />
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They are a dusky almost moleskin grey. They have wonderful attention to detail, like the small reflective company logo on the heel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qEb_NM2H-bcvgd_Lnk3PorUtTk1Sc9lRWFw5skoy3i_XlwpUYgIfy5danCxDI0qccRqyNhYAq2ogoNsPZWr_tWwR_hYlAQWQSAVaUu44t-4TPTsjSphdGvyPepdS3wyuDG2iH1uuUq8/s1600/20130618_101811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qEb_NM2H-bcvgd_Lnk3PorUtTk1Sc9lRWFw5skoy3i_XlwpUYgIfy5danCxDI0qccRqyNhYAq2ogoNsPZWr_tWwR_hYlAQWQSAVaUu44t-4TPTsjSphdGvyPepdS3wyuDG2iH1uuUq8/s640/20130618_101811.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJruoSSHT6qPswrXXXoeO6qOqLNZcWQ9UXiNW2Qktn_-JSwWLhekLQUSb4jE3UjgU6n3NcU11IuvDqNgn0iUoQazmAA3r5ujM3h1QDcmFUjsvTVJTMYYXzAkP9ZwKQRhnR-PJOZAn4OQ/s1600/20130618_101715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJruoSSHT6qPswrXXXoeO6qOqLNZcWQ9UXiNW2Qktn_-JSwWLhekLQUSb4jE3UjgU6n3NcU11IuvDqNgn0iUoQazmAA3r5ujM3h1QDcmFUjsvTVJTMYYXzAkP9ZwKQRhnR-PJOZAn4OQ/s640/20130618_101715.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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I even loved the box they came in </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWdamyQYSMR8CYCGwE_13urt5AuQJjUiJCNtMWG08NNY19nxl0_StK0_dZ3EDWxIpeMcynC3o8dTqLUhpI73XbaFFN7vm4nEAqbh0TRYk055uVKWRkDMNAKilLbq8KUGXTkH5aiEOSLc/s1600/20130618_101740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWdamyQYSMR8CYCGwE_13urt5AuQJjUiJCNtMWG08NNY19nxl0_StK0_dZ3EDWxIpeMcynC3o8dTqLUhpI73XbaFFN7vm4nEAqbh0TRYk055uVKWRkDMNAKilLbq8KUGXTkH5aiEOSLc/s640/20130618_101740.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwAqsk6i0BsFgpW0-g2IYsBW7_DiYwQT65fxtN3rgmu_iRn4pd8oWD4bYvFdYwDQJPrAEXF92FHmpugv2Up18yK9fxmAriGV_vMMZoGBK4QWjkGrR-GV-Kgy-UbnxFWHrkATIv_P_BrU/s1600/20130618_101747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwAqsk6i0BsFgpW0-g2IYsBW7_DiYwQT65fxtN3rgmu_iRn4pd8oWD4bYvFdYwDQJPrAEXF92FHmpugv2Up18yK9fxmAriGV_vMMZoGBK4QWjkGrR-GV-Kgy-UbnxFWHrkATIv_P_BrU/s640/20130618_101747.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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See it IS reflective!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbHKCWt9CZi0qocNB5UHiXwTCW4xeh84qfBB3jW9cUUwnwF8ix6Ftr2-yZ6q5lnKUjH0ztr1YT1lZ8bHjcMcVtUwbbziVPEjiMMEEt8fM5dfBUyzFK_tmzSiMzR6uAleuoBXy5d4XRQ4/s1600/20130618_101823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbHKCWt9CZi0qocNB5UHiXwTCW4xeh84qfBB3jW9cUUwnwF8ix6Ftr2-yZ6q5lnKUjH0ztr1YT1lZ8bHjcMcVtUwbbziVPEjiMMEEt8fM5dfBUyzFK_tmzSiMzR6uAleuoBXy5d4XRQ4/s640/20130618_101823.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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Breathable too around your toesies<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3xg6rpeDCqXtcpfj82BFuy2XLMxbiuBRn5Iw9QQCrdv2IynymnRw-A7pKoiSWOlD1PVOTyVs-cNwnN7j2VCrch5agbCGKPJBbQxGjSsHI55xS9y8KeuSbQqItHX0Wq06rAlhw7PtXpw/s1600/20130618_101832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3xg6rpeDCqXtcpfj82BFuy2XLMxbiuBRn5Iw9QQCrdv2IynymnRw-A7pKoiSWOlD1PVOTyVs-cNwnN7j2VCrch5agbCGKPJBbQxGjSsHI55xS9y8KeuSbQqItHX0Wq06rAlhw7PtXpw/s640/20130618_101832.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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Here is the little bit you need to remove for your cleats. Ask a grown up to help you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDXNyRVt1zc6Sbi2_XV2-UivWHI3U8qRDNA_RIQLg5zue012jZ80_9TGkm6xvRRL_a4-5TQY4y9mc-tEGMgzLOpCDqmvEQpUWkYRB4PyLWHwl68VS-qPFUaIIZLNFspmU-dvmEuLNWVo/s1600/20130618_101857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDXNyRVt1zc6Sbi2_XV2-UivWHI3U8qRDNA_RIQLg5zue012jZ80_9TGkm6xvRRL_a4-5TQY4y9mc-tEGMgzLOpCDqmvEQpUWkYRB4PyLWHwl68VS-qPFUaIIZLNFspmU-dvmEuLNWVo/s640/20130618_101857.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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The extra strap over the laces, meant they felt quite secure for cycling in. However they are quite heavy due to the stiffened sole. So are more suited to times when you are going to be cycling more than walking. If you had to walk in them all day, I would imagine they could be uncomfortable. Also, they are a rather narrow fit (aren't all cycling shoes). This sadly meant I had to be sensible and return them.</div>
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It was a very sad occasion indeed. I had become very fond of them.</div>
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The new <a href="https://www.dzrshoes.com/linklime">Link Lime</a> are a bit smashing too. But I will have to admire from afar due to my flipper feet! :-D</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-18903987232162386842013-07-03T06:35:00.002-07:002013-07-30T03:39:32.772-07:00'Dangerous' Cycling and Operation Grimaldi *UPDATED*<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Recently in Manchester, Greater Manchester Police launched <a href="http://www.gmp.police.uk/content/WebsitePages/ED5624DA2EE3596880257B98002C2549?OpenDocument">Operation Grimaldi</a></b></div>
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"<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20.796875px;">Operation Grimaldi is clamping down on the number of cyclists involved in collisions and to encourage them to learn how to ‘share the road’ with others safely."</span></div>
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"The operation has been running since the beginning of 2013, focusing on ‘hot spot’ areas where pedal cyclists have been seen using the roads dangerously or irresponsibly."</div>
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<a href="http://www.gmp.police.uk/live/ImageBank.nsf/(UploadedImages)/691F70BB215DFB6780257B98002E4118/$File/Op%20Grimaldi%20resized.jpg?OpenElement" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://www.gmp.police.uk/live/ImageBank.nsf/(UploadedImages)/691F70BB215DFB6780257B98002E4118/$File/Op%20Grimaldi%20resized.jpg?OpenElement" width="320" /></a></div>
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The traffic network team at Greater Manchester Police has been working along the Oxford Road corridor and Wilmslow Road area of the city centre where a number of collisions have occurred recently. GMP had also received a number of complaints about cyclists failing to stop at red lights and weaving dangerously in and out of traffic."</div>
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"The operation has seen 415 fixed penalties issued over 10 days of action spread across five months (February to June 2013) for offences such as running red lights, not having lights fitted, cycling on footpaths and using mobile phones whilst cycling."</div>
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I can't help but be annoyed at such a high profile campaign focusing on one particular group who happen to be the most vulnerable and very rarely the cause of any serious traffic incident.</div>
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<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/dec/15/cycling-bike-accidents-study">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The study, carried out for the Department for Transport, found that in 2% of cases where cyclists were seriously injured in collisions with other road users police said that the rider disobeying a stop sign or traffic light was a likely contributing factor. Wearing dark clothing at night was seen as a potential cause in about 2.5% of cases, and failure to use lights was mentioned 2% of the time."</span></a></div>
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and</div>
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"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The data, which was analysed by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), showed that more than a quarter of all cycling deaths in 2005-07 happened when a vehicle ran into the rear of a bike."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I have no problem with targeted campaigns. In instances where there is a real problem and KSI stats to back it up. I am completely on board with Drink Drive initiatives around holidays. This all makes sense, because there is a proven need for this targeted approach.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">However, share the road (which this purports to be) campaigns are nothing but divisive if not all Road Users are taught to share.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">And then see t<a href="http://road.cc/content/news/52388-police-seek-manchester-driver-who-hit-cyclist">his repor</a>t of a cyclist in a similar location (in fact probably travelling to) where Operation Grimaldi happened and read the comments from GMP:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1875px;">A gold coloured Toyota Yaris which had mounted the kerb in an effort to pass waiting cars collided into him, forcing the man onto the bonnet of the car," it said. "The victim then fell off and the Yaris drove off without checking on the cyclist’s welfare."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1875px;">Mounted the kerb to pass waiting cars! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1875px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1875px;">Then <i>forcing the man onto his bonnet?</i>???? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1875px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1875px;">WTF???? He didn't force him onto his bonnet! He ran the poor fucker over! Can you imagine using this sort of language if it were a child walking along the pavement?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1875px;">The driver of the car, couldn't be arsed to wait so forced the child onto his bonnet.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1875px;">and to tip it off:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1875px;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1875px;">“His impatience meant he had little regard for other road users and we therefore need to catch him as soon as possible."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Lucida Grande, Lucida Sans Unicode, helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.1875px;">So really its not his terrible, possibly fatal driving that is at fault? Its the fact he is impatient? Fucking hell, there is a time bomb waiting to happen. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Lucida Grande, Lucida Sans Unicode, helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.1875px;">What next? A GMP campaign against impatient motoring?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Lucida Grande, Lucida Sans Unicode, helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.1875px;">I bet that would result in more than 400 fixed penalty notices.....</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Lucida Grande, Lucida Sans Unicode, helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 16.1875px;">**********UPDATE******************</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Lucida Grande, Lucida Sans Unicode, helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 16.1875px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Lucida Grande, Lucida Sans Unicode, helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 16.1875px;">I have had a response to my FOI request from GMP</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 2358/13<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I write in
connection with your request for information dated 02/07/2013, which was
received by Greater Manchester Police on 02/07/2013 and for which clarification
was received on 11/07/2013<b>. </b>I note you seek access to the following
information:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">1 - Please can you tell me the KSI
figures for cyclists on which you based Operation Grimaldi? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">2 - How many people have been injured
by 'dangerous cycling' in the Greater Manchester Area?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">***Clarification***<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">As referenced in your press release
here
http://www.gmp.police.uk/content/WebsitePages/ED5624DA2EE3596880257B98002C2549?OpenDocument <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">3 - Are you able to tell me figures for 2011 and 2012 for other
road users killed or seriously injured in accidents caused by cyclists in the
Greater Manchester area? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Following receipt
of your request searches were conducted within Greater Manchester Police to
locate information relevant to your request.
