On your bike

Helen C Simmons said:

See

http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/News/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED31%20Jan%202005%2020%3A14%3A56%3A360

or

http://tinyurl.com/4gbwm

So turning up for a council meeting red faced, sweating, and covered in
bright yellow lycra is going to be OK too is it? Excellent!

Can't wait to see the state of the LEA people when they come out to the
village school. Or is 25 miles from Norwich outside the range of this
scheme?

--
Chris

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

Quoted message said:

So turning up for a council meeting red faced, sweating, and covered in
bright yellow lycra is going to be OK too is it? Excellent!

Can't wait to see the state of the LEA people when they come out to the
village school. Or is 25 miles from Norwich outside the range of this
scheme?

--
Chris

Well it does say other meetings in *Norwich* :-)

Cheers, helen s

Helen C Simmons said:

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

Quoted message said:

So turning up for a council meeting red faced, sweating, and covered in
bright yellow lycra is going to be OK too is it? Excellent!

Can't wait to see the state of the LEA people when they come out to the
village school. Or is 25 miles from Norwich outside the range of this
scheme?

--
Chris

Well it does say other meetings in *Norwich* :-)

Cheers, helen s

Well, as you know - Norwich is the only really important part of
Norfolk, in the same way that London is the only really important part
of England; and most of Norfolk is now Norwich suburbia anyway, so I
thought we would count 😉

--
Chris

Helen C Simmons said:

See

http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/News/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED31%20Jan%202005%2020%3A14%3A56%3A360

or

http://tinyurl.com/4gbwm

In the local rag

"On your bike, council staff told"

"01 February 2005 06:00

Staff at Norfolk County Council will be told "on your bike" today -
as part of a bid to cut congestion.

A pool of 10 bicycles, including four electrically assisted machines,
will be available to staff at County Hall to get to meetings in other
parts of Norwich.

I've always thought the best way to curb motoring and encourage cycling
is to close the car park under the Houses of Parliament and all the
Council car parks. It would concentrate their minds.

I once looked at renting some offices the Council in Cambridge had built
next to County Hall. There were almost no car parking spaces associated
with the office despite there being a massive car park. When I asked
about having some additional spaces, the Council response was no, they
did not want to encourage car use (fine). When I asked about having one
or two of the mass of (Council) spaces the answer was no, we need them
all for our vehicles. Doh!

Tony

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

Quoted message said:

Well, as you know - Norwich is the only really important part of Norfolk,
in the same way that London is the only really important part of England;
and most of Norfolk is now Norwich suburbia anyway, so I thought we would
count 😉

--
Chris

Indeed - as an example, as one is well aware there is no intelligent life in
King's Lynn ;-) The way I look at it, it's a positive step in the right
direction, to encourage use of bikes for short journeys. This is the sort of
thing that might encourage people to use bikes more often. A newbie wouldn't
consider a longer ride at all, but may consider using the pool bike on a
nice sunny day to do a mile or two to that meeting in the city. It *might*
get them hooked :-) So this particular scheme of Norfolk County Council is
to be applauded IMO - a use of money I agree with!

Cheers, helen s

Helen C Simmons said:

See

http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/News/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED31%20Jan%202005%2020%3A14%3A56%3A360

or

http://tinyurl.com/4gbwm

In the local rag

"On your bike, council staff told"

"01 February 2005 06:00

Staff at Norfolk County Council will be told "on your bike" today - as part
of a bid to cut congestion.

A pool of 10 bicycles, including four electrically assisted machines, will
be available to staff at County Hall to get to meetings in other parts of
Norwich.

The £22,000 scheme is part of a plan aimed at reducing business mileage,
easing queues in the city and cutting emissions of carbon dioxide.

Tim Jarvis, county engineer (walking and cycling), said: "We have quite a
lot of people who cycle to work anyway and because our car park is under
such pressure a lot of people are interested in the scheme. I expect there
is going to be a pretty good uptake."

As well as the bikes the money, £10,000 of it from the Department for
Transport, was used to fund cycle parking and a new covered rack.

Paul Adams, director of corporate resources, said: "These pool bikes will
offer a number of benefits.

