National Campaign - let's do it

It may be worth getting in touch with the CTC (Cycling Tourist Club)
http://www.ctc.org.uk/ if you haven't already, as they are keen lobbyists
and the focus of many cycling campaigns.

Dave 🙂

"citydreams" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I would like to organise a national bicycle demonsration to raise
awareness of all the issues facing cyclists in the UK.

I would be grateful if people could post a wish list of specific
areas that they would like to see adressed / shortcomings of
governement policy.

If people would like to get involved, please PM me with your details.

Apologies if this is already an ongoing concern, but I cant find
anything similiar.

Travel well,

x citydreams

--

citydreams typed:

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I would like to organise a national bicycle demonsration to raise
awareness of all the issues facing cyclists in the UK.

Wow .. focussing not your strong point then ?

Quoted message said:

I would be grateful if people could post a wish list of specific
areas that they would like to see adressed / shortcomings of
governement policy.

er .. what about CTC and other cycling 'lobby'[1] groups ?

Don't you think they do the job correctly ?

Quoted message said:

If people would like to get involved, please PM me with your details.

One would prefer a little more detail and focus first, for instance, Which
specific issues ? How are you intending to raise awareness ?

I can imagine people turning up to a 'demonstration' just 'cos it's a
demonstration, and not with the best wishes of what they're purporting to
represent at heart ..

[1] lobbying being just one of the many other splendid things they do for
cycling .. 😉

--
Paul ...

(8(|) ... Homer Rocks

David Bullock said:

It may be worth getting in touch with the CTC (Cycling Tourist Club)
http://www.ctc.org.uk/http://www.ctc.org.uk/ if you haven't already, as
they are keen lobbyists and the focus of many cycling campaigns.

Thanks Dave,

I've been on the phone to them and they do seem keen, but I think
the momentum for this might have to come from the public to get the
ball rolling.

I'm in the process of emailing the Campaign Chair for the London Cycling
Campain people as well.

The problem is that these groups seem to want to play the diplomatic
card and as such I dont think they really grab the bull by the horns..

Transport for London have agreed (informally) to ensure that any
demonstration will take place safely 😄

--

Anonymous said:

er .. what about CTC and other cycling 'lobby'[1] groups ?
Don't you think they do the job correctly ?
No I dont think they do. I do support them, but I want more than
they offer.
When was the last time you saw cycling policy being tackled on a
national scale. For example, we have had 7 years of waiting for proper
access on trains, and what do we have to show for it?
Which specific issues ? How are you intending to raise awareness ?

I am seeking issues concerning other cyclists. Living in London I have
plenty of my own axes to grind.

I think awareness will come from a demonstration: Have a look at this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/germany/article/0,2763,1232798,00.html

--

citydreams typed:

Quoted message said:

Anonymous said:

er .. what about CTC and other cycling 'lobby'[1] groups ?
Don't you think they do the job correctly ?
No I dont think they do. I do support them, but I want more than
they offer.
When was the last time you saw cycling policy being tackled on a
national scale. For example, we have had 7 years of waiting for proper
access on trains, and what do we have to show for it?
Which specific issues ? How are you intending to raise awareness ?

I am seeking issues concerning other cyclists. Living in London I have
plenty of my own axes to grind.

So you want to demonstrate, but don't have any issues, yet, to demonstrate
support for ... Nice start ... NOT.

--
Paul ...

(8(|) ... Homer Rocks

Paul - censored said:

So you want to demonstrate, but don't have any issues, yet, to demonstrate
support for ... Nice start ... NOT.

"What are you rebelling against?"

"What have you got?"
--

Cheers,

Al

"citydreams" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I would like to organise a national bicycle demonsration to raise
awareness of all the issues facing cyclists in the UK.

Would a world wide demonstration do instead? How about Critical
Mass, which originally started in San Francisco. The London demos
are held on the last Friday of each month, starting at the S. end of
Waterloo Bridge. Their programme, in so far as it's coherently
expressed, seems to coincide exactly with yours.

