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Beautiful
Dreamer - Yuri Taychenachev, a 70 year old flying freak from Novosibirsk has completely filled his living room with an aeroplane made from scrap, discarded spare parts and just about anything else that came to hand. There is a little gap to squeeze through to the next room where he keeps the blueprints.
He has spent all his savings and pension on his true passion. "I dream of flying. You cannot lose sight of your dream, otherwise life becomes simple and boring."
He has built the engine from an old Ural motorcycle motor and if you have doubts, there are no end of volunteers including professional pilots, who want to take his machine into the air. But he wants to be the first pilot. However there is a slight problem. First he has to work out how to get it out of his living room and down the stairs! And you thought cyclists were eccentric?
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ALL-PARTY PARLIAMENTARY CYCLING GROUP
SPOKES has a number of members outside Kent one of whom is Ben Bradshaw MP. Ben is a keen cyclist and Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling Group which actively campaigns in Parliament and across the whole range of Government departments on cycling issues. He has sent us a copy of the APPCG newsletter which covers some topics with a very familiar ring to them. It seems we have similar problems too.
Cycle parking at the Houses of Parliament
This is
improving slowly due to pressure from the group and
the Serjeant at Arm’s office. Cycle racks are
appearing and being used. Additionally, following
pressure from APPCG, free access has been granted to
the secure underground parking under College Green
opposite the House.
Budget measures
The Treasury have been written to asking the UK to
adopt lower VAT rates on cycle repairs as allowed
under EU rules and to publicise the positive new
cycle allowances in the 1999 budget.
Spot fines for
cyclists
A new offence of cycling on the pavement came into
force in August 1999. Some APPCG members opposed
this measure. A meeting is planned with Charles
Clarke the new Home Office Minister to discuss the
advice to police forces on how this will be
implemented. (Charles Clarke MP was the former Chair
of the APPCG)
Greater London
Authority Bill
APPCG members in both Houses spoke in favour of
increased cycle responsibilities as part of the
bill. Improvements have been made to the bill which
favour cycling and many useful assurances have been
given by the minister which will be very helpful.
Cycle parking in
Westminster
Bikes are not allowed to be parked in or near
Whitehall due to "security" reasons. In
spite of long opposition to progress on this, new
Home Office minister Charles Clarke has agreed to a
meeting on the subject.
Other topics considered were
the compulsory fitting of bells to bikes following
Nick Palmer’s private member’s bill. This was
opposed by members of the group and a meeting has
been arranged with Charles Clarke. Other meetings
are being held on "Safe Routes to Schools"
and improving access for cycling in the Royal Parks.
The address of the APPCG is: All-Party
Parliamentary Cycling Group, c/o Ben Bradshaw MP,
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
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Politically
correct?