Posted June 19, 200817 yr Bristol has become England's first "cycling city" in a £100m government scheme aimed at encouraging cycling. The city intends to double the number of cyclists over the next three years with a series of innovations. Sharing the funding will be York, Stoke, Blackpool, Cambridge, Chester, Colchester, Leighton Buzzard, Southend, Shrewsbury, Southport and Woking. Among the features in Bristol will be the UK's first major bicycle rental network, modelled on a scheme in Paris. The government is giving Bristol £11.4m to transform cycling by creating dedicated cycle lanes, better facilities and more training for children. Commuter Stephanie Wardle shares her experience of cycling The local area will match this funding to bring the total investment package to about £23m. Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said: "I am delighted to appoint Bristol as the UK's first ever cycling city. I am sure that Bristol's bold and ambitious plans will support cyclists and encourage more people to get on their bikes, get fit and beat the traffic. "Bristol is leading the way. I hope that many more will follow its excellent example." As well as Bristol, 11 other towns and cities in England have been designated "cycling demonstration" areas, and will get funding to improve infrastructure, bike parking and cycle training. Six other English towns and cities have held demonstration area status since 2005; the Department for Transport says they have seen a significant increase in cycling. The Public Health Minister and Bristol South MP Dawn Primarolo said the scheme would help tackle growing levels of obesity in the UK. "For most people, a great way to keep healthy is by building physical activity into everyday life, such as cycling to work or school," she said. Phillip Darnton, chair of Cycling England, agreed, but said it was important that proper training was given. "Nobody is suggesting you dump somebody, particularly a young person, on a bike," he said. "We don't drop them in the deep end of swimming pools, you've got to learn properly, there's a national standard called bike ability and that's what we're urging people to do and we have some funding to help." Councillor Helen Holland, leader of Bristol City Council, said: "Our aim is to make the bicycle a real alternative for many more people travelling to and around Bristol. "This award, and the funding that it brings, will enable us to progress with a raft of off and on-road improvements which will encourage more people to chose pedal power to make a real difference to their own and our city's health and environment." Among the city's innovative proposals are the creation of the UK's first on-street bike rental network and setting up a scheme to repair bikes and provide them free of charge to people in deprived communities. Lol Go Bristol!!!
June 19, 200817 yr More cyclists to get in the way of motorists then :rolleyes: :manson: they are a bloody nuisance on the road as it is
June 19, 200817 yr Author More cyclists to get in the way of motorists then :rolleyes: :manson: they are a bloody nuisance on the road as it is lol they are annoying aint they and whats the deal with men wearing that tight riding stuff eww makes me cringe!
June 19, 200817 yr More cyclists to get in the way of motorists then :rolleyes: :manson: they are a bloody nuisance on the road as it is agreed.
June 19, 200817 yr More cyclists to get in the way of motorists then :rolleyes: :manson: they are a bloody nuisance on the road as it is Then perhaps we should be developing specialised "cycle lanes" as they have in Holland.... I've been out there many times, and in major cities like Amsterdam, the amount of people on bikes is as much as people in cars.... And Amsterdam is a far cleaner, healthier city than many here because of it, I actually feel the difference in my lungs and my general health when I visit my cousins in Holland... I fully support this initiative, time for at least 50% of the cars in this country to be taken off roads if you ask me....
June 19, 200817 yr Hope it won't be the only one. It would be nice to have lots more cycling lanes as well, i don't want to have to worry about being hit by a lorry for the most part then..... If i ever get round to fixing my bike.
June 19, 200817 yr The problem with cycle lanes around here is they just evaporate. They'll sort of get to a busy road and just end there. THen when you get cycle lanes on roads, cars just park over them. -_- Didn't SUSTRANS win the People's Millions as well to continue to develop the existing cycle network. (Plugging gaps would be helpful ^_^)
June 19, 200817 yr THen when you get cycle lanes on roads, cars just park over them. -_- The Dutch Govt came down like a ton of bricks on motorists that did that sort of thing.... They have the one thing that doesn't actually exist here - a coherent transport policy....
June 19, 200817 yr Bikes are not a practical means of transport With some exceptions they are essentially for people that can't afford cars, save the planet style tree huggers, school kids and the anti car brigade, they are not a practical means of transport You can't bring the shopping home on a bike for example Cars are an essential
June 19, 200817 yr As someone who lived in Bristol for many years I can honestly say the road system is a total balls-up. They re-designed the whole central area a few years ago... taking away pavements, redirecting the flow of traffic and adding more cycle lanes. Result? People walking in front of buses and a death toll up 600%. In fact, the actor from My Family was hit over on this very spot a few weeks ago - it's a death trap - a total mistake. The Head of Road Planning for the beleaguered Bristol City Council? A man who despises cars - a man who doesn't even drive himself, he's anti-car and cycles everywhere. So I'm hardly surprised at this latest c**k-eyed idea of his. Ridiculous. Cyclists litter the main roads of Britain yet pay zero tax for the roads they hamper. Get them all off now I say - a total menace.
