Author: Wilf

I'm a retired ex-IT guy who loves cycling and thinks more people cycling would help them and the planet.
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Beat the traffic – ride to school or work!

This is the article we submitted for the September edition of the Hayling Islander. The published article was subject to editing by the Islander.

Thanks to all the Cycle Hayling supporters and newbies who braved the strong winds for our social ride on the evening Friday 19th August. We started and finished at the Olive Leaf, as the wind was too strong to make it to the Ferry Boat. A great chance to meet up and chat, and welcome our new supporters.

Autumn can be a great time to cycle – it’s a bit cooler for a start. If you’ve ridden your bike this summer, keep on pedaling – it’s a great way to keep in shape and get fresh air. Here are some ideas to fit cycling into your busy schedule.

Continue reading “Beat the traffic – ride to school or work!”

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A great social ride around East Hayling

Thanks to all those 18 or so hardy souls who braved the wind to ride around East Hayling last Friday, on our first social ride of 2017. And especially to our 7 new supporters, and the people who brought them along! It was great to meet you all.

I’m sorry we didn’t make it all the way along to the Ferry Boat Inn, but the wind really was a bit violent for social riding, so we went back to the Olive Leaf for a drink and a chat.

I’ve uploaded a few pictures to https://flic.kr/s/aHsm1xnhL9, just to prove it really was sunny, and quite warm, even in the wind.

Several people said we should do it more often, so maybe in the autumn ….

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Cycle Hayling in the Hayling Islander free newspaper

You may have seen Cycle Hayling’s monthly column in the Hayling Islander free newspaper. We’ve been doing it since October 2016. If you didn’t see the originals in the paper, here’s our back catalogue. They’re as published – I’m afraid they do edit and cut our copy to fit space available and their editorial preferences, but hey, it’s still good exposure for cycling.
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Cycling shifts up a gear at Havant Borough Council

Cycling infrastructure shifts up a gear at Havant Borough Council, where a pro-cycling islander, Councillor Tim Pike, has been appointed as Cabinet Lead for Strategic Innovation, Infrastructure and Projects. This is a new role, reflecting the council’s growing realisation that our infrastructure needs a massive boost.

Although a councillor for St Faith’s ward, Tim has always lived on Hayling, and is very aware of the challenges we islanders face. He also knows that cycling must play a key role in fixing the transport and infrastructure problems caused by all the past house building (whether or not the new developments go ahead). When we asked Tim whether a particular project would be ‘cycle-friendly’, he said “all projects have to be cycle-friendly these days!”.

Members of Cycle Hayling have met Tim three times recently to lobby for our programme of cycling infrastructure improvements, so we know he’s actively working with council officers to push through some of them. We’re going to see big cycling improvements during 2017, both on the island and in Langstone and Havant, much of it funded by the controversial Bellway development north of Goldring Close through the Community Infrastructure Levy.

So Cycle Hayling congratulates Tim on his appointment, and looks forward to working with him to make Hayling a happier, healthier and more cycle-friendly island.

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Pictures from our social ride round the island

Some of us at the Cycle Hayling signboard at the bridge

Thanks to everyone who enjoyed yesterday’s beautiful evening for our social ride around the island. I’ve uploaded a few more pictures to Google at https://goo.gl/photos/9Lktb4V5UoGr73Wu9. Several of you took more – please let us have them to add to the site.

I hope everyone found it interesting, and discovered at least one new place to cycle. We passed plenty of places that badly need better cycle paths. Rest assured that we’ll be working with Havant Borough Council to ensure they spend the Bellway Homes Community Infrastructure Levy on them. Please lobby your councillors! If you have ideas, or think you can help, please post on the site or give us feedback.

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Join Cycle Hayling next Tuesday for a leisurely ride to celebrate cycling on Hayling

Please join the Cycle Hayling committee next Tuesday (30-August-16) for a leisurely ride to celebrate cycling on Hayling, and explore some recent and possible future cycle routes.

We’ve seen a lot of progress, especially in Havant and Emsworth, but there’s plenty more to do on Hayling, and we hope to get some funding soon from the Community Infrastructure Levy on the Bellway Development at Goldring Close/Beech Grove.

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Father’s Day family outing and charity ride on Hayling

A good chance to encourage young cyclists when Havant Rotary organise a Father’s Day family outing and charity ride, on Sunday, June 19th, 2016. It starts from Northney Farm Field (opposite the Tea Rooms), then south down the Billy Trail to the beach, and back again for a barbecue and bouncy castle. If you know any children or grandchildren, it’s a great way to get them riding – or adults, come to that. And prostate cancer is a very appropriate charity for Father’s Day.

Riders set off after registering and collecting their free T-Shirt at Northney Farm Field from 10 am. At the end of the ride there is a BBQ and activities back at the field. Alternatively, you can picnic if you wish to bring your own food.

Find out the answers to our quiz! No racing is involved so you have time to enjoy the ride and at the same time be sponsored to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK and Havant Rotary‘s local Charities, or you can choose to donate your sponsorship money to your own charity.

This is a fun day for families who want to have an enjoyable day out with their children and bikes. The 12 mile ride should take about 2 hours at a family-friendly pace (but you can turn round at any point along the way if it’s too difficult!). Why not get your wider family and friends to join in and make a real day of it?

Entry is only £12.50 for one adult and a child (under 18) and includes a free T-shirt. Additional children are £2.50 each to cover the cost of the T-shirt. When you complete the entry form don’t forget to let us know the sizes of T-shirt you need!

Fuller details are on the Rotary website at events.havantrotary.org.uk or on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/502724423247667/

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30 mph speed limit proposed

Hampshire County Council is proposing a speed limit reduction from 40 to 30mph on the main A3023, between New Cut and Mill Rythe roundabout.

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