"As well as offering a great alternative to the car, staff will benefit from
being outside in the fresh air and improving their fitness levels.

"They will also avoid having to look for a parking space when they arrive at
their meeting."

The scheme, which should also save the council money on lease hire, is also
supported by Norfolk Property Services Ltd (NPS), which is owned by the
county council."

Cheers, helen s

Did I read that right... 22 grand for 10 bikes as part of a scheme. Now
I can get a really nice bike for 2,200, but for commuting around the
city - well!

Steve
PS. Why the name change - not running out of cats are you? Do you want some?

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

Quoted message said:

Did I read that right... 22 grand for 10 bikes as part of a scheme. Now I
can get a really nice bike for 2,200, but for commuting around the city -
well!

Steve
PS. Why the name change - not running out of cats are you? Do you want
some?

Not just 10 bikes - also for covered bike parking - so it does reduce the
amount per bike a tad :-)

No, I'm not running out of cats, just changed my ISP. If I got any more
cats, Waffles would not be pleased. Queen Of All She Surveys has not
entirely forgiven me for bringing the Scum Of The Earth that is Marble
(Pyscho Cat From Hell), a feral rescue, into the household. Frnacis is fine,
as he knows his place in the pecking order, but Waffles objects to Marble.

Cheers, helen s

Response to Steve:

Quoted message said:

Did I read that right... 22 grand for 10 bikes as part of a scheme. Now
I can get a really nice bike for 2,200, but for commuting around the
city - well!

The bikes were prolly just a few hundred, and the balance must have gone
in transport consultants' fees. No, wait -

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

As well as the bikes the money, £10,000 of it from the Department for
Transport, was used to fund cycle parking and a new covered rack.

Sounds like a good thing, all in all.

--
Mark, UK.

"Nothing sets a person up more than having something turn out
just the way it's supposed to be, like falling into a Swiss
snowdrift and seeing a big dog come up with a little cask of
brandy round its neck."

Steve composed the following;:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

As well as the bikes the money, £10,000 of it from the Department for
Transport, was used to fund cycle parking and a new covered rack.

Quoted message said:

Did I read that right... 22 grand for 10 bikes as part of a scheme.

Nope, you didn't read it right ...

--
Paul ...
http://www.4x4prejudice.org/index.php
(8(!) Homer Rules ... 😉
"A [censored] is a [censored], no matter what mode of transport they're using."

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

So turning up for a council meeting red faced, sweating, and covered in
bright yellow lycra is going to be OK too is it? Excellent!

I regularly cycle to council meetings -- normally wearing what I consider
normal everyday clothes (i.e. studied scruffy) -- without arriving covered
in sweat or lycra.

For a recent more formal meeting I cycled in in my suit and tie. The only
adjustment that was needed to allow me to fade into the mass of men in grey
suits was to remove my windproof, day-glo yellow gillet and pop it into my
pocket.

A while back several of us needed to get from a meeting at one site to the
next one at another site about 1.5 miles away -- of course everyone had
their own personal transport. The two of us on bikes arrived at least 10
minutes ahead of the slowest (problems parking!!) -- so we had plenty of
time to cool down after the tremendous exertions :~)

Good on Norfolk CC.

T

in message <[email hidden]>, Steve ([email hidden]'😉

Quoted message said:

Helen C Simmons said:

See

http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/News/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED31%20Jan%202005%2020%3A14%3A56%3A360

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

As well as the bikes the money, £10,000 of it from the Department for
Transport, was used to fund cycle parking and a new covered rack.

Did I read that right... 22 grand for 10 bikes as part of a scheme.
Now I can get a really nice bike for 2,200, but for commuting around
the city - well!

22 grand for ten bikes, and an unspecified number of cycle racks
including at least one covered bike rack. I suspect a covered bike rack
is not a cheap thing when installed at council labour rates.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

I shall continue to be an impossible person so long as those
who are now possible remain possible -- Michael Bakunin

"Helen C Simmons" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

See

http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/News/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED31%20Jan%202005%2020%3A14%3A56%3A360

Quoted message said:

or

http://tinyurl.com/4gbwm

In the local rag

"On your bike, council staff told"

"01 February 2005 06:00

Staff at Norfolk County Council will be told "on your bike" today - as

part

Quoted message said:

of a bid to cut congestion.

