Winter

2010

Pedal Press

V is it th e Camp aign w eb si t e a t w ww . mers eyw orld . com/ mcc

Promoting Cycling for Transport, Health

and a Better Environment

Loopy Ideas from Alan Johnson ( C hairperson MCC )

Good news! Cycling according to Liverpool Council ’ s figures is up by more

than 14% since 2006.

While this is great to hear, I do wonder whether this resurgence is evenly spread across

the City. Cycle between the City Centre and anywhere in South Liverpool in the morning or af-

ternoon and you can see lots of cycle commuters in transit between home and work or college.

However, travel to other parts of the City and the numbers of cyclist commuters seems to be

much more patchy. My personal view is that in the south of the city, there are quite a few public

parks and quiet back roads which encourages new cyclists. In the north of the city there seems

to be less of these quiet routes available to cyclists.

A few weeks ago I cycled back home from work in Kirkby to the Pier Head and it was

quite easy for the first few miles. But it became harder work when I reached Fazakerley with the

sheer volume of traffic travelling at a snail ’ s pace. While it proved that the bike is often faster

than the car on a commute, I saw very few bikes on the road. It made me think that these roads

were not great in encouraging residents in these areas to take to their bikes for the first time.

This is one of the reasons why the Liverpool Loopline is important and why Network

Rail ’ s engineering proposals to sever one of the few off road paths in North Liverpool is a

crazy idea. Off road cycle routes such as the Loopline allow people, especially children, to gain

confidence in cycling, improve their health and most importantly have fun.

Fortunately, the campaign to stop these plans is under way and both the City Council and

the local media agree with MCC that Network Rail must be persuaded to change their mind. I

would urge you to support us in this campaign. More details inside this issue.

Inside we have….

Page 3 - The Loopline Disgrace Page 11 - Situations Vacant

Page 6 - A - tandeming we will go Page 12 - MCC details & the AGM

Page 8 - Cycling for health - the facts ...and more...much more...

PAGE 2 PEDAL PRESS WINTER

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Helen Hebden

I hope all reading this had as good a

Cycling Summer as did Richard and myself.

We returned to the land of my birth,

Dumfries and Galloway, and were most fortu-

nate in having one of their very few dry and

sunny weeks. This time we needed sun cream

rather than midge repellent.

Regular visitors, we have watched the area

develop its cycling provision in a big way. We

are particularly glad of the track running along-

side the railway which means we can now

avoid the town of Dumfries completely.

The awful traffic used to be an unpleasant feature beginning and ending our holiday. The

tracks in Galloway forest are rough but serviceable and terrific for mountain bikers.

And it ’ s almost on our doorstep!

It appears that any emails addressed to Helen@rhebden.wanadoo.uk have been disap-

pearing, not arriving on my computer but not registering as undeliverable—how spooky is

that? And how very vexing! I can only apologize to anybody who thinks they sent an article

to me and really sent it to some sort of Technological Bermuda Triangle.

Any future correspondence to me should be sent to Richard@rhebden.wanadoo.co.uk,

which we share.

Annual meeting of Sefton Group

At the Hightown Hotel next to Hightown Station, from 6 to 9 pm. 27 January 2011.

All welcome, come along and meet some new faces, tell us what happened in 2010 and what you would like to see in 2011. Sandwiches will be provided. You may also purchase from the hotel’s very reasonably priced

menu and wide selection of beverages. Dug Heaven

PAGE 3 PEDAL PRESS WINTER

Muesli Eater Writes…. Richard Hebden

Trainspotter ’ s Corner

Liverpool ’ s Loop Line

stretches 13 miles from Hunts Cross to

Fazakerley, providing a magnificent

linear park which forms part of the

Transpennine Trail. It is crossed by

the Ormskirk Line railway bridge:

It has transpired recently that Network

Rail want to close the Loop Line by replacing the bridge with an embankment. There is no al-

ternative route. Network Rail proposed to install a tunnel through the embankment ( they call

it a Culvert, which conjures up images of drains ) , which would have kept the path open.

Then out of the blue, they tried to shake down a Charity ( Sustrans, who own the Loop

Line ) for £200,000. This was for “ m aintenance ” of the Culvert over the next 25 years.

