Monthly Archives: August 2008

Pedestrian Heart: Post King’s Head fire

Posted on by Posted in Pedestrian Heart

At the moment, part of the town centre Pedestrian Heart is sealed in behind fencing, after the King’s Head fire. You may need to change your route through the centre as a result of this.

I’ve tried drawing this out, but it’s an old aerial photo.

I often used to ride up Priestgate, then turn right to get to Bondgate. This is currently blocked, so I either carry my bike up the steps onto High Row, or turn left and use the ramp to get to High Row.

It is possible to get between Northgate and Bondgate, but the gap between the fence and the building is fairly narrow – the width of the ‘pavement’ style section. It might be worth pushing the bike through here, unless it’s very quiet.

Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor open

Posted on by Posted in ETC, Haughton Road, infrastructure

According to the Northern Echo, the Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor is due to open tomorrow.

We will be very interested to hear from any members who use the route over the next few days. Please either leave a comment here or email on darlocycling@googlemail.com, with your opinions and experiences. Please tell us whether you used the on- or off-road options and where you were going from or to. For example, tomorrow I will be riding on the road from Haughton Road to Haughton Road, heading into town on my way to work and from off-road from Haughton Road to the ETC on my way home.

Obligatory Olympics post: The Active Spectator strategy

Posted on by Posted in inspiration

The London Cycling Campaign has set out some recommendations for the 2012 London Olympic Games:

The Active Spectator strategy

Promoting cycling and walking is a cost effective way to enable many spectators to reach Olympic venues without contributing to pollution or congestion. Walking and cycling are also highly accessible to all Londoners as well as visitors from abroad.
Cycle parking
Ubiquitous secure covered cycle parking needs to be provided at all Olympic venues and local stations.
Cycle promotion
Use of pedal cycles should be integral to all aspects of activities relating to the Olympics, including service vehicles and deliveries, as well as journeys within Olympic sites by athletes and officials.
Access for cycle users and pedestrians
Olympic facilities should be as accessible as possible to cyclists and pedestrians, within the constraints of security.
Cycle hire
Flexible cycle hire facilities at convenient London locations need to be provided for those who wish to rent bikes.
Cycle routes
An active spectator games will need dedicated routes from Central London (highest hotel capacity, and hence many visitors) to the main Olympic zones.
Integrated transport
Multi-modal journeys which include cycling will be a key factor in delivering the Active Spectator Games.
Paralympics and Disabled Spectators
The Paralympics are an opportunity for the Olympic Family to act as role models for people with disabilities, and to demonstrate the ways in which modified and companion cycles can allow them to participate as active spectators.
The Olympic Legacy
Residential and commercial developments in the Stratford area should both include adequate cycle parking and, in the case of commercial and public buildings, changing and storage areas for cyclists.

[via Competitive Cycling on Velorution]