I can confirm that the information you have requested is held, in part,
by Greater Manchester Police, (GMP).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The inception of Operation
Grimaldi was not <i>based</i> on KSI
figures, therefore re point 1 – information is not held in the format requested. However please see the below in response to
the whole of your request.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This year GMP have
recorded 18 fatal collisions to date with regard to this request, of these one
was a pedestrian that was hit by a pedal cycle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Whilst fortunately
there has been no fatal collisions involving a rider of a pedal cyclist this
year there has been five serious and life changing cycle collisions, one
incident when a rider rode through a red light and was hit by a vehicle,
another where a cyclist rode from the pavement under the rear wheels of a HGV
and one where a cyclist placed themselves in the blind spot of a HGV vehicle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">There will be many
incidents that do not involve injury and as such are not reported to GMP.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Our priority is to
reduce KSI (killed and serious injuries) on the roads of Greater Manchester.
This involves educating all road users. The
aim of the operation Grimaldi is to educate all road users. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">GMP recognises that
the stopping of cyclists has brought the topic high on the agenda and highlighting
concerns which may educate or make other road users aware of each other and
hopefully alter road usage behaviour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Unfortunately a
large number of the collisions that occur are where cyclists unknowingly place
themselves in dangerous positions and situations on the road especially when
near to HGV's and busses. The most
common cause of collisions is cyclists entering the road from the pavement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">GMP recognises that
the drivers of vehicles do make contact with the cyclist there are many, many
times where the cyclist places themselves in a situation be it jumping the red
light, manoeuvring in the road without checking over their shoulder or changing
direction without indicating which leaves them very vulnerable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">From cyclists who
have attended GMPs presentation 93% have had no training what so ever nor are
they holders of any licence and such cyclists take to some of the busiest roads
in the country and following what they see as 'normal' place themselves in
danger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The main Oxford and
Wilmslow Road corridor is the area that has the highest collisions within
Greater Manchester and this is why this area has been chosen at this time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">GMP is also
introducing those who are vulnerable to take up the free offer of cycle
training at betterbycyle phone 0300 123 1675 or through <a href="http://www.tfgm.com/cycling">www.tfgm.com/cycling</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Additionally GMP
can provide the below statistics that represent all forcewide pedal cycle
collisions/casualties:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">Severity</span></b> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">2008</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">2009</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">2010</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">2011</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">2012</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">2013</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">Collisions</span></b>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">Fatal</span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">4</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">2</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">3</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">5</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">1</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">1</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">Serious</span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">88</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">85</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">117</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">101</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">104</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">31</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: silver; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">KSI</span></b> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: silver; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">92</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: silver; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">87</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: silver; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">120</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: silver; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">106</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: silver; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">105</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: silver; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">32</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
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<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">Casualties</span></b>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"></td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"></td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"></td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"></td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"></td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">Fatal</span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">4</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">2</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">3</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">5</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">1</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">1</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">Serious</span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">88</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">85</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">118</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">101</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">105</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">31</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: silver; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">KSI</span></b> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: silver; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">92</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: silver; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">87</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: silver; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">121</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: silver; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">106</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: silver; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">106</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: silver; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;">32</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 9.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Complaint
Rights<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Your
attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your right of
complaint. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Should you have any further inquiries
concerning this matter, please write or contact me on telephone number 0161 856
2529<b> </b>quoting the reference number
above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Yours
sincerely<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Philip
Humphreys<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Information Compliance & Records
Management Assistant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">OK so, some points. I am sure there are many more, but a couple of things struck me.</span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Firstly, they admit Operation Grimaldi is not based on any real tangible KSI statistics on cyclists endangering other road users.</span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Secondly, of the fatalities they do mention one is "</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">of these one was a pedestrian that was hit by a pedal cycle". I find this deeply deeply disturbing. This collision happened on a pedestrian crossing and the cyclist was found to be not at fault. But including it here suggests otherwise. 'Some rogue cyclist was responsible for killing someone hence we are cracking down on the misbehaviour'.</span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Thirdly, excuse my maths, I only total 16 since 2008. 2.6 per year. I wonder what the figure is for motorists? I cant see that 2.6 deaths albeit terrible, each one, is really demonstrating the need for such a costly and high profile 'stunt'.</span></span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">And fourthly, "</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">From cyclists who have attended GMPs presentation 93% have had no training what so ever nor are they holders of any licence" whoooaaahhhhhh now we are getting somewhere. This old chestnut. Do GMP have a subscription for the Daily Mail? </span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">I am interested how they think licensing might work. Are they going to now be the Manchester equivalent to the DVLA for cyclists?</span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="TableText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Well done GMP. You have completely missed the point. What a wasted opportunity. Maybe lend a hand at </span></span><a href="http://nicewaycode.com/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Nice Way Code</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">. They are doing a great job of making a pigs ear of it too.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px; padding: 0px 0px 1.25em; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-19343904085586493672013-04-17T12:58:00.001-07:002013-04-17T13:08:53.345-07:00Towing a Dead Bike (that's cycling speak for a bike without a rider)I can only presume its a dead bike as it has no pulse to propel it. I do love a good 'term' for something.<br />
<br />
Please feel free to educate me on any other cycling terminology that's amusing or the real reason why a dead bike is a dead bike.<br />
<br />
There are many times I want to cycle to school with Ol but cant.<br />
<br />
Wednesdays are a good example. In my effort to get people off their arses, we started a Walking Bus one day a week. One day a week meant it was manageable for even the most hardcore of bone idle parent. Even those at the mercy of their work schedule were cajoled and coerced into submission.<br />
<br />
But it also meant that I had to, if I were to be such a vociferous advocate of the merits of walking and more importantly, not driving, be there week in week out to help coordinate the bus.
It is sometimes thankless (although not very often), the kids love it and thanks to the school being bold enough to prevent parents parking along half of the road (dont ask) we have managed to create social convention.<br />
<br />
It is now very much a social faux pas to drive on that particular day. It has made the road a wonderful environment for everyone and its means that the staunch car users get a better deal, as they no longer have to negotiate the hideous traffic outside school. They simply drop off their children with us and leggit. No waiting for ten minutes to turn around or the ever familiar gridlock of a small residental street plagued with the school run traffic.<br />
<br />
So back to the cycling issue.<br />
<br />
There is also the problem that the school has no cycle parking. Not a sausage.
Ol has a nice bike. I'm not about to leave it chained to a fence that is easily cut.<br />
<br />
This left me with a dilemma. If he cycles to school, what to do with his bike??? Or if he doesn't cycle there, how to get his bike in so he can at least cycle home?<br />
<br />
Today I attempted my first basic tow. The plan was to strap the front wheel with bungees to the Blackburn rack on my bike.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIDxRf1CYAA62-o.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIDxRf1CYAA62-o.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
I had only got 20 metres along the road by the time it had gone sideways and was trying to sneak past me!
A few minor adjustments meant that as long as we went in a straight line it was ok. (we? Why am I saying we??)<br />
<br />
Roundabouts were a disaster. Never to be repeated and in the end I got off and pushed. But nevertheless I got his bike and mine to where it needed to be.<br />
<br />
It did make me long for the simplicity of the tagalong. If you are at this stage with your kids enjoy it. It all becomes some much more complex when they are independent cyclists.
