#cycle superhighways

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SCHOOL CYCLE TRAINING PLACES THROUGH THE BIKEABILITY PROGRAMME

The Parliamentary Information Consulate of the Parliamentary Yearbook is currently hookup special ingredients for older features on transport and the environment in the nighest edition. Earlier this year (2011), the Department in aid of Transport (DfT) announced funding support for the Bikeability project. For the financial year 2011\12, 11mn has been earmarked to provide 275,000 cycle training places in contemplation of school children aged 10€"11. Norman Bookseller, Shipment Minister, set on 19 October 2011 that 2,083,976 had been allocated to 206 schools sideways England, funding over 50,000 Bikeability warm-up places.<\p>

Bikeability is a cycling cleverness programme designed to provide the next generation with the skills and confidence required to cycle on today's busy roads. The programme is based in hand three bikeability levels: Level 1 is initiated soon out for a child has learnt to ride a bicycle; 10€"11 year olds progress through so as to Level 2; and 11€"18 year olds to Level 3. Children are encouraged to subsiding sideways whole wide world three levels and at each to each show are awarded with badges and certificates.<\p>

Bikeability has meet the support relating to ever more besides 20 professional organisations, among them the Eighteenmo Society for the Prevention of Accidents, as well as various cross-government departments, for example the Region for Transport, Arena on behalf of Rising generation, Schools and Families and the Department of Health. With hundreds of thousands about bikeability badges until now awarded, the aim is towards have half-a-million children bikeability proficient by 2012 and, yet, every child given the relief to participate in bikeability prearrangement before leaving primary kindergarten. The cycling conversion received concentrated impetus entering 2010 through the unsubstantiality of London as a cyclised central city and the designation of 2010 as the Year of Cycling. In this year, three major programmes were launched in the Allographic: the London Cycle Hire Scheme (sponsored by Barclays bank); Cycle Superhighways and Biking Boroughs. The Mayor of London, working with Transport for London (TfL), has guaranteed to deliver a 400 therewith cent increase in cycling by 2026, compared to cycling numbers in 2001, using the aforementioned initiatives in transit to clinch that biking across the Capital is safer and more convenient.<\p>

The cycling revolution in the Capital has received much publicity and support from major events, with the emphasis on mass participation. Sky Rides, for example, was a fun day abandoned which effectively bold awareness of cycling at what price an alternative and, importantly, €green' character with regard to travelling thereabout the city. Outside as to the Capital, Southend-On-Sea enjoyed its admit everything cycling revolution, winning Cycle Metropolitan area distinction back sympathy 2009 and, consequently, receiving a 3.2mn government grant to aggrandizement the borough's cycling facilities.<\p>

Bikeability has up to now benefitted whereby this award. The borough council has and all elsewise 29 bikeability instructors; ingenuous bikeability courses are working in altogether 28 Southend basal schools, with courses extended into special schools, private schools and some fundamental colors schools; and free cycle training is available headed for adults keen mullet yeasty in the borough. Norman Culinarian, Transport Minister, said "This management is strongly single-minded till cycling €" they is a necessary subtract of conversion a healthy and sustainable transport network for the future. That is why we have on condition 11mn as to funding this year for the Bikeability lay out, which not only promotes the benefits touching cycling as a healthy and enjoyable way of getting existing but enables children to sort out it safely and confidently."<\p>

This feature choose be updated by the Parliamentary Commands Office of the Unicameral Yearbook as policy and legislation develops. <\p>

[technology-outsourcing-i-tp]

SHARPEN THE WITS IDLE CURRENT TRAINING PLACES THROUGH THE BIKEABILITY PERFORMANCE

The Parliamentary Information Church service as to the Pluralistic Yearbook is currently gathering news items now major delineation on transport and the environment inside the next edition. Earlier this year (2011), the Department for Transport (DfT) announced funding support cause the Bikeability poke. For the financial year 2011\12, 11mn has been earmarked to stock up 275,000 cycle training places to school children old 10€"11. Norman Baker, Intrigue Minister, stated occurring 19 October 2011 that 2,083,976 had been allocated en route to 206 schools across England, funding through 50,000 Bikeability accommodation places.<\p>

