Better By Bike - April newsletter

Hello.

Spring is officially here! The clocks have gone forwards and we have more daylight hours for riding our bikes. 

We've been out and about recently, enjoying the warmth of the sun, checking out new Cycling City paths and getting fit for the summer. Unsurprisingly our 2009 Maps for Cyclists are now looking pretty dog-eared, but... 2010's maps have just arrived! Order your copy here. 40,000 were given out in 2009!

We hope you've been discovering new places to ride in the UK's 'best city for cycling'. If you need some suggestions be sure to check out our cycle maps and leisure rides page.

Here's the latest from Cycling City...

New cycle paths

Bristol

Work finished on nine cycle paths in Bristol during March (bar a few last minute snags).

This includes brand new stretches of traffic-free cycle paths, such as the 500m path along Ridgeway Playing Fields, Hartcliffe Way's 900m path or the crossing underneath Brunel Way. It also includes upgraded or resurfaced paths such as routes in Eastville Park and Whitchurch.

Plus Bristol City Council also added 2km of lighting to Bristol-Bath Railway Path making the path safer to use at night time.

South Gloucestershire

In South Gloucestershire the majority of construction work on the improved on-road route between Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Parkway train station (route 1) and the link between Parkway and University of the West of England's main campus (route 9) has been finished. South Gloucestershire Council will be signing these routes and finishing a few minor snagging areas over the next few months.

The Cycling City team will be officially opening these routes later this year but you can use them from today onwards.

Bike recycling

Bristol City Council, Life Cycle UK, SOFA Project and HMP Bristol have announced details of a joint bike recycling scheme, funded by the Cycling City project.

The organisations involved will recycle and refurbish bicycles at Horfield Prison before selling them from outlets across the city. The project will also provide productive employment, training and qualifications for prisoners at HMP Bristol.

Read more here.

Cycling promotions

Lamp post flags

Thirty-four double sided lamp post flags have been installed at seventeen locations across Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Four flags are on display at each location (two per lamp post) and they are aimed at both drivers and cyclists.

The flags remind cyclists to use lights at night time and remind drivers to watch out for cyclists. Plus they remind all road users how quickly they can get to their destination and what great places Bristol and South Gloucestershire are for cycling.

Car stickers

Do you love cyclists? Or do you want to tell people that you give cyclists room when you're in your car? If so, come and get some of our new window stickers. We've got three designs to choose from and they are available to pick up from the Brunel House reception.

Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride

It's back and, hopefully bigger than ever!

The 17th Biggest Bike Ride takes place on Father's Day, Sunday June 20. Five rides to choose from, plus a business challenge and a school challenge.

The target this year is 10,000 riders (3,000 more than last year). Are you going to be a part of it? 

Find out more and register at the Biggest Bike Ride pages. 

Cycling City Rangers

24th March saw the launch of the Cycling City Rangers network, a partnership with Sustrans to extend their volunteer rangers to cover routes and areas in the city that are not part of the National Cycle Network.

If you are interested in helping make Bristol a better cycling city and can spare an hour or so a month then please get in touch with Sustrans to find out more.   

Anti-social cycling

Avon and Somerset Police Force are taking steps to reduce anti-social cycling. Cyclists are being warned that cycling on the pavement or jumping red lights can be met with a £30 fine.

Some pedestrians and drivers are calling for these steps to be taken to reduce accidents involving bicycles. Meanwhile, some cyclists are saying that they cycle on the pavement because they don't feel safe on the road.

To help increase the confidence and safety of cyclists, Cycling City are running heavily discounted cycle training classes with Life Cycle UK. Feedback from the classes is extremely positive, with many people saying that one lesson is all they need to feel confident cycling in traffic. Read our tips for safer cycling and book your cycle training session here.

Report a problem

Getting punctures from broken glass on your cycling route? Then let Bristol City Council know. The council recently made a commitment to clear broken glass within 24 hours.

If you see broken glass on the footway, highway or cycleway you can help prevent an accident by calling the highway defects report line on 0117 922 2100 from 8.30am to 8pm Monday to Friday. 

For any other problems, including repairing potholes and illegal parking, please visit the Report a Problem page.

Website competition

Thanks to all who entered March's testimonial competition. The winners are Alistar, Ianhopper, Finex, Rp16v and Nickyjohns. We've sent you lucky people an email to let you know how to claim your prize.

April's competition is now online and we're asking you to tell us about Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride.

If you've taken part before upload your photos, videos and testimonials about the ride to the competition page.

If you haven't been before but you'd still like to enter, simply write in and tell us which ride you're doing and what you're most looking forward to.

And finally...

Blogs: During March the team went to inspect some of the new Cycling City cycle paths. You can read about the journey and download the route at this blog page.

Rides: Later this month a member of the Cycling City team is riding from Lands End to John O'Groats to raise money for Cancer Research. You can keep up to date with Ben's progress by following his blog at http://benlejog.blogspot.com

Talks: Howies and McFaul studios ran a two-week cycling extravaganza during March and April. One of the Cycling City team spoke at the event. To find out more and watch podcasts of the speakers (coming soon!), visit www.abeautifulmachine.co.uk

Awards: Bristol picked up two cycling accolades this month. 'Best city for cycling' and 'third most bike-friendly city' in the UK, according to a cycling magazine and a flat-sharing website. We know we still have a lot to do but it's encouraging to hear that the city is heading in the right direction.

Over and out. Happy cycling!

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