I have thought about a trailgator, but I am resisting as I am sure we can find a solution from what we have.<br />
<br />
Any thoughts or suggestions very gratefully received!<br />
<br />
I probably need a good engineer.....Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-30198047648804114072013-04-11T12:12:00.002-07:002013-04-11T12:12:58.203-07:00Cycling in the National Curriculum <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif;">I write this not with a cast iron view, but more as a cathartic process to explore my own thoughts and to open the floor to the views of others.</span><div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif;">As I write, the collective 'powers that be' in cycling, British Cycling and the CTC are asking their members to urge the DoE to put <a href="http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/cycling-to-be-put-on-the-national-curriculum/014653">Cycling on the National Curriculum</a>, utilising a consultation the department are going through. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<i>"This consultation sets out the Government’s plans to reform the National Curriculum in England. It follows a review of the National Curriculum which was launched in January 2011 with the following aims:</i></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><i>to ensure that the new National Curriculum embodies rigour and high standards and creates coherence in what is taught in schools</i></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><i>to ensure that all children are taught the essential knowledge in the key subject disciplines</i></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><i>beyond that core, to allow teachers greater freedom to use their professionalism and expertise to help all children realise their potential.</i></li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<i>The National Curriculum continues to be statutory for all maintained schools. It also guides much of what is taught in many schools that have opted for academy status."</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.education.gov.uk/consultations/index.cfm?action=consultationDetails&consultationid=1881">https://www.education.gov.uk/consultations/index.cfm?action=consultationDetails&consultationid=1881</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
On the surface, the idea that the collective membership of the CTC and BC are called to arms for the greater good of preserving childhoods, seems like a noble cause. But part of me cannot help but feel cynical.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
The idea that all children having Bikeability training will somehow result in a mass uptake in cycling is laughable at the very least. In Trafford, all children in year 5/6 receive Bikeability training, yet where are the bike sheds in the local secondary schools groaning under the weight of these newly converted to the church of two wheels?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.35;">Its simply doesn't happen. The danger their parents feel they will be in when they cycle, whether real or perceived, means that more often than not, most children never touch their bike again apart from the odd ramble in Centreparks or the local park.</span><span style="line-height: 1.35;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.35;">I also can't help shake the feeling, that certain organisations are trying to line their pockets. An increase in cycle training provision, sounds like jobs for the boys to me. Especially when one of the main campaigners also provides said training....</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.35;">"</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;">British Cycling has delivered Bikeability training to thousands of adults and children since 2009 through schools and summer holiday courses. Over 2,000 young people have participated in Bikeability training with British Cycling since 2009. British Cycling has also trained over 600 Bikeability instructors"</span></i></blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And a surge in people cycling isn't going to harm BC's or the CTC's membership figures now is it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do concede we have to start somewhere. I also realise that those who have had training are more likely to cycle. And that if more people cycle then 'we' are a greater lobbying group with a bigger collective voice. But I just do not believe training kids to 'cope' with the current situation and then using them almost as cannon fodder for the greater cause is acceptable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Using the momentum of the Olympics, the surge in popularity of cycling recently and the fantastic Times Campaign, I can only feel that the combined voice of BC and CTC could've been put to better use to ask for safer routes to schools for example. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just feel like the National Curriculum request, is one big fat red herring. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then again, if enough people ask for it, does it demonstrate to the government the importance of taking cycling seriously? Or does it tick a box for them to say they are at least providing training rather than sorting the problem at hand?</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-54889700146837885122013-03-27T08:40:00.000-07:002013-03-27T08:40:29.628-07:00ToddleBikeI was lucky enough to be part of last years trial for Toddlebike and the lovely Jo Hockley.<br />
<br />
It occurred to me when Jo asked for the next batch of testers that it had been a year that we had been toddlebiking.<br />
<br />
Here is a link to my review on the <a href="http://www.toddlebike.co.uk/review/everyone-i-have-met-has-been-impressed-with-the-toddlebike/">Toddlebike site </a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbGHnk7Nqb88STZzHxjH0viHJ0GQ3-MetOVLCSU8QEgo3vP6boZFV1jBnY1oT8UN4ZuSLZNLbp7lCb6wFFcZRmXagFQ4qOM3YhgCCGiCgxIb3DOXwXggan0XNXUqm8IonEz5zmTgEFow/s1600/harry+toddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbGHnk7Nqb88STZzHxjH0viHJ0GQ3-MetOVLCSU8QEgo3vP6boZFV1jBnY1oT8UN4ZuSLZNLbp7lCb6wFFcZRmXagFQ4qOM3YhgCCGiCgxIb3DOXwXggan0XNXUqm8IonEz5zmTgEFow/s320/harry+toddle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Harry got his Toddlebike at 18mths and after a few false starts he was away. The fact it is light enough to be picked up by a small toddler meant it came everywhere with us and the design meant that if he got fed up and wanted to walk, it was easy to hang on the buggy.<br />
<br />
I may suggest to Jo a carrying strap for days when you are without the buggy.<br />
<br />
Harrys love of his toddlebike, meant that for a while he turned into a miniature Madge from Benidorm choosing to scoot everwhere, even in the house rather than walk.<br />
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<a href="http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/madge-benidorm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/madge-benidorm.jpg" /></a></div>
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One morning he managed to get his entire breakfast ready and eat it without ever getting off his trusty steed!</div>
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As I mentioned in my review on the official site, the fact he used it so very much meant his transition to two wheels was very rapid indeed. He had his second birthday party at one of the <a href="http://stridercup.org/">Strider Cup</a> sessions at the Velodrome in Manchester. </div>
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We even made an appearance on BBC Breakfast!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/OFiepT75jqo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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So 12 mths after and now having progressed onto two wheels is our relationship with Toddlebike consigned to the past?</div>
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Well I will admit, I thought it might be. It was what I had expected. But considering the price of Toddlebike, I didn't mind one bit.</div>
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But no! A year later and it is still without equal in the played with stakes. It is an almost constant companion. Perhaps it is because we are lucky to have enough indoor space for him to scoot, I don't know. I had thought about donating it to his Nursery, but they will have to wait quite some time I think!</div>
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I genuinely can't say enough nice things about Toddlebike. I wish the company and Jo every success for the future.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-23084220846796630622013-03-19T08:55:00.001-07:002013-03-19T08:58:00.074-07:00Failing Highstreets - Let Blame Local Councils Mr Pickles has squarely laid the blame for failing High Streets at the feet of <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9936080/Eric-Pickles-Wardens-should-stop-giving-motorists-popping-into-shops-parking-tickets.html">poor old parking attendants.</a><br />
<br />
Thats right.<br />
<br />
The whole sorry mess of boarded up shops and neglected ghost towns, its all the fault of some poorly paid person, who walks the streets everyday trying to make a living by enforcing rules that they have had no hand in shaping.<br />
<br />
It even lead to one 'journalist' to call them names like <a href="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cristinaodone/100207551/traffic-wardens-are-urban-pests-and-need-to-be-tamed/">Urban Pests</a>. <br />
<br />
Cristina went on to say "I blame traffic wardens for local shops' slump in sales, restaurants' empty tables, and over-congested roads", yet she has no evidence to back up this claim.<br />
<br />
And lest we forget that tabloid journalists are not renown at present to being truthful, or basing anything on fact.<br />
<br />
She continues with "I live in central London, thanks to heavy-handed traffic wardens I rarely have friends dropping by: they daren't risk a fine." Now I will venture into her realm of opinion not based on fact, but I doubt its the fines that's keeping them away....<br />
<br />
But back to Mr Pickles. He believes "I believe we need to give people the good grace to pop into a local corner shop for 10 minutes, to buy a newspaper or a loaf of bread without risking a £70 fine."<br />
<br />
Mr Pickles, may I suggest that you don't need to drive to your local shop? That is is this fact that damages local business. The fact that our streets have become such unpleasant places to be, that people feel compelled to travel everywhere in their own 2 ton VIP section of tin box? Surely you can see that this is unsustainable. We have to enforce parking outside local shops because of fat lazy twats in their cars who will only drive everywhere.<br />
<br />
I am generalising, but hey, take a look in a mirror some time Mr P.<br />
<br />
Why are people still blaming parking as a reason? I went to have a look at our local council to see if they were to blame. I like blaming them for all sorts.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.trafford.gov.uk/transportandstreets/parking/parkingintrafford/">Oh, bugger, 10p for an hours parking.</a> Hmmmm I am sure Cristina and Eric can stretch to 10p to park?<br />
<br />
Then Mary Portas jumps on the band wagon.<br />