Bikeability is a cycling capacity programme designed to provide the next heterogenesis with the skills and security required to cycle on today's in harness roads. The programme is based on three bikeability levels: Equitable 1 is initiated soon adapted to a child has learnt to ride a bicycle; 10€"11 year olds progress concluded to Level 2; and 11€"18 year olds to Level 3. Children are encouraged to progress through package deal three levels and at each stage are awarded with badges and certificates.<\p>

Bikeability has received the support of further than 20 professional organisations, among other self the Royal Fellowship for the Prevention in reference to Accidents, as correctly as various cross-government departments, insomuch as example the Department for Transport, Department for Seed, Schools and Families and the Department of Health. With hundreds as to thousands about bikeability badges already awarded, the aim is to have half-a-million brood bikeability proficient by use of 2012 and, ultimately, every child given the time at bat to participate in bikeability training to leaving primary school. The cycling revolution received substantial impetus in 2010 through the circumvention relative to London as a cyclised city and the cast of 2010 as the Year of Cycling. In this decennium, three major programmes were launched in the Capital: the London Cycle Hire Scheme (sponsored by Barclays bank); Space-lattice Superhighways and Biking Boroughs. The Magistrate of London, working about Transport for London (TfL), has obligate to deliver a 400 per ten cents increase near cycling by 2026, compared in transit to cycling numbers in 2001, using the aforementioned initiatives to make sure that biking across the Capital is safer and more politic.<\p>

The cycling revolve in the Capital has granted much publicity and support from major events, with the emphasis on raise participation. Sky Rides, for example, was a fun day out which effectively upcast apperception in relation with cycling as an alternative and, importantly, €green' way touching travelling existent the city. Outside of the Capital, Southend-On-Sea enjoyed its have cycling revolution, winning Cycle Town status back in 2009 and, as a consequence, receiving a 3.2mn government grant to advance the borough's cycling fixtures.<\p>

Bikeability has priorly benefitted by this fork out. The borough council has more besides 29 bikeability instructors; clear bikeability courses are practicing in all 28 Southend basilar schools, among courses extended into special schools, private schools and some secondary schools; and free ehf training is available to adults vivified or working in the borough. Norman Grocer, Transport Alderman, uttered "This government is strongly committed into cycling €" it is a crucial part of building a elegant and sustainable transport network for the future. That is mystification we have groomed 11mn of funding this year as proxy for the Bikeability programme, which not singly promotes the benefits with regard to cycling as a healthy and enjoyable way re getting around but enables children to play by ear it safely and confidently."<\p>

This feature will go on updated by the Parliamentary Information Mediation of the Parliamentary Pocketbook as policy and legislation develops. <\p>

[rollersinstinct]

Support better infrastructure for cycling in London

We’re at a crucial point in debates over London’s transport infrastructure. Transport for London has put forward some strong plans for improving the infrastructure with the proposed Cycle Superhighway plans which will go a long way towards getting more people on their bikes around London.

Unfortunately London First and the City of London are trying to raise doubts about the initiative despite research that points to the benefits for all inhabitants. Research conducted in New York points to car traffic as actually moving faster in some cases after the installation of cycle lanes, and that’s before we consider the benefits of improved health for cyclists and city residents as well as providing a more appealing urban environment. 

London Cycle Campaign has created an online form letter that allows you to quickly show your support for the proposal. I’d encourage you all to take part as this will hopefully galvanise Transport for London into action and redress the imbalance in transport investment London has seen over the last 70 years.

[rollersinstinct]

London's Cycle Superhighways Need Your Support

London is at an interesting point in the promotion of a more bicycle friendly city with the proposed North-South and East-West cycle superhighways. These plans present a significant step up in the provision of cycle infrastructure in the city. Unfortunately London First which purports to represent business interests in the city has come out in opposition to the plans.

For those of you who are interested in the issue, I'd strongly recommend you read Danny Williams' piece. More importantly, you need to show your support for the proposal and see if you can get any London First member organisations to show their support for the cycle superhighways. If we're to develop more livable cities, we need to encourage  infrastructure that can enable people to travel using healthier and greener modes of transport which will ultimately benefit businesses as well as residents.

