What do you want?
After the success of the first 'Tea and Tinker' sessions CC Cycles are opening their workshop for anyone to come and get their bicycles ready for Spring in the fully equipped workshop. Local cyclist Sean said; "This is a great opportunity to use the stands and tools in a clear space, and share ideas with other people. It also means you don't mess up your own kitchen!"
> CC Cycles manager, Ben Wye said "We are getting busier as the weather improves so this week we are extending the workshop space to allow more people to use the facilities. All we need now is to get more people to donate their old bikes for us to renovate". Ben is passionate about making cycling more accessible and each week ensures that there is a bike cheaper than a months bus pass. "For many people, cycling is the only way they can get to work, and we want to help them as cycling is good for you, and good for Crewe.
Tea and Tinker sessions run from 10 -12 on the first Saturday of every month at Christian Concern, St Paul's Centre, at the junction of Hightown and West St, at the top of the Asda car park.
> CC Cycles manager, Ben Wye said "We are getting busier as the weather improves so this week we are extending the workshop space to allow more people to use the facilities. All we need now is to get more people to donate their old bikes for us to renovate". Ben is passionate about making cycling more accessible and each week ensures that there is a bike cheaper than a months bus pass. "For many people, cycling is the only way they can get to work, and we want to help them as cycling is good for you, and good for Crewe.
Tea and Tinker sessions run from 10 -12 on the first Saturday of every month at Christian Concern, St Paul's Centre, at the junction of Hightown and West St, at the top of the Asda car park.
We welcome any views about the following suggestions to improve provision for active travel in Crewe:
Darker nights are a problem on unlit paths, do you support a trial using 'Traxeyes' on the now unlit section of cycle track Elwood Way to Cheerbrook
roundabout, Nantwich?
The Macon Way Greenway construction is due to start soon. Victoria Ave/ Coppenhall Lane traffic lights and toucans also to start soon, (both Sustrans funded with DfT).
Could any 'surplus' from these be used on small improvements to the Connect2 route and better NCN signing in Nantwich?
Sustrans have met the CEC at Grand Junction to discuss how pedestrians and cyclists could cross more easily. What would work for you?
We are waiting on the outcome of the CEC's internal assessment of improving access for pedestrians and cyclists to Leighton Hospital.
There are talks due to start about access to Crewe Station run by Mott McDonald. Integrated transport is key to linking the town with the station. What do you want?
Darker nights are a problem on unlit paths, do you support a trial using 'Traxeyes' on the now unlit section of cycle track Elwood Way to Cheerbrook
roundabout, Nantwich?
The Macon Way Greenway construction is due to start soon. Victoria Ave/ Coppenhall Lane traffic lights and toucans also to start soon, (both Sustrans funded with DfT).
Could any 'surplus' from these be used on small improvements to the Connect2 route and better NCN signing in Nantwich?
Sustrans have met the CEC at Grand Junction to discuss how pedestrians and cyclists could cross more easily. What would work for you?
We are waiting on the outcome of the CEC's internal assessment of improving access for pedestrians and cyclists to Leighton Hospital.
There are talks due to start about access to Crewe Station run by Mott McDonald. Integrated transport is key to linking the town with the station. What do you want?
Crewe Station Hub Consultation, closes 5 D
ec 2018
Cheshire East Cycling Strategy
We were very pleased to be part of the CEC cycling strategy and look forward to its implementation. We welcome the appointment of an elected member as cycling champion Cllr Suzie Akers-Smith who has already shifted policy and practice.
From the CEC website
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/highways_and_roads/cycling_in_cheshire_east/cycling_in_cheshire_east.aspx
Cycling championCouncillor Suzie Akers Smith has been appointed as Cheshire East’s Cycling and Walking Champion. The ‘cycling champion’ will work to promote cycling for all age groups across the borough. She will also work with cabinet and senior officers to help focus council policies to put cycling at the heart of the planning and design of the borough’s streets, communities and green spaces.
