There was quite a turnout of interested parties. In fact, if I’m to believe the gentleman next to me, about a third of all States Members were there at some time or other, which, as a States Member himself, he thought was very good.
Myself, I like cycling and I work in a cycle shop, so I’m quite keen to see more people cycling. Having got the blindingly obvious off my chest, because it’s probably what many of you are thinking anyway, I have to confess that I’m also somewhat of a sandal-wearing tree-hugging hippie, so I’m on the greener side of most environmental issues.
Having said that, I found the presentation and the actual document was well researched, well presented and extremely well balanced. There are numerous issues at stake, and I’d hope that most are governed by people’s circumstances rather than their personal agendas.
You can read the complete document, on line at www.gov.je/transporttechnicalservices/transport/STP.htm.
As this is a consultation document, and TTS are very anxious to get the general public’s feelings, there is also a questionnaire that one can fill in at www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=PQjXmtGqrCW6flS9rDkazA_3d_3d.
Whatever the result of the survey, and whatever action taken, we should be pleased that the States are looking at something that not only affects our immediate quality of life, but also has far reaching effects on our health, road safety and the cost of living.
Braking News
The lightest helmet yet?
Recently released at the Las Vegas Interbike show was Limar’s Pro 104 cycle helmet. Arguably the world’s lightest helmet – it says so on the side! This in-moulded helmet has 22 air vents, and despite retaining its mesh bug guard and a complete set of internal padding, it weighs only 180 grams depending on which version you go for. The American safety standard model is just over 200 grams.
The adjustment is made with a dial at the back. The Ultralight Pro 104 ia available in blue/white; red/white; carbon; white and silver. The Ultralight Pro MTB which has a peak comes in titanium; black; blue and red carbon. The helmet is expected to sell for about $200 in the U.S.A.
£3m investment for student cycling
In an effort to promote sustainable transport among Nottingham’s student population, £3M is to be spent on creating new cycle routes, cycle training and cycle hire facilities in and around the three university campuses. Nottingham City Council, in conjunction with Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity, hope that over the next two years these measures will encourage students and staff from Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University to consider walking or cycling as part of their everyday routine.
Joules – your favourite stoker
I don’t know how many of you have tried riding a tandem? The greatest problem is that both the pilot (that’s the rider at the front) and the stoker (that’s the one at the back) try to balance the tandem, with the result that the machine makes its way up the road in a series of drunken lurches. Once the stoker resists the natural urge to balance the bike, riding becomes second nature, at least to the rider in the front!
An inventor in America has just developed the ideal tandem partner, Joules – a robot that sits motionless on the rear seat and only moves his legs.
The designer was challenged by his son, a former pro cycle rider, to produce an electric tandem that used the normal human pedalling action and which could cope with the steep hills in the area. At a quick glance Joules appears to use the same simple mechanics seen in a steam locomotive, albeit in a most graceful way, and he seems to do all the work. www.treehugger.com
And Finally,
Du Monde Tech, a company that produces chain lubricants, is working on a scented, bio-degradable, plant-based lubricant. This new product, which is still in development stage, will be called Bio Pink. At present the jury’s out on what it will smell of, at present butterscotch, lavender, cherry and coconut are all in the running.
• Arthur Lamy is the manager of Boudins for Bikes, in Sand Street, and author of Jersey Cycles. He has spent 15 years as a tourist guide and writer, and is also a keen photographer. More information can be found on his website: www.arthurlamy.com