Well, would you give £200K of your donor ’ s money to an organisation whose predecessor

went spectacularly bust?

When Sustrans said “ No ” , NR decided to close the path and build their embankment

this Autumn. Apparently NR are unfamiliar with the concept of Sustainable and Integrated

Transport, which would tell them that supporting cycling and walking is good for the railways.

MCC asked NR to tell us why they wanted to close the bridge ( and prove that it needed clos-

ing ) , and to explain how the figure of £200K was arrived at. After a lot of squirming and ver-

bal gymnastics ( which included suggesting that Sustrans should act as their PR agent ) it be-

came evident that NR has not even inspected the bridge and could not justify their financial de-

mands on Sustrans.

To the best of our knowledge there is nothing wrong with the bridge. As well as MCC, local

Councillors including Anne O ’ Byrne, Tim Beaumont and Tony Concepcion, have taken a

keen interest. The Friends of Transpenine Trail, led by ex-MCC member Pam Ashton, have

also weighed in.

NR have now deferred their scheme, while they develop a more professional approach. Watch

this space, and support the efforts we are making…...

Dug Heaven.

PAGE 4 PEDAL PRESS WINTER

Why did the cyclist cross the road?

Because she wanted to get to the other side!

Part of Liverpool ’ s emerging network of cycle

routes uses Mill Lane in Wavertree to access

Old Swan and beyond. The Cycling Strategy

called for a gap to be made in the central reser-

vation of St Oswalds Street to enable cyclists to

avoid using the massive junction at Edge Lane

And here it is! Mill Lane is in the foreground,

and you can now turn right through the gap across the dual carriageway to go towards Tesco.

How YOU can help :

As part of the campaign to keep the Loop Line open, MCC is preparing a case for it to be de-

clared a Public Right of Way. This should help to make it more difficult for organisations to

casually close it down.

Do you, or have you ever, used the Loop Line ( whether walking, jogging, cycling, horse-

riding ) ?

If so, you need to fill in a set of forms giving information about your use of it. Please contact:

Richard@rhebden.wanadoo.co.uk 0151 727 0088

or

andrew _kenneth@hotmail.com 07968 978 819

To arrange a form-filling session

CYCLE TRAINING AND CYCLE MAINTENANCE ( BASIC OR INTERMEDIATE )

FREE SESSIONS FOR ANYBODY WITH A LIVERPOOL ADDRESS.

Ring Amy on 0151 707 3936 and quote Be Active.

email info@cyclingsolutions.co.uk or call Cycling Solutions on 0151 234 9484.

PAGE 5 PEDAL PRESS WINTER

Duel Carriageway

The Cycling Strategy requires a number of Toucan crossings to be built to help cyclists and

pedestrians to cross Queens Drive. One is proposed to link Acanthus Road and The Beechwalk

in Old Swan, as part of Radial Route 6.

MCC recently attended a Traffic & Highways Representa-

tions Committee meeting, at which a number of objec-

tions ( mainly relating to the effect the crossing would

have on car parking ) were heard. MCC spoke in support

of the scheme. The committee approved it.

This was an early test of the commitment of the new La-

bour administration to the Cycling Strategy, which was initiated on their watch back in 1998.

Since then the Committee have approved another Toucan across Utting Avenue at Richard Kelly

Drive, near ASDA.

Dale Street closure

Adrenaline junkies will be disappointed at the effect the current temporary road closure is having

on traffic in Dale St. The bit of Dale Street between the Magistrates Court and Hatton Garden at

the bottom of the flyover is shut for road works for several months. It seems to have resulted in a

dramatic reduction of traffic in Dale Street, making life easier for pedestrians and cyclists, as well

as other motor traffic which really needs to be there.

If closed permanently this would make the Council ’ s intention to build a Toucan crossing linking

Hatton Garden to Old Haymarket across the flyover a lot easier.

Culture Vultures

MCC turned out again to operate floats pro-

duced by the excellent Liverpool Lantern

Company in the second car-free Lord

Mayor ’ s Pageant.

Thanks to all volunteers. Also to the Lady

Mayoress who alighted from her carriage and

walked the last part of the route, setting an

example to us all!

MCC Secretary disguised as a Snail.

