Free Adult commuter Cycle Training

Cycle Stoke, through its Cycle Smart programme are able to offer free one to one cycle training including route planning and accompanied instructor rides to your place of work.

The offer is open to anyone working at one of five employment centres in and around the City of Stoke on Trent and is being made available to all employers and employees working in the Sustainable travel zones and can include cycle and helmet loan.

The cycle commuter  training is provided through Sustrans and Cyclist Training Ltd who will be working with Stoke City council Stoke's business community and city residents over the next 15 months making cycle transport more available. including bike loans, cycle maintenance sessions open training and advice sessions as well as tailored business solutions.

The Sustainable travel zones

Chatterley Valley,
Eturia Valley
Trentham Lakes
Keele Science and Business Parks
North Staffs Hospital

Business's of any size wishing to part in the project can now register an interest to see if they fall into to one of the eligible zones.

Anyone wishing to take part in the initial phase of training should e-mail

Peter@cyclist-training.co.uk

More Children riding, More Safely and More often in Staffordshire.

Since April this year 5024 children have taken part in Cyclist Training's  National Standard Bikeability Level 2 Training in Staffordshire. Of these 462 children rode to school before. During our two day training course 2157 children rode to school and 2276 children said they would probably ride to school at some point over the school term. An increase of some 367 %. Not bad really this means:

1. A less congested school run during morning rush hour, and in the afternoon. 
2. A reduction in Staffordshire carbon footprint
3. Improved health through exercise for children
4. A reduction in nuisance riding (riding on pavements)
5. Children taking part in bikeability are far less likely to be involved in Walking and cycling road traffic accidents than those that don't take part. 

If your school is based in Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent, or East Cheshire then check with your child's school to see if they have booked in Bikeability for year five and six. If you live in Staffordshire East Cheshire or Stoke on Trent  & want your child to receive either level 2 (11+,  or level 3 training  13 years   +), during the school holidays then give us a call and we will book you onto one of shared  lessons.   

Phone Cyclist Training on 01785 818193.

SIx Cyclists die on Britains roads in the last nine days

Its not nice to have to post this but what awful news. Please take care on your way around & make sure you are being seen (light up, high vis) and ride were everyone can see you. It might just make the difference for us.



I only hope that it gets the government both local and nationally to continue to make improvements for cyclists.

The Times Six Die in Nine Days

how do we get here ...

Ive followed the copenhagenzine bike blog and scene for a number of years and at the same time I've watched cycling initiatives come and go both across the UK and locally. And whilst we can claim some success (cycling has certainly increased) there is a very long way to go.

http://vimeo.com/copenhagenize/copenhagen-city-of-cyclists-video

This is a video showing Copenhagens unique bicycle culture as it looks in the beginning of the early 21st century.

A monumental motion of everyday people transporting themselves from A to B by pure pedal power.

-Each day 37% of everybody in Copenhagen arrives at work or education by bicycle.
-25% of all families with two kids in the city own a cargo bike.
-And the 519,000 inner city copenhageners own 560,000 bicycles!

The one thing that seems to make success easier to get to is a political will with in local authorities or councils. And I don't just mean a few in a department tasked to do it. but right the top lord mayor, head of councils and others actually living and making cycling in their area easier, safer and more accessible for all. Forcing cycling to the top of the agenda in planning development health leisure and education.

How do we get there ?

Well I suppose by me and you taking us their, role model and political pressure.

Maybe it's time we started to ask some questions of Local authorities and land owners like St. Modwens, who this year whilst supporting cycling in many ways still have staff that frown on any group turning up at Trentham Gardens and have no cycle provision's for moving between the Monkey Forest and the retail park.

And where are cyclist meant to go at the end of the cycle path along the A34 Stone to to Stafford ? Do the really want us to ride against traffic or filter into the dual carriage way or was that the cheapest solution.

Do the crash barriers along the one way network in stone encourage a race track mentality amongst drivers, surely they should be removed and a shared space mentality adopted with a 20MPH enforced speed zone.

maybe we need an local action group made up of people who want to see the change and are ready to ask the questions and influence the future.

Post Christmas, New year learn to ride camps

The dates and venues for the New Year "Learn to Ride" camps have been set. So for those looking to move from stabilisers to two wheels book now !!  This is by far our most popular learn to ride course.

For children looking to build their skills prior to riding on the road book level 1 bikeability and  for those starting to venture on the road book the level 2 taster.

Sessions Times and Venue
Stoke On Trent          Northwood Stadium           Thursday 2nd January
9am -12noon             Learn to Ride
10am - 12noon          Bikeability level 1 (7 - 9 years)
12.45pm - 4pm          Bikeability level 2 (10 - 16 years)

To book your place on our Stoke course call
01785 818193

Crewe                       Victoria Community Centre Friday 3rd January
9am -10am                New Christmas bikes assembly checks ( get your new bike checked by
                                  one of our Mechanics)
10 -12                        Learn to ride
12.45 2.45                 Bikeability Level 1 ( 7 - 9 years)

To Book your place on Our Crewe course call
01625 295220

CTL are giving away rear lights

Any one books on to and subsequently attends on either are level 2 or level 3 course at Dimensions in the October half term will get a free Electron Pico 4 rear light worth £9.99.

Level 2 - Monday 28th of October 10am - 12 noon   - Tuesday 29th 9.30am 12.30 pm

Level 3 - Tuesday 29th 1.30pm till 3.30 pm

Limited places available booking essential, to book your place-  phone 01785 818193
.

Borris bans Lorries for London. DO we think Stoke or Stafford will follow suit ?

Lorries – a frequent cause of serious and fatal injuries to commuter cyclists – could become scarcer in the London rush hour under plans to trial more early morning and night time deliveries.

Transport for London (TfL) will use the successful precedent of a similar scheme in force during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The new plans were published in a document, Delivering a Road Freight Legacy, released earlier this month. The document received a cautious welcome from the Freight Transport Association, who said: "the logistics industry is ready to respond to these new conditions". It added, however, that the haulage industry will face "significant challenges" adapting to the TfL's proposals.           

The arrival of the out-of-hours pilot scheme fills a major gap in a series of measures announced by London Mayor Boris Johnson six weeks ago. In early September he outlined a number of plans including a proposal that could see lorries not fitted with basic safety equipment hit with a fine up to £200 if they enter the city centre.

A group has been set up to establish how the out of hours scheme could operate in practice and examine whether legislation and vehicles will need to be modified to ensure its successful implementation.  

The out-of-hours trials will begin early in 2014 and further details of how the programme will work will be announced later this year.

Back in the Press,

Cyclist Training Ltd back in the press, this time It was Mike Bolton in the Sandbach Chronicle.