I think there are web sites somewhere.

Personally, I avoid Critical Masses like the plague, but if you go,
demonstrate against the damn bike facilities for me. They are
universally designed by idiots, for idiots, and anyway every inch of
London's 8500 miles of road and street system already is a bike
facility, and always has been.. My own slogan is, "A critical mass
is one bike."

Jeremy Parker

citydreams <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Anonymous said:

er .. what about CTC and other cycling 'lobby'[1] groups ?
Don't you think they do the job correctly ?
No I dont think they do. I do support them, but I want more than
they offer.
When was the last time you saw cycling policy being tackled on a
national scale. For example, we have had 7 years of waiting for proper
access on trains, and what do we have to show for it?
Which specific issues ? How are you intending to raise awareness ?

I am seeking issues concerning other cyclists. Living in London I have
plenty of my own axes to grind.

I think awareness will come from a demonstration: Have a look at this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/germany/article/0,2763,1232798,00.html

Err, don't we have a similar thing every month on a Friday?

(MartinM) said:

citydreams <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Anonymous said:

er .. what about CTC and other cycling 'lobby'[1] groups ?
Don't you think they do the job correctly ?
No I dont think they do. I do support them, but I want more than
they offer.
When was the last time you saw cycling policy being tackled on a
national scale. For example, we have had 7 years of waiting for proper
access on trains, and what do we have to show for it?
Which specific issues ? How are you intending to raise awareness ?

I am seeking issues concerning other cyclists. Living in London I have
plenty of my own axes to grind.

I think awareness will come from a demonstration: Have a look at this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/germany/article/0,2763,1232798,00.html

Err, don't we have a similar thing every month on a Friday?

Yup. And I wouldn't go to that either.

On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 12:25:36 GMT, "David Bullock"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

It may be worth getting in touch with the CTC (Cycling Tourist Club)
http://www.ctc.org.uk/ if you haven't already, as they are keen lobbyists
and the focus of many cycling campaigns.

And the Cycle Campaign Network, London Cycle Campaign, Cyclists'
Public Affairs Group and s on.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

On Sat, 10 Jul 2004 22:04:23 GMT, JohnB <[email hidden]> wrote in
message <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

When at the York Rally (CTC National Rally) it was clear that there was
little 'campaigning' evident. Indeed I was quite disappointed with the
CTC presence.

Maybe that's because it was not a campaigning event. You should talk
to Roger Geffen some time :-)

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

On Sat, 10 Jul 2004 22:29:25 GMT, JohnB <[email hidden]> wrote in
message <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Maybe that's because it was not a campaigning event. You should talk
to Roger Geffen some time :-)

Quoted message said:

Yup, its an enormous opportunity lost.

In what way? Campaigning at York would be preaching to the choir.

The great thing about York is lots of people riding bikes like it was
normal or something :-)

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

Paul - censored said:

citydreams typed:

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I would like to organise a national bicycle demonsration to raise
awareness of all the issues facing cyclists in the UK.

Wow .. focussing not your strong point then ?

Quoted message said:

I would be grateful if people could post a wish list of specific
areas that they would like to see adressed / shortcomings of
governement policy.

er .. what about CTC and other cycling 'lobby'[1] groups ?

Don't you think they do the job correctly ?

I think there may be a germ of an idea within the proposal.

When at the York Rally (CTC National Rally) it was clear that there was
little 'campaigning' evident. Indeed I was quite disappointed with the
CTC presence.
When looking across at the many hundreds (thousands?) of car-borne
attendees, I wondered what a great rally it would be if everyone had
cycled to it from all corners of the UK.
It could turn into be a tremendous publicity and campaigning opportunity.

John B

Just zis Guy said:

On Sat, 10 Jul 2004 22:04:23 GMT, JohnB <[email hidden]> wrote in
message <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

When at the York Rally (CTC National Rally) it was clear that there was
little 'campaigning' evident. Indeed I was quite disappointed with the
CTC presence.

