Posted on by Wilf

Cycle Hayling update – September 2019

In Cycle Hayling’s September update:

  • The Hayling Islander’s back as the Hayling Herald
  • Please support ‘Bike to School Week’ – by bike, walk or scooter!
  • LCWIP progress
  • August family cycle ride report
  • Open meeting for all our supporters in early November

The Hayling Islander’s back as the Hayling Herald

As you’ll probably have heard, the Hayling Herald takes off in October to replace the Islander, and Cycle Hayling will continue our monthly cycling column, aimed at the 17,000-plus islanders who generally don’t already cycle, to persuade them to, and to lobby for more public support and funding.

But our newsletter will continue as well, when we have something to say, because it’s specifically aimed at you, our 332 cycling supporters, and there are sometimes things you need to see that the public doesn’t. Besides, not everyone gets the paper, so please be patient if you occasionally see things twice.

Please support ‘Bike to School Week’ – by bike, walk or scooter!

Bike Week Cycle ParadeWasn’t it great to see so many kids outdoors during the summer holidays, getting healthy exercise, building fitness and independence, away from their tech gadgets.

Hayling schools are right in the centre of the island, and the Sustrans ‘Bike to School Week’ is from September 23rd to 27th, so why not keep it going by walking or riding to school? I know it’s not quite as simple as that, but you might be surprised at the hints and inspiration from Sustrans 10 reasons to cycle, scoot, walk the school run. And the brilliant Living Streets Walk to School page and even more their free family Walk To School Kit, much of which applies just as well to cycling. 

For example:

  • If it’s too far, maybe one-way or part of the way to start with?
  • When cycling’s not an option, perhaps swap to walking?
  • Or park the car further away from school and walk the last bit?
  • Walking’s a great chance to bond with your kids and hear what they’re doing.

And there are three Bike to School Week competitions :

Cycle Hayling’s keen to support you, and it would make great publicity to promote cycling. One popular idea is to form a ‘bike train’, which people can join onto, and is a lot of fun. If you’re up for taking part, just email me at Wilf@cyclehayling.org, and we’ll see what we can do to help.

For those that don’t know, Sustrans is the Sustainable Transport charity that inspired and designed the National Cycling Network (NCN), the fabulous Hayling Billy cycle trail (part of NCN2), and it was the inspiration for Cycle Hayling itself back in 2009.

And as Living Streets point out, October is International Walk to School month, so you’d be in global company!

But most of all, whether you walk, scoot or cycle, please send us your photos and tell us how you get on.

Havant’s LCWIP is on the move

Havant’s LCWIP is our Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, pronounced ‘Elsie-Whip’. And it’s a big and expensive project for a relatively small authority like Havant. So it’s really good news that Hampshire County Council is helping Havant and 5 other authorities with their LCWIP’s, and applying for funding from the Department for Transport’s massive Transforming Cities Fund (TCF). Initially it will be to improve cycling along the Havant to Farlington and Havant to Waterloovile corridors, but Hayling’s next in line. And Cycle Hayling is getting involved.

It’s all part of the government’s Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy.

August family cycle ride report

Nine Cycle Hayling supporters had a very sociable August ride down the Billy Trail for coffee at Northney Farm tearooms. Lots of thoughts about how we can improve cycling.

We’ve had requests for more rides, so please tell us where you’d like to ride and when’s the best time.

Open Cycle Hayling meeting in early November

Come to our friendly open meeting in early November, on the theme “The future of cycling on Hayling”, with a guest speaker. It will be very informal and fun. Come and hear what we’re doing, and tell us your ideas. More details nearer the time.

Best regards from Wilf and the Cycle Hayling committee.

If you have any comments or ideas, please tell us !