<br />
I am beginning to sense some sort of collusion as this is not the first time their names have been linked.<br />
<br />
For example http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/9039443/Eric-Pickles-is-having-a-laugh-say-market-traders.html and http://www.guardian.co.uk/local-government-network/2012/jun/08/richard-vize-mary-portas-high-streets-patronising-drivel<br />
<br />
Have they changed anything? Not as far as I can see. And I sense an uneasy backlash building among the Portas towns where regeneration is supposed to be happening. Tales of money being spent on <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/portas-pilot-towns-wasted-grants-on-items-like-a-1600-peppa-pig-costume-8494026.html">Peppa Pig</a> outfits do nothing to give the project credibility.<br />
<br />
But it is quite simply that they are paying lip service to the whole process of regeneration. It is a complete smoke screen to appear caring without having to do any actual work.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://mancbikemummy.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/dear-highstreet.html">To stop High Streets failing will take real political will for things to change and investment at a time of austerity and I very much doubt our current Govenment have the backbone for such an undertaking.</a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-81024877811282399342013-03-07T12:03:00.001-08:002013-03-07T12:03:07.719-08:00Boris. (sorry its a bit sweary)Unless you have been half asleep, or not knee deep in a twitter feed of cyclists sat typing with their mouths half open, not quite believing what was being announced, then you will know all about Boris' <a href="http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/capital-s-cycling-czar-unveils-ambitious-plan-to-get-london-cycling/014484">announcement </a>today that he is going to spend lots of money on cycling.<br />
<br />
I kid you not. OK, its not a complete panacea, its nowhere near on the same levels as a road building scheme and its not even the coffee, tea and biscuits budget for HS2, but in terms of the UK, it is an unprecedented level of money being allocated to improving cycling for them dahn sarf in Larn-darhn.<br />
<br />
Whilst the cycling community and everyone else who would like to venture onto two wheels were it not for the Alton Towers factor of sharing the Capitals roads with HGVs and cocaine fuelled motorists (yes I have heard the urban myth about £20 notes in London) cheered from the cheap seats, the scheme was not without its naysayers.<br />
<br />
The response from Mr Lawson of the Alliance of British Drivers was that Mr Johnson's vision was "bonkers".<br />
<br />
OK, I am not going to listen to you if you use the word bonkers as an argument That's the sort of thing my kids....oh no wait....they wouldn't either.<br />
<br />
He said: "As a London taxpayer I strongly object to this waste of financial resources on a scheme that favours cyclists over other road users.<br />
<br />
Right. Just stop right there cockwomble,<br />
<br />
As a UK taxpayer for 20 years (I know I am only a wee whipper snapper), you can go fuck right off.<br />
<br />
I am sick to bleeding death of the bleating, hand-wringing motoring lobby. "Please sir, don't be unkind to us...."<br />
<br />
Piss off. This country, this Government and previous Governments have presided over the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/25/car-pollution-noise-accidents-eu?INTCMP=SRCH">subsidisation</a> of car use over and above every single other road user. Over pedestrians and over cyclists. Greedy greedy greedy. We all pay. All of us, for your 'right' to own and drive a car. <a href="http://www.greens-efa.eu/the-true-costs-of-automobility-8787.html">Everyone</a>. All the cyclists and all the pedestrians.<br />
<br />
So at long last a small, really small in the scheme of things, thing is being done to redress the balance.<br />
<br />
And you Mr Lawson, sound like the spoilt little shit at school who never gets invited anywhere because you wont play nice and share.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-702968777998532832013-02-26T01:15:00.004-08:002013-02-26T01:15:27.178-08:00A clarification on my opinions of vehicular cyclingI would just like to add to my blog post, I am not entirely against Vehicular Cycling.<br />
<br />
It is a good mechanism for coping with the conditions we are faced with.<br />
<br />
But it is not a panacea.<br />
<br />
It has <b>not</b> enabled the mass uptake of cycling.
It works for those people confident and dare I say, brave enough to share the road with motorised traffic.<br />
<br />
<b>But it shouldn't get in the way of demanding better.</b><br />
<br />
Like car manufacturers shouldn't give up trying to make cars safer still, even though some clever so and so invented seat belts or air bags.
It has its place in helping the 2% who use our roads do so more safely. But this is not enough.<br />
<br />
We shouldn't be asking people like me (or probably you) what we need to do to get people out on the road. We should be asking the 98% who aren't out there cycling.<br />
<br />
If Vehicular Cycling was the solution, then in Trafford where I reside you wouldn't be able to move around secondary schools for the amount of bikes. All year 6 pupils before they leave primary, get Bikeability training. So why aren't they continuing to cycle?<br />
<br />
Probably the same reasons friends of mine who are confident capable <a href="http://mancbikemummy.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/get-your-hands-off-our-cyclepath.html">club cyclists gave</a>.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-10341506117210571432013-02-25T06:09:00.001-08:002013-02-25T06:53:40.633-08:00Chris Thingy and the VC MobI thought it sounded like the title of a band or an album<br />
<br />
Warning: This blog post requires a small pinch of salt<br />
<br />
So a few days ago, this Chris Thingy bloke posts a video. You know, these bloody ninja cyclists that go everywhere with a camera strapped to their heads. Militant bunch they are. They go looking for trouble.<br />
<br />
Well based on a few things my new bestest mate <a href="http://departmentfortransport.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/fuck-you-john-franklin/#comment-2964">Maggie Richardson</a> had to say, I wanted to take the opportunity to tell Chris Thingy that he is a shit cyclist. <br />
<br />
I don't care who he thinks he is the jumped up flaming leftie.<br />
<br />
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/59477119" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/59477119">A short journey</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/britishcycling">British Cycling</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
<br />
Now, where do I start? According to my new mate <a href="http://departmentfortransport.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/fuck-you-john-franklin/#comment-2964">Maggie</a>, anyone who talks about cycle lanes is clearly a crap cyclist. I don't know who this guy is but I have to agree with her. Look at his positioning on the road. not once does he take the lane. And then like so many dreadful cyclists hopping on and off the pavement. you'd never see anyone from the CTC or British Cycling doing that.<br />
<br />
There would be no need for a cycle path next to this roundabout if this Chris Thingy cycled according to the laws of Vehicular Cycling! What he should have done was position himself in the middle of the road and taken the lane, then proceeded to carry on as if he were a car across the roundabout. SIMPLE!<br />
<br />
And without the need for any of this cycle lane nonsense.<br />
<br />
BUT....<br />
<br />
The problem is, he is only small compared to those large cars and even smaller still to a HGV driver.<br />
<br />
Most collisions where cyclists are involved take place at junctions, where drivers simply do not see them. We can talk until the cows come home (which will be a long time as I do not own any cows) about better training for drivers, but the <a href="http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/raf-pilot-teach-cyclists/">basic biology</a> is that our eyesight has not evolved enough to see everything we 'think' we are seeing. Our eyesight is made up of where we are looking now and peripheral vision. When we scan a junction we do not look at each individual point we look back and forth and the scanned image is mainly made up of fuzzy peripheral shots and put together by our brain.<br />
<br />
No amount of training is going to force us to evolve quicker.<br />
<br />
Would you let your child cycle around this roundabout?<br />
<br />
This has to be the litmus test for anywhere we expect people to use a bike.<br />
<br />
Oh and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Boardman">Chris Thingy</a> happens to be one of the best cyclists this country has ever produced.<br />
<br />
PS I am not longer in touch with Maggie. ;-)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-25946413814198978042013-02-07T05:06:00.000-08:002013-02-07T05:58:47.271-08:00Dear Highstreet, <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Dear Highstreet, </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I read recently that the boss of Tesco has said a few mean
things about you, like calling you medieval. But my mum always taught me not to
call people names. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Actually that’s not
true. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">She was a Scouser with a vicious tongue and wit to match, so if she’d
have thought it was funny, you’d have been called much worse than medival.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I wanted to give you my humble opinion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I am not as important as the big boss of Tesco, but I hope
you will take the time to listen to the people you are calling on in your
valiant campaign to get people to<b> #shoplocal.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You are probably quite intelligent and have realised that I
cycle a bit. The clue, after all is in
the blog title. But I also drive. I used to drive in the T.A. and have a love
of Landrovers and big trucks. Now I
drive two (albeit not at the same time) 4x4’s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Often I have to ‘<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5ceykLZDKA">fire up the Quattro</a>’ just to nip to the
shops.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When I get there it’s a flipping pain in the arse. Finding somewhere to park, often having to
get change for the parking. And the
Quattro is ruddy enormous, I often drive round and round trying to find a big
enough space.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To be honest, once I am in the car, I may as well go
somewhere that is free to park and has a big multi-storey carpark. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Does this sound like somewhere familiar? You see, the moment I utter the words ‘<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5ceykLZDKA">FIREUP THE QUATTRO!</a>’ you have lost me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
money it will cost me in petrol, insurance, parking, etc etc I may as well go a
bit further afield and get a few more things.
