Colchester Cycling Campaign

CONTACTS:
Will, will@colchester-cycling.org.uk, (substituting the "at" for an "@")
Pam, pam@colchester-cycling.org.uk, (substituting the "at" for an "@")
Steve, steve@colchester-cycling.org.uk, (substituting the "at" for an "@")

CCC, founded in January 1990, is the organisation for everyone who rides a bike in Colchester and its surrounding villages - whether it is to the shops, work or school ... or for leisure. We aim to encourage cycle use through campaigning and advice.

We hope to make it easier for people to ride bikes by removing the obstacles.

We believe the five main reasons people shun everyday cycling are:

1 Safety: the key to solving this is to secure a safer road environment, and we are calling for these changes:

▪ Lower speed limits, including 20mph as the "default" limit for community streets;

▪ A change in the law on drivers' insurance schemes, to make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to claim injury damages from drivers who hit them;

▪ A statutory "duty to drive safely", as part of an overall reform of offences and sentencing powers for bad driving

We also support moves for lower speeds in the countryside, and for less congestion and more driver training, including regular driver testing. We believe the wearing of helmets should remain a matter of individual choice (see www.cyclehelmets.org), but we do recommend the wearing of a fluorescent yellow jacket in town traffic (a jacket can prevent an incident, a helmet can only, in some cases, limit injury).

2 Bike theft: CCC has already secured hundreds of cycle racks around Colchester, and an agreement for cycle parking in most new developments, including many homes. We recommend sheffield cycle stands as the best cycle parking facility. We also urge all cyclists to buy and use good quality locks - D locks are strongest but cumbersome; many people are turning to the handier but less secure Axa-style lock - especially suitable for schools.

3 Fitness: Many would-be cyclists are out of condition, and the "mountain bike and Lycra®" image has led many people to believe cycling is not for them. Nothing could be further from the truth. Cycling is easy to build into your everyday life - far easier than a visit to a gym! Once you're out and about on a bike, few people will know that you're new in the saddle, and you will soon find yourself fitter and leaner. Three spells of ten minutes cycling is equal to 30 minutes in a gym and costs a lot less.

4 The weather: Rain always seems worse if you listen to the forecast the night before, or if you're in a car with the wipers going, scraping away what is no more than drizzle. In fact, rain is rare when you're cycling just two short commuting journeys daily, especially if you build in flexibility to allow a shower to pass.

5 Status: The days when cyclists were looked down upon "because they couldn't afford a car" ended in the 1980s as it became clear that motorists were giving us a new set of problems - congestion, pollution and an appalling safety record. By comparison, cycling is clean, green and keeps you fit.

Contrary to many people's impressions, CCC is not anti-car: Most CCC supporters own a car but prefer not to make themselves dependent on it - they use cycles or public transport for as many journeys as possible. They also see that using cycles can strengthen communites by supporting village and neighbourhood shops and businesses. JOIN UP!

CCC costs just £5 a year, payable January to January. Please send subscriptions, with cheques payable to Colchester Cycling Campaign, to CCC at 41 Causton Road, Colchester. What do you get for your dough? Well, you will have the satisfaction of helping fund this website for starters, plus chipping in for our odd (some would say most odd) activities like town centre stalls and VIP rides. We also like to have cash to help pay for new campaigners to attend conferences - and pedal up to speed. Get your chequebook out now ... and don't be mean with the zeros!

Social Rides: Join the e-mail group and make your own arrangements! Special rides in Bike Week each year.