Veteran CCC member makes a difference

Tandem rider John Read of Layer Breton always keeps his camera handy - and snaps anything he thinks is dangerous for cyclists.

John, who joined CCC back in 1989, by and large works independently of the campaign as he prefers his typewriter to e-mail.

However, it hasn't stopped him having several successes.

The first "win" was over these so-called ripple strips installed by Essex County Council in Bures (left-hand picture).

John said that they looked like coloured tarmac till you hit them - and he was lucky his tandem stayed in one piece.

These have now been removed by Essex County Council.

The council have also altered rumble strips in Bakers Lane, Colchester. These strips, designed to slow drivers, stretched the width of the road - but affected cyclists, too - notably the forks of John's tandem.

After a brief correspondence, the council has taken 30cm off each edge (right hand picture).

John said: "This does, at least, allow cyclists to pass through - but 90cm would have been better.

"Motorists would still have heard the rumble, and we would have been able to stay high in the road."

John's final beef is about rural roadworks, where cones are placed closing one lane for several hundred metres - and the work covers just a couple of manholes. He said: "They seem to be doing this for health and safety - but then phase the traffic lights so cyclists don't have enough time to get through."

John's most recent example of this was on the B1508, and he complained to Suffolk County Council.

:: After making fresh contact with CCC, we're all looking forward to John (and his snaps) being at the next NE Essex Cycling Forum in March.