Today I went unexpectedly to the Chelmsford Diocesan environment conference. I did not intend to go, but owing to various circumstances I ended up there. It is a not-that-long but not-that-interesting story, so I will not tell it. And very good the conference was too. For me the need to take action on environmental and justice issues rather put yesterday’s discussions into perspective. Hence my hastily scribbled list, which is not intended to be accurate, or correct, or good.

Of course it is easy to get overwhelmed by the pressing needs of our planet. One of the conference speakers, when faced with the question ‘But what can we actually do?’ replied by saying ‘Do what you do’. In other words, do the thing you normally do in life, but do it in such a way that will help the world to operate sustainably and will help to get the message about environmental issues out there and will generally do as much good as possible. For this reason I will continue to do a few drawings and rambly blog posts, but I am going to try to address environmental issues a bit more often.

I have decided to take a small bit of additional action in one particular area though. I think we should have some cycle racks at our church, so I am going to see whether I can, by asking the right people, make some cycle racks happen at our church. I think having cycle racks at church would mean that more people might cycle there, which would be a good thing. If anyone reading has experience of commissioning cycle racks for a church then I would like to hear from you. Alternatively you might know a church with really really good cycle racks and you might know how they got them. I talked to a man from Sustrans, and he said that Sheffield Cycle Racks are the best ones. I don’t know whether there are special people who install such things or whether you get a builder to do it or mix your own concrete using a home made recipe. I am so clueless on the subject you would hardly believe it. My ignorance is plain for all to see.

Greetings to Paul, who I met at the conference, though I knew him from the internet. Paul offered me his garden for my occasional cartooning purposes, which was a very kind gesture.

Posted by Dave at 11:59 pm on June 23, 2007 and filed under Cycling, Environment, Justice, Religion.

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The government here in the UK is revising the Highway Code. The Highway Code, for those who don’t know, is the booklet which tells you how to behave on the roads in the UK. It always used to look a bit like the famous evangelistic booklet ‘Journey into Life’, but was more expensive. There is a test on the Highway Code when you take your driving test in the UK (Many Evangelical Churches conduct a test on ‘Journey into Life’ before you are allowed to join the coffee rota, but I digress).

Anyway, the serious bit. The plans for the new Highway Code will be very bad for cyclists. Among the problems with the proposed changes is the fact that cyclists will be forced to stick to the cycle lanes and paths rather than the road. This is a bad thing for all sorts of reasons – the CTC, the Times and the Guardian explain it better than I can do here. This really is going to happen – the new Highway Code will ‘become law’ within the next 40 days if I understand things correctly.

There is something you can do if you act quickly. The Cambridge Cycling Campaign has encouraged their MP to present a petition to parliament which anyone can sign. See Actions every cyclist must take to safeguard their right to use the road. You can print off the petition from this page – it does need to be printed and posted, and it does need to be done straight away as the deadline is Thursday. The petition is as follows:

The Presenting Member: David Howarth MP

PETITION FROM Cllr Ian Nimmo-Smith and others

To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.

The Humble Petition of Cllr Ian Nimmo-Smith and others of like disposition

Sheweth

That there is significant concern that the proposed changes to the Highway Code will force cyclists to use sometimes inadequate cycle facilities and that the proposal to require cyclists to ride on the left-hand lane on roundabouts will place cyclists in greater danger.

Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your honourable House shall urge the Department of Transport to reconsider the proposed revisions to the Highway Code so that cyclists are not required to use cycle facilities ‘wherever possible’.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c

Just for into, the e-mail I received about it:

> Cambridge MP David Howarth has an opportunity at very short
> notice to present a petition in the House of Commons opposing the
> changes detrimental to cycling in the new Highway Code which is now
> before parliament.
>
> Anyone can sign the petition: it is not specific to Cambridge
> constituency voters.
>
> Unfortunately though it has to be physically signed with an
> original signature on the correct form. Therefore, please can
> we ask you to print the form which you can find at
>
> http://www.camcycle.org.uk/campaigning/issues/highwaycode/petition.html
>
> (make sure you have the whole link including the .html that might be
> truncated in this email)
>
> fill it in and send it by post *to ARRIVE by this THURSDAY morning*
> at the absolute latest (Wednesday if possible) to
>
> David Howarth MP
> David House, Room 4/11
> Norman Shaw North
> House of Commons
> London SW1A 0AA
>
> (n.b. not just to the usual House of Commons address, please, as
> that mail would then end up back in Cambridge)
>
> Please ask friends and colleagues who you can contact to fill in the
> form as well. Please feel free to circulate this as widely as you can.
>
> Further details about the highway code issue can be found at
> http://www.camcycle.org.uk/campaigning/issues/highwaycode
>

Please pass this on, blog it etc. Thanks to Paul Roberts for telling me about it.

[An unrelated petition is this one: "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Listen to cyclists and not approve the revised highway code", but the petition above is, I think, far more important.]

Unrelated diagram for reference purposes:

Posted by Dave at 1:38 pm on May 15, 2007 and filed under Current events, Cycling.

17 Comments

People come to this blog to hear the latest in-depth analysis on the religious stories of the day, so I thought today I would talk about my latest invention, the upside down bicycle. This off-topic item will be a disappointment to everyone, I know, but such is the price of technological innovation.

The blueprint is shown above. I don’t think that anyone else in the world has invented one , but they might have done. There is a man who has invented the sideways bicycle, as seen on the BBC and elsewhere a few months ago, but that is different.

If anyone would like to purchase the blueprint above contact my people and they will talk to your people.

I can see several uses, the main one being that you could travel places upside down. People wishing to travel upside down at the moment face very limited options. A major advantage is safety – if you fall off and end up upside down you do in fact end up the right way up. Much less disorientating.

You can put this blueprint on your blog as long as you put a clause underneath it saying that people cannot manufacture this bicycle without their people talking to my people first.

Posted by Dave at 8:36 pm on May 4, 2007 and filed under Cycling, Technical, Transport, Utter nonsense.

6 Comments

I sat in a coffee shop today reading the Independent and feeling unhappy.

I know we have known for a long time that the lifestyles we choose to lead are having a disastrous effect on our planet, but it now seems even more definite and even more real.

A lot of the things that usually occupy my mind, such as the problems in the Anglican church (Yes, I know – I do need to get out and about more) now seem really very unimportant.

So, what can we do? Well, I can only speak for myself.

First of all there are lifestyle changes. In my case I think the campervan needs to go. I’m beginning to come to the conclusion that someone who calls themselves a Christian can no longer own a campervan with a clean conscience. Campervans are a lot of things, but green really isn’t one of them. Perhaps I should scrap it rather than selling it so that no-one else gets to pollute the atmosphere with the dashed thing.

I also need to be a bit more serious about using my bicycle rather than driving places. I’m quite good at this, but I could be better. I haven’t been very good over the last few months as my bike keeps on developing stupid little problems that I can’t fix, but I need to resolve to do better.

I suppose the other weapons I have at my disposal to do something, (even if it isn’t much) are my cartooning ability and the fact I can make websites. Therefore I am thinking that a good thing to do would be to build a new website with cartoons that have an environmental message, and somehow (via means that I have not exactly fathomed out) use this as a lobbying tool to put pressure on governments to do something. If you can think how this might work please let me know.

I think that is the main thing we can do – demonstrate that we feel strongly about the issue and use whatever skills we have to influence people in power to do what they can. And do what we can to fight apathy and ‘nothing I do will make a difference anyway’. I don’t know what else to suggest.

Posted by Dave at 11:37 pm on February 3, 2007 and filed under Cartooning, Cycling, Environment, Transport.

19 Comments

I am thinking of buying a folding bicycle so that when I get bored of cycling around these housing estates I can nip onto the train and cycle around some other housing estates. I went to the Cycle Show at the weekend to see what is on offer.