Our ambition is a ‘step change’ in the take up of cycling by residents of all ages across Cheshire East – with a focus on encouraging more people to cycle safely and walk more often with confidence for everyday journeys and leisure, especially into and out of town and village centres. Incorporating walking into the role will enable the thinking around sustainability, connectivity and accessibility – especially for wheelchair users, pushchairs and mobility scooters.
Cycling strategyOn 14 March 2017, we adopted our cycling strategy (PDF, 2MB) which sets out an ambitious vision for a network of high quality strategic cycle routes which connect local communities and key growth areas whilst also giving access to leisure opportunities and the natural environment of Cheshire East. The executive summary (PDF, 5MB) outlines the headlines of the cycling strategy.
A key action of the Cycling Strategy is the implementation of a cycle proofing toolkit to ensure that new development schemes take cycling into consideration as part of the design and planning process. We have trained officers to ensure this happens.
We were successful in a bid to receive technical support from the Department for Transport to help in the production of Local Cycling and Walking Investment Plans (LCWIPs) for some of our local towns. The completed LCWIPs will be published in autumn 2019, following approval by the Department for Transport. In our Cycling Strategy, we have called these Town Cycling Plans.
Senior Consultant prescribes cycling for health and industry.
Dr. Adrian Heald: “Cycling is a big step towards a more active and healthy life”.
After a meeting with the Chair of ACT at Leighton Hospital, Dr. Heald asked to come and visit an example of a community cycling programme. We invited him to CC Cycles where he tried out one of the bikes for sale. He said:
"There is a lot that we can do to improve our fitness and cycling is one enjoyable way of keeping fit and losing calories. A local initiative at the St Paul’s Centre in Crewe combines encouragement to ride a bike with a work space where people can develop technical skills, be part of a team and build confidence after being out of work for a prolonged period."
Pictured here with Ben Wye and Reverend Rob Wykes, Dr. Adrian Heald, local doctor and Labour’s prospective Parliamentary candidate said: ”The workshop for bicycle renovation at the St Paul’s Centre gives people a range of engineering and retail skills. This forms part of the bigger picture of encouraging more cycling in Crewe and Nantwich with more dedicated cycle routes and perhaps even a cycle loan scheme at the station, similar to that in Central London. Bicycles are a green and affordable means of transport. No-one is too young or too old to discover the joys of cycling, which is a big step towards a more active and healthy life for anyone who takes it up”.
From the CEC website
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/highways_and_roads/cycling_in_cheshire_east/cycling_in_cheshire_east.aspx
Cycling championCouncillor Suzie Akers Smith has been appointed as Cheshire East’s Cycling and Walking Champion. The ‘cycling champion’ will work to promote cycling for all age groups across the borough. She will also work with cabinet and senior officers to help focus council policies to put cycling at the heart of the planning and design of the borough’s streets, communities and green spaces.
Our ambition is a ‘step change’ in the take up of cycling by residents of all ages across Cheshire East – with a focus on encouraging more people to cycle safely and walk more often with confidence for everyday journeys and leisure, especially into and out of town and village centres. Incorporating walking into the role will enable the thinking around sustainability, connectivity and accessibility – especially for wheelchair users, pushchairs and mobility scooters.
Cycling strategyOn 14 March 2017, we adopted our cycling strategy (PDF, 2MB) which sets out an ambitious vision for a network of high quality strategic cycle routes which connect local communities and key growth areas whilst also giving access to leisure opportunities and the natural environment of Cheshire East. The executive summary (PDF, 5MB) outlines the headlines of the cycling strategy.
A key action of the Cycling Strategy is the implementation of a cycle proofing toolkit to ensure that new development schemes take cycling into consideration as part of the design and planning process. We have trained officers to ensure this happens.
We were successful in a bid to receive technical support from the Department for Transport to help in the production of Local Cycling and Walking Investment Plans (LCWIPs) for some of our local towns. The completed LCWIPs will be published in autumn 2019, following approval by the Department for Transport. In our Cycling Strategy, we have called these Town Cycling Plans.
