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RE: [cyclomania] CYCLING - One small step for mankind -
Hi Pete,
I don't think you were at the last cycing conference where those involved in the first 20s plenty campaigns presented how they did it. It was all about getting local support across the town so it wasn't anti car or pro cyclist. The wonderful thing about it was that so many people had a stake in it and linked people up.
Any cause can go belly up with the wrong approach!
Whilst the council is more receptive that it has been in the past, their attitude is hardly exemplary even when they do bother to talk to us. We have to be very careful to maintain our independent voice.
Mary
--- On Mon, 9/2/09, Peter Black <pblackie62@...> wrote:
From: Peter Black <pblackie62@...>
Subject: RE: [cyclomania] CYCLING - One small step for mankind -
To: cyclomania@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, 9 February, 2009, 12:01 PM
Well, first of all, I was an elected Councillor for six years in Warrington - indeed chaired the Highway Management Committee for a while. In Chester, I stood last May, and I know a number of local politicians, not least through our successful lobby for Chester to gain Cycle Demo Town status. I can definitely say that there is a big difference in outlook and the way issues are approached in Warrngton and Chester. For cycling to be accepted as a mainstream activity, any approach needs to be tailored to the decision makers - both at officer and political level. And in Chester we have been spectacularly successful, going from almost hostility to winning over officers and members at a time of local Government reorganisation. I only joined Chester Cycling Campaign a year ago, so its not down to me, but the transformation has been spectacular. This is in contrast to Warrington, where if you look at the Warrington Campaign
website, there seems to be less harmony and shared values with the Council. I have nothing against 20s plenty, but I was able to witness the rather strident way it was promoted at a meeting in Manchester before Christmas. I can say that from talking to politicians afterwards, that it was received as a highly political initiative, and was not welcome. My feeling is that in Chester at least, we need to balance the merits of 20s plenty against the need to work as a team (albeit speaking out when we need to) and make the CDT project a success. Peter Black
To: cyclomania@yahoogro ups.com From: roy.spilsbury@ ctc-cymru. org.uk Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 10:08:23 +0000 Subject: [cyclomania] CYCLING - One small step for mankind -
Sorry Peter, who said Chester officers and politicians are different to Warrington, or anywhere else for that matter?
Politicians respond to what they believe will get them re-elected. Are we saying the people of Chester are not concerned with public health, global warming, the collapse of the economy, their children's future, and the many other concerns we have?
And as for the officers, my impression is that many, if not the majority, are in favour of returning to human scale living space not dominated by the intrusive presence of motor vehicles to the extent we have now.
It is not for the Chester Cycling Campaign to be cowed from expressing views it thinks might upset some. It should be out there fighting its corner on behalf of what I believe is a large chunk of public opinion growing by the day.
Time is not on our side. Our lives. locally, nationally, and internationally, are about to undergo radical changes. Some will not be comfortable or easy. Many will be painful,, But the cycling message is a benign one to whom everyone has the potential to respond, either as cycle-users, or vicariously enjoying the benefits cycling brings to a community in so many different ways.
Chester Cycling Campaign needs to be acting firmly - and now. It should not be afraid.
In my last mailing I referred to 'Rod and his pals', I meant 'Rod and his kind'....... Those people are just as likely to be found in Chester, Cardiff, Liverpool or anywhere else
Enjoy your day all
Roy
CTC Cymru
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 8:13 AM
Subject: RE: [cyclomania] One small step for mankind - one huge step for Warrington
I think Chester needs to be really careful about this one. We are just about to see £millions spent on cycling in the next 3 years, and whether this is soaked up by a few more greenways, or we can get city centre pentration and some proper training, promotion and marketing depends critically on the support of officers and politicians who are a very different colour to Warrington. Pete
To: cyclomania@yahoogro ups.com CC: cardiff.cycling@ topica.com; CTC-RTR@yahoogroups .com From: roy.spilsbury@ ctc-cymru. org.uk Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 10:05:18 +0000 Subject: Re: [cyclomania] One small step for mankind - one huge step for Warrington
I support David's sentiments.on Rod King's email below
But progress is less likely to happen until such time as ordinary users start supporting activists like Rod. There is too much sitting on hands and assuming that there is some sort of law of nature that makes all things well in the end..
One of the biggest mistakes we make in the traditional upbringing of our children, is to end nasty fairy stories with the words 'and we all lived happily ever after' - - without us taking steps to ensure we do.
We do not live happily ever after if we are too idle to get off our backsides and make our voices and words heard. Rod and his pals are a special breed. We should be supporting them to the hilt - not just nodding agreement and doing nout
........by jove I feel better for that!
Roy
CTC Cymru
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 11:22 AM
Subject: Re: [cyclomania] One small step for mankind - one huge step for Warrington
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Good news Rod and Chris - maybe Chester will follow.
From: Rod King <rodk@rodking. co.uk>
Subject: [cyclomania] One small step for mankind - one huge step for Warrington
To: "wcc Talk" <WCC-Talk@yahoogroup s.com>, "GMCC-Talk" <GMCC-Talk@yahoogrou ps.com>, CTC-RTR@yahoogroups .com, living_streets@ yahoogroups. co..uk, cyclomania@yahoogro ups.com
Date: Monday, 2 February, 2009, 9:20 PM
Well today Warrington Borough Council introduced its Experimental Traffic Order setting a 20 mph speed limit on 147 roads in the Borough.
It may not have been Phase One of a borough-wide 20 mph default, and both Warrington Cycle Campaign and 20’s Plenty For Us are highly critical of the nature of the pilots and how well they model the full range of roads in Warrington, but it is a huge commitment to lower speeds.
The three areas comprise the Town Centre, about 10 roads in Great Sankey and about 80 roads in the Orford area in the North East of the town.
The initiative has undoubtedly come about from 5 years of campaigning by Warrington Cycle Campaign and 20’s Plenty For Us.. It has involved numerous meetings, campaigns and petitions.
Warrington was one of the “new towns” of the 80’s and for years has suffered the blight of feeder roads designed for vehicle throughput rather than community amenity.
Surely if the “tide can be turned” in Warrington then it can be turned in town halls throughout the land.
As campaigners we know that we have a long way to go in order to turn this 147 streets into the 2,000 or so needed to cover every community in Warrington. We are looking for the “pilots” to be abandoned in favour of permanent and phased implementation across every residential street.
There will be many more meetings, persuasions, press releases and e-mails, but we are confident that eventually Warrington will become a more civilised place through the borough-wide adoption of 20 mph.
Our best regards
Keep up the campaigning.
Rod King 20’s Plenty For Us Chris Mayes Warrington Cycle Campaign
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