[newstfionline]

Wheel you marry me? Europe has crush on cycling

By Jan M. Olsen and Karl Ritter, AP, Nov 2, 2012 COPENHAGEN (AP)--Cycling through the heart of some European cities can be a terrifying experience as you jostle for space with cars, trucks and scooters that whizz by with only inches to spare.

Thankfully for bicycle enthusiasts, a movement is afoot to create more room for cycling in the urban infrastructure.

From London's "cycle superhighways" to popular bike-sharing programs in Paris and Barcelona, growing numbers of European cities are embracing cycling as a safe, clean, healthy, inexpensive and even trendy way to get around town.

Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, and the Danish capital, Copenhagen, are the pioneers of this movement, and serve as role models for other cities considering cycling's potential to reduce congestion and pollution, while contributing to public health.

The trend is catching on also outside Europe, says John Pucher, a professor of urban planning at Rutgers University in New Jersey and co-author of a new book titled "City Cycling." Pucher says urban cycling is on the rise across the industrialized world, though Europe is still ahead of the pack.

"Americans make only 1 percent of their trips by bike compared to 26 percent in the Netherlands, 18 percent in Denmark, and 8-10 percent in Belgium, Germany, Sweden, and Finland," Pucher told The Associated Press, citing official statistics.

But you don't need statistics to realize that cycling is in vogue. From airbag helmets to e-bikes, here are some the ways the bicycle renaissance has hit the streets of Europe:

CYCLE SUPERHIGHWAYS: They're not anything as spectacular as multiple-lane expressways for cyclists, but city planners believe they're central to the bicycle revolution: They combine bike paths with bike lanes on regular streets to give pedaling commuters a smooth ride from the suburbs to the city center.

London opened four "cycle superhighways" in 2010, which basically amount to a blue lane for cyclists on the edge of city streets. Copenhagen's approach is more ambitious, seeking to keep bicycles and motor vehicles physically separated as much as possible. The Danish capital plans 26 such routes--the first of which opened this year--building on bicycle-friendly features that have been in place for years.

Stop lights are adjusted to the rhythm of bicycles, not cars. Intersections have foot rests and hand rails so that cyclists don't need to put their foot down when they stop. The route is lined with air pump stations and trash cans that are tilted for easy access from the saddle.

BIKE SHARING: Bike sharing, or "city bike," services that offer bicycles for short trips in the downtown area have come a long way since the first large-scale program started in Copenhagen in 1995. That concept was simple: deposit a coin to release a bicycle from any of a number of bike racks across the city--like unlocking a shopping cart at the supermarket--and get your coin back when you return the bike (not necessarily to the same rack).

Less than two decades later, scores of bike-sharing programs have been launched in Europe and beyond. The most recent ones are high-tech, with customers using smart cards or even mobile phones to unlock bikes from docking stations. A milestone was reached when Paris introduced its "Velib" program in 2007, showing that bike sharing works also in a major metropolis. With more than 20,000 bikes it's the biggest system in Europe.

London's bike-sharing system has registered more than 17 million bicycle hires since it started two years ago.

"In places where cycling wasn't a big part of transport--like Paris or London--it's been a real game-changer. It's normalized cycling," said Julian Ferguson, a spokesman for the European Cyclists' Federation.

U.S. cities including Washington D.C., Minneapolis, San Francisco and Boston now have bike-sharing programs. A system with 10,000 bicycles that was supposed to open in New York this year has been delayed and is expected to launch in 2013. But the fastest growth is happening in Asia where some of the world's biggest bike-sharing programs have been introduced. The Chinese city of Hangzhou has a system with 60,000 bicycles.

TWO-WHEEL PARKING: So you've cycled to town. Now where do you park? Europeans are creative in this respect, chaining their bikes to lamp posts, street signs and drainpipes, or just parking them in random clusters on street corners. But theft is a major concern.

To create order, some cities have built ambitious parking lots for bicycles, typically close to major transit hubs like train stations. Amsterdam has come up with some of the most eye-catching solutions, including a high-tech rack that works a bit like a jukebox. You put your bike in the rack, and it revolves underground. When you want it back, it rotates yours back to the surface. It doesn't seem to be a big hit among Amsterdam's cyclists, though. It only has space for 50 bikes and access is often blocked by bicycles parked in front of it.

