42

The law we need

We need "Strict Liability" in the UK. This youtube clip explains it:

Hat tip: Copenhagenize.com - The Copenhagen Bike Culture Blog: Strict Liability.

Great City Bikes

I have been looking at some new bikes, it is very pleasant when the combination of the weather, lack of infrastructure, a horrible cold and not much time have meant not much riding.

I am going to re-iterate that I firmly believe that we need to see a huge change in the way we encourage and support cycling for transport in the UK. That means a very significant switch in funding and space to dedicated, separate, high quality cycle routes, masses of cycle parking and a full opening up of public transport to bikes. See what I last wrote on this in 42: Winter is when infrastructure really matters. Also see the blog Crap Cycling & Walking in Waltham Forest for loads of examples of really poor infrastructure as well as accounts of appalling driving.

But while we do need a much better infrastructure (and changes in the law) to get sensible amounts of people cycling (we really should be aiming for 50% of ALL journeys which is already achieved by some places in The Netherlands) we can still make it better to cycle now for those of us with the brains to choose a mode of transport that is cheap, fast, healthy, good for the environment and good for the local economy.

So here are two absolutely excellent examples of City Bikes.

1. WorkCycles Fr8 City with Universal Frame.

I have ridden one of these courtesy of BikeFix in London. Lovely ride, very stable, great view, easy to get moving and a wonderful feeling of security and presence in traffic. Not built for speed but built to be dependable transport with incredibly low maintenance. Leave it outside and ride it everyday without wearing special clothes, without carrying tools, without cleaning it, oiling it or adjusting it (at least only once or twice a year). Not only all that but options to carry loads of stuff - up to 3 kids [youngish] and still space for luggage.

If you need a city bike and live in a city or town that is reasonably flattish this really should be on your list.

You can read loads about it on the manufacturers website.  I think there are 2 UK suppliers: Bikefix - the bike shop on your desktop and really useful bikes. There are a huge range of options but prices start at around £1,000 which should give you totally hassle free transport for under £100 a year.

2. Cargo bike BULLITT, a fast cargo bike designed by Larry vs Harry, Copenhagen, Denmark.

If you feel that you just can't carry enough on a FR8, or maybe you want a bit more speed and style.Then the Bullitt may be for you. There was an excellent cargo bike review in Velovision magazine issue 36. These are the 21st century version of the traditional Long John cargo bike. The load sits low in front of the rider which makes it easy to load and easy to keep an eye on. However, the Bullitt combines this with light weight, rigidity and high performance components. Although many models are available the Clockwork stands out for me as providing a great balance of performance and low maintenance (hub gears and disc brakes).

Again lots of options available including a box you can carry kids in and a lockable cargo box (I just wish they included a full chain guard to protect the chain from the weather and allow riding in normal clothes without cycle clips). According to the Larry vs Harry website the manufacturer) they have two dealers in the UK: cargobikeboutique.com or Bardsley Cycles, 482 Manchester Road, Heaton Chapel - Stockport  09716-76164 or email hamrag@uwclub.net

They are going to be a bit more expensive than the FR8 but hugely flexible and again should last years and years without problems.

Summary

Notice what these two bikes have in common that is so rare among the bikes sold in the UK.

• Hub gears: Essential for low maintenance and reliability (yes you can go single speed or fixed gear if you are an enthusiast but for most people gears are a better solution).
• Great load carrying options. if you are going to use a bike for everyday transport then you need to be able to carry a friend, a week's shopping, rubbish to the tip, ...
• Mudguards. Not only do they keep you dry and clean but they also protect the bike so it lasts much longer and does not need cleaning.
• Solid Stands: Makes a huge difference when loading a bike with shopping or kids.
• Designed and built for a long working life.

Changing the World

If there is one thing I am passionate about it is this: 

The world needs to be changed. 

I hope that comes through clearly in the things I write here. I also hope that it is clear that my motivation for this passion is just as clear. 

I believe the world needs to be changed because I follow Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.

However, I also believe that many other people who do not have the same motivation also want to see the world changed and have many of the same goals as me. So

I will gladly work with people who have similar goals but do not share my faith in Jesus.

