Commute in safety: SPACEforCYCLING Big Ride Sheffield Sat 11th June

sb88
sb88 Posts: 37
edited May 2016 in Commuting general
Please, if you're able to get to Sheffield on Sat 11th June, join us for this year's Space for Cycling Big Ride, organised by CycleSheffield.
It's a family-friendly, quite flat, short route. The purpose is to raise public awareness of the need for better cycling provision in Sheffield and UK cities in general.

I suppose you could call it a friendly demonstration.

A short route of about 4km (revised after local consultation), setting off at 11am from Devonshire Green, incorporating Ecclesall Road and the Town Hall and finishing back at Devonshire Green.

The course has been shared with the police and council and will be risk-assessed and well-marshalled by prepared CycleSheffield co-ordinators and volunteers with marshalling experience.

There will be a Velophonic Hifi providing music and a jovial atmosphere. Last year we attracted over 500 people and around 450 people completed the ride.

We want to make Sheffield sit up and take notice, so make a placard, decorate your bike and wear red. Bring your friends and family; everyone is welcome.

If you're able to come, please sign up below - you're not obligated but part of the council planning requirements is that we get an indication of how many people are likely to attend through signing up - I have seen lots of organisations doing this recently (e.g. CTC rides).

https://www.evensi.uk/space-for-cycling ... /174361074

https://www.facebook.com/events/599353126898389/



In the meantime, if you're a Sheffield/South Yorkshire resident, please feel free to google CycleSheffield and join up.
There are a few benefits:
- We campaign on your behalf: for example by attending council meetings and acting as a 'watchdog' for issues such as dangerous junctions and sections of tram tracks with high cycle accident rates. We pass on members' experiences to the local authority. While local govt. cash is limited, we maintain a constant pressure so that when planning decisions are made, they are made with cycling in mind. We explore solutions followed by progressive cities and make suggestions to the local authority.
- We organise events such as the Big Ride and cycle-oriented film nights
- Cheaper affiliate membership of Cycling UK (formerly CTC) which provides 3rd part insurance and shop discounts.[/color]

Note:
While CycleSheffield promotes better cycling provision, we're not militant, with any single agenda - we know there are varying opinions as to what constitutes good cycling provision and that people in the cycling community have different emphases. We are also aware that local authorities, particularly in the North of England, are cash-strapped at the moment and don't seek to suggest that cycle provision is any more important than other vital services. But cycling provision, in terms of routes and junctions, storage and driver behaviour, could be better: some improvements can be made at little cost, though better planning. And of course, even if we can't always make things better, remaining vigilant helps keep things from getting worse!