Shopping that I know will probably go off and be thrown away before I
eat it, but hey, I was there, it was on special offer……..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As for clothes shopping….I mean… you've seen the Trafford
Centre right? And if my kids wanted to
spend the day shopping, would I let them go on the bus into town? Hell no! I
would escort them directly to the door of <insert local indoor massive
shopping mall> and arrange to pick them up later. They are dry, safe, etc
etc.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>But I don’t want to do that.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I want to go to my local Butcher and buy tonight’s tea. Not
£150 of over manufactured crap. I want a steak, or some sausages. I want to go
to a proper Greengrocer for the veg. I
would like to go on my bike, not have to worry about parking or change. I just
want a nice trip to the local shops. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I would like it to be a nice place to go. I don’t want to
have to cross roads and negotiate busy junctions. A town centre choked to death
by cars is not a pleasant place to be (there aren't any cars in the Trafford
Centre right? Well OK one, but that’s a Bond car and it’s not going to run my
kids over)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Don’t believe me huh? Mad Manc Bike Mummy you’re thinking?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In the voice of Through the Keyholes </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Loyd
Grossman <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3ITkf1q3Tc">"Lets look at the evidence</a>".</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A study by the New York City Department of Transportation
found that small businesses near protected bike lanes installed in 2007 saw
sales grow much more sharply than the borough average. Another study by
Portland State University found that people in Portland who drove to local
businesses spent more money per visit than bicyclists, but cyclists visited the
same businesses more often and spent more overall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">ok yep *nods*</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A study by the Frontier Group think tank last year found that
annual miles travelled by car among 16- to 34-year-olds dropped 23% from 2001 to
2009.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It also found that people in that age group took 24% more bike trips in
the same period. A 2011 study by researchers at the University of Michigan
Transportation Research Institute found that the percentage of young drivers
with licenses is declining.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So young people aren't driving as much. So they must then chose to live somewhere that makes non car ownership easier.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"I
think a lot of cities have found that bike infrastructure helps you keep your
highly educated young people in the city after they graduate."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Keeping highly educated people. That sounds like a good plan. They've got dosh right?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">But you
still want to focus on more parking and cheaper parking do you??? OK we can continue……<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Jobs.
Who doesn't want to create more jobs?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Overall we find that bicycling infrastructure creates the
most jobs for a given level of spending: For each $1 million, the cycling
projects in this study create a total of 11.4 jobs within the state where the
project is located. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Pedestrian-only projects create an average of about 10 jobs
per $1 million and multi-use trails create nearly as many, at 9.6 jobs per $1
million.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Infrastructure that combines road construction with pedestrian and
bicycle facilities creates slightly fewer jobs for the same amount of spending,
and road-only projects create the least, with a total of 7.8 jobs per $1
million. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">On average, the 58 projects we studied create about 9 jobs per $1
million within their own states.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="http://www.oit.umass.edu/web_hosting/official/index.html"> University of Massachusetts</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Create more jobs, shop
local! They go hand in hand!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Evidence shows that for
every £10 spent in an independent shop £25 is generated for the local economy
compared to £14 spent in multinationals. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Getting to local shops
easily is especially important for elderly, vulnerable and those without
transport. Keeping your shops open by buying locally helps the whole community.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This is my favourite one so far…..<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Research in
Leicester has found that as motorised traffic flow increases so does the
proportion of vacant shops along that particular street.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Leicester Environment City
Trust, 1993 Streets, traffic and trade: A survey of vacant shops sites in
Leicester City Centre. Leicester: Leicester Environment City Trust.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Yet here is <a href="http://www.maryportas.com/portaspilots/mary-portas/">Mary Portas</a>
completely ignoring the evidence and saying the opposite.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> “</span></span><span style="background: white; color: #0b0c0c; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">changing planning rules to allow councils to
provide more parking spaces in town centres so they can compete with
out-of-town supermarkets</span>”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #0b0c0c; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">She goes on to say about her project “</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">ensuring its sustainability". How do you do that if you are increasing the use of cars?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Still
unsure? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">How about a good old fashioned case study? Everyone likes a case study.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Valencia Street, Mission District, San Francisco<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Traffic lanes in this street
were slimmed to slow down cars and accommodate other users. Merchants reported
that street changes enhanced the area. Nearly 40 per cent of merchants reported
increased sales, and 60 per cent reported more area residents shopping locally
due to reduced travel time and convenience. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Overall, two-thirds of respondents
described how the increased levels of pedestrian and cycling activity and other
street changes improved business and sales. A network of complete streets
appears to be more safe and appealing to residents and visitors, which is also
good for retail and commercial development.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Source: <a href="http://www.completestreets.org/">http://www.completestreets.org</a> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What's even better, they close some of the roads for a couple of Sundays in the Year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If you wouldn't want this happening outside your shop, restaurant or bar, on a Sunday, maybe retail isn't for you!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/YkBaBPbyfF4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What a wonderful sense of community, but Hightstreet you probably don't care about that, just look at the HUGE FOOTFALL!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I shall continue.....</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A German study showed that:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Motorists
are not better customers than cyclists, pedestrians, or public transport users. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Because
they buy smaller quantities, cyclists shop more frequently (11 times a month on
average, as opposed to seven times a month for motorists).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Approximately
75 per cent of motorists purchase two or less bags of goods, and so could carry
their goods by foot or bicycle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Most
shopping trips involve distances that could be walked or cycled<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MORE MORE!!!
Give us more case studies!</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Changing car parking to bicycle
parking in Lygon Street, Melbourne, Australia<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lygon Street,
Carlton, is a popular cycling route near Melbourne University. It is a mixed
use mainstreet – groceries, cinema, comparison goods, cafes, etc.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It has few
bicycle parking spaces. Surveys have
shown that the average cyclist’s expenditure is 73 per cent of a car user’s,
but space required to park a bike is only 12 per cent of the space required to
park a car. Cyclists spend more on comparison goods, such as clothing and
eating out, and less on groceries/cinema per visit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In Lygon
Street:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>• Each m² of space allocated to cars
generates $6 per hour.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>• Each m² of space allocated to
bicycles generates $31 per hour.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Put another
way, the researcher estimated that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>• 1 car space produced $27/hr retail
spend, but<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>• 6 bike spaces replacing the car
space would produce $97/hr in retail spend.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The report
concludes that incrementally replacing car parking with bike parking would
therefore make economic sense<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So, to cut to
the chase my lovely dear highstreet, we all want you to survive and do
well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You make where we live individual
and a nice place to be. I don’t want to
live in A.N Other copycat town. I want you to be special. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We should be joining forces. The people asking for <a href="http://mancbikemummy.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/get-your-hands-off-our-cyclepath.html">better cycling provision</a> and the #shoplocal brigade. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">WE ARE ON THE SAME SIDE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But it’s a two way street. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">You must listen and evolve. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You must stop competing for more motorised
traffic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>Because therein lies your ruin.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Some references and just good old bedtime reading</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/sites/cycling-embassy.org.uk/files/121003_CEoGB_TfGM_Consultation_0.pdf">http://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/sites/cycling-embassy.org.uk/files/121003_CEoGB_TfGM_Consultation_0.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/sites/cycling-embassy.org.uk/files/documents/eev68.pdf">http://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/sites/cycling-embassy.org.uk/files/documents/eev68.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/sitecollectiondocuments/goodforbusinessfinal_nov.pdf">http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/sitecollectiondocuments/goodforbusinessfinal_nov.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/improving-high-streets-and-town-centres">https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/improving-high-streets-and-town-centres</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-20902077533796952732013-01-22T02:25:00.000-08:002013-01-22T02:25:35.464-08:00Get Your Hands Off OUR Cyclepath<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">It seems to be a cycling hot potato at the moment, with
the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group starting their ‘Get Britain Cycling’
inquiry the discussion of cycling provision in this country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">There seems to be some really polarised views amongst two
distinct ‘camps’ (I am purposely using camp as it makes me think of a John
Inman style bitch fight) which are at loggerheads with what they would like to
see happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">There have been many bloggers out there with far more
knowledge than I possess at present who have done a very good job of documenting
pros and cons of each.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.voleospeed.co.uk/2012/09/ctc-in-policy-muddle.html">http://www.voleospeed.co.uk/2012/09/ctc-in-policy-muddle.html</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Peter Walker from
the Guardian wrote this piece and he is due to give evidence to the inquiry
also <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jan/20/cycling-in-britain-government-inquiry?commentpage=4">http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jan/20/cycling-in-britain-government-inquiry?commentpage=4</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The things that struck me most from his report was that
2.2% of people use a bike. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Wow, really,
that low? That fact made me feel quite sad. Ask around. Go on, ask the person
