Derby Cycle Group Newsletter September 2007
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1 - Choose Cycling
Derby has been at the centre of lots of cycling initiatives over the past year or so centred around our national cycle demonstration town status and here at the DCG we like to keep our members abreast of the latest developments. We are all aware of Cycle Derby and their goal to get kids into cycling for their fun and health, now a new free service called Choose Cycling has started aimed at reducing car use and promoting alternative travel plans.
The idea behind Choose Cycling (CC) is that drivers commit to leave their car at home for 2 journeys a week. Each client has a personal travel plan worked out for them by CC to enable them to access cycling, public transport or walking for the 2 journeys they commit to.
As part of the scheme a friendly CC consultant/ cycle trainer meets the client and travels with them on their most used route giving guidance on a range of issues,
including route planning, timetables, safety, cycle storage, equipment, load-carrying and maintenance. The client is also given a comprehensive information pack containing local maps, public transport information, and details of useful local and national organisations.
Sheridan Piggott is the Coordinator for the project:
“we at Choose Cycling are passionate about cycling, walking and using public transport and all the benefits brings to people and to their environment. We ask you to swap 2 car journeys a week for a cycle, walk, train or bus ride and we will give you all the practical tools you need to make this change a reality. Our promise is that we will do all we can to make your choice as easy and as enjoyable, as we possibly can!”
CC is a pilot project with assured funding up until November and the target is to have 100 people use the project in Derby in its pilot phase. There are a number of sources of funding including Cycle Derby and the ‘Derby 7C’s project’, an environmental initiative, which draws on 7 local organisations, including Rolls Royce and the University of Derby and aims to raise awareness of climate change issues amongst their employees Funding dependent, CC will launch to the wider Derby market in early 2008.
Choose Cycling will be at Eco-Fest on the 8/9th September in Markeaton Park for anyone interested in finding out more and speaking to Sheridan and the Choose Cycling team, or check out the Choose Cycling blog for more information on how the project works
2 - Events
Sunday 2nd September, DarleyPark Concert
The great annual outdoor classical music concert and fireworks display held in DarleyPark will have a bike park. Dave Clasby is asking if anyone would like to come down for an hour to help out that would be ace, from about 3pm onwards.
A raffle for is planned for people who leave their bikes, also for people signing up to join DCG and also register for Connect 2 which is the Sustrans project which is going to a national TV vote in December, £50 million if we win it to extend the NCN.
Saturday 8th September
CTC Club Ride for New Starters: ElvastonCastle to Attenborough
Setting off at 2pm from ElvastonCastle car park the ride will go to Attenborough Nature Reserve, stopping at a friendly cafe before returning to ElvastonCastle car park for around 5pm. The ride will cover around 20 miles.
Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th September
Eco-Fest 2007, MarkeatonPark
Eco-Fest is a bi-annual festival which promotes mainstream environmental issues through a free, fun, family-orientated event.
There will be an after Eco fest party at the West end Community Centre on Sept 8th Sat probably 7:30 to Midnight. Some bike films will be shown at the start and we will be building opposition to the plans by the University of Derby to build a road across Sturgess school site. See:
Sunday 30th September
Five Parks Ride, Darley Park (note revised date and venue!).
Alan Locke reports: after the disastrous weather over the summer and the consequential cancellation of the Five Parks Ride due to the poor state of the ground, we now have a new date and venue for the event. Once again presence from the DCG will be essential to the smooth running of this, the most important event of CycleDerby 2007. However, we intend to have a more professional approach this time with many times more entrants. Better organisation, no entrance fee (Donations may be given at the start to Macmillan cancer relief), and, there will be a free breakfast for all marshals prior to the start of the event.
Unfortunately, The Rugby Club will not be available because the Rugby Season will be underway by September, so this year the start will be centred around the Café in DarleyPark. It is from here that the free Breakfast will be served, and, In order to ensure that everyone is fully informed about the actual plans for the day we will start with a short briefing at 8.30am. With introductions, questions, etc. and then breakfast will follow.
The café will produce the breakfasts - baps and tea or coffee for all volunteers to be served just after our usual 8.30am briefing. We need to pre-order this at least a couple of weeks in advance – not only numbers but specific orders. Filling options are; Bacon, Sausage, Egg, Mushroom. Drinks are tea or coffee.
Emails will be sent to those who were amongst the original volunteers for the August ride. However, if you can help in this ride please get in touch with me, stating your breakfast preference.