PAGE 6 PEDAL PRESS WINTER

THE GREAT TOUR Don Thomson

64 days//6600k//87,000m of ascent//500 hours in the saddle//1.5 million pedal turns

3rd July – 4th September// Start and Finish: Seaton, Devon

The opportunity to join this ride was a simple selection process....you had to spin them a

story. Mine was to put a smile on the face of my stoker who, after a Sunday morning ’ s ride on

a tandem, always wanted to go further. It turned out we were to be the only tandem to join this

64 day amazing jaunt.

In a period of nine weeks, 81 riders were given the opportunity to ride for a week, with

the seven riders who were going the whole hog. Our week ’ s ride was the 700k from More-

cambe to Machynlleth.

The organisation was undertaken by the PR Company, Sweetspot who organise the Tour

of Britain. We even had their CEO along with us, a remarkable man who had had a vision and

brought it to fruition. Excellent planning, brilliant map reading, great back up and heaps of food

– morning, noon and night – was prepared by our resident Master Chef. The support vehicles

delivered healthy, nutritious food and energy drinks just when they were needed, with style and

pzazz or, if required, a replacement bike.

Accommodation was diverse: tents, YHAs, village halls, a cricket club and some climbing

huts. “ Not exactly four star ” , I hear you say, but after all, this monumental undertaking was a

ride designed to raise money for major charities. All the accommodation was excellent, even

the The Tour also gave a big welcome to riders who joined us for the day from companies

who were supporting the initiative – British Airways, Waitrose, cheese suppliers - Colliers and

many others.

It was the people who were key to the Tour ’ s success. We had athletes, road racers,

butchers, bakers…. Everyone, however, was supported, helped, encouraged and, if required,

carried to complete the daily mileage. The core riders, those there for a week and longer, were

issued with guidelines on being waymarkers for the day riders or they provided first aid for riders

and their bikes.

The support vehicles delivered healthy nutritious food and energy drinks just when they

were needed, with style and pzazz or, if required, a replacement bike.

The route followed was mainly on quiet roads but Graham our tour leader discovered

some off-road routes that my visually impaired rear rider found incredibly challenging. The

weather for the majority was excellent but horizontal rain with gale force winds drained energy

and soaked all on the mountainous morning ride to Harlech from Penrhyndudraeth.

We received many civic receptions en route when we arrived at the day ’ s destinations. Councils

recognised that in the future this event could bring cycle tourists seeking accommodation and sus-

tenance in their towns and villages.

Rod-the-stoker, and I were challenged; we rose to it and I would encourage all to go have a

look at the website to see if they doing it next year! You could do all of it or a week, perhaps.

www.thegreattour.org.uk

Southport Cycling Belles - Juliet Jardine

The Women ’ s ride goes from strength to strength and the group has enjoyed cycling many differ-

ent routes since starting over a year ago.

Every fortnight on Saturday morning they

have ridden from Dunes Leisure Centre in

Southport on a variety of different routes

around the borough at a gentle pace, having

a nice cafe stop along the way.

Cycling is an ideal activity for time-pressed

women keen to stay in shape and be happy

and healthy. It lets you exercise while on the

way to work or the shops. It ’ s fun and it

doesn ’ t require much in the way of expense or fitness levels to get started.

The group meets socially at the ladies evening on Tuesdays at Southport cycling club. There they

discuss rides and cycling ideas.

Many of the ladies are complete novices with a few more experienced riders providing help and

advice.

One member of the group, Hildah started cycling again because of bad arthritis. “ I hadn ’ t cy-

cled for many years but found it great exercise before and after my hip operation, ” she said. “ I

couldn ’ t walk much and it provided a chance to get back into the countryside and breathe fresh

air. I ’ ve come on so much that I ’ m doing the Coast to Coast challenge. ”

The Cycling Belles group is open to all levels of cycling from new to experienced cyclists.

PAGE 7 PEDAL PRESS WINTER

PAGE 8 PEDAL PRESS WINTER

Cycle to live - the facts Andrew Grimbly, MCC Secretary

Anyone can cycle - it's easy and prolongs life

Make it part of your normal day - cycle to work, to see friends or to the shops.