sat next to you if they can ride a bike, chances are they will say ‘Yes, but </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">I've</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> not cycled since I was a child’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">So most of us can ride, but only a very small number of
us are choosing to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">2% of children ride to school compared to 40% in Denmark
and 20% in Sweden.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I actually thought
this was about right. At my sons school only 1 family cycle. I am sad to say it </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">isn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> us. We used to, but there is no safe place for us to leave his bike. There
is also a large main arterial road which we can use the pavement albeit illegal
(and I defy any police officer to suggest my son should ride on the road) but
it is not ideal. However I am hopeful
this will change, I am fighting for a cycle path and a bike pod at the school.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Out of that tiny 2.2% of people who use their bike a massive
¾ are men. Now Peter Walker got a bit of
stick in the comments section for suggesting <i> “<span style="background: white;">a
statistic that speaks of a macho, gung-ho cycling culture where riders are
expected to mix it with speeding cars, buses and trucks.</span>”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> agree
more, but I took to twitter to ask my friends why they did not cycle. Oddly (or not) I got the same response from
both my cycling friends and my non cycling friends. All the people who replied were female.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>“sore
bottom and the traffic, I have a bike but only ride<a href="https://twitter.com/CenterParcs" style="text-decoration: initial;"><s style="text-decoration: initial;"><span style="color: windowtext;">@</span></s><span style="color: windowtext;">centerparcs</span></a>..tried around Sale, crazy
motorists made me sad n fearful..”</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>“<span style="background: whitesmoke;">I dont cycle to work cos I like being this shape
with no broken mangled bits. And alive.</span>”</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><i><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I do
drive but not into work. Too much traffic to consider cycling, plus only one
shower at work, crap bike parking...</span>”</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>“I have hardly cycled since living in London. As with<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://twitter.com/ajh1269" style="text-decoration: initial;"><span style="background: whitesmoke; color: windowtext;">xxx</span></a> <span style="background: whitesmoke;">roads and traffic here
just too much to cope with.</span>”</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i><o:p></o:p></span><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Too many taxis, buses, other random
cyclists. Assault on the brain trying to navigate.</span>”</i></span></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">What I was most surprised by
and then really quite cross about was some of these people had done IRONMAN! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">These </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">aren't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> inexperienced women on an old bike dusted down after a lifetime
in a shed. These are competent cyclists who are fit and can handle a bike. Yet they are citing traffic as a reason for
not cycling!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b>THIS IS NOT F*****G
ACCEPTABLE! </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Can you see I am angry?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Many many people are
asking for segregated bike lanes. The
CTC and many others have suggested that if we ask for segregation we will lose
our right to the road?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b>WHAT?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Who will lose out? That
tiny 2.2% of people (of which I am one)? Please?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b>WE HAVE ALREADY LOST OUR
RIGHT TO MANY MANY ROADS</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Look at all the hundreds
of cyclists using this main road. </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHg7SwKtZQuwZVdKCZxnEkxe2D5BFwKY8YDkOvIFCz3F0StTYTvWktkZyGkm_q2_91gohctPyGKwNaHZ47YEmAeTPLSbff6v4wZjWN0Mnly6W965y-xACjGWdkOBiz5BmEPxcDOHPK0X0/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHg7SwKtZQuwZVdKCZxnEkxe2D5BFwKY8YDkOvIFCz3F0StTYTvWktkZyGkm_q2_91gohctPyGKwNaHZ47YEmAeTPLSbff6v4wZjWN0Mnly6W965y-xACjGWdkOBiz5BmEPxcDOHPK0X0/s400/photo.PNG" width="352" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Oh wait hang on. There isn’t any. In fact I
walk along this road every day. It is permanently gridlocked. I see one maybe
two cyclists. But look how wide it is and how much space the pavement takes up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">This is how it used to
look<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterarchiveplus/5926035220/" title="Washway Road, Brooklands, n.d by mcrarchives, on Flickr"><img alt="Washway Road, Brooklands, n.d" height="309" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6025/5926035220_4086eaf156.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Can people not see?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We
already do not have the freedom of the whole road network.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">There is a complete de facto ban if 97.8% of
people are too scared to cycle!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b>What about the rights of
those people?</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b>What about my son and his friends RIGHT
to be able to get to school? </b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b>What about YOUR kids? Your friends and neighbours who don't cycle?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b>What about the family who can't afford a car?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Should they just HTFU and get out there?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">These people are the
majority!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I am a club cyclist. I
love a good 50-60 mile jaunt into deepest darkest Cheshire on a Sunday. Is anyone seriously suggesting that by
providing decent cycling provision in towns and cities I will somehow lose my
right to my Sunday Club cycle run? Wake up!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2012/08/09/separate-where-needed-mix-where-possible/">Separate where needed mix where possible</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">And to suggest you </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">wouldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> use a cyclepath if you are a ‘proper’ cyclist is nothing short of complete
arrogance!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Holy shit…..its people
using cyclepaths in club kit and PROPER ROAD BIKES!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/RxuQ7Nemx9s?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I am trying to resist talking about the</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">The Hierarchy of Provision, I refer you back to the earlier link to </span></span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.voleospeed.co.uk/2012/09/ctc-in-policy-muddle.html">David Arditti’s Vole O'Speed Blog</a>.</em><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I work in Engineering. I
understand Health and Safety. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">You cannot simply expect people to do as they are
told and to behave. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The same is true for motorists. There has to be good design
to eliminate human error. The
construction sites I often work on, one of the biggest causes of fatalities is
vehicle movement.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">What has been done to
prevent this? Better driver training. Speed
limits yes sure, but these were already being done before. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Now we have strictly
enforced physical separation from pedestrian traffic and when there is vehicle
movement a banksman is provided to ensure it is done safely. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We don’t just assume Trev the lorry driver
who has been driving safely his entire life will always get it right. We design
out the chances that today Trev might get it wrong and squash someone.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I hope that the APPCG take
note that we </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">shouldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> be just listening to cyclists. The people we should also
be listening to are the non cyclists. We </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">shouldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> be fighting for the 2.2%. We
should be fighting for everyone's right to be able to cycle without fear. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-74556345747423945662013-01-08T06:48:00.000-08:002013-01-08T06:48:28.129-08:00More of the Great Trouser DebacleAfter my post about trying to find 'non sporty spice unlycra cycle clothing' that I could cycle in for more than a few miles, went a little ballistic, I have been trying out one or two high street offerings.<br />
<br />
After a recommendation from a twitter friend <a href="https://twitter.com/runpaintrunrun">Ella Wrediddlefors</a> (@runpaintrunrun) I tried the Marks and Spencer Jeggings.<br />
<br />
See a skinny person slinking about in them below, but turn the sound down, or you may think you are on hold to your bank or in a lift.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyhswSiu-J4Hxd1Jg7fcG2ft6gt3CXM9ivfeFqNRFWvbSVu-BZ6UuwQCLBbJiSSAHcleF1OZ1ZG-OK-wcjr1g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Note the person in the video is skinny. I am not. But being skinny does not have to be a prerequisite for skinny jeans or jeggings. It is however a cardinal sin to have massive thighs in them. It gives you the aptly named carrot legs.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u9pqtVJlh_8/UJmFQvojC2I/AAAAAAAAAsE/1zko87AmSCc/w497-h373/carrot+legs.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u9pqtVJlh_8/UJmFQvojC2I/AAAAAAAAAsE/1zko87AmSCc/w497-h373/carrot+legs.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I have since taken them back and wired my teeth together.<br />
<br />
Feeling fat and dejected, I stumbled across these in George. <a href="http://direct.asda.com/george/womens-jeans/the-great-bum-tum-bootcut-jeans-blue/G003922894,default,pd.html">The Great Bum and Tum Jeans</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://asda.scene7.com/is/image/Asda/5053120356071?hei=516&wid=516&resmode=sharp&op_usm=1.1,0.5,0,0&defaultimage=default_details_George_rd" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://asda.scene7.com/is/image/Asda/5053120356071?hei=516&wid=516&resmode=sharp&op_usm=1.1,0.5,0,0&defaultimage=default_details_George_rd" width="320" /></a></div>
Now most of you who cycle a lot wont need anything to give you a great bum or tum. But the one thing that struck me is the high waist. This has really helped with the cold bit of back that you get wearing normal jeans (as well as the added benefit of keeping the muffin top on check)<br />
<br />
My only couple of dislikes are they are not available in different lengths yet so I will need to take them to <a href="https://twitter.com/ZipYard">The Zip Yard</a> as they do a nice alteration where they keep the original hem. Also, they have a tendency to loose their shape somewhat. But so far so good. Baby steps and all that.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-73820594159965401072012-12-11T13:59:00.000-08:002012-12-11T13:59:02.739-08:00The War on Britains RoadsThere has been much written about this program.<br />
<br />
None more powerful, in my mind, than @Magnatom on his blog <a href="http://www.magnatom.net/2012/12/back-pedalling.html">here</a><br />
<br />
I would recommend you read it.<br />
<br />
I can offer nothing as profound. But I have started to draw a Venn diagram of how the program is summed up in my head.<br />
<br />
I have added the link so it can be edited, so feel free to add your own thoughts. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://creately.com/diagram/halk6y382/bVzwii2xRlUyChgqYnnDfRTPdeU%3D">War on Britain's Roads</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-80592071580549867302012-12-05T02:33:00.000-08:002012-12-05T02:33:26.114-08:00Roll up Roll up – The Trouser Debacle <br />
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As the name of the blog suggests I am a mother and I rather
like using my bike to get about. It is
not without its frustrations, some of which I have documented in previous
posts. They mainly centre around the
barriers put in place to prevent a large amount of people from travelling in
something other than a car.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My latest grumble is of a more everyday matter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Now, as I said, I am rather partial to using my bike to get
about. I have no problem wrapping myself
up in Lycra like a sporty sausage for the Sunday morning club run. </div>
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<br /></div>
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My problem is I often wish to go to playgroup
or the shops, preferably without resembling <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportacus">Sporticus!</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Toy_Fair_-_Sportacus_2.jpg/150px-Toy_Fair_-_Sportacus_2.jpg" /></div>
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<br /></div>
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I am never going to be a trend setter, I am never going to
be in cycle chic or have the style of the lovely <a href="http://velo-city-girl.blogspot.co.uk/">Lady Velo</a>.