The changes that I want to see include:

• Utter destruction of Poverty everywhere
• Justice for all people
• Peace throughout the world
• All people to be valued, welcomed and included
• Protection of the planet and its resources for future generations
• Building of communities around these goals.

For me as a Christian these changes form part of what I understand as the need to be part of the building of the Kingdom of God and also preparing for the return of Jesus. However, I believe that many others would see these changes as desirable, certainly as worthwhile and maybe even as essential.

Does my life show commitment to changing the world?

I have been reflecting on how my commitment to these changes becomes real. In other words what aspects of my life make concrete contributions to these changes. Alternatively "what do I do?" and "what am I?" so that people can see and experience my commitment to these goals.

As I look at the very public side of myself in the contents of this blog I hope that my commitment can be seen in four main areas

• My lifestyle as a disciple of Jesus
• My work within the Methodist Church (and wider Christian Community) to encourage change and growth
• My support for and contributions to Free Software
• My commitment to cycling as transport

In some ways these may appear a mixed bag of general and specific, they may also leave you wondering if they are connected and even how they might support the changes I am committed to.

So I want to explore each of these four areas in a series of posts before then considering more generally how we can change/should the world. While I hope all my thinking is theological I also hope that it is still relevant to those interested in changing the world who do not share my faith perspective.

One of the reasons for this series was a post by a friend (Dave Faulkner) Seth Godin: Without Them « Big Circumstance and the comments that followed. In them I mentioned that I try to bring change in the way Seth Godin suggests and that I refer to it as "being easier to get forgiveness than permission". Dave asked me to expand on what I meant and in particular on the importance of motivation and process in doing this.

However, that is not the only reason. Through reflecting on these issues I also hope to find it helpful for me as a review of where I am and how well my life actually fits with what I believe is important. Therefore this is not fully planned and worked out so diversions and changes should be expected on this journey. Hopefully that taking stock will be of interest and perhaps help to others too.

Please feel free to challenge woolly thinking as we go and for that matter encourage anything good as well :-) Helping me be honest and thorough is good for me and should make this more generally useful as well.

Winter is when infrastructure really matters

So we have had a bit of snow and ice in recent days. I really mean a bit, here it has not been very deep but it did get very slippery where it was not cleared and got packed down (most residential roads and nearly all pavements).

So I have not done any cycling. A couple of years ago I fell off when the bike just slipped out from under me. Last year I had a bigger fall when caught out in a few inches on my way to Launde Abbey so I am cautious about going out cycling in icy weather.

There are several problems:

• Falling off on ice. Itself not a big deal, the problem is that you will be cycling on the road (we don't have much in the way of cycle facilities here and anyway I don't think any of them are cleared or gritted). When you fall in the road the danger is from cars etc who have not been giving you enough space and who you feel are likely to run over you.
• Lack of gritting: It is not a very priority so all the quiet roads where we normally cycle (as there are no cycle facilities) don't get cleared. They soon become sheets of ice as there are just enough cars to pack the snow without clearing tracks then a bit of thawing during the day and freezing at nice and you just get sheet ice. Terrible for cycling
• Lack of cycle facilities. As there are no cycle facilities (or they are not cleared of snow and ice) you have to ride in the road. On many roads there will be quite a long period of time where there will be clear tracks where the car wheels go but deep icy snow on the sides. This is very dangerous for cyclists. We have to ride in the tracks but then cars can''t overtake and they get very very impatient very very quickly. Then they either squeeze past using the same tracks or go onto the ice themselves. Both are insanely dangerous for the cyclist..

For any claim to be a nation supporting cycling as a sensible, practical, cheap, efficient, green means of transport we must have a proper infrastructure. That means:

• Good cycle routes fully separated from motorized vehicles. In towns and cities and between them as well.
• Proper maintenance of cycle facilities (repairs, lighting, routes around roadworks, snow ploughs, gritting, leaf sweeping)
• Legal protection. Vulnerable modes of transport (cycling, pedestrians) need to be assured that the law will automatically assign fault to the more powerful modes of transport (cars, buses, vars, lorries etc).