This is the ‘A bike‘, the lightest and most compact folding bicycle available. Unfortunately the wheels are so small I cannot imagine it is ridable for anything other than the shortest of distances especially on the appallingly surfaced cycle paths which are the main way from A to B around here.

The Folding Society have done a report of the various folding bicycles that were available at the show. The general consensus amongst enthusiastic folders (What else do you call them?) seems to be that the Brompton (like Ian‘s) is the best one available. Unfortunately this and the other more trendy models are, I think, (a) rather beyond the reach of your average internet cartoonist and (b) more expensive than the sort of bicycle I’d want to leave locked up in a town such as the one I live in when I go to all the museums* and art galleries* etc. I’m aware that you get what you pay for, but something a bit more like one of these might be a more likely option.

*Humourous point that might have gone undetected.

Posted by Dave at 12:45 pm on October 12, 2006 and filed under Cycling.

12 Comments

As avid followers of my cycling category will know I recently bought a new bicycle and have been riding it hither and thither. I find that after a day of doing drawing or admin or websites or blogging getting out into the fresh air is just what you need. I go though fairly uninteresting housing estates and bumpy semi-cyclepaths, but it doesn’t matter. I just enjoy it.

I was please to read via Richard’s blog that cycling is significantly on the increase, according to the Independent. Ian has a picture of the front page of the newspaper: Pedallingmythoughts: Newspaper front page of the year. Marvellous. Come on everyone – if you are physically able to ride a bicycle (and I realise not everyone is) then why not give it a try? See my other cycling posts for bike-buying advice.

I think the final word needs to go to Steve Tomkins though:

Anyway. Now I’m a born-again cyclist. (I get fit and I go to be with Jesus when I die.) It’s fab. Whhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!! I go, when it’s downhill, the wind in my helmet, my life in my hands. When it’s uphill, it’s more “Ugh – ugh – ugh – ugh – ugh…” (stop and pretend to fix something on my bike while I get my breath back) “…ugh – ugh – ugh”. But then it’s a truly righteous feeling when you get to the top – and when you feel those little blobs of cholestrol being traded in for extra minutes of your life.

Posted by Dave at 11:36 pm on June 8, 2006 and filed under Cycling, Transport.

2 Comments

There are lots of cycling blogs of course, but these are three by people I know:

Pedallingmythoughts
Cycling blog by Ian, the brilliant but quirky youth adviser for the Oxford Diocese. His Youthblog is here and is called Youthblog, but it is his cycling blog we are interested in today. Lots of interesting and inspiring cycling thoughts and links. One of Ian’s bikes is a Brompton, which folds up into your pocket* so you don’t have to leave it outside. *Well, smallish anyway.

Mr M’s Tour de France
Mr M is the husband of Wiblogger Miffy. He has reached Belgium as we speak, which must be on the way to France. I’m not sure. Anyway, definitely one to add to your feed reader for the next 6 weeks.

42: Cycling
This is the cycling section of Cartoon Blog reader Dave Warnock’s site. Dave rides recumbent trikes, which really do look like a lot of fun.

I haven’t been out on my bike for nearly a week as the weather has been poor. Unless you count yesterday’s trip to the Post Office to buy stamps to send all of your postcards out. Talking of which, I should go to the Post Office to send all of your postcards out.

Update: Another cycling link. Paul goes on a cycling break. I’m inspired.

Posted by Dave at 11:56 am on May 26, 2006 and filed under Blogging, Cycling.

8 Comments

Above: The bicycle, with my old bike, a 1991 Kona mountain bike, behind.