COCKTAIL TRANSPORTATION: For people living far from the city center, getting to work by bicycle alone may not be time efficient. That's why many European countries encourage mixed-mode commuting, allowing cyclists to bring their bicycles onto trains or subway cars.

Austria's next generation of high-speed train, expected to arrive in 2013, will have a bicycle compartment for six bikes per train car.

In the Netherlands, you can use the same smart chip card you use to catch a train or tram to get a bike from a sharing system and cycle the last part of the journey.

BICYCLE CHIC: Today cycling in Europe is embraced by people of all social classes and political persuasions. But a new subgroup has emerged: the cycling hipsters. They don't just consider the bicycle as a means of transport, but a fashion statement. An unwritten style rule for the cycling fashionista: the color of the helmet should match that of the frame.

AIRBAG HELMETS: Speaking of helmets, many cyclists don't wear them, saying they look bad and ruin hairdos. Two Swedish designers came up with a solution that protects both head and hairstyle: an inflatable airbag that you wear around your neck in a collar. It's a lot more inconspicuous than those traditional egg-shaped helmets--until it ignites. If you have an accident, the airbag inflates in a fraction of a second and wraps around your head. You'll hit the ground looking like an astronaut, but at that point you probably don't care. The price tag of 4,000 Swedish kronor ($600) may be discouraging, though. After all, you can only use it once.

CARGO BIKES: The daredevil bike messenger weaving through traffic with Tour de France-like determination is gradually being replaced by a clumsier, but more practical, cycling equipage: the cargo bike. Many of these bicycles look odd because they are custom-made to carry packages of particular shapes and sizes. They usually have a wide flat area in front of the seat. Some are designed to serve as billboards for companies, like the "sperm bike" used by a Danish sperm bank to transport sperm to fertility clinics in Copenhagen.

But it's not just for show. Amid efforts to cut down on carbon emissions, transport officials have started discussions on how to make more use of cargo bicycles across the European Union. The European Cyclists' Federation estimates that 25 percent of all urban goods could be delivered by such bikes.

E-BIKES: Electric bikes are one of the hottest cycling trends in parts of Europe. Also known as e-bikes or pedelecs, they are fitted with a small electric motor powered by a rechargeable battery, which can give you a nice boost when cycling uphill.

It's not a new invention: bicycles powered by electricity have been around for more than a century. But sales have taken off with the development of lighter and higher-capacity batteries and sexier designs.

China is the dominant market, with more than 100 million e-bikes on the streets. But sales are surging rapidly in Europe, especially in Germany but also in the Netherlands, where about one in five bicycles is electric, according to industry reports.

[kabboca-blog]

19,7949 km. legyen 20

nos, délután úgy döntöttem, hogy kimegyek Regiékhez: sütött a nap, kaptam inni meg szendót a próbanap után, és gondoltam, megnézem, milyen messze is van Clapham.

(Genie szerint kb egy óra. sejtettem, hogy nekem azért több lesz)

odafele túlmentem a Tower Bridgen, mert elszúrtam egy sávváltást, de előre belőttem, hogy a London Bridge ugyanolyan jó, mert ugyanúgy az Elephant and Castle nevű térnél futnak össze a hidakról lejövő utak egy ocsmány nagy körforgalomban...

namost, a london Bridge olyannyira nincs kitáblázva, hogy nem találtam emg hol kell rákanyarodni :D úgyhogy végül a Southwarkon mentem át, és mekkora mázli volt, ugyanis a hídon kezdődik a kékkel felfestett CS7. ezen a ponton csak annyit értettem az egészből, hogy jéé, bicikliút és jó irányba megy, nosza, használjuk. először azt hittem, hogy a CS Central Southot jelent, mint a kerület/posta kódban, aztán egyre délebbre mentem, és az már nem central, de hát...

plusz délelőtt ugye már találkoztam egy ilyen kis kékséggel, ami a melóhelyhez közel fut, a Temzével párhuzamosan az északi oldalon kelet felé. Ő a CS3.

ne:

szóval odaértem Regiékhez, kicsit lassabban, mint gondoltam, de végül megtaláltuk egymást, lecsücscentünk a prakba, én megbédeltem a fincsi sültbacon, saláta, paradicsom majonézes teljeskiőrlésű szendómat, és bontottunk egy sört.

ezen a ponton kezdett el esni.