Here are a few blog posts demonstrating how it is possible to keep people cycling in winter:

• David Hembrow: Rural bike paths in the winter.
• David Hembrow: Happy New Year.
  
• Copenhagenize.com - The Copenhagen Bike Culture Blog: Winter Bicycles Continue.

Britain is falling further and further behind. We are simply not making the basic investments needed to transform our rates of cycling yet it is increasing essential that we do so for our health, our economy, our communities and our environment. Radical action is needed fast

Bradley Wiggins joins Team Sky | Latest News | Cycling Weekly

I don't know how they have done it. It seemed like it was not going to be possible but Bradley Wiggins joins Team Sky | Latest News | Cycling Weekly.

Good news for supporters of Brad and good news for the Sky team. Obviously a blow to the Garmin team but hopefully they will continue to grow their young riders plus Christian Vande Velde is well worth watching for some big wins.

Hat tip: Dave Walker on Twitter

Transport Infrastructure

In 42: Better transport I was reflecting on a successful trip to an evening meeting by bike. The sort of thing I don't do enough and the sort of thing that as a country we need to do a great deal more to combat four issues in our society:

• Carbon Footprint: Our love of cars is highly expensive in CO2 emissions.
• Peak Oil: Whether you believe we have past peak oil or not it is true that we are using oil faster than ever before and peak production will be soon if not already past. We are going to have to reduce our dependency on oil.
• Congestion: In the UK our journeys are getting slower and more frustrating all the time. We all know it is happening but live most of the time in denial.
• Obesity: We are getting fatter as we eat more and exercise less

So why don't we cycle and walk more?

Over the years I have changed my view on this. I now believe that the key obstacle to massive increases in cycle use is the infrastructure. My ride to Thrapton is a good example. There is one short piece of cycle path at the roundabout into Thrapston off the A605, it is very short and ends by making you rejoin the road at right angles with nothing to slow vehicles or direct them around you. Totally useless, in fact it seems to me less safe than ignoring it completely (and certainly a lot slower to use it).

One problem is that few people in the UK seem to have ever seen or used a good cycle facility. We just don't realise how bad ours are or how good they can be and the huge numbers of people who will use a good facility.

So I want to point you to a friends blog. David Hembrow is a Brit living in the Netherlands and he he writes an excellent blog with many video examples of good cycle infrastructure. So go and spend a few hours at A view from the cycle path. Only then will you catch a glimpse of what a difference good cycling facilities make. Here is a selection of recent posts by David to give you a flavour of what it could be like to cycle in the UK:

• Stopping ban by schools.
• What separation of cycle routes really means.
• Beauty and the bike.
• Nijmegen's big bridge for cyclists.
• Costings of improvements for cyclists.
• The world's first cycling superhighway. Seven kilometres with right of way.
• Is it too late to start providing for cyclists ? Are the Dutch "too far ahead" ?

Providing high quality cycle facilities in the UK would require significant changes in funding, legal protection for vulnerable transport (pedestrians, mobility scooters and cyclists) and big changes to planning rules.

But it could be done and the evidence from the Netherlands and Copenhagen is that it is highly cost effective.

Going back to my example journey to Thrapston. The majority of the route was along a single carriageway part of the A45. They are currently moving the cutting sides back in order to install gantries and cabling. They could have added a full width Dutch style cycle superhighway at the same time and revolutionised cycle facilities in this area.

Better transport

Tonight (Tuesday) I had a meeting in Thrapston, about a 10 mile round trip. Unfortunately a couple of weeks ago I put our small car in a ditch and it is away being repaired.

So I have been getting around by bike, something I have not done enough of in recent months. However, I needed to take a fair bit of stuff for the meeting tonight including:

• portable PA
• data projector
• laptop
• microphone stand
• microphone
• XLR leads
• DI box
• Power extension cable
• paperwork
• books

As it was cold and wet I also wanted a change of clothes.

Quite a load, so I took my Y-Frame bicycle trailer. All fitted nice and easily in a 70 litre plastic box (with a rear light and reflectors fitted) plus the bag from my bob yak trailer for the PA. Then a bag for clothes & bits plus the microphone stand sitting on top.