No need to wear lycra or get sweaty.

Fact: People who don't cycle to work have a 39% higher death rate ( from any cause ) than

those who do ( Andersen et al, 2000) .

NB. Although this study summary is correctly quoted, it is out of context, so it reads as if death is

optional, and that cycling to work could make you immortal. In fact, the figure comes from sur-

veys of 30,000+ Copenhagen residents, with follow-up health checks up to 28 years later. There

were 39% more deaths in the group who hadn't cycled to work compared with those who had. So

it's still good news. How much cycling to work did they do? An average of three hours per week.

Be as fit as someone ten years younger

A little bit of cycling goes a long way.

Fact: Occasional and regular cyclists enjoy a level of fitness equivalent to being five to ten years

younger than non-cycling counterparts ( Tuxworth et al, 1986 ) .

Sleep well, feel well

Exercise cheers you up, energises you and helps you sleep.

Fact: Cycling improves your levels of well-being, self-confidence and tolerance to stress. You

also sleep better and feel less tired ( Boyd et al, 1998 ) .

Save time and money

Cycle and forget about needing time and money for exercise classes or the gym.

Fact: Cycle for an extra 30 minutes for most days of the week, cut calories, and lose the same

weight as if you'd gone to three aerobic classes a week. ( Andersen et al, 1999 ) .

Traffic risks to cyclists are a lot less than health risks to non-cyclists

Traffic might seem dangerous, but overall it isn't. That feeling of danger also keeps you safe be-

cause you're alert - essential on quiet lanes and busy roads alike.

Fact: The health benefits of cycling far outweigh the risks of zero exercise by 20:1 ( Hillman,

1992.

PAGE 9 PEDAL PRESS WINTER

Cycling on Merseyside – facts and figures

Cycling on Merseyside comprises 2% of all journeys, the same as Merseyrail ( which incidentally

gets £100m pa subsidy! ) . Taxis make up 3%, buses 15% and cars 67% of journeys. The over-

all cycling figure for the UK is just under 2%. There are more bikes in Britain than cars. The UK

has the lowest level of per capita car ownership in Western Europe ( Liverpool's is lower than Po-

land ’ s! ) but we have the highest level of per capita car use.

Interestingly the popularity of cycling varies significantly between different countries.

The Netherlands has the highest rate of cycling with an average of 2.5 Km per day per person.

In the US, this rate is 0.1 Km per person. In the UK 0.2Km

The good news is that cycling on Merseyside ( and nationally in the UK ) is on the increase.

Merseyside Travelwise recently reported that their cycle counts revealed a 14.3% increase in cy-

cling since 2006!

Cycling is considered the most economical form of transport.

The energy efficiency of cycling is estimated to be the equivalent of a car doing 1600 miles on

a gallon of petrol.

At least half of all car journeys in Britain are short enough to be cycled. If they were cycled,

car mileage would be reduced by one sixth.

The amount of steel and other materials in bicycle construction is less than 2% of that found in

a small car.

On a bicycle you consume a fiftieth of the oxygen consumed by a motor vehicle, and expel no

pollutants.

Twenty bicycles can be parked in the same space taken up by one car. ( U niversity of Aber-

deen ) *

What to say when someone asks “ W hy do you cycle? ”

You ’ ve just enjoyed a great 40 mile ride through some of the lovely countryside and lanes avail-

able in the North West. But, there will always be someone to ask “ why? ” I don ’ t know how to

answer this, I ’ m only tempted to retort – “ Why sit in front of the TV all day, taking no exercise

and increasing your chance of heart disease by 85%? ”

To look after our health, we need a few basics: clean air and water, good nutrition from a plant-

based diet and leg exercise. I see no value in using motorised transport to get to work, school or

the shops, then going to the gymnasium to sit on a bike which is bolted to the floor. At least they

should put a generator on it to run the lights!

( E mail Andrew for details of the research studies quoted - and copy of the picture* )

PAGE 10 PEDAL PRESS

WINTER

How much can a bicycle carry?

Pictures, please, for the next edition of PP

Richard@rhebden.wanadoo.co.uk

TRAIN SURVEY - CAN YOU HELP?

