MAYNOOTH CYCLING

 Affiliated to IRELAND’ NATIONAL CYCLE LOBBY GROUP, cyclist.ie

IS THE UK AT THE TIPPING POINT IN RELATION TO CYCLING?

The UK is undergoing a sea-change in relation to attitudes on the provision of cycling facilities. First, there was the GO DUTCH campaign by the London Cycling Campaign. This was followed quickly by demonstrations of increasing numbers of cyclists in response to the number of cyclists fatally injured on the so called ‘Cycle Superhighways’; then they had the conservative Times newspaper launching  Cities For for Cycling campaign following a serious injury to one of their journalists and finally they had parliament in Westminister devote three hours debating cycle safety on 23rd February last. But also see below.

 

CAMERON’S VIEW OF UK CYCLISTS

In response to a question about cycle safety, David Cameron answered by saying  "anyone knows that getting on to a bicycle, especially in our busier cities, is taking their life into their hands." It begs the question what is he going to do to change things? As he went on to state that the Government would not be providing further funding for cycling, the answer would appear to be nothing.

 

MORE THAN HALF OF UK POPULATION AFRAID TO CYCLE ON URBAN ROADS

Sustrans has published the results of a survey revealing the level of trepidation of potential cyclists over riding on urban roads. More than half (56 per cent) of the respondents said that urban roads are unsafe to cycle on and 70 per cent wanted residential speed limits to be dropped to 20 miles per hour to make them safer.

 

OIL PRICES SET TO RISE

Despite a weak world economy, oil prices are set to rise as a result of sanctions against Iran. Expect to hear the AA jump up and down again looking for a reduction in taxes.

 

CAR PARKING CHARGES - MORE PRESSURE TO REDUCE THE COSTS OF MOTORING

As some county councils are losing money on parking enforcement, the rumour is that they are considering scrapping all parking charges in some towns amid concern that parking charges are driving shoppers to out-of-town centres. Remind me just who gave permission for the out of town shopping centres in the first place?

 

MORE MOTORWAYS LEAD TO MORE AUTOMOBILE KILOMETRES

A recent study by the Netherlands Institute for Transport Policy Analysis  found that the increase in the capacity of motorways explains the 40% increase in automobile use. During the last few years prices at the petrol pump have risen sharply, but this has apparently had no effect on the number of kilometres ridden.  According to the researchers, this has to do with the fact that the price-induced reduction in automobile kilometres has been partly compensated by the construction of new motorways or extra traffic lanes.

 

MERGER OF BIKING ORGANISATIONS IN USA

In the USA, it has been announced that three of the major national biking organization - Bikes Belong, the League of American Bicyclists, and Alliance for Biking & Walking - hope to become one organization. It was agreed that uniting the three organizations would dramatically improve their effectiveness in increasing bicycle use in the US. 

 

NEW IN CYCLING MATTERS

IN CHINA, CARS LOSE A LITTLE LUSTRE - NEW-

China is the great white?? hope to save the future of the car industry what with governments in most of the developed world trying to promote cycling and demotorisation of young people. But even in China authorities are realizing that more cars create more congestion, pollution and road deaths. Read more.

SEE MORE Old News