A pool of 10 bicycles, including four electrically assisted machines, will
be available to staff at County Hall to get to meetings in other parts of
Norwich.

The £22,000 scheme is part of a plan aimed at reducing business mileage,
easing queues in the city and cutting emissions of carbon dioxide.

Tim Jarvis, county engineer (walking and cycling), said: "We have quite a
lot of people who cycle to work anyway and because our car park is under
such pressure a lot of people are interested in the scheme. I expect there
is going to be a pretty good uptake."

As well as the bikes the money, £10,000 of it from the Department for
Transport, was used to fund cycle parking and a new covered rack.

Paul Adams, director of corporate resources, said: "These pool bikes will
offer a number of benefits.

"As well as offering a great alternative to the car, staff will benefit

from

Quoted message said:

being outside in the fresh air and improving their fitness levels.

"They will also avoid having to look for a parking space when they arrive

at

Quoted message said:

their meeting."

The scheme, which should also save the council money on lease hire, is

also

Quoted message said:

supported by Norfolk Property Services Ltd (NPS), which is owned by the
county council."

Cheers, helen s

I used to work at a (geographically small) Council and they provided a bike
for free use (sponsored by my LBS) about eight years ago.

I was once asked why I never used it and explained that as they insisted on
the compulsory wearing of a thin polystyrene hat (for insurance reasons) I
preferred to find my own way to meetings.

The bike was kept in a walk in cage under the building but damp air could
blow through.

It sat there until it started rusting and then they got rid of it having
proved to themselves that the staff didn't want to use bicycles.

Paul.

Tony W said:

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

Quoted message said:

So turning up for a council meeting red faced, sweating, and covered in
bright yellow lycra is going to be OK too is it? Excellent!

I regularly cycle to council meetings -- normally wearing what I consider
normal everyday clothes (i.e. studied scruffy) -- without arriving covered
in sweat or lycra.

I also (always) cycle to council meetings in a decent suit, tie, cuff
links, shiny shoes - the works. I'm a damn sight better dressed than the
wrinkled shiny suits that climb out of cars.

Never sweat and never wear lycra.

When I'm in Birmingham on the folder next week, I may go the whole hog
and try wearing an overcoat rather than offshore sailing rig.

Quoted message said:

For a recent more formal meeting I cycled in in my suit and tie. The only
adjustment that was needed to allow me to fade into the mass of men in grey
suits was to remove my windproof, day-glo yellow gillet and pop it into my
pocket.

Hmm. A /grey/ suit?

Quoted message said:

A while back several of us needed to get from a meeting at one site to the
next one at another site about 1.5 miles away -- of course everyone had
their own personal transport. The two of us on bikes arrived at least 10
minutes ahead of the slowest (problems parking!!) -- so we had plenty of
time to cool down after the tremendous exertions :~)

For planning cttee site visits, I usually get from one site to the next
before the car-bound catch up.

Quoted message said:

Good on Norfolk CC.

Paulmouk said:

"Helen C Simmons" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

See

http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/News/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED31%20Jan%202005%2020%3A14%3A56%3A360

Quoted message said:

or

http://tinyurl.com/4gbwm

In the local rag

"On your bike, council staff told"

"01 February 2005 06:00

Staff at Norfolk County Council will be told "on your bike" today - as

part

Quoted message said:

of a bid to cut congestion.

A pool of 10 bicycles, including four electrically assisted machines, will
be available to staff at County Hall to get to meetings in other parts of
Norwich.

The £22,000 scheme is part of a plan aimed at reducing business mileage,
easing queues in the city and cutting emissions of carbon dioxide.

Tim Jarvis, county engineer (walking and cycling), said: "We have quite a
lot of people who cycle to work anyway and because our car park is under
such pressure a lot of people are interested in the scheme. I expect there
is going to be a pretty good uptake."

As well as the bikes the money, £10,000 of it from the Department for
Transport, was used to fund cycle parking and a new covered rack.

