R4 Woman’s Hour gives entertaining and informative program on cycling

I’m no regular listener, but luckily I happened to switch on Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4 this morning (while spending May Day morning catching up with cleaning, rather than getting out on my bike!) and this edition was all about cycling. I found it very interesting and entertaining, so am sharing the link here in case you want to “listen again” (be warned you men out there however – you might find the detailed discussion of saddle-related health issues a bit too graphic!!). Click here to listen!

Proposal to reduce the speed limit on the Northney route

Consultation is now open on the council proposal to reduce the speed limit from 40 mph to 30 mph on the section of road between the Stoke end of Copse Lane and Northney village. Details of the proposal, ref. number AS/TRO/298, can be found at www.havant.gov.uk/tro

This is a route used by many cyclists to get on and off the island, so Cycle Hayling supporters may like to submit their views to the consultation, which is open until Friday 11th March 2016. Formal comments can be made via one of the following methods:

  • Using the online response form at the above web address
  • By email to tro@havant.gov.uk
  • In writing to the acting solicitor to the council :
    Sara Bryan
    Acting Solicitor to the Council
    Public Service Plaza
    Civic Centre Road
    Havant PO9 2AX

Hayling Ferry Public Meeting

Hayling Island and Havant Labour party have organised a public meeting about the Hayling Ferry. The meeting is being held on Saturday 23rd January from 12pm at The Shades public house, 29 Seafront, Hayling (near the funfair).

It will be attended by Tim Trayte and Dave Baker, the new owners of the ferry, and chaired by Mike Evans, Secretary of Havant Labour Party.

It will be an opportunity to find out about new proposals and to discuss the way forward, including community involvement.

For further details, please email Sue Underwood at sue@cyclehayling.org

Online speed limit survey

A Hayling resident who is opposed to the new 30mph speed limit on the main Havant Road (see letters in November edition of The Hayling Islander) has set up an online poll regarding the speed limit.

It is a very quick two-question poll, which can be accessed at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/V6MYVWK

It simply asks whether or not you are in favour of the new speed limit and whether or not you were properly informed about the change.

Letters in The Hayling Islander

The November edition of the Hayling Islander newspaper contained several letters that might interest our cycle community, and which some supporters may not have read.

One letter-writer singled out for criticism the behaviour of Hayling cyclists (in particular the “lycra clad fraternity” – so that excludes any of us ladies!). The criticism centred on cyclists riding two-abreast and not using approved cycle paths.

Four letters, however, concerned the new 30 mph speed limit on Havant Road, including a letter from John Perry, UKIP Hayling East Councillor. Apart from disapproving of the reduction in speed limit from 40 mph to 30 mph, there were also complaints about lack of prior notification and signage from Hampshire County Council.

I’m sure many of us who support Cycle Hayling would disagree with at least some of these opinions. Instead of an “official”  response from Cycle Hayling, however, it might be more effective if individuals who felt strongly on these issues were to write their own letter to the Hayling Islander.  

The contact details if you wish to do so are:

email: sarah.foster@jpress.co.uk

by post to: The Editor, Hayling Islander, 78 Elm Grove, Hayling Island, PO11 9EE

 

Hayling Cycle Survey

Cycle Hayling is planning to run a number of cycle surveys, to gather information about cycle traffic on the island and usage of the Hayling Billy Trail.

We are seeking volunteers to take part in our initial survey, which will be purely a counting exercise, based at the south of the bridge. A later survey will involve a count and a short questionnaire and will take place on the Hayling Billy Trail.

We plan to run the initial counting survey on Sunday 17th May (8am to 8pm) and Monday 18th May (7am to 7pm). It will essentially involve working in pairs over two-hour slots.

If you can spare two hours on either or both of these days, and would enjoy counting bikes (!), please contact Sue Underwood at sue@cyclehayling.org. Please state your preferred times/days and the number of time slots you can manage. Sue will then contact you with a choice of slots before the end of April. 

If you’d like to help with the survey work but cannot make those dates, please get in touch anyway, as we hope to perform extra counts in May and the HB survey later in the year.

Hampshire County Council has run a number of surveys in the recent past:

Bridge traffic surveys in 2005 and 2011. Please see the recent post “Bridge traffic & cycling stats” with excellent summary from Wilf Forrow, at: https://cyclehayling.org/bridge-traffic-cycling-stats

These surveys were based on electronically recorded data. A similar electronic count is currently in progress at the north end of the bridge, and has been running since completion of the west-side cycleway. Our count will help to verify this data but also provide more detailed information on cycle journeys once on the island.

Hayling Billy Trail survey in 2004. Implementing this detailed survey was organised by Paul Fisher (HIRA) on behalf of HCC.

The survey can be accessed here:
https://cyclehayling.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Billy-Trail-Survey-2004.pdf   

With the associated appendices at:
https://cyclehayling.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Billy-Trail-Survey-Appendices-part1.pdf

The Hayling Billy Trail survey looked at all types of users of the trail: cyclists, walkers, dog-walkers, disabled users, joggers and horse-riders. It included a count survey and a questionnaire survey.

The results showed that the trail was “heavily used, and most popular with cyclists”. In fact 70% of users were cyclists! A telling statement from the questionnaire analysis was that “The majority of people said that they would use the path more if it provided a continuous and safe route to Havant”.

Evening social meeting on Wednesday 13th August

Following the Three Churches’ Fete on Wednesday 13th August, Cycle Hayling is holding an informal meeting that evening from 6.30 pm at “The Orchard”, Copse Lane, Hayling Island, PO11 0QB (Sue Underwood’s house, not a pub!).
There will be food and drink, hopefully to enjoy outdoors in the garden. It should be a good opportunity to find out what Cycle Hayling has been doing over the year, meet fellow supporters and share ideas about improving cycling on the island.
To give us an idea of numbers, if you plan to come along in the evening, please could you email Sue at sue@cyclehayling.org before Tuesday 12 August. You’ll still be welcome, however, even if you don’t book your place!
If you want more details or directions, again please email Sue.

Hayling’s BEST AGM

Hayling’s BEST, the Island’s umbrella organisation for community groups and projects, is holding its AGM at 7.30 pm on Thursday 23 January at the URC Hall in Mengham. Cycle Hayling is a member group of Hayling’s BEST, and will be presenting our annual report to the meeting.

The AGM is also a chance to find out about other successful activities on the Island, such as the Hayling Billy 50 project, which recently won Lottery funding towards upgrading the Hayling Billy trail.

Everyone welcome!