DaExeterNews201307

CTC Exeter - Newsletter - July 2013

Roy Russell & Kirby James

CTC Exeter

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Local News

CTC's Road Justice Campaign

CTC has mounted a 'Road Justice Campaign' with an initial report recommending improvements to the police response to road crime so that cases of bad driving are taken seriously.

On 11 July Peter Stone from the CTC met the Police and Crime Commissioner, Tony Hogg to hand over the report and discuss its recommendations. Peter's experience formed one of the case studies included in the report. He was accompanied by a dozen members of Exeter CTC who were keen to discuss how to improve conditions for cycling.

Further details can be found through the following links:

If you haven't done so already, please sign the petition at www.roadjustice.org.uk/police-petition

Otter Trail

Residents in the Otter Valley are getting together to support a campaign for an off-road route from Feniton to Ottery St Mary and onto Tipton St John and Sidmouth.

The precise route will be subject to negotiation but it is hoped that it will be able to follow much of the old railway line - parts of which are already designated as bridleways or footpaths.

If you would like to support this campaign please add your name to their petition which is accessible on the front page of their web site - ottertrail.org

Road Junctions on NCN2 in Exton

Following a collision between a cyclist and a car at a junction in Exton the cyclist has been ordered to pay £2,500 in damages.

Meanwhile at another junction in Exton the priorites have been changed in favour of cyclists on NCN2. Originally cyclists travelling south down Green Lane had to give way to vehicles on Exton Lane at a point where it executes a right angle turn.

Tour of Britain

The Tour of Britain is returning to Devon on Friday 20 September, with Stage 6 starting in Sidmouth and passing through Exeter on the way to the stage finish at Haytor. Full details of estimated timings are now available at www.devontourofbritain.co.uk

Feature	Place to watch	ETA
Start	The Esplanade, Sidmouth	11:00
Sprint	Outside Blundell’s School, Tiverton	12:09
K.O.M	Pennsylvania Road, Exeter (Category 2)	12:40
Sprint	Exeter High Street	12:44
K.O.M	Mamhead (Category 2)	13:15
Sprint	Chudleigh	13:30
K.O.M	Six Mile Hill, Dartmoor (Category 2)	14:02
K.O.M & Finish	Haytor, Dartmoor	14:30

Tour de Manche

Cycle West have officially opened the Tour de Manche. As part of the celebrations a baguette was carried around the route, visiting tourist and other locations en-route.

Graham Heysett of Sustrans carried the baguette on the Axminster to Exeter section - and took the opportunity to pop into the Ride On charity's workshop in Exeter for some running repairs.

Don Quixote

If you missed them when they visited Exeter last year, then you have another chance to see avant-garde theatre company Burn the Curtain performance of their play The Adventures of Don Quixote by Bicycle.

The promenade style play will take place in the beautiful landscape of the clay trails overlooking St Austell Bay, where both the actors and the audience travel on bike as the story unfolds.

Click here for further details

Pedal On UK

Event to celebrate the launch of the Newton Abbot to Bristol stage of Pedal On UK

Enjoy some breakfast and say farewell to the riders

Date: Saturday 24 August 2013 Time: 09.00 Location: Old Forde House, Brunel Road, Newton Abbot, TQ12 4XX

Pedal On UK is celebrating 84 new walking and cycling networks completed by Sustrans, extending the National Cycle Network deep into communities around the UK, helping people of all ages and all abilities to get about on foot or by bike.

At the heart of Pedal On UK is a bike ride of Sustrans volunteers and Games Makers. Delivered by Sustrans and backed by the Big Lottery Fund’s Keeping the Spirit of 2012 Alive campaign, the Pedal On UK riders will carry the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to 37 communities by cycling along National Cycle Network routes between London and Glasgow over 23 days.

Pedal On UK will also feature a series of community events along the route where people can take part in fun activities and learn more about the benefits of travelling by bike or foot.

Racers told to keep off traffic-free paths

Cyclists tempted to emulate their Tour de France heroes by racing on shared-use paths have been issued a warning by Sustrans, who want traffic-free paths to be safe and accessible for everyone. CTC has also supported the call for cyclists to slow down.

Sustrans has called for apps like Strava, which encourage cyclists to virtually race each other, to highlight when routes are being inappropriately recommended for racing.

Devon County Council have also contacted Strava to request the Exe Estuary Trail be removed from the app.

Off road cycle hubs

A new cycle hire centre has opened at Tamar Lakes Country Park near Bude. Not to be confused with the new Tamar Trails Centre near Tavistock which opened at Easter, with a cafe and 25km of mountain bike trails.

Three new cycle trails have been opened at Wimbleball Lake, on Exmoor.

Work is underway at Lanhydrock, near Bodmin, on a new cycle hub and trails which should be open by the end of the year. Nearby a new cycle trail has been opened at Cardinham Woods.

Work continues on the proposed Plymbridge Woods trail which should be open by the end of the summer.

New Sustrans Manager

Paul Hawkins

Peter Grainger has retired after 12 years as Sustrans Area Manager for Devon & Torbay.

Paul Hawkins has taken over the post. Paul was previously the Project Manager for 1 South West.

Exe Estuary Trail

Work is progressing well on the new bridge over the Clyst at Topsham, next to the railway. The main bridge span is due to be floated into position in August and all works will be completed by end of September to minimise disturbance to wildlife.

Negotiations continue with landowners, for the Powderham Railway Bridge. Preliminary works are scheduled to start this year and complete next summer.

A new route is planned from A La Ronde through National Trust land at Lower Halsdon Farm to the Exe Estuary Trail.

Dawlish Cycle Facility

A new shared use path has been opened alongside the Shutterton Brook in Dawlish (shown in blue dots on the map).

This gives an alternative route into Dawlish from the Exeter direction - although as the signs point out - it is designed to flood!

Improvements to NCN 2 alongside A 3052 at Salcombe Regis

In the east a short section of path has been constructed alongside the A 3052 between Salcombe Regis and the turn off for the Donkey Sanctuary (shown in blue dots).

This means that users of NCN 2 no longer have to join the main road and execute a right turn in fast moving traffic.

Offers from Devon County Council

Devon County Council are offering Free Cycle Training for adults. Please note you will need to wear a helmet, which is contrary to CTC policy against compulsion.

Devon County Council are unable to explain their requirement for helmets and are proposing to commission Plymouth University to undertake research into literature on the subject.

Outlet News

Dartmoor Electric Bikes

A new business has been set up near Ashburton offering outings on Dartmoor using electric bikes.

Dartmoor Electric Bikes offer both half-day and full day trips from a range of starting points and their rides can be combined with guided walks to make the most of an outing on the Moor.

Additionally the Park Authority is establishing a number of charging points for both bikes and cars.

Exeplore Limited

Exeplore are operating a Bike Bus transporting up to 20 bicycles at once. (Not to be confused with the world famous CTC Bike Bus)

National News

Prudential RideLondon

CTC members from Devon will be part of more than 50,000 cyclists taking part in FreeCycle next Saturday in central London. 8 miles of roads will be traffic-free past many of the capital’s world-famous landmarks, from Buckingham Palace in the west to the Tower of London in the east via the Houses of Parliament and St Paul’s.

On Sunday 20,000 cyclists will follow the 100 mile course of the Olympic Road Race from London to Box Hill in Surrey.

Cycle Digest

CTC publish a monthly round up of campaigning news: Cycle Digest July 2013 This month there is news of the "Get Britain Cycling" debate in Parliament on 2 September and details of proposed changes to lorry design.