Or did you use the bus? From my vantage point in the Royal Square there appeared to be a lot of cyclists about, but I suspect that most were regular riders who were passing through and showing some support for Green Travel.
Despite this, the bike shops reported that passersby were interested in what they had on show, and the Road Safety Officer and the Environmental Awareness Officer appeared busy too. In fact, one could go home armed with an HSBC goody bag which contained an umbrella, a pedometer and other useful stuff; a fluorescent bib and an Eco-Active Travel Toolkit from the Environment Department; reflective bands from the Road safety Officer and masses of literature from Jersey Tourism and TTS, and free coffee from The Coffee Cart and Big Maggys!
The event took place on European Car-Free Day, but if anything much happened in Europe, it seemed to be a well-kept secret in most areas of Britain. Judging by recent events, the best way to get more people on their bikes is to cause some massive upheaval to the transport system, like a Tube strike. Unfortunately this isn’t an option that exists here, so why not a Green Travel Day every week in place of the ubiquitous Dress-Down days?
Sprint Bonuses
- It begs the question, do you go after an established Guinness World Record, or do you pick up on a random opening among the existing records? Well it would seem that Michael Thompson, of Norfolk, is taking the latter route, he is building a wooden bicycle for a local triathlete to use in a record attempt to be the fastest bicycle made of wood.
See the ultimate in green transport: www.splinterbike.co.uk
- Boneshaker magazine issue 2 is out now. It is produced by the Bristol Bike Project who repair and recycle old bikes to give to the underprivileged in Bristol.
Get a copy here:
http://www.sustransshop.co.uk/products/5753-boneshaker-magazine?dm_i=6EB,8YF0,O4IUH,NGNV,1
- Have you ever found it difficult to cycle and hold a conversation at the same time? The difficulty of riding side by side and looking where you’re going can be just too much and that’s before you get out of breath. Here is the answer, a bike that seats seven in a circle, and which has just gone from John OGroats to Lands End and has raised over £ 33,000 for Cancer Research.
See the bike: http://www.cobiuk.com/the_conference_bike.html
See the finish: http://www.cobiuk.com/
- Given the huge number of Barclay’s Hire Bikes in London, it is quite amazing that only five have been stolen. Aside from Mayor Boris’ jibes about ‘ Light-fingered Parisians’ , Paris Velib bike hire scheme has had 8000 bikes disappear since it started, it seems likely that the prospect of a £300 fine is the greatest incentive to making sure that bikes are securely parked after use.
- Team Sky has made three new signings for next year. Two of the riders, who should boost the team’s rankings in mountain stages, are Rigoberto Uran and Xabier Zandio, both from the Caisse d’Espargne team. Englishman Alex Dowsett makes up the trio. http://www.teamsky.com/
- Want to do something for charity? Well Bradley Wiggin’s Pinarello Dogma is up for auction on Going Going Bike. The bike and other team kit, together with replica kit, is being auctioned off with all proceeds going to the Sky Rainforest Rescue. Get your credit cards out: http://www.goinggoingbike.com/TeamSkyRainforestRescue/
- Tired of cleaning and oiling your chain? Got one leg weaker than the other? Fed up with bending derailleurs? Have a look at this: http://www.stringbike.com/
And Finally
Do you remember Shweeb? This is a human-powered monorail that originated in New Zealand, and which has just been granted $ 1 million from Google.org to fund research and development, with an eye to using the system for urban transport.
Arthur Lamy is a freelance writer and Blue Badge accredited tourist guide: www.cycleinjersey.com
