Monthly Meeting - Tim Wye - Lifecycle Director - Thursday 2nd September 19:30, The Cornubia pub

Tim Wye, Director of LifeCycle UK will talk about some of the new projects that life cycle UK are engaged with and how they are trying to work with businesses to promote cycling.
Find out more about Lifecycle by clicking here

PLEASE NOTE THAT FROM OCTOBER WE WILL BE MEETING ON THE 2ND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH AT OUR NEW VENUE - THE YHA. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE

GUEST SPEAKERS MOST MONTHS. GUESTS WELCOME.

Come along at 730 for a drink and a chat and then there'll be the talk at 8 followed by updates on Cycling City and Committee activities and general discussion of other subjects raised by members.

Please let Martin know of any items that you wish to be discussed at the meeting at secretary@bristolcyclingcampaign.org.uk

The meeting is at The Cornubia pub http://www.thecornubia.com/ 3rd turning on the left after coming over Bristol Bridge heading for Temple Meads on the B4053 Victoria Street

(added 27/08/10)

Imagine living in a CAR-FREE community! Come to an inaugural meeting 15 September 19:30 at The Cornubia

A new movement is starting in Bristol - here's what they have to say:

If, like several of us, you have made the decision to live without a car, you have probably experienced the same mixture of amusement and frustration at organisations who assume everyone drives, or people who simply don't understand how it's possible to live happily without owning a car. Have you ever felt it would be good to mix with people who do understand?
That's one reason why a few of us have decided to set up Carfree Bristol. Our first aim is strictly social - to bring carfree people together. What if your partner has a car but you don't? What if you are driving one at the moment but are aiming to give it up? Whatever your circumstances, we aren't proposing any specific membership criteria. If you support the aims of the group, you are welcome.

Our longer-term aims are a bit more challenging:
* To provide a forum for people who live without a car
* To support the creation of local carfree groups
* To promote carfree living

To campaign for:
* public bodies to make life easier for people without cars
* removing traffic from cities and neighbourhoods
* new carfree neighbourhoods

To campaign against:
* decisions which make life difficult for people without cars - like siting public buildings, or holding events in places difficult to get to without a car.

Find out more/ join the Facebook group via their website click here

(added 02/09/10)

Diary updated with Summer Rides and Meetings - more Ride Leaders, suggestions for meetings and speakers, and volunteers to help on the stall always welcome.

Can you spare a couple of hours to help on the stall at the Watershed's "Cyclescreen" Thu 5 - Sun 8 August or The Harbour Festival July 31-1 Aug when we are also looking for riders to power the pedal powered stage!

If you can help please get in touch via the website or info email addresses.

Bike trains to the sea-side UPDATED WITH SATURDAY TRAIN SERVICES 4 JULY 2010! see rides page

Monthly Meeting - Middle East Adventure - Thursday 1st July 19:30, The Cornubia pub

Cathy Sampson tells a tale about a bike sojourn through Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and the West Bank, with pictures.
Most months we have a guest speaker and all the usual stuff - committee updates, lively discussion etc.
Guests Welcome. More info on the diary page

(added 24/06/10)

 A new committee

At our recent AGM (4th February 2010) we voted in a new committee. Most of the existing committee members were voted back in, but we were sorry to have to accept resignations from Josh Hart, Steve Meek and Steve Loughran - all of whom are pursuing related activities through other channels (and Josh in another county!). We are very grateful for the support that they gave to the re-organised campaign. We welcomed William Baker (organiser of our Summer rides on Wednesday nights) as a new committee member.
At the newly elected committee's first meeting (16th Feb 2010) we appointed people to roles as follows (with contact emails as indicated suffixed by bristolcyclingcampaign.org.uk - if in doubt contact the secretary):

Chairman – Martin Tweddell (chairman@)
Vice Chairman (new role) – Steve Kinsella
Hon secretary – Martin McDonnell (secretary@)
Treasurer – Martin Tweddell (treasurer@)
External Relations – Martin McDonnell
Rides – Philippe Cazalis (rides@)
Magazine – Cathy Sampson (editor@)
Media – Emma Barraclough
Stall – Philippe Cazalis & Cathy Sampson (stall@)
Website – Martin McDonnell (website@)
Cycling City rep – Veronica
Recruitment – Steve Kinsella
Member electronic communications – Steve Kinsella (e-news@)
Membership – Veronica Pollard (membership@)

Additional appointments at 16 March 2010 Committee Meeting:
Cycling Strategy - Rob Gallagher
Infrastructure - Terry Miller
Family Cycling - William Baker

The committee looks forward to getting more members recruited and getting members more involved in the campaign to improve cycling in Bristol. If you have any ideas - what are you waiting for?