Senior Consultant prescribes cycling for health and industry.
Dr. Adrian Heald: “Cycling is a big step towards a more active and healthy life”.
After a meeting with the Chair of ACT at Leighton Hospital, Dr. Heald asked to come and visit an example of a community cycling programme. We invited him to CC Cycles where he tried out one of the bikes for sale. He said:
"There is a lot that we can do to improve our fitness and cycling is one enjoyable way of keeping fit and losing calories. A local initiative at the St Paul’s Centre in Crewe combines encouragement to ride a bike with a work space where people can develop technical skills, be part of a team and build confidence after being out of work for a prolonged period."
Pictured here with Ben Wye and Reverend Rob Wykes, Dr. Adrian Heald, local doctor and Labour’s prospective Parliamentary candidate said: ”The workshop for bicycle renovation at the St Paul’s Centre gives people a range of engineering and retail skills. This forms part of the bigger picture of encouraging more cycling in Crewe and Nantwich with more dedicated cycle routes and perhaps even a cycle loan scheme at the station, similar to that in Central London. Bicycles are a green and affordable means of transport. No-one is too young or too old to discover the joys of cycling, which is a big step towards a more active and healthy life for anyone who takes it up”.
Instructor Led Cycle Rides for Adults
For those without a bike, CEC have 6 free-to-hire bikes available, which can be pre-booked by emailing myself:
Declan.oregan@cheshireeast.gov.uk
How will the £3.6m local sustainable transport grant be spent?
Cheshire East was awarded funds to meet their LSTF proposal for Crewe:
• Objective 1 – Reduce congestion on key economic corridors which currently constrain the growth aspirations of the town.
• Objective 2 – Improve accessibility to employment, apprenticeships, skills and training, particularly focused on the NW to SE corridor.
• Objective 4 – Support strong communities through tackling NEET and unemployment concentrated in the NW of the town.
• Objective 5 – Improve health & wellbeing by encouraging increased levels of walking and cycling for short journeys within the town.
• Objective 6 – Reduce carbon emissions through modal shift and enabling low carbon travel choices.
• Objective 7 – Improve safety through targeted infrastructure upgrades.
Part of this is to set up a cycle loan scheme, Wheels 2 Work (W2W).
Availability of transport has also been identified as a barrier to the unemployed and people taking up job, apprenticeship or training opportunities. For some people, bus travel is just not available, or early and late shift patterns are outside the operating hours for local bus services. The LSTF will fund 60 mopeds and 40 cycles, as well as compulsory basic training and personal protective equipment, to support young people from welfare into work.The full bid can be found at:
http://cheshire.searchimprove.com/search.aspx?pckid=1044181725&aid=9349&pt=6018936&sw=lstf
.
• Objective 1 – Reduce congestion on key economic corridors which currently constrain the growth aspirations of the town.
• Objective 2 – Improve accessibility to employment, apprenticeships, skills and training, particularly focused on the NW to SE corridor.
• Objective 4 – Support strong communities through tackling NEET and unemployment concentrated in the NW of the town.
• Objective 5 – Improve health & wellbeing by encouraging increased levels of walking and cycling for short journeys within the town.
• Objective 6 – Reduce carbon emissions through modal shift and enabling low carbon travel choices.
• Objective 7 – Improve safety through targeted infrastructure upgrades.
Part of this is to set up a cycle loan scheme, Wheels 2 Work (W2W).
Availability of transport has also been identified as a barrier to the unemployed and people taking up job, apprenticeship or training opportunities. For some people, bus travel is just not available, or early and late shift patterns are outside the operating hours for local bus services. The LSTF will fund 60 mopeds and 40 cycles, as well as compulsory basic training and personal protective equipment, to support young people from welfare into work.The full bid can be found at:
http://cheshire.searchimprove.com/search.aspx?pckid=1044181725&aid=9349&pt=6018936&sw=lstf
.
UKIP, not going Dutch?
