East Midlands Cyclists Forum

Pedals (Nottingham Cycle Campaign) are the hosts this year of the East Midlands Cyclists Forum bringing together like-minded East Midlands cyclists together.
A full programme of events for the day can be found at http://www.pedals.org.uk/emcf_conference_2010, there is a very small booking fee of £5 to cover tea, coffee and a light buffet lunch. Details of how to book can be found on the above link.

Notts Rural Rides- Grantham triangle

In one of the last of a series of rides lead by the Newark group of Sustrans volunteers this year is the Grantham triangle ride taking place on Sunday 26 September and departs at 10:30 from the Grove Sports Centre, Newark. (map)
This is a longer ride which uses NCR 64 to get to Bottesford and then follows NCR 15 which is a lovely ride along the (side of) Grantham canal. The third side of the triangle is the route back from Grantham through Belton Park and rural lanes via Claypole. For more information contact Tony Eyres on 01636 672408

If any of you wish to join in but can only do part of the ride around the Grantham area, then you may want to join others at Bottesford rail station at around 11:30 or at the Bottesford A52 crossing (map) on Easthorpe Lane that leads towards Muston at around 11:45- 12:00. Please note these timings are only estimated so please give yourself an earlier arrival.

National Cycle Network celebrates 15 years

1995 was a year of firsts - the launch of Ebay, the explosion of the internet, the invention of the DVD, Buzz and Woody hit the big screen in the first ever computer-animated film, the first time Take That stepped out as a foursome and of course... the launch of the National Cycle Network. Now, on Saturday 11 September 2010, the National Cycle Network celebrates its 15^th anniversary with events across the UK.

With Mark Ronson's new single 'The Bike Song' set to be released next week, HRH Prince Charles touring the UK celebrating sustainable living, Boris's tory-blue cycling superhighways, and even celebrities from Agyness Deyn to Lord Sugar getting papped on two wheels - it seems Britain is going green with cycling fever.

The National Cycle Network is a flagship project for Sustrans - the UK charity that enables people to make more of their everyday journeys on foot, bike and public transport.

Did you know that the National Cycle Network...

...now extends to 12,600 miles
...carries over 1 million journeys every single day
...goes within 1 mile of over half the UK population
...covers more miles in the UK than motorways

and

In 2009, there were 407 million trips on the Network - 208 million cycling trips and 199 million on foot

Urban traffic routes account for only 26% of the Network, but they carry an astonishing three quarters of all trips - showing that it is used in a key way by people making local everyday journeys as well as for leisure time

The Network also hosts the largest collection of outdoor art and sculpture in the UK - with over 2,000 pieces from over 300 artists

The Network is the most widespread construction project since the building of the motorways, and has been developed and built by Sustrans alongside many local authorities and partners across the UK

Earlier this week, HRH Prince Charles visited Bristol - home of Sustrans - as part of his 'Start' campaign to hear from organisations promoting sustainable community living. Sustrans gave a presentation to the Prince on Sustrans' work including the creation of the Network as an example of how millions of people in the UK were already getting around on foot or by bike for everyday journeys but how work needed to continue to ensure millions more could in the future. The Prince was a supporter of the initial bid to win £43.5million from the National Lottery in 1995 to launch the Network.

On 11 September 1995, rock legend Meatloaf handed over a cheque for £43.5m to Sustrans and the Network was launched.

From the first route to be completed - the 17 mile Bristol and Bath Railway Path, to the latest section being launched on its anniversary - the 170 mile Way of the Roses through Lancashire and Yorkshire - the Network scales mountains, crosses divides, races through cities and leisurely ambles through the countryside. The original ambition to create a 6,500 mile network has been surpassed and the Network is now 12,600 miles, there are over 50,000 direction signs, 10,000 seats and thousands of bridges, viaducts and tunnels along its routes. Whether it's for business or pleasure, commuting or just for fun, travelling on the network has something for everyone as well as being a fundamental part of how people in the UK get around everyday.

Malcolm Shepherd - Chief Executive of Sustrans says, "It's amazing to see just how much this Network has grown in just 15 years but it's not just for keen cyclists. It really is a vital transport system that allows people to get to work and school everyday whether on foot or by bike. It's a key part of the future of UK transport and makes local journeys much easier to do without a car. It goes through major cities as well as connects rural communities and is a great way to get out and enjoy the UK.

"Over the next 15 years we want to see more and more people walking and cycling for short everyday journeys and using the Network as a natural choice for how they get around. If everyone in Britain made one less car journey every week it would reduce car travel by at least ten per cent, which would mean an annual saving of almost seven million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Small changes can equal big environmental returns."

So raise a bike lock as we say Happy Birthday National Cycle Network - here's to the next 15 years!

Download the National Cycle Network Map 2010 map