I towed with my full suspension mountain bike as the low gears are very handy for the hills. In the end I averaged exactly 10 miles an hour for a total of just over 10.5 miles. So slower than the car but on the other hand at the far end I was able to wheel the loaded trailer all the way in at the far end saving 3 trips to and from the car.

By doing this with plenty of time I did not feel rushed and could go as slow as the poor road surface (well that did make me worry about the projector bulb - but I had used one of our settee cushions for padding) and feeble legs required and I did it without getting out of breath, without getting stressed or getting very tired.

So why don't I do it more? I'm going to explore that in other posts thinking about my own changes in what I look for in a bike plus looking at the infrastructure (hint in the 10 mile ride there was one cycle facility for a total of 15 metres).

There are also factors that make using a bike directly for work (rather than for commuting to/from work) a challenge. I have definitely felt restricted in two weeks without a car (except when the other car is not needed for Jane to get to work or as a taxi for the kids). There are visits I have not made, meetings that have been a problem and things have taken longer which means others could not be done. This is especially a problem when living in a rural area and with a job that requires you to go to people and places that are not served well by public transport:

• 24 mile round trip to the nearest general hospital (but there are 4 other hospitals that I sometimes need to visit)
• 2 of the churches I serve are 10 miles away (in opposite directions)
• 12 miles to the nearest crematorium
• Schools for assemblies up to 10 miles away
• Church members scattered in an area 20+ miles long

All this in an area where cycling facilities are almost non existent.

This is something that as a Church we will need to explore, it seems to me that with the need to reduce the carbon footprint (due to the combination of climate change and peak oil) we are going to have to re-look at much of how we do Church.

Nostalgia the nice way

I am in Wolverhampton for the week at the Methodist Conference. This means an opportunity for nostalgia as I was born here (yes it was a long time ago - no rude comments needed). So tonight I left the bright lights of the City Centre for a fringe event in Wednesbury. Cycling there I half recognised many names without being sure what the connection was.

So after the meeting rather than ride straight back to the caravan (approx 10 miles) I used my Garmin Edge 705 to find places from my past.

First was Farm Road, somewhere here was my first home. Designed by Dad and built by "Bidulf & Thrift" the building firm started by my Mum's Father and his friend Mr Biddulf, Mr Bidulf died and Dad took his place after he had qualified as an Architect and finished his National Service.

On the way I passed Beckminster Methodist Church where my parents met and later were married and where I was Baptised. Near there is Bantock Park where I was apparently taken in my pram.

Next was Stoneacre Close, never realised how near it is to Farm Road. I remember Gran and Grandpa (Dad's parents) living here (and Gran alone for many years) again designed by Dad (not sure if B&T built them) still look good (and quite trendy actually) all these years later.

Then York Avenue where my Aunt and Uncle lived when I was growing up, in a house Dad designed.

Then Wolverhampton Grammer School where Dad went. Finally back to the Cannock Road about 1.5 miles from the M54 which is where I am staying in the caravan.

Total a bit over 20 miles and by far the best way to see everything. A very pleasant way to spend an evening. Roads amazingly quiet.

Tour de France 2009 Phil and Paul Bingo Game

For the first week this may be hard to play due to the Methodist Conference. But after that great fun!

Tour de France 2009 Phil and Paul Bingo Game - Bike Hugger.

Nicole Cooke takes an unprecedented tenth national title in Abergavenny

We have some seriously fast women cyclists. Congratulations to Nicole on her 10th National title.

But wow Lizzie Armitstead is fantastic, coming 2nd while still in the under 23 category. Actually she is not just in the U23's but is still only 20! Pretty safe money bet that she will be national champ one day. Sadly for some strange reason they decided she could not have the silver medal in the Elite class as she won gold in the U23 class in the same race. Seems very unfair.

Emma Pooley was right with them, if they had included the big climb that the men do in the womens race things might have been different. As it is she seems to be getting faster and faster and is real competition to Nicole.

Hat tip: Nicole Cooke takes an unprecedented tenth national title in Abergavenny