The Slightly Smaller Blog Roundup

If you’re wondering why this week’s round up is slightly shorter than usual, let me explain. You may recall a couple of weeks ago that the CEGB asked for volunteers to help write the round up. Well, I contacted Sally last Friday who happened to mention there was an opportunity to write this week’s edition. When I asked how long it usually takes, I was shocked to hear her say eight hours. But then Sally forwarded me the list of UK bike blogs – all 220 of them! As an occasional blogger and avid reader of blogs, I was taken aback that there are now so many. And so many I’d never heard of too. On the blog front at least, things have really moved on since I discovered Freewheeler’s Crap Walking & Cycling in Waltham Forest back in summer 2007. However, on the ground and on the streets, there’s still a huge amount of work to be done. We’re making progress in some parts of the UK, for example London’s new Cycle Superhighways. However, in others, money is still being squandered on second-rate infrastructure, as a number of bloggers attest. That’s why it’s vital that we maintain the pressure on our politicians, so keep up the good work.

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Missed opportunities

From Bath to Glasgow, it seems we’re still getting more things wrong than right...

Bike Gob Glasgow is unimpressed with Glasgow City Council’s consultation on its ‘Strategic Plan for Cycling’ and has suggested a few changes. (http://www.bikegobglasgow.com/bike-gobs-strategic-plan-for-cycling-response/)

Meanwhile CycleBath, thinks that £1.2m of Cycle Ambition Grant has left cyclists in the city somewhat short-changed. (http://cyclebath.org.uk/2015/07/22/seven-dials-the-missing-bits/)

Coventry Cycling Campaign meanwhile looks at the council’s proposed changes for the A45 roundabout and Broad Lane junction and finds little improvement for cyclists. (http://coventrycyclist.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/roundabout-for-a45-broad-lane-junction.html)

Further north, Just Step Sideways is less than impressed with Stockport Cycleway.  (https://juststepsideways.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/stockport-cycleway-another-missed-opportunity-for-ccag)

Elsewhere, Sutton Council has published a draft cycling delivery strategy. Get Sutton Cycling is unsure if it will deliver on its promises. (http://getsuttoncycling.org.uk/2015/07/22/suttons-draft-cycling-delivery-strategy-published/) Staying in the capital, Better Cycling London believes that while improving Regent’s Row is a small step for Hackney, what the council really needs is a big leap. (https://bettercyclinglondon.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/one-small-step-for-in-hackney-improving-regents-row/)

Cargobike dad doesn’t think Hackney can lay claim to the title of cycling capital of the UK. (https://stripymoggie.wordpress.com/2015/07/24/hackney/)

But Waltham Forest just might if they manage to pull this ‘mini-Holland’ thing off. That subject will be top of the agenda at the next Waltham Forest Cycling Campaign meeting on Tuesday 28 July. As a local resident, I’ll be there with bells on! (https://wfcycling.wordpress.com/2015/07/25/agenda-for-july-28th-meeting/)

 

On the wrong path

There’s more to successful cycle paths than just building cycle paths, as I bike London explains. (http://ibikelondon.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/why-theres-more-to-successful-cycle.html) Meanwhile over in Scotland, Magnatom argues a new cycle lane in Milngavie isn’t just crap, but downright dangerous. (http://www.magnatom.net/2015/07/when-cycle-lanes-can-be-dangerous.html)

Infrastructure is also on the mind of luv2cycle, who bemoans the difficulties of utility cycling in Dorset and Hampshire. It’s not only the UK’s big cities that need roads redesigning she argues. (http://luv2cycle.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/why-i-get-so-frustrated-upset-and-angry.html)

NewCycling believes that Newcastle’s approach to road safety is unfair and unbalanced. (http://newcycling.org/councils-approach-to-road-safety-unfair-and-unbalanced)

Lancaster Dynamo meanwhile has stern words for the council on road safety as figures show 732 people were killed or seriously injured on Lancashire roads last year – the third highest in the country. (https://lancasterdynamo.wordpress.com/2015/07/25/dynamo-press-release-on-road-safety/)

One way to improve things might be to ban cars, even if just for a day. Talking of which, 266 European towns and cities have agreed to do just that in September. One London borough (Lambeth) and Aberdeen are the UK’s only representatives. (http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/266-european-cities-to-ban-the-car-for-a-day/018164)

Lorries in London

Seven of the eight cyclists killed in London this year were hit by HGVs. London Cycling Campaign has launched a new petition calling on the Mayor to end lorry danger. Already, thousands have signed up. (http://lcc.org.uk/articles/lcc-calls-on-mayor-to-save-lives-by-ending-lorry-danger)

The Ranty Highwayman broadly supports the LCC’s calls but says the key is stopping the need for people and heavy machinery to mix on the roads. (http://therantyhighwayman.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/command-and-control.html) Meanwhile Road Danger Reduction Forum believes that TfL is still getting it wrong on lorry safety (http://rdrf.org.uk/2015/07/20/what-transport-for-london-is-still-getting-wrong-on-fleet-and-lorry-safety/) and explains what TfL needs to do. (http://rdrf.org.uk/2015/07/21/what-transport-for-london-needs-to-do-for-lorry-safety)

Heads up

Radwagon offers his take on that Tour de France crash with Geraint Thomas and argues the whole story shows exactly why helmets are a sideline when it comes to cycle safety. (http://radwagon.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/geraint-thomas-sports-crash-and-helmets.html) Talking of ‘helmets’, James Cracknell is the new chair of the London Road Safety Council (http://www.londonroadsafetycouncil.org.uk/) ‘Nuff said.

Random notes from the blogosphere

Elii on a Bike is excited to finally take part in a bike to work scheme – but slightly disappointed she may have to wait up to a month for her new steed. (http://www.elidonald.co.uk/elionabike/cyclescheme-whats-it-like-to-take-part-in-a-bike-to-work-scheme/)

To end on a lighter note, Cycle stuff has written in praise of kickstands, a rare sight on UK streets. Perhaps it’s time for a revival? (https://cyclestuff.wordpress.com/2015/07/24/in-praise-of-kickstands/)

Comments

Thanks for continuing the blog. I always look forward to reading it each week!