Dear <<First Name>> 

It's confirmed – the East Hill cycleways and the St Botolph's roundabout regeneration will both be going ahead.

The campaign had been wondering whether Reform would take a different course after it won control at County Hall in May. 

Reform UK's national policy can sometimes appear sceptical about active travel (walking and cycling) but we are pleased to see that Reform councils appear to be making their own rules.

So far, the new Essex administration seems remarkably positive about cycling. Dean Dasley, the member for Colchester St John's, approached us and said: "I have already inquired about the need to connect schools, businesses and have end-to-end cycle routes that enable cyclists to complete journeys using designated safe pathways." 

For details on the two schemes, see:

Essex county council said that work on both Colchester schemes should be visible soon. It added: "We are not aware of any schemes in Colchester being reviewed or paused."

Bruff Close to the Albert is also going ahead and diversions looked to be in place at the bottom of Mile End Road as CCC News went to press. 

The scheme will build on the short section of cycleway under North Station bridge. New two-way cycleways will link Mile End Road and the Northern Approach to the North Station roundabout. The new route continues behind the North Station bus stops and crosses Clarendon Way before meeting up with the new crossings at the Albert roundabout. More detail in the next issue!

The guest speaker at last month's online Bike Meet was Nick Warren, who coordinates the Colchester rangers for the Walk Wheel and Cycle Trust, the charity formerly known as Sustrans.

Nick presented a slide show of the trust's work locally, which involves looking after signing and cutting back vegetation on the National Cycle Network. The NCN locally is shown on the map below. The Harwich link is dotted because it is suspended from the network at present.

Anyone who would like to find out more about the WWCT nationally can visit https://www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk If you would like to report issues about the NCN near Colchester, please email Nick.

Finally Nick rode 300 miles last month for Prostate Cancer Research. If you'd like to donate you can find his fundraiser here:  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nick1779347039625

The first section of the A1331, the road being built to serve the East Colchester Garden Community (aka Great Elmstead?), is now open to cyclists and cars. 

From the A133 between the university and Elmstead Market, turn north at the roundabout on to the cycleway beside the new road, then take a left on the next roundabout to join Tye Road and the back lanes towards Crockleford Heath and Bromley. Enjoy the countryside while it's still there!

The campaign's Lee Pugh, the founder of eCargo Colchester, praised the quality of the cycle lanes, above. He said: "These are the most #dutchcycling style and feel cycle paths (and walking space) we have ever seen anywhere around Colchester!" 

This is your chance to help fund the campaign. Thanks to Bob for a generous three coffees last month.

One problem with Dott hire bikes is the lack of parking on Colchester railway station forecourt – instead more than four dozen bikes are  clustered next to the Boudicca roundabout. However, a little bird tells us this may soon be solved and to expect an announcement by the autumn.

Meanwhile Dott has created an email address for anyone wanting to make suggestions, request an expansion in the area of operation or simply complain. It's colchester-parking@ridedott.com. Please spread the word on social media.

Will Bramhill, the campaign chair, recently spoke to a cyclist using the new bike store outside the Dame Clare Marx building at the general hospital. Will says he'd like to find out more about how well the cycle shelter is working. He has asked that the cyclist call him on 07758 464 958 to continue the conversation.

Mike Polom writes: I'm creating a cycle touring lap of Essex which I hope to get through as a tourist route similar to the Rebellion Way in Norfolk and Wolf Way in Suffolk. I've been working on it for a couple of years and would appreciate  feedback. To see it in more detail https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55311452. 

Mike can be emailed at michaelpolom@gmail.com

Colchester Cycling Campaign uses Email Octopus to create this newsletter. If you would like to do the same for your organisation please use this link https://emailoctopus.com/?urli=XN4MS. The campaign and the new group each get a "new joiner" benefit of 15 USD (about £12). 

Essex University is carrying out research into cyclists' fitness which involves two training sessions under laboratory conditions. You need to be a competitive cyclist aged 18-50 to take part. Details here:

Essex GP Elmer van der Hoek and Priyanka are inviting campaign members to join them for some or all of their ride from London to Paris on July 24-30. 

You don't have to ride the whole distance between the capitals – you can pedal as much or as little as you like, in England or in France. 

The event is part of the relay Cop31 Bike Ride to Antalya, Turkey, where the latest UN conference of the parties about climate change is being held. 

Elmer says: "Taking part is free and you can join or leave at any stage along the route.The ride aims to raise awareness about the climate emergency and promote cycling as a form of climate action.

"If you would like to join us, please register asap so we can book camping places and the ferry. Hope to see you soon."

You can contact Elmer at elmervanderhoek@hotmail.com

They'd probably be among the best in the world.