és hajnalig abba se hagyta XD

szóval átmentükn Regiékhez, és én meg csak vártam hogy elálljon, közben jót beszélgettünk, Regi megetetett fincsi vaníliaszósszal nyakonöntött kiflikékkel

(* - *)

Aya is hazaért a munkából, és mire realizáltam, hogy most már mennem kell háromnegyed kilenc volt. és még mindig zuhogott. minimum másfél órára tippeltem a hazautat. egy és háromnegyed volt, ami az odafele két etapban tolt 48perces itthonról a Darwinig, majd kicsit több mint egy órás (mondjuk 70 perc) szintidőmet tekintve onnan Regiékig... egész jó :D

ja, és zuhogott. néha megálltam, hogy ablaktörlőt alkalmazzak a szemeimen, annyira esett :D plusz, marha jó a kis kékség, de... csúszik. a teljes felfestés miatt kicsit csúszik, úgyhogy szépen óvatosan kényelmesen jöttem, nem akartam hogy baj legyen. az az előnye megvan, hogy az út nagy része gyakorlatilag az autóktól külön útvonal, vagy legalábbis kékkel felfestett külön teljes jogú bicikli sáv, ami NEM tűnik el, mint néhány másik (búvópatakként működnek néhol...)

szóval ezen a ponton rájöttem, hogy az Elephant and Castlenél nem kell magam még egyszer átverekedni a körforgalmon (kikerültem, elmentem az elsőn balra, és utána kicsit arrébb zebráztam a következő kettőn... nem vállaltam be a többsávos körforgót) mert a kertek alatt pont kikerüli :DDD

tényleg 25 perc alatt fenn voltam a hídnál, és ekkor még világos is volt.

közben a táblákról rájöttem, hogy a CS Cycle Superhighwayt jelent. tényleg jól lehet rajta haladni. csomó helyen kivisz egy szomszédos utcára, és nem kell az autók között lavírozni. az egyetlen hátrány ugye a hosszú piros ha néha nagy utat keresztezel. bevallom fírfiasan, ahol semmi nem jött, és mellettem három másik biciklista átment, néha nem vártam ki este tíz után. bár ezt nem fogom azért rendszeresíteni...

viszont. az első tizenöt-húsz perc után átázott a combomon a nadrág. innen később elkezdett felfele és lefele is terjedni a víz. szóval bokáig csurgott, és még a cipőmben is egy úszómedencényi volt belőle. de szerintem ezen még a gumicsizma sem segített volna, mert fentről csurgott bele...

érdekes módon a bicikli sárhányó nélkül se csapkodja fel annyira a vizet. és a kabát jól tartott, úgyhogy fejem búbjától a combomig száraz voltam hála az égnek. plusz tekertem végig, úgyhogy nem fáztam. a csukját mondjuk odatűztem hajtűvel a fejemre, mert a menetszél leviszi :D szóval szereznem kéne egy biciklis esőkabátot, ami 1) nem fekete. hiába van lámpám elöl hátul, jobb lenne, ha valami rikító színű lenne, hogy tuti lássanak 2) hosszabb, és van egy kifeszíthető rész a karok között, ami takarja a lábam. na, majd meglássuk. de van állítólag vízhatlan lábvédő is, amit a nadrág fölé lehet húzni. az is megoldás...

szóval kalandos volt. rájöttem, hogy a CS3as is tovább megy, mint ahol én tegnap megtaláltam, és innentől azon fogok lemenni a munkahely felé is, mert kikerüli a forgalmas utakat. bár az már kicsit kacskaringósabb volt, és sötétben, úgy, hogy nem tudtam merre is megyek, kicsit nehéz volt követni néha a felfestéseket, de végül összesen egyszer álltam meg egy vasúti híd alatt térképezni.

szóval eső+bicikli+London... hö, ez egy életérzés.

mindenesetre tegnap eccerű emberi számítás szerint kb 50 kilomátert tekertem, és azt hittem, hogy mára lábra se tudok majd állni. ehhez képest semmi bajom :D kezdek hozzászokni. lassan mehetek Balatont kerülni!