Campaigns

Swansea Cycle Challenge
This is an initiative to get people on bikes. It will be based on last year's Cardiff Cycle Challenge. All being well it will take place during the first three weeks in June ending in Bike Week (16-24 June 2012).
The Challenge will take the form of a competition between organisations to encourage them to get their employees cycling. A central feature is to get people cycling for ten minutes. Prizes are offered in different categories for the organisations who get most people doing this.
The group Challenge for Change has provided these Challenges across the UK and beyond. They organised the Cardiff Challenge and will ours. A bespoke website will be set up on which participants will register. A link to it will be provided from here.
A significant sum of money is needed to cover the costs involved: promotion, setting up the website, employing someone to process the data, etc. We are applying for Government money to be topped up by additional funding from businesses. Details are given in item 3 of the notes of our 23 January meeting. The two page document Workplace Cycle Challenges 2012 provides information for potential sponsors and also gives a clear picture what the challenge is all about. If our application is successful work on the Challenge will start on 1 April. If you are in employment you can help by passing the word round to colleagues.

1 in 10 Campaign
This is a Wheelrights initiative to get key people to commit to cycling to work at least once a fortnight and thereby set an example to others to do likewise. It naturally follows on from the Swansea Cycling Challenge so we plan to launch it in Bike Week.

Wheelrights Manifesto
With the local elections coming up in May 2012 we have drafted a Manifesto. It takes the form of a letter to send to candidates. This invites them to pledge their support to the following four objectives:

1. Develop more cycle routes so that the estimated third of Swansea's population who live within half a mile of a dedicated cycle route is increased to a half.
2. Ensure that new cycle routes, both on and off road, meet strict quality and safety criteria. And update existing routes where they do not meet these criteria.
3. Extend the existing policy of 20 mph zones in residential areas so that where possible these can link destinations – in particular schools. Integrate this with the development of safe routes to schools, universities and colleges, and places of work.
4. Promote cycle training in particular for school children but also adults.

Bike Week Events
Two events organised by Wheelrights in the June 2011 Bike Week are of particular note.

Mass cycle ride

Passing motorists could read this.

Some 25 cyclists assembled at Blackpill on 18 June for a mass ride through Swansea City Centre to sell the idea of the bicycle as an alternative to the car, and to highlight the other benefits of cycling: health, fun, etc. We were pleased that Byron Davies, the local Conservative AM and shadow Transport Minister joined the ride and said a few words of encouragement when we reached Castle Square. The pelaton is heading east on Mumbles Road.

Six different types of "commuter" set off at 8.15am precisely on 22 June from the car park near the Commercial in Gowerton to travel to Castle Square. Three were on bicycles, one on a kick-bike, one each travelling by car, bus and train, and two on foot - runners. The object was to compare the times taken. The event was great success. The sun shone. Geoff and Veronica Wood were in Castle Square to check the challengers in and record their times. An Evening Post photographer was there together with Chris Peregrine of that newspaper who interviewed the challengers and produced a comprehensive report of the event in the 24 June edition.

Claudine Conway (cyclist) Rob Wachowski (kick bike) Alison Sandy (cyclist) Mark Roberts (runner) David Naylor (cyclist) Nick Guy (car) Chris Allton (runner) Colin Fielder (train) Mike Lewis (bus)

23 min. 25 min. 27 min. 31 min. 31 min. 34 min. 37 min. 37 min. 40 min.

A shared path code
Wheelrights, in collaboration with Swansea's Cycling Officer, have prepared a sort of mini-highway code to encourage cyclists, pedestrians and other users of the Swansea Bay path to respect each other. It is particularly aimed at kids and uses as a theme the old Mumbles steam train on which a boy with a bell warned pedestrians of the approach of the train. The code is in the form of an A5 poster with a picture of the train and a poem on one side with the code on the back. To view/download it click Shared path code. It is intended for distribution at appropriate events. Copies can be obtained from the Cycling Officer. Enquire at the Civic Centre.

Change4Life
Change4Life provides information about this National organisation which should be of interest to Wheelrights members and indeed to anybody seeking advice on how to benefit from a more active life style. Of particular interest to us is Bike4Life. This is a colourful 16 page downloadable document which provides a wealth of information to help you get cycling, including useful links.

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Page updated on 27 January 2012.