Oxford Mail: On Yer Bike

Coming to Oxford this autumn is an annual conference staged by the national cycling organisation – the CTC and cycle campaign network. Oxford’s own cycle campaign group, Cyclox, is hosting the event on November 16,17 and 18, mostly in Oxford Town Hall.

I feel like a chuckle at this point because, ironically, there is nowhere to park your bike outside the Town Hall (there’s a whopping car park behind what used to be the Bulldog pub – just think of all the cycle-racks you could fit in there), but typically crammed parking opposite Carfax Tower. Anyhow, as a member of Cyclox, I’m keen to see how cyclists from other parts of the country rate our fair city and its cycling facilities.

As cyclists in Oxford, we might feel like it’s tough being a cyclist.

The number of buses churning out black choking smoke when they pull off the lights; the times you nearly get hit when a car hasn’t seen you and pulls out – you could name 10 other awful things that have happened, I’m sure.

But for me, I thank my lucky stars I cycle in Oxford! I went to live in the Midlands for 10 years after leaving Oxford and have the scars to prove it.

Every time a bus lets me through, every time a taxi driver waves when I let them through and every time I get stuck at traffic lights with 20 other cyclists, I smile and think how different it is in other parts of the country!

So why a cycle conference? Well, there’s still a long way to go to get roads planned with cyclists in mind, but having a conference in Oxford allows us to show the good examples we do have.

It may not be brilliant, but it’s a lot better than most other places.

This conference, in part, aims to improve our streets to make them safer for cyclists.

Experts from all over the country are coming here to talk about the latest plans.

If you asked people why they cycle, the chances are they’d say convenience. But actually there are a number of benefits.

You get fit – and long-term fit if you stick at it. It also reduces the amount of local pollution (horrid smog) and, of course, it doesn’t release any climate changing gases so you can polish your halo or feel smug or whatever.

At this conference, one of the best things is that the Mahatma Gandhi of Climate Change gurus, Mark Lynas, will be the keynote speaker.

This guy is such a legend these days it’s almost worth taking up cycling just to hear him speak! (not that you shouldn’t take up cycling anyway cos it’s fun!).

As well as two days of workshops and speakers, cyclists from across the country will get the chance to see the Cowley Road Safety Demonstration Project.

This was a £1m Government-funded development to improve road safety and the environment of an urban shopping street.

Visit http://www.eastoxford.com/beta/ eoaltd/Cowley_Road/Cowley_index.htm This has a good video (16 minutes) showing the planning and consultations that led to the final design, including shots from a helmet-mounted camera.