Carole’s December Blog

I missed the last ride of the season but I hear the Acers in Windsor Great Park did their bit by being very colourful and everyone enjoyed the ride led by Sandra.  They forgot to take a picture!

Annette Covey attended the Inaugural Surrey Cycle  forum which was part of the Surrey Physical Activity conference. The web site for the Active Surrey is http://www.activesurrey.com/health.  Annette said Dr. William Bird gave a very inspirational talk. Other speakers talked about the This Girl Can campaign and encouraging children to walk to school. The cycle forum was mainly  a workshop regarding the cycle strategy to adopt for the next several years.

Norman wrote to J Kingsbury, head of Woking council,  to encourage him to read Sustrans’s Biggest ever cycle survey. In the biggest survey ever conducted on attitudes to cycling in the UK, three quarters (75%) of people want national governments to invest more in making cycling safer.  Nearly eight in ten (79%) people say they want improved safety for people riding bikes.  Three quarters (75%) support more investment in cycling, with £26/person a year the average amount people want governments to be investing.  If you would like to see the survey go to  http://www.sustrans.org.uk/bike-life/overall-survey.

Lastly, I wrote to Catherine Valiant, Countryside Access Officer, Surrey County Council, the case officer handling the Muddy Lane case and received the following: “I am still investigating the case, along with a number of other cases and at the moment it is at the top of my pile – I am currently pulling together the evidence in a report which will be taken to committee for a decision. I appreciate that the investigation is taking some considerable time and that this must be frustrating for you. Whilst it may appear to be a straightforward case, there are still lots of things to consider as I want to make sure that the recommendation we reach can be robustly defended.  I am intending to reach a recommendation by the end of this year with a view to it going to Committee in the New Year.”

After our Christmas Do, things will be a little quiet till pub night at the end of January and our social rides will start again in March.  But do go to our Other Cycle Rides page to see what else is on offer during the winter months.  Chris Jeggo said he might be able to offer a ride for more experienced riders in February.  Keep an eye on our website and I will let you know.

I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season.