Bike sessions for all abilities announced

disabled bike

New and inclusive cycling sessions are starting in May at York Sport Village. A full range of adapted bicycles will be on hand so that everyone will be able to enjoy the one-kilometre track, whatever their age, experience or ability.

The sessions are particularly suitable for those living with a disability or long-term medical condition or older adults who enjoy a slower pace of ride.

 

There will be three sessions every week and participants can just turn up to any or to all:

· Every Wednesday 5pm to 6.30pm, starting 14 May

· Thursdays 1.30pm to 3.30pm, starting 15 May

· Sundays 12noon to 2pm, starting 18 May.

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York in decline as cycling City?

 

Yorcycling bandk remains one of the top cycling cities in the UK, supported by figures released by the Office of National Statistics this week, ranking York as one of the top five cycling cities nationally with the highest proportion of residents cycling to work.

The Census 2001 – 2011 figures reveal a six per cent increase in the number of residents aged 16 to 74 years of age cycling to work, from approximately 10,000 in 2001 to over 11,100 in 2011.

Although the proportion of adults cycling to work were down by 0.8 per cent, from 12 per cent in 2001 to 11.2 per cent in 2011 – these figures are only representative of the total number of residents cycling to work and do not include leisure, young people under the age of 16 or people over the age of 74 which make up 24.3 per cent of York’s residents (approximately 50,000 potential cyclists).

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Out of this world cycling video is a hit with students!

A series of informative videos have been created to promote cycling in a safe and courteous manner around York.

The videos, which are part of the i-Travel York initiative, feature an alien cycling along some of York’s well known cycle tracks, giving tips and advice to cyclists along the way.

The videos encourage cyclists to ride with lights, lock their bike securely and ride on the road and designated cycle paths.

The project is supported by the council’s four-year i-Travel York initiative, made possible by £4.6 million of government funding which the council successfully bid for in 2011.

The videos can be viewed at

http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/estates/transport/cycling/security/meet-the-alien/

Council service satisfaction levels down as £1.4 million now allocated to pay for Tour De France start,

Public satisfaction with the way that the Labour Council is performing is dropping according to the authorities own figures.

Around 4000 residents responded to a Council survey. The percentage satisfied with the way that the Council runs things dropped from 63% to 54% in just 12 months.

click to enlarge

click to enlarge


The results need to be viewed with caution given the volatility of public opinion – and the likely sample bias on a post back survey – but other polls tell a similar story.

The Council could have taken the opportunity to test public opinion on a range of controversial issues such as:

• The proposed cuts to the number of roads being gritted this winter and the planned removal of self help salt bins.

• It’s plans to expand the size of the City by 25% over the next 15 years

• Changes to bus services and its refusal to publish reliability figures

• The bungled changes to refuse collection arrangements.

• Secret “behind closed doors” decision making.

• The introduction of wide area 20 mph speed limits

• The Lendal Bridge and Coppergate traffic restrictions.

Without these figures the Council may find it difficult to understand why its reputation is suffering.

Meanwhile Labour are now admitting that York taxpayers face an enormous £1.4 million bill for hosting the second day start of the Tour De France.

That is over and above the money being taken from existing budgets such as highways resurfacing.

Put in context, the annual repayment costs on the money borrowed to fund this one day event will be over £100,000 or enough to sustain existing winter maintenance (de-icing) standards for the next 20 years.

It is probably not surprising that residents weren’t given the opportunity to comment, in the Council’s survey, on this priority.

Road closures for tomorrow’s (Saturday) Sky Ride York

On September 14 Sky Ride York will take to the historic streets of York. Due to the size and scale of the event there will be some temporary traffic and transport changes to ensure the safety of everyone taking part.

click for more details

click for more details

Residents and visitors are urged to make use of the city’s extensive Park and Ride network on the day, particularly by using the Park and Pedal facilities at the Designer Outlet, Grimston Bar, Rawcliffe Bar and Monks Cross.

If people are unsure on which route to take to join the Sky Ride there are two Sky Ride social rides leading into the city centre setting off from Rawcliffe Bar Park and Ride and The York Sport Village (behind Grimston Bar P&R) at 9am and 9.30am respectively. These rides will be lead by trained Sky Ride local ride leaders. For more info on the rides go to: http://www.goskyride.com/Search/
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A1237 to Beckfield Lane cycle path agreed in another ”behind closed doors” decision

The Council has decided on the layout for a cycle link on the A59.

Behind closed doors logo

No justification for the design detail has been published by the Council nor were the normal cross party consultations undertaken. The cost of the scheme has not been revealed.

The footway would be widened on the A59 from the by pass through to the Beckfield Lane junction. All crossing points at the junctions would be upgraded to allow them to be used by cyclists.

There would be some shared use paths accommodating both cyclists and pedestrians.

The cycle route connects to a proposed crossing of the A1237 before terminating at the new Poppleton Bar Park and Ride site.

A1237 to Beckfield Lane cycle path. click for larger map

A1237 to Beckfield Lane cycle path. click for larger map

City centre cycle parking consultation results

Behind closed doors logoMany residents will be surprised to find that consultations were taking place about extending cycle parking arrangements in Goodramgate, King Square, Lendal (exiting parking @ Zizzi’s), Lendal (new parking @ Post Office), Castle Museum, Piccadilly (White Swan), Library Square, Micklegate/Bar Lane.

Nevertheless the Council has approved the new sites in another behind closed doors decision session.

Click here for details and photos.

Piccadilly new cycle stands