"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...