A Harrogate cycling year - 2013

It was quite a year for Harrogate cycling was 2013. Here is a run through of some of the highlights that I know of. The year started with some joy. North Yorkshire County Council  gave a commitment to resurface the Knaresborough to Harrogate, Beryl Burton cycle route. A good start to the year we had been campaigning for this to happen for six months. As spring comes The Nidderdale Greenway from Harrogate to Ripley clears the last of...

Leeds Road - Curiouser and Curiouser

If your new to this campaign. This one is about North Yorkshire County Council's Highways department refusing to make sufficient provision for cyclists at the Leeds Road junction which is being updated as I write. This despite it would appear many local politicians and a few people who really know what they are talking about thinking they should. This is your local government doing the wrong thing for the wrong reasons, despite David Cameron...

NYCC say no to Advanced Stop Lines on Leeds Road

I never did hear back From Tim Coyne the transport planner at North Yorkshire County Council, but someone forwarded me his response.  NYCC have now reviewed their decision to put Advanced Stop Lines on only 1 of the four sides of the junction  and you will never guess what? It turns out they were right. Well blow me down with a local government body that claims to promote cycling but often can't put its money where it's mouth is. TIM...

A bit of a do for Beryl Burton

I've just got back from the Nidd Gorge end of the Beryl Burton Cyleway after the re-opening ceremony. We lugged my old petrol stove over and made everyone a cup of tea and forced mince pies down them. It seemed like the least we could do if they were going to stand on the chilly, shady side of the river and listen to some middle-aged blogger rambling on. It was for my money "a good do" and best of all we got to honour Beryl Burton's memory in...

This is not just any cock-up this is an NYCC and Marks and Spencer's cock-up

I really didn't want to write this post, lots of good stuff is happening for bikey types in Harrogate at the moment, I was worried I would jeopardise some of it. I left it alone for a good six months, but quiet, polite behind the scenes lobbying has got us virtually nowhere. Then I was worried if I did nothing someone would get hurt or even killed and what if i had done nothing? So I'm sorry here goes, I'm going in. Here is the thing.  Marks...

Your Invited

It seems important to celebrate the Beryl Burton's recent resurfacing with a bit of a fanfare. So on the Saturday the 30th of November at 2pm by the start of the cycle way at the Knaresborough end, you know, the bit down by the river. We will be having a bit of a thing. Denise and Charlie, Beryl's Daughter and Husband are coming along as guests of honour, you are invited too. Andrew Jones MP is on the guest list along with a few other councillors...

Movember

Personally I draw the line at growing a moustache even for a noble cause, but raising awareness about men's health seems fairly important. It's November and many people will be growing a months worth of upper lip fluff on their face to raise awareness  of a subject that sometimes gets ignored. Good on them for being less (or more?) vain than me. Cycle Harrogate will have to make do with pointing you people with fluffy faces (or not) at...

A bit more legacy

This from Councillor Don Mackenzie A positive step taken at the last (ordinary) meeting of Harrogate Borough Council on 2nd October, members did give unanimous support to a Notice of Motion, brought by Caroline Bayliss and me, to allocate some £17,000 of this year's unused Community Chest funding, and more from next year's if needed, to community schemes celebrating the TdF event in our district next July. The emphasis is on supporting schemes which leave a (cycling) legacy long after the race itself has ended...

"The train now approaching platform one, runs on elctrickery"

Andrew Jones MP sent me a letter. I get a few from him, they are usually him telling me that mine and his parties views don't really align on a particular issue. Often after I have filled in some online protest or other. In fairness he always replies. I'm glad I'm not an MP, people like me must be a right royal pain in the backside. Anyway this one was different, he was letting me know he has just made the case in Parliament to get the Leeds...

Traffic Free Cycling to Hampsthwaite is coming REJOICE

There have been plans afoot to extend the Nidderdale Greeenway to Hampsthwaite for a while now. I blogged about it in August and asked people to email North Yorkshire County Council to show there was demand. About 5 hours later they asked me to tell you to stop emailing as so many people had emailed their inbox was melting. Anyway I just got this email via the supportive Rebbecca Burnett. I am currently working on a scheme to improve the...

The lie of the land - How is making Harrogate a bike town going?

My youngest  son is a cyclist now, he is still a bit wobbly but he is sorted. The odd unsteady start where a pedals flips round and slams his shin. My hand in the small of his back easing him up the steeper hills, whilst I struggle to keep my bike under control. These techniques got him along the Nidderdale Greenway "All by myself." He has a ball when you let him ride round a campsite or somewhere else where there is traffic free provision,...

The great and the good - towards a cycling strategy for Harrogate

I got invited along to a meeting that Harrogate Cycle Action organised on Monday night at the cricket club. It was about them launching a manifesto to get some things done for bike riders over the next two years. Whats not to like? These people have longstanding relationships with local government but the relationship has been rather reactive and somewhat dysfunctional recently. The manifesto is an attempt to get a little more strategic...

Just some paint and a bit of political will - New york builds a better urban environment for little money

Check out this Ted Talk video its by Janette Sadik-Khan. She and her team in New York City have made a huge difference to the Big Apple's transport network with not much more than some paint, some outdoor chairs and a few bollards. They have made some areas of downtown traffic free and added miles of cycle lane. The clever bit is as their changes were all easily reversible, if they didn't work they could paint over the cycle lanes or pedestrianised...