You may remember that a month or so ago I talked about Buying a bicycle, and then a week or two ago said that I had ordered it. Well, it has now arrived. The bike I went for was the Claud Butler Classic, which cost me £190 and is widely available in the UK for £200 or less. I did take into account the excellent advice given to me, but decided to go for this bike rather than a more expensive one for the following reasons:

• You get a lot for £200 these days. We’re probably talking about the same as a £400-500 bike of a few years ago. Alloy frame, aloy wheels, shimano gears, quick release wheels, suspension seatpost.
• I need something comforable rather than fast because I am getting old.
• The bike will be locked up in public at various points and therefore I don’t want anything that looks too valuable.
• I don’t think you get a better frame by spending twice as much (in the same range at least). You just get more expensive components which I don’t need.
• I quite like the idea of getting a basic bicycle as then I can persuade other people to do the same in a way that I might not have been able to do if I had a more expensive bike.

Anyway, must dash. Another trip to the dentist coming up…

Posted by Dave at 11:08 am on April 4, 2006 and filed under Cycling.

9 Comments

Tim posted this great site in the comments. It shows monthly examples of poorly designed Cycle lanes, cycle paths and cycle routes. Amusing, but beware, you can waste a bit of time looking at them all. I should know.

I have to say I’m not sure whether cycle lanes are a good idea. The roads here in Essex generally feel very unsafe for cycling because of the traffic, but I’m not sure that cycle lanes are the answer. One useful thing that could be done is to slow cars down a bit. The speed limit is 30mph around Rayleigh, but I rarely* see anyone going less than 40. I have never seen any police checking speeds in Essex as far as I can recall. I think speed limits in urban areas should generally be reduced to 20mph and transgressors should undergo some sort of embarrasing forfeit, but I haven’t decided what exactly. I am serious about the 20mph though.

I haven’t got time to tell you about my bicycle as it is nearly lunchtime, but I will soon.

*Exaggeration.

Posted by Dave at 1:24 pm on March 21, 2006 and filed under Cycling, Design, Essex Life, Transport.

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I ordered a bicycle today. I’ll tell you more about it next week as the dinner is nearly ready.

In the meantime, take a look at Go by bicycle, which includes 15 good reasons to go places by bicycle as well as flyers you can print to spread the word.

If you see someone you know while riding, it’s easy to stop and say hello. Bicycles create public space, enhance street life and build a sense of community.

See also this page of bicycle blogs.

Update: The dinner is not quite ready yet. I have put the timer on for an extra 10 minutes. I still do not have time to tell you about the bicycle though as I have dilly-dallied about explaining about the dinner. Another time I will not mention the dinner and get right to the point and explain about the bicycle.

Posted by Dave at 8:07 pm on March 18, 2006 and filed under Cycling.

3 Comments

Several of the clergy bloggers I linked to yesterday have been talking about cycling recently. Maggi has been learning to ride a bike, whilst Paul has written this rather good piece ‘Bicycles – surely a sign of the kingdom‘.

And there’s something truly wonderful about a machine which can propel a human being at speeds exceeding our running speed, without contributing a single ounce to global pollution. The bicycle is a parable of faith: needing the rider to work with the machine, enjoying its benefits but also taking responsibility for their own contribution to maintaining its forward momentum (and if you give up peddling long enough, you will stop and fall off!)

I’m hoping to buy a new bike shortly. I do already have a mountain bike but it is a little bit of a relic from my racing days in the early 90s. I have a birthday coming up too which is a good excuse. I am quite inspired by the latest generation of ‘hybrid’ bikes – part mountain bike, part road bike. You can get quite a reasonable amount for your money too. I have seen the Raleigh Pioneer Metro GLX for around £250 and the Claud Butler Classic for as little as £177.99. This might seem like a lot but it really isn’t compared with the cost of owning a vehicle or repeated public transport trips. You can get less expensive bikes but with heavier steel frames and cheap components such as the brakes etc which seem to me like a bit of a false economy.

Has anyone reading bought one of these ‘hybrid’ bikes? Am I thinking along the right lines?

Posted by Dave at 8:00 am on February 25, 2006 and filed under Cycling, Essex Life, Sundry posts.

8 Comments