Report highways issues, including potholes, failed traffic signals and overgrowth to Essex Highways here: https://www.essexhighways.org/tell-us

Remember to keep the record number of your complaint. If you record lots of issues it may be worth starting a personal spreadsheet giving details of location, reference number, dates and results. 

Neil Allen, a veteran campaign member, is still fighting over roadworks at the junction of Berechurch Hall Road and Bounstead Road. 

Essex has put in place a traffic improvement scheme but Neil says this has made matters worse for cyclists who are being forced into extended right-hand turns rather than having a clear view and being able to cut straight across.

With the help of councillors Martyn Warnes and Dave Harris, Neil has aired his concern to Essex highways officers. He says: "My research shows that a local authority simply cannot ignore a newly reported safety hazard on a recently implemented scheme."

We'll keep you in touch with Neil's progress.

Our next Bike Meet will be at 8pm on Tuesday July 21. We'll post details of whether it's an in-person or an online meeting nearer the time.

Anne Jones, above, went to see her doctor after being struck down by Lyme disease. He told her to stay active and perhaps go cycling. In the past two years, the 84-year-old has tackled Mont Ventoux, the Col du Tourmalet, and Alpe d’Huez, three of the most gruelling climbs on the Tour de France.

There are no cyclists in these pictures but they reflect a long-term ambition of the cycling campaign. This is the bridge that was put in place by the army to connect Wivenhoe and Rowhedge over the Colne. It opened in 1916 with a "notice to mariners" to lower sails.

We are unsure how long the bridge lasted — it certainly isn't on the Ordnance Survey map of 1919-23. We believe the nascent SAS built a similar bridge in 1943 when the regiment was based at Wivenhoe Park, now the University of Essex.

Can you imagine the convenience of having a cycle/footbridge between the two communities today?

• Last month we featured a cyclists' parade. Jo Edwards of Colchester Civic Society believes the men are possibly ex-servicemen from the 8th Cyclist Battalion (Essex Regiment) laying a wreath at the new war memorial. "If this is the case it would be after 1923 when the memorial was completed," says Jo.

If you saw someone running after a bus and your cargo bike's load tray was empty what would you do? For this cyclist, there was only one answer:

Brent Toderian writes on Bluesky: "This video camera study showed that less than 5% of people on bikes broke traffic laws while riding bikes, yet 66% of people did so while driving. "

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2019/05/10/cyclists-break-far-fewer-road-rules-than-motorists-finds-new-video-study/

There's also this: SUV drivers don’t care about danger posed to cyclists and pedestrians, new study finds

https://road.cc/news/suv-drivers-dont-care-about-danger-posed-to-cyclists-and-pedestrians-new-study-finds

Sally King, EPP team leader, writes: Now that Essex Pedal Power has handed out 1,000 bikes – 900 of them in Greenstead, Colchester – the charity is focusing on rides and maintenance to improve activity levels, health and wellbeing.

 

Already we have run a "test and learn" bike bus, beginner rides at Abbey Field and  social rides. We bring people together and raise our heart rates along the way. We pedal, we chat, we stop for a coffee – we connect.

 

Rides this month include: 

 

July 3, Cook 'n' Cycle – creating a picnic and riding to Castle Park to eat it. Meet at Unity House CO4 3QJ at 10am. Bikes can be borrowed. Booking essential (link above)

July 12, Big Ride Out – Ride leader Lily and mechanic Alex will be pedalling 84 miles from Basildon to Harwich with local Essex Pedal Power teams joining them en route. Everyone is welcome to ride the Colchester section from Greenstead to Wivenhoe and back. Booking essential

 

July 15 – A ride for adults around Alton Water. Bikes will be taken in a van with car share on offer from Greenstead. Bring a picnic. 07842 422047 

 

Every Tuesday 9.30-12.30 – Alex's Bike Kitchen repair workshop at Unity House, CO4 3QJ. 07842 422047 

 

EPP is also running events at the new Wheels for All hub at Old Heath, to include learn to ride sessions and social rides.

Finally we still have a long waiting list of people who want a bike – we welcome donations of secondhand bikes that can be refurbished by our mechanics.

Colchester Cycling Campaign recommends both Cycling For Pleasure and Happy Handlebars. Both clubs run events for people of different abilities. 

Cycling for Pleasure: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1594722180845186

Happy Handlebars: https://www.facebook.com/HappyHandlebarsColch

Other clubs and local routes to try: https://www.colchester-cycling.org.uk/maps-rides-clubs.html 

Colchester Cycling Campaign has lots of LOCAL cycling advice on its website. If you have a question, make our advice page your first port of call.

Visit https://www.colchester-cycling.org.uk/advice.html

Chairman: Will Bramhill
Secretary: Chris Stevenson
Treasurer: Catherine Johnson
Your committee: Alex Hooper, Stuart Johnson, Jean Quinn, Nathaniel Catchpole, Alan Spence, Kristin Bradley and Paul Byrne