Cycling UK need to be more open about their problems

 

Hello, Cycling UK, are you receiving?

Good .

Following the last entry in which it was revealed Cycling UK don't have the resources  to tackle rogue Local Authorities who build crap cycling lanes, Freedom Cycle features a fellow member who advises Cycling UK what they need to do to rectify matters.

“I understand Cycling UK’s point about resources and a top-down approach, but they could be more open about the problem they have. And they could engage someone to write about it in their magazine - then in the Leader column they could say it is an issue [and they need more resources]...they could then appeal to local CTC areas for support I guess, or to local cycling campaigns - e.g. Kingston CC. This could be good for stirring up general awareness and publicity about dangerous infrastructure and money being wasted.”

“The 1996 guidance (Cycle-friendly Infrastructure Guidelines for Planning and Design) could be used to frame the regulations, and the government can then oblige LAs to follow it. This is what Cycling UK should be promoting as an approach to making improvements.

And they should be leading a discussion in the pages of their mag and proposing how to tackle the problem.”

Yes, it beggars belief they haven’t shared this nugget with us, that they cannot do the most vital work and engage with Local Authorities responsible for so much shit! Why ever not?

                                           Street scene in Holland, 

                                           where they know how to create safe routes with adequate

                                           segregation from pedestrians and motor traffic

Surely Cycling UK's problem compromises much of their otherwise excellent work to promote safe cycling. 

 Because, let’s face it, there is not much point in lobbying government to provide funding for a national cycling policy if the people tasked with doing the work   are the Local Authorities who haven’t a clue how to do it.

In the meantime, Cycling UK continue to go round in circles by wasting  members time introducing  the Cycle Advocacy Network (CAN) - as if this will make any difference.

 They want to “resource and support people around the UK who are speaking up for change, helping to make things safer for cyclists in their area.”

CAN says we need cycle lanes in place for parents with kids, the over 65s, handcyclists, people with cargo bikes (see pic above) or pulling trailers.

Good luck with that one.

 This has been going for years by local cyclists in most towns and cities.

Councillors and planners pay lip service but mostly do nothing much – a token cycle lane here and there, dodging posts and telephone boxes, bus stops etc.

 There will be little change unless Cycling UK can directly engage with the Local Authorities who cock up what little provision they do provide cycling.

*Finally,  felicitaciones  to Preston’s Hugh Carthy in Spain, winning Sunday’s monstrous mountain top finish in the Vuelta, and moving to third overall.