Anyone around Colchester who has come across local social activist Pam Nelson can't but help to come away from a presentation by her inspired by the enthusiasm, ideas and sheer energy that Pam has for the town. Pam wears many hats to help promote health and sustainability around Colchester. Her recent talk at the Active Travel conference at the University of Essex left us buzzing with ideas about the possibilities for Bike Week 2011.
Pam explained a potted history of Bike Week in Colchester, from the humble beginnings in 1990 and the setting up of the Colchester Cycling Campaign, through to the multi-million pound funding that was secured to help give Colchester an official Cycle Town status.
The challenge now for Pam and the active Colchester cyclists is to reach out to people in the town who may be dismissive of cyclists. Pam expressed concern that Bike Week is seen locally as an event for crazed local cyclists, and not as an inclusive introduction and support for cycling around the town at all times throughout the year.
The decision has been taken not to focus too heavy on Bike Week around Colchester for this year. Instead, cycling should be promoted as an all year round activity. A calendar of events has been put in place for Bike Week, but these rather conveniently extend throughout the rest of the summer cycling season as well.
The City Criterium Series, Colchester Carnival and the Colchester Free Festival - these are all well attended events locally where cycling can play an important role on the agenda of activities.
Pam explained how a tremendous amount of organisational skills and local networks have been built up in the twenty years or so since the Colchester Cycling Campaign was first established. The role now for the group is to act as a resource, and to support others around the town that want to work on cycling relating projects.
Here at Keep Colchester Cycling and we are greatly enthused to have Pam on board to help us informally with our bike pool project. If any of the energy that Pam brings to her many projects is passed on to Keep Colchester Cycling, then we are confident that our humble aims can be met.