In news Just in- BORIS IS COMING

I wrote a piece recently about how we should have "boris bikes" in Harrogate. I sent my blog to Mark Kibblewhite at NYCC he is their sustainable transport guy and seems on the case. He got back with the good news that just such a scheme will be happening in Harrogate and soon. It will run from the station and its a slightly different scheme called bike and go but all good, I look forward to it. I also sent my Article to Visit Harrogate and they...

Boris in Lincoln - on hire bikes and tourism

I'm just heading home from a city break in Lincoln. I whisked @rachaelprince off for the weekend with no clue if it was a good idea or grounds for divorce. The news was good, Lincoln has spent its civic money wisely and it's a great place to wander round. The steep hill up to the cathedral which is called Steep Hill, is full of chaotic medieval buildings which are now cafés and high end boutiques or are still pubs. The cathedral...

Electricity comes to Harrogate - Corcoach Bikes

So when someone got in-touch with me and said would I like to work with them to get more people cycling in Harrogate. As you can imagine I was interested. Cor Coach bikes have been selling electric bikes down on Waterloo St near the fire station for a year now. On monday I went over for a chat, a coffee and a play on the merchandise. Two local brothers  Andy and Richard Crawley, who are both keen cyclists and keen on cycling as transport,...

Rejoice - A new overcoat for Beryl Burton

I'm halfway through painting my utility room this afternoon when my phone starts pinging up twitter messages. It's Rossett Conservatives @RossetCons letting me know the delightful and very welcome news that the Harrogate Knaresborough Beryl Burton Cycleway will be resurfaced in full as we all originally wanted. Here is a post from Andrew Jones MP's blog with a bit of background to what happened. What he doesn't mention is the input...

Some sense being talked by Politicians

Parliament debated cycling last night. As ever there were many warm words. Trouble is the overall road budget is 15 billion quid per year and cycling is getting 159 million over two years. I wonder why cycling only makes up 2% of all journey's? However this speech from Angela Eagle shadow transport secretary contains some specific proposals something that despite the government's  support of cycling has not been matched by funding. If...

Will wearing a bike helmet save your life

These are my children's heads unsurprisingly I want to do everything I can to protect them. I got to debating helmets yesterday with Richard from the excellent Ride Harrogate on the back of this Telegraph article. "It's a no-brainier and common sense," says Richard "helmets protect your head, it should be law to wear one." At face value it seems obvious protect your head and live longer. Lord Bradley Wiggins of Modshire is calling...

We ned your help - extend the Nidderdale Greenway to Hampsthwaite

Plans are afoot to extend the marvellous Nidderdale Greeenway through Hollybank Woods to Hampsthwaite. This is a beautiful broad leaved wood and if you haven't been you should, its cool. It's a right of way at the moment but its not in the best of states for bikes. This from Malcolm Margolis ....This is the lane which leads west of Ripley Castle over the little bridge with the waterfall next to it, through Hollybank Woods for a mile or...

The Cycle to work Scheme

Cycle to Work Schemes I was promoting cycle to work schemes at the hospital the other week. They could use some further explanation I think. Firstly your employer has to be signed up with one of them before you can benefit. If they aren't ask them to, its not hard. In Harrogate the Hospital and North Yorkshire County Council are signed up and if any other employers want me to publicise their participation let me know, I will be happy to. How...

Good Fettle and riding your age

It was my youngest boy's first proper cycle ride on Thursday. He has been threatening to be a fully independent cyclist for a while. We bribed him with the threat of cake and headed off from Starbeck down to Bilton on the cycle way. We cut back towards Asda on the start of the Nidderdale Greenway. Just after you cross the railway at Grove Park is the new and charming Good Fettle cafe. We had tea, cake and a chat. I had been twittering away...

Harrogate Hospital promote Cycling - Rejoice

I spent my lunchtime in the restaurant at  Harrogate Hospital yesterday. The HR department at the hospital have put together a leaflet with a bit of input from Cycle Harrogate. It details the cycle facilities on offer for bike riders at the hospital and gives some advice on commuting to work in Harrogate. Katy Ward and Craig from HR were there to promote the cyclescheme. This if you don't know is the government backed initiative where you...

Beryl Still in Peril- Moutainbiking in Harrogate

I rode the Beryl Burton last night, I was off to the pub. The rather excellent half moon in knaresborough. Its been done up in the recent past. I recommend it if you fancy a swift half in calm but convivial surroundings. Anyway back to the  Beryl Burton, its really rutted in places and seems to be deteriorating rapidly. It made for quite good fun on my mountain bike. I wizzed in and out of the potholes. Thing is it supposed to be a cycle...

The reluctant Cycle Activist

I just spoke to Harrogate labour party who asked me along to talk all things bike. I hope nobody was so bored they had to chew their own arm off. Here is the transcript of what I said. Can I start with an apparently ludicrous claim and a few facts? I can save your life, well perhaps. Half an hour of moderate exercise five times a week is easily the single most important health intervention you can make if you are currently inactive. The...