Paul Nuttall's letter in the Chronicle last week, asking to 'Get rid of car parking charges' points out that people enjoy the ambience of Crewe town centre. He links the cost of parking with its decline, but in fact, shoppers are willing to spend much more on petrol to drive miles to out of town malls that ironically are designed to replicate the calm, safe, car free shopping areas that Crewe town centre offers.
The UKIP police commissioner candidate, Louise Bours wrote to ACT saying: "My family comes from Holland. When we are over there, we have the luxury of bike lanes everywhere! Wouldn't it be great to extend our bike lanes across the county?" In Dutch towns, 70% of shopping is carried out on foot, or by bike. Their model of town planning should be adopted, because research consistently proves that people shopping in UK towns on foot, by bike, or by public transport make more visits and spend more over the long term than those arriving by car. This pattern increases as large goods are often purchased on the internet or delivered.
Active travellers are more likely to shop spontaneously. They are not committed to finding a parking space; if they see something (or someone) interesting, they can stop where they like. They can also stay around as long as they want at no cost.
In light of changing shopping patterns, we need to turn our town centre into a place that people want to be in. The Portas review of town centres says that “busy roads, can make high streets unsafe for shopping...we need to offer a safe and pleasant place to shop and socialise.” Making it cheaper and easier to park in town centres will inevitably result in the opposite – busy, dangerous and polluted.
We need to be more creative rather than focusing on parking. Other town centre stores have all weather cycle racks, urban lockers for on-foot and on-bike pick-ups, and are responding to ‘click and collect’ retail by facilitating new ways to accommodate shoppers.
If more trips into Crewe are by bike, or by foot, the town will become an attractive place where people will want to be, and everyone will benefit.
Government follows ACT; Office for Active Travel
Thanks to Bikebiz.com for this: Cycling and walking to benefit from creation of a new cross-departmental Government body with an initial budget of £1bn.
The Government's response to the Get Britain Cycling report has been less than effusive so far, but perhaps ministers are keeping their powder dry for the expected launch of a new cross-departmental body that could be announced in June.
BikeBiz has learned that the new organisation may be called OAT, the Office for Active Travel. It will have an initial budget of +£1bn and has won favour with the Treasury because it could start delivering capital projects almost immediately. There are many "shovel ready" projects waiting in the wings from local authorities, and some of these could be quickly given the go-ahead by OAT.
These projects include pedestrian and cycle infrastructure projects.
OAT would be cross-departmental, not just a responsibility of the Department for Transport. This is a recognition that walking and cycling are much more than just modes of transport. And OAT is politically uncontroversial, likely to get support from Labour, too.
The Government's response to the Get Britain Cycling report has been less than effusive so far, but perhaps ministers are keeping their powder dry for the expected launch of a new cross-departmental body that could be announced in June.
BikeBiz has learned that the new organisation may be called OAT, the Office for Active Travel. It will have an initial budget of +£1bn and has won favour with the Treasury because it could start delivering capital projects almost immediately. There are many "shovel ready" projects waiting in the wings from local authorities, and some of these could be quickly given the go-ahead by OAT.
These projects include pedestrian and cycle infrastructure projects.
OAT would be cross-departmental, not just a responsibility of the Department for Transport. This is a recognition that walking and cycling are much more than just modes of transport. And OAT is politically uncontroversial, likely to get support from Labour, too.
Ed Milliband on active travel in Crewe
Crewe was visited by the leader of the Labour party today as part of the ‘One Nation’ campaign. Ed Milliband spoke to a large crowd at Pickmere Court residential home, answering a range of open questions from local people. I asked if it was the government’s job to encourage people, especially young ones, to travel actively.
Ed Milliband spoke about health and obesity. He said everyone, especially schools, should encourage people to keep fit, saying 'I would really encourage your campaign". However when asked about school travel, he said we should encourage active travel but it was ultimately the parent's decision about how their children should get to school.
The Labour candidate for Crewe, Adrian Heald said it was terribly important to do at least half an hour exercise a day to avoid co-morbidity problems, such as heart disease and diabetes.
