New cycling and walking campaign launched in West of England

[whole diary]

[CyclingSid]

'Find joy in the journey" might not immediately light my fire but hopefully it will do something for cycling in WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about)
https://www.bikebiz.com/new-cycling-and-walking-campaign-launched-in-west-of-england/

[Red Squirrel]

Yes, a somewhat lacklustre slogan. The full press release is here:

https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/west-of-england-mayor-launches-new-cycling-and-walking-campaign/

Some choice quotes:

94% people in the West of England think the West of England would be a better place if more people walked or cycled.

...this is an interesting one. Cycling campaigners claim that we all benefit from cycling, whether we cycle or not. Is it possible that that message is gaining traction?

James Durie, Chief Executive of Bristol Chamber & Initiative at Business West said: “We are strongly helping support this new campaign as we know there is a growing appetite amongst employers across the city region to encourage employees to travel more sustainably and reduce their impact on the environment, particularly as awareness of climate change only grows. In short, it makes sense in economic, environmental and health terms to accelerate what has been happening.

...but there's a gap between 'growing appetite' and 'range of committed plans'.

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about)) has agreed £13m investment in measures to enable cycling and walking in the region. £3m will underwrite the cost of short-term measures such as widened pavements and temporary cycle lanes to help people to maintain social distancing while walking and cycling. A further £10m has been agreed for longer term solutions to encourage active travel in the region.

£13m might sound like a lot, but compared to what's still being spent on encouraging private motoring it is less than a pittance.

[martyjon]

But I bet on one thing,  we won't see WRECA Mayor Mr. Bowles standing in front of a camera lens grinning like a Cheshire cat in his finest lycra cycling gear donning his cyclists helmet being propped up by his 3-wheeled tri-cycle !!!!

[johnneyw]

But I bet on one thing,  we won't see WRECA Mayor Mr. Bowles standing in front of a camera lens grinning like a Cheshire cat in his finest lycra cycling gear donning his cyclists helmet being propped up by his 3-wheeled tri-cycle !!!!

Ouch, that's an image in my head now that won't go away! 😦

[Bmblbzzz]

It would have to be a quadri-cycle: one wheel each for South Glos, BANES, Bristol and North Somerset. 

[martyjon]

It would have to be a quadri-cycle: one wheel each for South Glos, BANES, Bristol and North Somerset. 

N Somerset is not officially a constituent of WRECA so tricycle it is but to be pedantic a 4-wheeled cycle is a quadcycle.

[Red Squirrel]

It would be a quadracycle with one wheel removed, one wheel with beautifully crafted spokes by Thomas Chippendale (with the brakes permanently on), one wheel rotating the opposite way to the others, and one looking suspiciously like it belongs to a 1990 diesel Sierra.

[Bmblbzzz]

I thought N Som had reversed their decision not to join following the last council elections?

[broadgage]

Increased cycling is IMO^▸ (in my opinion) good for the community at large, and not just for those who cycle.
Less traffic congestion, less pollution, less noise.

I have recently observed an increase in cycling.

[Red Squirrel]

...I have recently observed an increase in cycling.

So have I, partly because I have been cycling more.

One thing that surprises me is that there is, without doubt, a subset of the human race who find it really, really outrageous that anyone should have the temerity to take to the roads on a bicycle. But then there are those who really hate rail, too.

Hey ho, life would be dull if we were all the same...

[broadgage]

I am too old and fat to cycle, and don't really trust any vehicle with only two wheels. It looks inherently unstable, and when I tried cycling I found the machine to be as unstable as it looked.
Three wheels is the minimum for stability, and four looks safer.

[TonyK]

I am too old and fat to cycle.

So am I, which why I started cycling again.

[Bmblbzzz]

I am too old and fat to cycle, and don't really trust any vehicle with only two wheels. It looks inherently unstable, and when I tried cycling I found the machine to be as unstable as it looked.
Three wheels is the minimum for stability, and four looks safer.

Here is the Broadgage-cycle. One's butler propels the machine while one sits at the rear in a comfortable chair with a rug over one's knees. Please note the small wicker basket in front of one's knees, ideal for holding a bottle of port. 

From: http://beamishtransportonline.co.uk/2020/05/beamish-transport-objects-in-focus-number-4-part-4/

[Red Squirrel]

I am too old and fat to cycle, and don't really trust any vehicle with only two wheels. It looks inherently unstable, and when I tried cycling I found the machine to be as unstable as it looked.
Three wheels is the minimum for stability, and four looks safer.

Reminds me of Roger Bacon, of Flight International. When asked why he always insisted on flying in four-engined aircraft, he explained "because there are no five-engined aircraft".

If you think a bicycle looks inherently unstable, what do you think when you see an aeroplane? 

[broadgage]

I don't much trust aeroplanes either, "keep up thy airspeed, lest the ground riseth up and smites thee"