If you happen to be sitting near the bike section of a train ( with or without your bike ) :

please note:

Train operator, train time, date, day of week, your origin and destination

Number of bicycles carried ( including yours but not including folded folders )

on each section of the journey. Thereby noting how many bikes get off or on the train

at each station.

Extra data ( gratefully received if you have a chance ) :

Are there are more bicycles elsewhere on the train problems in using the ‘ b ike space ’

due to large luggage items, pushchairs or people obstructing the space, train too full, etc.

Information from station or/and on-train staff ( helping you to find the bike section! )

Signage on outside of train: is it there and easy to see?

THESE DATA WILL BE ABLE TO HELP CAMPAIGN FOR BETTER BICYCLE

STORAGE FACILITIES ON TRAINS SO WE CAN ALL RELAX

AND ENJOY OUR JOURNEYS!

Please email your data to Stella: scshackel@googlemail.com - THANK YOU!

BIKE - by Greg Quiery

Gears and grips

Guards and gadgets

Brackets, brakes, ball bearings,

Panniers, pedals, pump,

Post and pinion,

Links, lugs, levers, lights,

Cogs and cable,

Crank, and chain,

Wheel rims,

Saddle, spokes, and springs

Frame and fork,

Thumbnail tested tubes and tyres,

United to precision.

Caption Competition: entries/complaints to the Editor.

PAGE 11 PEDAL PRESS

WINTER

Slicing silent through the air

Brushing all aside.

Greased and geared

Oiled and polished,

Primed and pumped.

Powered and pedalled,

Moved and motored

By no more than mucle.

Fast, free, fearless.

Forwards!

VOLUNTEER VACANCY – WEBSITE OFFICER

I wonder if there are any members out there who would like to keep the Merseyside Cycling

Campaign website updated with news and events. Experience of websites is not essential as

the previous Website Officer has offered to carry out a handover and we are really looking to

simply keep the website updated. However if there are any website wizards out there who are

keen to give the website a fresh new image, we wouldn ’ t like to put you off either!

Loud and tumultuous applause to the outgoing Website Officer, Peter Roome. Many thanks for

all your efforts in keeping the website updated and improving the layout of the website.

VOLUNTEER VACANCY – MEDIA OFFICER

In this fast moving digital age the need for a Media Officer becomes ever more important. Previ-

ous experience not necessary. Any offers of help with press releases and the building of rela-

tionships with journalists would be much appreciated.

andrew _kenneth@hotmail.com

Merseyside Cycle Campaign was set up in 1985 to work

for the provision of better and safer facilities for cyclists

and for the safe behaviour by all road users. We encour-

age all our members to get involved in campaigning.

This may be small scale improvements at work, in school

or at your local railway station, or on a larger scale by

writing to your local council or MP to influence policies at

national level. Attitudes are at last beginning to change

for the better and you can play a part in ensuring that the

mistakes of the past are not repeated in the future.

Campaigners meet on a regular basis for discussion and

we publish this newsletter to all members. (see website)

Membership also entitles you to an updated copy of the

Cycle map. More members give make a greater pres-

sure for change, so why not join today?

Contact the Membership Secretary, Carol Fitzpatrick, on

0151 653 3887

Articles to Helen via email to

richard@rhebden.wanadoo.co.uk

President: Lewis Lesley 0151 521 5509

Chair: Alan Johnson 0151639 2005

Email: tallyjohno@alleycatz.fsnet.co.uk

Membership secretary: Carol Fitzpatrick

Email: carolfitz48@yahoo.com

Treasurer: Rebecca Lawson 0151 707 1788

Email R.Lawson@liverpool.ac..uk

Secretary: Andrew GrImbly

Email: andrew_grimbly@blueyonder.co.uk

Pedal Press Editor: Helen Hebden 0151 727

0088

Email: richard@rhebden.wanadoo.co.uk

Media: VACANT - Volunteers?

VIS IT THE CAMP AIGN WEBSITE

AT WWW.MERSEYWORLD.COM/

MCC

Merseyside Cycling Campaigns AGM

Saturday November 27th

At the Everyman Bistro, Hope Street

10-00 for 10-30a.m.

Delicious Food Provided.

Fascinating information and fun guaranteed.

Be there or risk being talked about…..