As part of a future health programme, we have to be able to intervene to empower the thousands of people in this constituency to live in a healthy way and to lose weight. Labour wants a creative, integrated and innovative response by local health authorities, businesses and universities to help the local population to make healthier choices that will benefit them in the future, and reduce the burden of ill health that we will face if we don’t address the issue in the coming decades.
For the full interview, go to www.redshiftradio.co.uk. For a quick rough extract see:
http://www.mixcloud.com/ben-wye/active-travel-with-ed-milliband-and-adrian-heald/
Ed Milliband spoke about health and obesity. He said everyone, especially schools, should encourage people to keep fit, saying 'I would really encourage your campaign". However when asked about school travel, he said we should encourage active travel but it was ultimately the parent's decision about how their children should get to school.
The Labour candidate for Crewe, Adrian Heald said it was terribly important to do at least half an hour exercise a day to avoid co-morbidity problems, such as heart disease and diabetes.
As part of a future health programme, we have to be able to intervene to empower the thousands of people in this constituency to live in a healthy way and to lose weight. Labour wants a creative, integrated and innovative response by local health authorities, businesses and universities to help the local population to make healthier choices that will benefit them in the future, and reduce the burden of ill health that we will face if we don’t address the issue in the coming decades.
For the full interview, go to www.redshiftradio.co.uk. For a quick rough extract see:
http://www.mixcloud.com/ben-wye/active-travel-with-ed-milliband-and-adrian-heald/
Youth support road safety week
Young people at the Y Zone at the Youth Support Service on Market Street have been working on a sculpture to highlight road safety week in November. They looked at images of accidents and came up with a design they were happy with. The young people sourced materials including the bike for their project from local businesses, including Dave Southern from Community Recycled Cycles and Carpet Craft, Crewe. The young people got to work with their tools and manipulated the bike to represent an accident. Young peoples comments included:
“We really enjoyed working on the bike and using the tools, it was fun and it looks really good!”
“It has made me think more when I’m riding my bike”.
“The bike has been made to look like it’s been in an accident. We made the “danger cyclist” sign to make an impact and the flowers were an added touch.”
“We really enjoyed working on the bike and using the tools, it was fun and it looks really good!”
“It has made me think more when I’m riding my bike”.
“The bike has been made to look like it’s been in an accident. We made the “danger cyclist” sign to make an impact and the flowers were an added touch.”
Letter to the Crewe Chronicle, replying to one on 23 January 2013: Folly to ignore economic arguments for Pathways
The letter in last week's Chronicle (Pathways are an Expensive Folly) reflects the importance of high quality building to promote active travel, in a week when the coalition government demonstrated that investment in infrastructure was crucial for economic recovery.
Last week, an all party parliamentary panel discussed the business case of committing to a national programme of infrastructure for cycling. Research presented to the panel showed that the single, most efficient way to do this was to build segregated cycle lanes that would encourage more people to travel actively. This in turn has the added benefit of reducing road congestion, accidents and damage costs. The Transport and Health ministers agreed that from April, councils will be able to invest their new health budgets in promoting walking and cycling, to counter the £4 billion cost of inactivity and obesity.
Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum in Davos agreed that "the financial costs linked to climate change represent the biggest threat to global economy." The Nobel Prize winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz argued that we need to invest in 'green' projects; "It will be expensive but it will be an investment that will help to stimulate the economy and it will provide long-term economic development."
The letter writer is correct that the high quality walking and cycling link between Crewe and Nantwich is 'Big Lottery' funded, but that a lot of the funding came from Sustrans, which is a national charity. The council involvement was agreed at a public vote in 2007.
As a fellow taxpayer living in Wistaston, I believe that Connect2 will provide a quick, safe link to the high speed national rail network, while maintaining the greenness of the Gap. I agree with the writer's call for an investigation into funding any similar project that might help us, and our children, all become healthier and wealthier, long into the future.