Paul Adams, director of corporate resources, said: "These pool bikes will
offer a number of benefits.

"As well as offering a great alternative to the car, staff will benefit

from

Quoted message said:

being outside in the fresh air and improving their fitness levels.

"They will also avoid having to look for a parking space when they arrive

at

Quoted message said:

their meeting."

The scheme, which should also save the council money on lease hire, is

also

Quoted message said:

supported by Norfolk Property Services Ltd (NPS), which is owned by the
county council."

Cheers, helen s

I used to work at a (geographically small) Council and they provided a bike
for free use (sponsored by my LBS) about eight years ago.

I was once asked why I never used it and explained that as they insisted on
the compulsory wearing of a thin polystyrene hat (for insurance reasons) I
preferred to find my own way to meetings.

The bike was kept in a walk in cage under the building but damp air could
blow through.

It sat there until it started rusting and then they got rid of it having
proved to themselves that the staff didn't want to use bicycles.

I'd have pointed out that i was already insured. What insurance did they
demand anyway? Do you have to be insured to walk between meetings?

...d

"Helen C Simmons" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

It *might* get them hooked :-) So this

Quoted message said:

particular scheme of Norfolk County Council is to be applauded IMO - a
use of money I agree with!

Cheers, helen s

I think you're right. Much of the advantage is that it's an awful lot
quicker & more direct to cycle places in Norwich rather than drive. The
city is a mad mess of one-way systems, traffic lights within meters of
one another, and "not enough" car parking. Lots of cycle-lanes, generally
going the way you want to go, some useful contraflows. Once you know your
way around, creative use of back-streets comes in. Whatever - cycling is
much faster (within the inner ring-road radius of Norwich) than any other
mode of transport - troof. Hope the council types start using them.

Gotta say that County Hall in Norwich (i.e. the council in question's HQ)
had pretty good cyclist facilities when I was working there (early 2003).
Proper, covered, big, secure cycle-rack right ouside the front steps & on
the CCTV). Rack usually reassuringly near-full, as were others elsewhere
on site. Bike-commuters ranging from the little old ladies on util bikes,
right through to roadie-types. Still got the odd cager git cutting me up
at the mini-roundabout just inside but that's life. Decent showers (incl.
a disabled-type one), but no usable lockers - made do with a suit-bag
hanging off the coat-rack.

Looking forward to see Norwich's Great & Good (sic) out on their new
bikes :-)

--
Chris Bardell
[Remove favourite mode of transport from email address]

Helen C Simmons said:

Staff at Norfolk County Council will be told "on your bike" today - as part
of a bid to cut congestion.

A pool of 10 bicycles, including four electrically assisted machines, will
be available to staff at County Hall to get to meetings in other parts of
Norwich.

The £22,000 scheme is part of a plan aimed at reducing business mileage,
easing queues in the city and cutting emissions of carbon dioxide.

It's good, but they need to make sure they've arranged for regular
maintenance, or the bikes will quickly become unusable or dangerous. I
hope they've budgeted for it.

Colin McKenzie

David Martin wrote:
snip

Quoted message said:

I'd have pointed out that i was already insured. What insurance did they
demand anyway? Do you have to be insured to walk between meetings?

..d

It's a knee-jerk mirroring of the rules for car use. We have a policy
that says that if you want to claim cycling miles you must have be
insured for business travel on your bike. Not sure if such a policy exists!

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

Quoted message said:

Looking forward to see Norwich's Great & Good (sic) out on their new
bikes :-)

--
Chris Bardell
[Remove favourite mode of transport from email address]

I think that might be pushing the luck a bit ;-)

Cheers, helen s

Not Responding said:

David Martin wrote:
snip

Quoted message said:

I'd have pointed out that i was already insured. What insurance did
they demand anyway? Do you have to be insured to walk between meetings?

..d

It's a knee-jerk mirroring of the rules for car use. We have a policy
that says that if you want to claim cycling miles you must have be
insured for business travel on your bike. Not sure if such a policy exists!

I suppose you also have to be insured for public transport use as well?

Motor insurance is about third party liability. Has anyone ever claimed
on CTC third party insurance?

...d