My clothes are functional. Don’t get me wrong, I can do dressed up, but when
you are either on the school run or down a hole in the ground or on a
construction site, functionality is numero uno. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So I am starting my quest for something I can ride in while
looking like a normal person who has decided to cycle rather than using the car
for that 1 km journey (I jest you not, there is a mum at my eldest sons school
who drives 480 m!!!) <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Here are some of my favourite things from around the interwebbly
thing…..<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My first port of call was to the lovely Minx Girl. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Her suggestion was the jeans that she has been wearing
herself. The <a href="http://www.minx-girl.com/products/maloja-gerlinde-jeans/1151/">Maloja Gerlinde Jeans at£105 </a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<img alt="Maloja Gerlinde Jeans" src="http://www.minx-girl.com/prodmainimg2523.jpg" /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Although Minx has other jeans in stock, these are her
personal recommendation as they are properly bike specific.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>"If you had bumped into Minx on almost any day over the last ten months, she would have been wearing these jeans. And not because she's a laundry slouch. Inspired by freeride shorts, the cut is slouchy - if you've got sporty thighs you don't need to size up (oh the very joy...) and they give beautifully so that one day in and you're looking casually hip. The back is cut higher than the front and the rear yoke, in the style of the best baggy shorts has a stretch insert so that you get movement forwards on a bike. There are long zipped vents on the legs and the ankle are double-thickness for wear."</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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One thing I will say is that Minx is one of the few places I have seen the length mentioned. Being short this matters. There is only so many times you can roll the bottom of your jeans up.</div>
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<br /></div>
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For those not wanting jeans there are the <a href="http://www.minx-girl.com/products/zoic-caprise-grey-plaid/1115/">Zoic Caprise at £65 </a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<img alt="Zoic Caprise Grey Plaid" src="http://www.minx-girl.com/prodmainimg2422.jpg" /><br />
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<br /></div>
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For those blessed with ‘proper’ cyclists’ legs, it also
comes in a skirt. I like them and I
think with a nice pair of woolly tights and my big chucky boots they make a
nice change from plain bike wear.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>"Minx does love a nice bit of plaid so the chance to wear it on her bike in a stretchy way, without the danger of any tweed-related itch is never going to be passed up. The Caprise is a very long short or slightly shorter than usual capri (great news for all petite types who are fed up with three-quarter length bottoms grazing their ankles). Whatever you want to call these, the crucial detail as far as Minx and her own chubster pair are concerned is that your knees are covered when standing... In action knee-positioned shaping darts mean you get plenty of ease. There's more pockets than you'll ever fill with two front, two back, one leg and one mobile/MP3 velcro closure pocket. Minx does love the curve through the hip on this style (translates as, somewhere to put your thighs....) and the elastic back waist combined with front tie or belt loop option makes the fit versatile and comfy."</i></div>
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They reminded me of these ‘knickers’ from <a href="http://civiacycles.com/apparel/civia_knickers/">Civa which are $150</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<img src="http://civiacycles.com/images/sized/files/components/CL4240-459x328.jpg" /><br />
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</div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>"Wool blend suiting fabric</i></div>
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<i>Tailored fit for comfort and fashion on and off the bike</i></div>
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<i>Strap with buttons to adjust size at knee</i></div>
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<i>Left and right side pockets for phone, sunglasses or similar shaped items</i></div>
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<i>Hidden belt pocket for change and other small items</i></div>
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<i>Medium weight fabric on tweed</i></div>
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<i>Lighter weight fabric on plaid and pinstripe patterns"</i></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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They come in three different colour ways and if I were made
of money, I'd get some purely to do the Tweed Run in. I love the look of these. They are made of a wool blend. Not too sure
they would hold up well if it were rainy. They are available to buy in the UK, but I couldn't find any mention of them on any of the dealers <a href="http://civiacycles.com/dealers/">websites listed.</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Back to jeans and <a href="http://swrve.co.uk/jeans.html">Swrve</a> have a mens collection for the more androgynous amongst us. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<img alt="swrve jeans leg roll" height="320" src="http://swrve.co.uk/swrve%20web/jeans/jeans-leg-roll.jpg" width="192" /></div>
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I asked if they had stopped doing the womens
range I got this response from Chris<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>“We had a women's line
for two years and it was just too expensive to continue.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>The skinny fit jeans
and 3/4 work for some women, and we try and go down to smaller sizes in the
tops (the XXS bamboo is tiny).<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>if you want any
specific info on the fit of a line please do email again or call,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>My best, </i><i>Chris”</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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There are some lovely jeans on their site, but for £80 I
would want something made for women. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Always Riding do the<a href="http://www.alwaysriding.co.uk/chrome-vanya-knicker-1173.html"> Chrome Vanya </a> Its £109.99 but I think the fabric looks like tracksuit
material. I know its not, but it still
has a sportswear look to it even with the jeans style top.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<img alt="Chrome Vanya Knicker" src="http://www.alwaysriding.co.uk/bmz_cache/f/fb1d1e1ebef5ac24b74dda3d74af3257.image.385x385.jpg" /><br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>"Made exclusively for female cyclists, the Chrome Vanya Knicker is a slim fit 3/4 short that sports articulated knees and a high cut for a great urban ride. Constructed from a water resistant, durable 4-way stretch fabric, the Vanya also includes some handy commuting extras like a secure phone pocket, deep front pockets and reflective logo."</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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They are similar in design to the ‘knickers’ in the <a href="http://bontrager.com/model/09543">Bontrager new line of Womens Commuting clothing</a>. </div>
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They are $89.99. Bontrager do have a UK site but oddly the trousers don't feature on it. Maybe they think we are all like Kelly Brook in our floaty dresses and Pashleys<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<img height="320" src="http://s7d4.scene7.com/is/image/TrekBicycleProducts/58712?wid=1440&hei=1440&fit=fit,1&fmt=jpg&qlt=85,1&op_usm=0,0,0,0&iccEmbed=0" width="320" /><br />
<br />
<br />
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Anyone sick of black ¾ length trousers yet?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I don’t want cold ankles…..<o:p></o:p></div>
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BUT WAIT…..<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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WHAT IS THIS…<o:p></o:p></div>
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From Outlier in New York, a full length womens cycling
specific trouser. <a href="http://shop.outlier.cc/shop/retail/women-s-daily-riding-pant.html">The Daily Riding Pant!</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<img alt="201 OUTLIER FlatBlack" height="320" src="http://shop.outlier.cc/product_images/womensdailyi2/201-OUTLIER-FlatBlack.jpg" width="222" /><br />
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<br /></div>
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They come in different colours and they are very ‘now’. But
stone the crows, they are $188. There is
no way I would pay that for a pair of jeans/trousers. I just wouldn’t *repeat
til convinced*<o:p></o:p></div>
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They are nice though…..Very nice. And they ship to the UK.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I love the blurb</div>
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<i>"Lean, sleek and made of our core 4Season fabric. Full performance features in an elegant silhouette. The four way stretch and soft inner face of the doubleweave twill fabric ensures you're always moving in both comfort and style. Classy enough to wear out for drinks and tough enough to ride there."</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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and it carries on, but I have no idea what they are on about. But I do love a bit of corporate speak....</div>
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</div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>"Truly a do-anything pant cut for women. Lean and sleek with an elegant silhouette. Made with our core 4Season fabric, the four way stretch and a soft inner face of the doubleweave twill fabric ensures you move in both comfort and style. The "self-cleaning" Nanosphere treatment makes it highly resistant to dirt, coffee and beer, so don't worry about your morning cup of joe spilling all over you as you ride. Wear them to work or out for drinks, rain or shine you'll be looking good and feeling better. </i></div>
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<i>Made locally in New York City. Not only does our 4Season fabric shed rain and dirt, dry fast and resist wear and tear, but it also meets the strict bluesign environmental standards. It's a low impact fabric, made with tight emissions standards that ensures it's produced with the absolute minimum amount of waste. A better way of clothing for a better way of life, enjoy them, and let us know what you think."</i></div>
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By chance I stumbled across these bad boys from Velo Vixen. <a href="http://www.velovixen.com/clothing/trousers/union-34-elements-trousers-navy">The Union 34 Elements Trousers</a></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Holy mackerel I love these trousers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<img src="http://s4fba580162259.img.gostorego.com/802754/cdn/media/s4/fb/a5/80/16/22/59/catalog/product/cache/1/image/460x460/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/u/3/u34cw0010_lifestyle_08_womens_elements_water_resistant_trouser_dark_navy2.jpg" /><br />
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I love the level of detail on them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<img height="320" src="http://s4fba580162259.img.gostorego.com/802754/cdn/media/s4/fb/a5/80/16/22/59/catalog/product/u/3/u34cw0010_detail_04_womens_elements_water_resistant_trouser_dark_navy-12.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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They really do look like they have been made by someone who
cares. And *sings* they studied at St Martins College....(sorry Union 34, I couldnt help it)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Union 34's Elements trousers are a brilliant combination. They look undeniably fabulous, and are cut to flatter the female figure - the raised rear waist will ensure your 'seat' will never have looked so good, on or off the bike!</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<i>Yet at the same time they work perfectly for cycling: their unique Schoeller fabric is incredibly comfortable to wear. They are remarkably water resistant and offer amazing resistance to dirt and oil, which you can simply rinse off with water. The 2-way stretch material has retains its shape like few other trousers. In fact, nobody would guess that they're 'cycling' trousers! On top of all this, their concealed reflective trims on the rear and hem even help with your safety. The ultimate cycling trousers."</i></div>
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Have a look at the Union 24 Facebook page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Union34UK">http://www.facebook.com/Union34UK</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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There is no actual website for them at the moment, but
hopefully as they continue to grow that will change. I hope so, because, not only are their
clothes wonderfully simple and look like they are beautifully made, they have
quite a lot of women's clothing, which at present is something the market is
desperately lacking in compared to the amount of choice there is for men. </div>
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Which brings me to……….<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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H&M are about to bring out a range of cycle specific
clothing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FNVvf6wJxhc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<i>“H&M is pleased to announce a men's capsule collection with Brick Lane Bikes of East London, combining the function of cycling wear with great city style for both on and off the bike. </i></div>
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<i>The 11 piece collection has been designed by H&M and tested and approved by Brick Lane Bikes, one of the world's leading custom-bike specialists. Inspired by both vintage pieces and today's sports performance, the collection is made from more sustainable materials as part of H&M's Conscious work. The collection will be launched on March 7, 2013 in around 180 stores worldwide, as well as online.”</i></div>
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This is great news for many different reasons. I think firstly, it means cycling is becoming
a lot more mainstream. I read a blog
somewhere (and if you can remind where it is I would love to link to it) that
said only when cycling becomes not only the normal way to travel, but trendy
and something that the fashion conscious mass public wish to participate in,
only then will there be the political will to change things in favour of the
cyclist.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, although H&M are only doing a men's range at the
moment, I can only hope this is a taste of things to come and I really hope it
is well received and continues to grow.