Last week, an all party parliamentary panel discussed the business case of committing to a national programme of infrastructure for cycling. Research presented to the panel showed that the single, most efficient way to do this was to build segregated cycle lanes that would encourage more people to travel actively. This in turn has the added benefit of reducing road congestion, accidents and damage costs. The Transport and Health ministers agreed that from April, councils will be able to invest their new health budgets in promoting walking and cycling, to counter the £4 billion cost of inactivity and obesity.
Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum in Davos agreed that "the financial costs linked to climate change represent the biggest threat to global economy." The Nobel Prize winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz argued that we need to invest in 'green' projects; "It will be expensive but it will be an investment that will help to stimulate the economy and it will provide long-term economic development."
The letter writer is correct that the high quality walking and cycling link between Crewe and Nantwich is 'Big Lottery' funded, but that a lot of the funding came from Sustrans, which is a national charity. The council involvement was agreed at a public vote in 2007.
As a fellow taxpayer living in Wistaston, I believe that Connect2 will provide a quick, safe link to the high speed national rail network, while maintaining the greenness of the Gap. I agree with the writer's call for an investigation into funding any similar project that might help us, and our children, all become healthier and wealthier, long into the future.
New year's resolution
The two main stories in this week's Chronicle (26 December) highlight why we all need to consider travelling more actively this year.
The growing congestion at the retail park and surrounding roads was caused by customers choosing to drive. A choice driven by poorly designed cycle paths, dangerous pedestrian access, and hardly any cycle racks.
And:
The 'outrage' at the cutting of the school bus service from Willaston to Nantwich which completely ignores the option of a 15 minute cycle to school, which is faster than the current bus ride.
Walking or cycling to shops and schools can be a realistic choice for most of us, given a fairer sharing of roads and resources. Currently active travel gets less than 1% of transport funding to make our roads places where we feel safe and confident out of our vehicles. Public health guidance 41 from NICE shows how the health benefits of active travel outweighs the risks.
Schools cannot provide the exercise our children need, but creative longer term transport planning will improve the health of all of us by providing safer routes, training and facilities to match those that cars enjoy. But it is each of us that have to choose to be lean and green in 2013.
References:
NHS:
All children and young people should engage in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity for at least 60 minutes and up to several hours every day.
School buses:
http://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/crewe-news/featured-stories/2012/12/26/outrage-as-council-scraps-free-school-bus-service-for-more-than-100-willaston-youngsters-96135-32490400/
Retail park congestion:
http://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/crewe-news/featured-stories/2012/12/26/grand-junction-retail-park-in-crewe-has-been-thriving-shopping-destination-this-christmas-96135-32494334/
The growing congestion at the retail park and surrounding roads was caused by customers choosing to drive. A choice driven by poorly designed cycle paths, dangerous pedestrian access, and hardly any cycle racks.
And:
The 'outrage' at the cutting of the school bus service from Willaston to Nantwich which completely ignores the option of a 15 minute cycle to school, which is faster than the current bus ride.
Walking or cycling to shops and schools can be a realistic choice for most of us, given a fairer sharing of roads and resources. Currently active travel gets less than 1% of transport funding to make our roads places where we feel safe and confident out of our vehicles. Public health guidance 41 from NICE shows how the health benefits of active travel outweighs the risks.
Schools cannot provide the exercise our children need, but creative longer term transport planning will improve the health of all of us by providing safer routes, training and facilities to match those that cars enjoy. But it is each of us that have to choose to be lean and green in 2013.
References:
NHS:
All children and young people should engage in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity for at least 60 minutes and up to several hours every day.
School buses:
http://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/crewe-news/featured-stories/2012/12/26/outrage-as-council-scraps-free-school-bus-service-for-more-than-100-willaston-youngsters-96135-32490400/
Retail park congestion:
http://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/crewe-news/featured-stories/2012/12/26/grand-junction-retail-park-in-crewe-has-been-thriving-shopping-destination-this-christmas-96135-32494334/
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