Either phone Alan Locke on 01332 512632 or email him at -
3 – DCG Newsletter Feedback
In the previous Newsletter we featured an article about the DCGs long standing opposition to the completion of the Inner Ring Road around Derby and an article expressing our general support for the Duffield Road bus lane. These are clearly controversial issues. Two members have written in expressing disagreement with the DCGs stance and, with their permission, we produce their letters below:
From Giles Orton, sent by email on 26th June: “As one who cycles and drives I was disappointed to read, in the last Newsletter, the very negative response DCG had given to the proposals for completing Derby’s Inner Ring Road. I consider it inappropriate for DCG to be opposing any new roads on principle. Derby has been waiting for over 20 years for completion of its inner ring road, which is much needed and ought to ameliorate life for many people, reduce congestion, fumes etc. To be opposing any road building on principle can only serve to discredit Derby Cycling Group when you come to talk about the cycle lanes to be incorporated into the project. Please contrast the likely response of Council officers to:
1 We are against your having your new ring road, but if you get it we want....OR
2 We support your efforts to complete the much needed inner ring road though trust that while modernising facilities for motorists you will also ensure up to date facilities for cyclists by...
Your approach also alienates those who are motorists and also cyclists. For many people like me circumstances often require use of a car. I would be happy to cycle more and would do so if facilities were improved, but most of my miles will continue to be by car and train. If you want to be a group for extremist cyclists then that is fair enough, but you should not then expect to win support from, or the payment of subs from, people who use cars and bicycles. Further, the broader the support DCG can command then, I would suggest, the likelier it is to achieve its objectives”.
From Peter Hodgson, sent in by email on 28th June:“In its bid to encourage the use of buses the City Council has, with the now three narrow lanes on Duffield Rd, introduced conflict between road userswhere none existed before. These points of conflict are a potential source of danger. For cyclists the main problem appears to be on the lane for outward-bound traffic. All too often overtaking vehicles pass with an insufficient gap between them and cycles or, on the other hand, vehicles are driven well into the other lane sometimes in the face of oncoming traffic. In its recent press release the Council stated, with regard to cyclists, that “some feel uncomfortable when using the outbound traffic lane”. I leave it to you to judge whether “uncomfortable” is the appropriate word. The Council’s attitude to motorists’ behaviour in such circumstances is simply to exhort them to wait until it is safe to overtake. That’s all very well but unfortunately peoples’ perceptions of safety vary and matters are made worse by impatience born out of frustration. In a move to appease disgruntled cyclists, the City Council, has floated the idea of introducing a cycle lane on the western side. The additional width would be provided by cutting away the verge on the eastern side; the cost of the whole job would be about £1M because of the need to move various services. I have grave doubts about the effectiveness of such an expensive proposal, especially as there is unlikely to be enough room available north of Ferrers Way.
So, what then is the solution? It’s quite simple really. Return the road to its former state, but with the present speed limit retained. The points of conflict, with their attendant dangers will disappear and cyclists will no longer have to worry about being buzzed by motorists. The adverse effect on Derby-bound bus journeys would, in my view, be a small price to pay for the restoration of lost safety”.
4- COMPETITION!
What is the total when you add together all the National Cycle route numbers in Derby?
Many thanks to Derby’s cycling store Samways for generously donating the £20 voucher prize,
For answers to the competition and feedback on articles, letters or ideas for future Newsletters, do feel free to write in to Andy Harrison, Editor, Derby Cycling Group Newsletter,
5 - Membership Renewal
Along with this newsletter will come an email reminding you of your subscription renewal for those for whom it is due. Please do continue to give us your support by renewing your membership
Join the Derby Cycling Group:
Please support us in the work we do by joining us. Just click on the Join Us link on the homepage to download an application form.
Contact the Derby Cycling Group:
Monthly meetings: 1st Tuesday of every month, 19.30 (7.30pm) at The Brunswick Inn, Railway Terrace, Derby DE1 2RU. Everyone Welcome. Contact John Stubbs (contact details below) for further information.
Chair and Media Officer: John Stubbs, 65 Otter Street, DerbyDE1 3FD. Tel 01332 345942. Email:
Secretary (Membership): Barbara Rathbone, 5 Regency Close, Littleover, Derby DE23 1TR. Tel 01332 273532. Email:
Treasurer: John Palmer, 1 Dovedale Rise, Allestree DE22 2RF. Tel: 01332 559100. Email:
Newsletter Editor, Andrew Harrison. Email:
Webmaster: Alastair Johnson. Email:
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