Wednesday 28 November 2012

Cyclists Front of Cambridge?

It has been suggested to me by whoever tweets for Cycling Embassy of Great Britain  that we need a new cycling campaign organisation in Cambridge.

(as an aside, I joined up with CEofGB online, and promptly forgot all registration details - they're a jolly good bunch, don't entirely agree with each other on everything as far as I can see but then where would the fun be in that?)

Anyway, do we? I mean, do we need a bolshy, vocal, cycling campaign group here?

Anyone got any thoughts?

12 comments:

  1. I dunno, I think half the problem with the existing Cambridge Cycling Camapaign is that not enough people give a shit/volunteer, so you get the somewhat accomodationist , mainly older, types running it.

    I'm definitely part of the problem- I'm a meber, but I do hardly anything. I am though, at 29, often the youngest person by a long way to turn up to meetings at all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How many folk DO turn up to meetings and speak up? I've never been a member because I've never been particularly enchanted with their policies - committee members tell me to join and CHANGE their policies, but that always struck me as a nonsensical thing to do (you don't join, say, the BNP to fight racism...)

      Delete
    2. seems to be a hardcore of the committee and maybe 5-10 more, decent speaker gets a bigger audience (do keep an eye on the speakers, you don't have to be a member to attend)

      Delete
    3. I'm not sure the BNP comparison is fair - after all I assume you agree with their basic aims - better conditions for cyclists - you just want to change the method for getting there.

      Delete
    4. I'm not saying CCC are like the BNP - it was simply hyperbole. Point is you don't join an organisation who to don't agree with on the vague hope you can change their mind.

      Delete
  2. Not sure. Seems like the campaign has been getting more vocal in its disapproval of some of the new schemes put forward recently - but I don't know if anyones is taking any notice?


    I too am a member (for 3 yrs I think) but have in fact never been to a meeting. I keeping on meaning to....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They keep settling for second best - or what they call 'politically possible. I have asked CCC several times the very simple question; if we're not going to hold out for the best here, now, in Cambridge, then where and when will we do so? So yes, they get vocal. To an extent. Sometimes. And then approve schemes like Gilbert Road, which I still view as something of a failure (see blog post a while back).

      Delete
  3. I think CCC's problem is more likely to be that they can't get people who cycle but aren't politically engaged with cycling to join, rather than that they're not offering enough to the radical fringe of cyclists (in which I include myself).

    After all, there are apparently 60,000 regular cyclists in Cambridge, and only 1000+ CCC members. If they were all passionately for full cycle segregation, 20mph limits and banning motor vehicles from central Cambridge and thought CCC wasn't doing enough I think we'd know about it.

    Of course we could always form a Popular Cycling Front with which to make CCCs plans looks moderate and reasonable in comparison...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi,

    I'm the chair of the Ely Cycling Campaign, we're relatively new and given that we're starting from a different place to where Cambridge is at we've decided to take a different approach to the CCC (not saying their approach is wrong, just that we're doing something different).

    So we're putting together a strategy which explicitly lays out what we're campaigning for, which is basically the 'Go Dutch' approach ie: Segregated provision, a defined network of routes, restricting access for motor vehicles, reduced speed limits (inc. 20mph areas) etc. You can see what we've put together so far here http://elycycle.org.uk/strategy/

    We might be being niaive and optimistic but we're hoping to get the local parish, city and district councils to back the idea (at least in principle) and then try to convince the county council (who actually control what happens to the highways) to get on board. Then we can start applying the strategy to actual bits of road to get them changed over time.

    So anyway just thought I'd let you know what we're doing, so you can see if we make any progress.

    On whether to join the CCC and change their approach or start up a separate organisation. I think initially I would take the former route. Join up and propose the changes. If you get them through then you have the backing of one of the biggest cycling campaigns in the country, if you don't get them through then you can still start up a separate group if you have enough support.

    Andy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for that Andy - website looking good. Cracking riding around Ely on a good day, when the traffic isn't awful. Although its more prone to that fenland wind than Cambridge is!

      Agree with your 'go Dutch' approach - I'll ponder on your suggestions.

      Delete
    2. I agree with the "Go Dutch" campaign as well and good luck. Well done for doing something as well. Every now and then my conscience pricks me - I cycle, I get annoyed by the second-class way cyclists are treated - but all I really do is occasionally blog about things that annoy me - like the crap cycle parking at the Cambridge Railway Station.

      ---Jamie

      Delete
  5. I am a recent arrival in Cambridge and have yet to join CCC, partly out of sloth, partly because they seem so passive and a bit defeated and worn down. I'd love to them adopt and adapt the "Love London Go Dutch" approach but I'm biased, the agency I work for came up with the name for London Cycling Campaign

    ReplyDelete