(updated 17/3/10)

 Taking folding bikes on buses

Some of you may have had problems taking your folding bikes on buses. Apparently, there is some "driver discretion" about the number of people and the size of objects that can be carried depending on available space, but First Bus policy is to allow the carriage of (folded) bikes - see attached letter.

(added 8/12/09)

 The Bristol Cyclist.

To get your copy of the best cycling magazine in Bristol delivered to your door - join the campaign by following this link.

Back issues of our magazine (which is posted free to members) have been uploaded to the website and are available here: archive or via the "Newsletter" option on the menu at top left.

(added 27/01/10)

 Campaigning for a Cycling City to be proud of

The Committee have been campaigning hard to get the best out of Cycling City. Bristol City and South Gloucestershire Councils are holding
public consultations on the infrastructure schemes forming the major components (at least in terms of spend) of the project and the campaign
have been reviewing these and submitting comments which so far have not met with a favourable response. (The list of schemes and
published details can be found here.)

Our main objections have been where national guidelines have clearly not been followed and alternative schemes such as traffic restraint
have not been considered. The most recent example of this is the proposal for Hartcliffe Way, to which we are objecting because it is
not in accordance with DfT guidance, is dangerous and does not improve conditions for cycling. Our response is here.

Added our response to the consultation on the Cumberland Basin Scheme here.

All Bristol campaigners and other interested parties should be taking the opportunity to participate in these consultations
(as far as we are aware it is only as a result of our efforts and that of other stakeholders that we are being consulted at all!)
and try to get along to any site visits that are arranged (unfortunately often during work times). To find out more keep an eye on the
betterbybike website or get in touch with the committee via secretary@bristolcyclingcampaign.org.uk (also if you wish to view any of our
other responses).

We can only make this work if people who know about cycling get involved and make their voices heard!

(added 20/11/2009) {updated 26/11/2009}

 Discussion Group

We have an online discussion group where all the latest issues are flaged up and discussed (often at great length!).
If you want to help improve cycling in Bristol then why not join in. You'll find us here.

(added 10/11/09)

See the diary of rides and meetings

Please check back on the website Diary page before rides and events to see if there have been any last minute changes.

We believe that the best way to improve conditions for cycling in Bristol is to get more people cycling and a good way to do that is to get them out on rides. If the rides are well supported then newcomers will enjoy themselves more and more people will be encouraged to join the rides, join the campaign and increase the number of people cycling in Bristol.

Please would all campaign members living in the Bristol area try and make the effort to come along to some of these rides/ events and contribute to improving cycling in Bristol – half a day of your time could make all the difference to getting someone else cycling and make your everyday cycling that little bit more enjoyable. Bring some new or lax cyclists along with you.

Ride helpers would also be much appreciated – as would additional members – if you live in the Bristol area and are not a member of the Bristol Cycling Campaign please consider joining us.

 Press Release

Recent Press Releases can be found on the News page.

 Website Re-construction

Our website is currently being re-constructed - please bear with us in the meantime. If you are able to help please contact website@bristolcyclingcampaign.org.uk

 Cycling - the transport choice for Bristol

The life-blood of a city is its people. Fine architecture and green spaces count for nothing without people in the picture. We want Bristol to be the city that puts people first.

That means tackling Bristol's biggest environmental problem - the proliferation of private motor vehicles. It is not possible for large numbers of cars and people to share the same place. If our streets are places for driving and parking, no-one will want to be there. Shopping is a miserable experience if you have to dash across the road dodging the cars. No-one wants to walk or cycle if they fear for their safety.

Bristol is a big busy place. People need to travel, but most people can move easily and efficiently under their own power. Walking and cycling are cheap, quick, quiet, and clean. People-power: you go where you like, when you like, for as long as you like. Facilitate walking and cycling and you give virtually everyone the freedom of the city.

Bristol has sometimes shown what can be done. Look at College Green and the Bristol-Bath Railway Path. The challenge is to extend spaces like these, to create a safe, attractive city. A city fit for people.

The way forward

Everyone who walks or cycles is doing the city an enormous favour. Every cyclist is one less car, one less parking space, less noise, a few less lungs full of fumes. Bicycles are good for Bristol: they must be the central part of an integrated transport strategy.

Join us and help make this happen

The BCC card

Print and cut out to spread the word with these membership promotion cards

Earlier news items...

Campaigning

As well as having fun on bikes, BCC members are involved in campaigning to improve accessibility and safety for cyclists.

Previous campaigns