We aren't all cyclists. We are
mostly, just people who have chosen to use a bike to get where we are going.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-257925094461173722012-12-03T07:09:00.001-08:002012-12-03T07:09:13.743-08:00Mud Wrestling - Forays into CyclocrossI am not sure how it happened.<br />
<br />
Like when you see a car accident and days later you cant recall the facts. Your brain has a way of wiping things out and filling in the blanks.<br />
<br />
I am not sure who suggested it first.<br />
<br />
Its probably for the best.<br />
<br />
So I am taking the plunge and having a go at Cyclocross. I am blaming <a href="http://accidentobizarro.wordpress.com/" rel="me nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #266566; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.818181991577148px; line-height: 17.999998092651367px;" target="_blank">http://accidentobizarro.wordpress.com/</a> for this. Chatting on twitter, I am sure it is entirely her fault.<br />
<br />
Thinking about it though, its not all n+1 it would make sense to ditch the hybrid and get a CX bike. My only problem is coming to this conclusion just before Christmas.<br />
<br />
I could use our bike to work scheme, but I really dont want to leave £700 worth of bike anywhere. My other option is second hand.<br />
<br />
Therein lies a completely different problem, in that I ride teeny tiny bikes. Being only 5'2" means I am on a 48cm frame and they just dont get sold second hand very often.<br />
<br />
So.................back to ebay...............<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-8158668601481644472012-11-26T06:34:00.001-08:002012-11-26T06:34:11.279-08:00Increasing Legitimate Use<br />
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In previous blog posts I have shown one of my commutes along
the TPT and moaned about the problems the various obstacles along its route
cause me and many others problems. Horse
styles, A-Frames, gates all to try and prevent things like antisocial behaviour
and off road motor bikes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I recently visited the Monsal Trail. They have an uninterrupted
surface along its length. Although as it
is an old railway it doesn’t have many roads to cross, but there are many
access points. This wonderful surface,
coupled with great access for wheelchairs, trailers, bike hire and not to
mention a great café meant the route was busy and full of people having a jolly
smashing day out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The TPT where I live isn’t like that. It is overgrown in parts. It has to be
maintained mostly by a group of Sustrans Rangers / volunteers (and I have been
and helped out, its hard work with just a few hands). It is completely under
used and undervalued. What then in turn
happens, is the local council in their infinite wisdom erect barriers everywhere. They try in vain to keep the ‘unwanted’ users
out. To keep it untouched.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But what invariably happens is they keep out the legitimate users.
This in itself creates an environment where antisocial behaviour prospers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Imagine a ‘sink estate’, the ones the Daily Mail like to
write stories about to frighten their readers. Think of the imaginary Shameless
estate. The no go areas. These are prime examples of what happens when
the good people are kept away and nobody is left to say ‘That’s not right’ or ‘Don’t
do that’ (or put that old Granny down before you break her).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Making environments attractive and accessible for everyone
is the key to eliminating the sort of behaviour that ruins places for everyone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is one of my routes onto the TPT.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZjAiLi5L8fhREgglrog2u7VFOk4CVGjwg1M8qD0A0MKYPmbXSCZHzIZqQfGi3odjoTD3RR2NBqeKC7ChzxPBSKv4CTZeoy28IqsUo6gLIfAs0d1pxD1NFjlcwnOXd7Ng90se2xrpeiM/s1600/IMG-20121118-00402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZjAiLi5L8fhREgglrog2u7VFOk4CVGjwg1M8qD0A0MKYPmbXSCZHzIZqQfGi3odjoTD3RR2NBqeKC7ChzxPBSKv4CTZeoy28IqsUo6gLIfAs0d1pxD1NFjlcwnOXd7Ng90se2xrpeiM/s400/IMG-20121118-00402.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It used to be open as it was, when I was younger, our usual Sunday
trip to the local rubbish tip. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But it became a rat run.
It was almost a race track for ‘joy riders’ and boy racers. It was a
though route to Broadheath, Partington, Lymm, the country lanes and beyond. A get out of jail card for those predisposed
to a bit of late night TWOC’ing. </div>
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So it
became gated and we ended up with horrendous speed bumps along our road (which
I might add do nothing to slow anyone down).
Now I might be getting old, but since cars have become more difficult to
steal, notwithstanding the odd Mitsubishi that gets the keys fished through the
owners letterbox and the advent of the police helicopter, is this still really
a massive problem? <o:p></o:p></div>
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As far as I can tell it is still a right of way. It is a green dotted line on OS maps. Here is is on Google.</div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Riley+Close,+Sale&aq=0&oq=riley+&sll=53.410139,-2.362576&sspn=0.003716,0.010568&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Riley+Close,+Sale,+United+Kingdom&t=m&z=14&iwloc=A&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=Riley+Close,+Sale&aq=0&oq=riley+&sll=53.410139,-2.362576&sspn=0.003716,0.010568&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Riley+Close,+Sale,+United+Kingdom&t=m&z=14&iwloc=A" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>
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I have questioned this and been told to use
the mound of earth at one side to get through, where someone has helpfully gone
round the gate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Great, although I don’t see how that will work with a
trailer/wheelchair/tandem/trike etc etc etc.
And that’s not really the point.
If it is a right of way, then it needs to be open. The route through here has been well
documented my <a href="http://madcyclelanesofmanchester.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-trans-pennine-trail-part-3-woodcote.html">Mad Bike Lanes here</a>…<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have asked a few people I know in United Utilities, who
have suggested that Trafford Council erected the gate/fence as they had
problems with fly tipping.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Can anyone help me with information on how we would go about
getting proper access?<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-9092152996859377982012-10-10T06:23:00.000-07:002012-10-10T06:23:01.792-07:00Victoria Road HaleI have just been to look and measure some of the pot holes along Victoria Road in Hale.<br />
<br />
It is a short unassuming kind of road in a wealthy area. Is is also a main route for cyclists heading out towards the Cheshire countryside as well as a popular route into Hale village itself where there are some lovely shops.<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=victoria+road+hale&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Victoria+Rd,+Hale,+United+Kingdom&gl=uk&t=m&z=14&ll=53.379927,-2.347286&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=victoria+road+hale&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Victoria+Rd,+Hale,+United+Kingdom&gl=uk&t=m&z=14&ll=53.379927,-2.347286&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>
<br />
<br />
I have managed to take about 130 photos in all. <br />
<br />
And I am not sure whether I am cross, disappointed or just plain angry at the moment. I think maybe we are all just so used to the state of the road we have become blind to it. Maybe we are so preoccupied at dodging the holes (and rightly so) that we switch off to how bad it has got. Either way, walking down it and taking a more analytical look at the road surface has left me fuming and sadly one member of the club in hospital.<br />
<br />
I have taken so many photos it would be impossible to post them here, so I have uploaded them to Flickr. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/88332233@N03/">Flickr photostream</a><br />
<br />
But have a look at the video I made at the end as a brief overview.<br />
<br />
I would love to know your thoughts.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065373691601557587.post-48692708987546719332012-10-02T13:08:00.001-07:002012-10-02T13:08:55.024-07:00Time for Tweed! This Saturday 6/10/2012 from 2pm<a href="http://www.tweedride.co.uk/2012/10/time-for-tweed-saturday-6-oct-2012-2pm/">Time for Tweed! This Saturday 6/10/2012 from 2pm</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13662920773645947253noreply@blogger.com0