Spokes are pleased to see the new cycle facilities that are planned at Ashford’s Simone Weil Avenue Sainsbury’s. These include adjusting the car park layout to accommodate a cycle/foot path across the site to link up with the new M20 cycle/foot bridge that’s proposed. Also included are 36 new cycle parking spaces.
Details can be seen on planning application 10/00811/AS. Comments can also submitted via that link.
A new Swale Cycle Forum is being formed. Spokes participate in a number of cycle forums, which engage members of the public, local and county authorities, businesses, etc. to further develop and promote cycling. Objectives of the new Swale Cycle Forum will include the creation of a Swale Cycling Strategy and proposing new cycle routes and parking. The forum’s first meeting will be on May 27th. If you’d like to get involved, and for further details, please see the Swale Cycle Forum page. A short questionnaire about cycling in Swale is also available on that page.
It appears that B&Q in Dover are attempting to compete with Canterbury’s Whitefriars shopping centre for the worst cycle parking in east Kent. B&Q’s cycle parking, pictured, is left completely inaccessible due to the large number of trolleys stored there.
We found this video about cycling in Dublin, London, and Amsterdam really interesting to watch:
The Pedal Project – Three Cycling Cities (low resolution version) from DCTV on Vimeo.
A new A2 Outdoor Activity Park is being developed by Kent County Council between the old and new A2 alignments at Gravesend and Northfleet. The park will include a cycle track and National Cycle Route 177 passing through its length.
We like this film of cycling in the Netherlands in the 1950s:
Kent County Council and Kent Highway Services are currently consulting on the proposed cycle and pedestrian bridges on the Crab & Winkle Way that will form part of the northern extension of this popular route into Whitstable. Comments are welcomed by 26th March.
Kent Highway Services are currently consulting on a new pedestrian and cycle safety scheme along Pyson’s Road in Thanet. The plans are to increase the side of the pedestrian / cycle crossing islands, widen the cycle / foot paths, and install a couple of bollards to prevent parking on the cycle path. Comments from the public are requested by 23rd April. Here’s a map of the current facilities.
It’s amazing with all the different types of cycle stands available from Sheffield, rise and fall, hoop, carousel and toast racks to name but a few! So why, oh why is it so hard to find a parking space?
Last year Spokes was asked to survey possible locations for cycle racks in one particular town. Sadly every town in Kent seems to have insufficient parking provision for bicycles but plenty for cars. How many times have you seen “No Cycles” in your towns and city centre? Let’s start thinking about cycle parking.