Maybe that's because it was not a campaigning event. You should talk
to Roger Geffen some time :-)

Yup, its an enormous opportunity lost.

John B

Just zis Guy, you know? [email hidden] opined the
following...

Quoted message said:

In what way? Campaigning at York would be preaching to the choir.

The great thing about York is lots of people riding bikes like it was
normal or something :-)

Although something that Mike Burrows (along with a great many other
people) was the CTC day rides. There was very little geared <he he>
towards weaker or newer cyclists and the ride he attended finished their
distance with an average speed of 19.5mph! Not very C_Touring_C! Despite
it being a good opportunity with a reasonable number of irregular (as in
not regular) cyclists from the local area there was very little
promotion of cycling. A few higher profile "family" rides wouldn't have
gone amiss along with (possibly) some advertising in town.

I know the volunteers work hard at this, and they deserve much praise
for it, but it could very easily be a little higher profile and a little
more encouraging rather than giving off the appearance of being somewhat
cliquey.

Jon

On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 00:58:34 +0100, Jon Senior
<jon_AT_restlesslemon_DOTco_DOT_uk> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Although something that Mike Burrows (along with a great many other
people) was the CTC day rides. There was very little geared <he he>
towards weaker or newer cyclists and the ride he attended finished their
distance with an average speed of 19.5mph!

We did the Sustrans pedalling picnic last year, wihch was grand fun.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

Just zis Guy, you know? [email hidden] opined the
following...

Quoted message said:

We did the Sustrans pedalling picnic last year, wihch was grand fun.

I did look at that, but wasn't there in time. It was the CTC rides that
were particularly bad. The Velovision ride was good, but wasn't really
serious (About 3 miles on cycle tracks, many unusual machines and dinner
at the pub!).

Jon

"JohnB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Paul - censored said:

citydreams typed:

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I would like to organise a national bicycle demonsration to

raise

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

awareness of all the issues facing cyclists in the UK.

Having watched campaigning, and participated, for about a third of a
century it's my conclusion that it's the campaigning that is the
cause of the decline in cycling that has gone on all through that
time.

The best way to convince people not to cycle is to present them with
a long list of "all the issues".

Most of these "issues" are non existent.

If cycling is dangerous, for you, it is because you are doing it
wrong

If cycling is uncomfortable, for you, it is because you are incapable
of adjusting your bike or buying the right clothes.

If cycling is hard work, for you, it is because you are incapable of
using your gears, oiling your chin, or pumping up your tyres.

If you look a dork when cycling, the cause may not be bike related.

If cycling makes you lose status, you are in. or trying to get in, a
group too out of it to be worth associating with

The trouble with cycling is that its status is too high. People want
to do it even though the way they do it makes it unpleasant and
dangerous for them. They continue to try to do it even though they
are so clueless that they don't realise that they don't know
anything, and so think that the unpleasantness and danger are
inevitable.

We have a generation now whose parents didn't know anything about
cycling, and so they know less. Instead of just being ignorant they
are full of "facts" which unfortunately are not facts at all. We
have to get a cycling culture back, and knowing Shimano's catalogue
off by heart is not a cycling culture. Good books about cycling
exist, but so do bad ones. Courses about cycling exist, but I don't
know how we get people to take them, and it's going to be struggle to
stop idiots from becoming the teachers. The back of every bike map
is a golden opportunity for bike education, always, tragically
converted into a black farce.

I despair

Jeremy Parker

Quoted message said:

We have a generation now whose parents didn't know anything about
cycling, and so they know less.

Sadly true. To this one could add;-
1.) That they'd rather pedal along pavements 'cos they see the roads as
"too dangerous".
2.) This in turn reduces further the number of cyclists and completes
the circle where many motorists are so unfamiliar with cyclists they're
too bewildered to know how to safely overtake one when they do see one.

No wonder we've got so many loud, fat stupid b*stards in our society /
behind steering wheels.

John Clayton
www.ossettmouldings.com