June 19, 200817 yr Author As someone who lived in Bristol for many years I can honestly say the road system is a total balls-up. They re-designed the whole central area a few years ago... taking away pavements, redirecting the flow of traffic and adding more cycle lanes. Result? People walking in front of buses and a death toll up 600%. In fact, the actor from My Family was hit over on this very spot a few weeks ago - it's a death trap - a total mistake. The Head of Road Planning for the beleaguered Bristol City Council? A man who despises cars - a man who doesn't even drive himself, he's anti-car and cycles everywhere. So I'm hardly surprised at this latest c**k-eyed idea of his. Ridiculous. Cyclists litter the main roads of Britain yet pay zero tax for the roads they hamper. Get them all off now I say - a total menace. I agree as someone who lives in bristol the roads wasnt planned out that well lol the city center and around that area isnt the best!
June 20, 200817 yr You can't bring the shopping home on a bike for example Cars are an essential You can on a bus though, I do it all the time.... You only think cars are an essential, in many ways, they're not, and far from being this "liberating" mode of transport as the car ad propaganda attempts to propogate, they are, in fact the complete opposite - in urban areas, the car is a restricting force.... I don't feel the need to run a car in London, or any other major metropolitan centre, it's totally unnecessary unless you're a cabbie or a chauffeur or a sales/delivery person..... People in rural areas and small towns with pretty spotty and non-existent (thanks to fukkin' privatisation and deregulation..... <_< ) public transport links certainly need a car or even an SUV in some of the more remote areas... Around half the journeys made by car are completely unnecessary, and it adds to pollution and congestion problems. FACT... Most people in Holland actually DO own cars, but opt to use bicycles, leaving cars at home for essential journeys only.... The outcome of this - cleaner, greener cities, less congestion, and a generally healthier, better lifestyle...... We could learn so much from the Dutch, but we're just too stupid and arrogant to see that maybe these "funny foreigners" actually have a point.....
June 20, 200817 yr Ridiculous. Cyclists litter the main roads of Britain yet pay zero tax for the roads they hamper. Well, why the fukk should they...? Bikes dont create pollution, they dont cause much stress to road surfaces, and they dont take up parking spaces.... You can chain a bike to a bloody railing or lampost, it aint taking up even a fraction of the space that one of those bloody awful SUVs do..... Yes, I agree that the attitude of some cyclists leaves a lot to be desired, particularly the arseholes who seem to think they have a god-given right to run a red light.... Which is why I would certainly support a system of Cycling Licences and compulsory Cycling Tests, and that cyclists should be given mandatory lessons in road awareness..... But apart from that, I see no problems.....
June 20, 200817 yr Phillip Darnton, chair of Cycling England, agreed, but said it was important that proper training was given. "Nobody is suggesting you dump somebody, particularly a young person, on a bike," he said. The guy sounds hilarious. How difficult can it be ? This is not ballet, right ? :D Anyways, he should see Sofia - Capital city of Bulgaria. It is too dangerous to go around with a bike, the traffic is too aggressive. It is like fast and furious scene everyday out there. Then he wouldn't talk about cycling lessons :D I am taking driving lessons and I have to drive aggressive to be able to deal in this traffic :)) Though, good for Bristol ...
June 20, 200817 yr The guy sounds hilarious. How difficult can it be ? This is not ballet, right ? :D Anyways, he should see Sofia - Capital city of Bulgaria. It is too dangerous to go around with a bike, the traffic is too aggressive. That, to me is the problem in a nutshell... Too many idiots in cars, too many boy-racers.... Too many aggressive drivers.... Aggressive drivers are far more of a problem to life and limb than any silly sod on a bike, no matter how selfish they are......
June 20, 200817 yr That, to me is the problem in a nutshell... Too many idiots in cars, too many boy-racers.... Too many aggressive drivers.... Aggressive drivers are far more of a problem to life and limb than any silly sod on a bike, no matter how selfish they are...... It is our road though, motorists pay tax and cyclists don't therefore cyclists are guests on the motorists road so should behave accordingly, it is up to cyclists not to inconvenience motorists and behave safely when they are on our road
June 20, 200817 yr It is our road though, motorists pay tax and cyclists don't therefore cyclists are guests on the motorists road so should behave accordingly, it is up to cyclists not to inconvenience motorists and behave safely when they are on our road I wonder sometimes how half the motorists on their roads managed to even get a license the way they drive.
June 20, 200817 yr It is our road though, motorists pay tax and cyclists don't therefore cyclists are guests on the motorists road so should behave accordingly, it is up to cyclists not to inconvenience motorists and behave safely when they are on our road well said. Cyclists are a monumental pain in the arse on main roads. Whilst I agree there are some total idiots in cars on the roads - having to swerve to avoid cyclists and having to go to the other side of the road to give them their space on main busy roads is simply dangerous. There should be allotted cycle lanes on roads - and roads, not only motorways, where cycling is banned altogether.
June 20, 200817 yr It is our road though, motorists pay tax and cyclists don't therefore cyclists are guests on the motorists road so should behave accordingly, it is up to cyclists not to inconvenience motorists and behave safely when they are on our road How the hell is it YOUR road dipstick...? <_< EVERYONE pays Council Tax and Income Tax, whether cyclist or motorist or pedestrian and it's mainly through COUNCIL TAX and DIRECT TAXATION that many road and motorway works are funded, you think the road tax alone pays for all of it :lol: :lol: ..... Get a grip Craig, Road Tax is merely another Stealth Tax..... I pay Income Tax.. I pay Council Tax... And I AM paying for the roads to be built, repaired, fixed, etc, through these taxes, so they're my bloody roads as well mate..... And I don't even bloody drive, I use public transport.....
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