Derby Cycling Group Newsletter, September 2005
 (http://www.derbycyclinggroup.org.uk)

Cycle Progress Meeting (CPM) July 2005
The full minutes of this meeting are accessible at:  http://www.derbycyclinggroup.org.uk/documents/cpm_minutes/CPM_minutes_July_2005.doc.  Below is a summary of the main points discussed with Derby City Council. 

Discussions are still on going with the Derby Evening Telegraph towards the construction of a dropped kerb and other cycle friendly measures outside their office in Meadow Road.  The absence of cycle friendly infrastructure along this important  section of  the National Cycle Network has long been a frustration to cyclists but the DCG in conjunction with Derby City Council is still working on it.  Watch this space for further developments.

An orbital cycle route round Derby City is being planned as a co-operative scheme between Derby City Council, Sustrans and the Derby Cycling Group.  See article below. 

The DCG brought it to the attention of the City Council that at a number of locations around the city  dropped kerbs were not sufficiently flush/proud with the adjoining road surface.  While not presenting a problem to a mountain bike with suspension, they still inconvenience   traditional bicycles.  DCG will supply list of locations and press for remedial action.

Finally, consultation letters on permitting out of hours cycling in St Peters Street/Iron Gate pedestrian zone had already been distributed by the City Council.  The process has therefore begun to deal with a long standing bone of contention for Derby cyclists.

Re-cycling cycles for Africa
The DCG often receives requests for how unwanted bicycles can be donated to charitable concerns rather than just being disposed of in rubbish skips.  A few years ago we tried to set up a scheme, in conjunction with an organisation called simply 'Re-cycle' (see http://www.re-cycle.org)  for sending unwanted bicycles and spare parts out to sub-Saharan Africa where there is a huge demand for them.  Our attempt foundered on the grounds that we could not, at the time, obtain a site large enough to give access to a container  and neither could we find enough volunteers to run the scheme.  However, the supply of unwanted bicycles is still with us as is the demand for them in Africa.  It may be time to try again.

Recent enquiries with Re-cycle have revealed that the setting up of  a containerised collection point here in Derby might be very difficult in terms of funding for the costs involved. However, Re-cycle, who are based in Colchester, would be very pleased to receive any bicycles at their collection point.  What is needed is to find a practical and economic way of getting bicycles to Colchester.  Does anybody know of  any  haulage contractor who plies  regularly between Derby and Colchester and who might have spare capacity we could use?  We might still need to establish a small collection point (a vacant garage?) somewhere in Derby for people to bring their unwanted bicycles to.  If you have any ideas or feel you could help please contact John Stubbs (chair@derbycyclinggroup.org.uk).

Local Transport Plan for Derby, 2006-2011
Derby City Council has now produced its provisional Local Transport Plan (LTP) for the period 2006-2011. It also contains the strategic vision for transport development in Derby to the year 2021.  The Council are currently embarking on a programme of public consultation. Exhibitions to illustrate the contents of the LTP have been arranged for:
Saturday 8th October, Wyvern Retail Park by Mothercare
Monday 10th October, Kingsway Retail Park by Sainsbury's
Tuesday 11th October, Shopping Parade, Nottingham Road, Chaddesden
Thursday 13th October, Sinfin District Centre by ASDA
Friday 14th October, St Peter's Street, City Centre by the church
Saturday 15th October, St Peter's Street, City Centre by the church
Monday 17th October,  The Meteor Centre by Morrison's
Tuesday 18th October, Park Farm Centre car park, Allestree
Thursday 20th October, Littleover District Centre by Kwik Save
Friday 21st October, Stenson Road, Cavendish by Somerfield
They are open 10am-6pm except on Saturdays when they will close at 4pm.  For more details telephone: 01332 716102.  Do take every opportunity to go to one and comment on the provisional LTP.  Only by doing this can we ensure that cycling and sustainable transport feature as prominently  as possible in the final draft which has to be lodged with the Department for Transport by March 2006.  Meanwhile the provisional LTP is accessible at:
http://www.derby.gov.uk/TransportStreets/TransportPlanning/DerbyJLTP/Derby+Joint+Local+Transport+Plan+2006-2011.htm. The LTP is rather long but there is an executive summary!

An Orbital Cycle Route for Derby
As part of their  Safe Routes to School project (see http://www.saferoutestoschools.org.uk/index.php), Sustrans has proposed an orbital cycle route for Derby.  In addition to linking schools, it is intended that the proposed route might also link different suburban shopping centres together and further enhance the accessibility and utility of  the city's cycle route network.  The proposed  route was first ridden on the 3rd  August 2005 by a group of cyclists from Sustrans and the Derby Cycling Group for assessment of its safety and feasibility.  Overall the group was very favourably impressed by the proposed route and a report has been forwarded to Sustrans for discussion with Derby City Council.   Alan Locke's full report  is accessible at:
http://www.derbycyclinggroup.org.uk/documents/campaign_docs/Derby_Orbital_Cycle_Route.doc 

Join the Derby Cycling Group: 
Please support us in the work we do by joining us. Just click on the Join Us link on the homepage of,  www.derbycyclinggroup.org.uk, to download an application form.

Contact the Derby Cycling Group:
Monthly meetings: 1st Monday of every month, 19.30 (7.30pm) at The Brunswick Inn, Railway Terrace, Derby DE1 2RU.  Everyone Welcome. Contact  John Stubbs (contact details below) for further information.
Chair and Media Officer: John Stubbs, 65 Otter Street, Derby DE1 3FD. Tel 01332 345942. Email: chair@derbycyclingroup.org.uk 
Secretary (Membership): Barbara Rathbone, 5 Regency Close, Littleover, Derby DE23 1TR. Tel 01332 273532. Email: membership@derbycyclinggroup.org.uk 
Treasurer: John Palmer, 1 Dovedale Rise, Allestree DE22 2RF. Tel: 01332 559100. Email: treasurer@derbycyclinggroup.org.uk.
Webmaster: Alastair Johnson. Email: webmaster@derbycyclinggroup.org.uk