Briefing 07 08 2022 - CYCLEWight

Just a quick catch up.

The Brading, Bemebridge and St Helen's LCWIP  public meeting took place on 2nd August. We sent a representative from the committee. We contacted (hopefully)   all the members in the area about its occurence. The meeting went well and more detail will follow. CycleWight received a thank you from the Bembridge Council Chair after the meeting for raising the matter with them - the notification had initially been overlooked and not brought to their attention.

Several members of the committee attended the Go Electric event on the 31st July at the college.  Thanks to Mick and Matt for this report.

"It was held at the Isle of Wight College. It showcased many aspects of sustainable transport and was billed as the Isle of Wight's largest ever transport show. It had over 30 exhibition stands and display areas, and ran a series of seminars throughout the day under the headings of Electric Infrastructure, Electric Vehicles, and Electric Innovations.

Cycling organisations attending were, Wight Bike from Merstone with their e-bike range, Isle Access, with adapted cycles for disabled users, and People Powered CIC, demonstrating a range of cargo bikes. Cycling was positioned slightly away from the main exhibitors to allow access to a test road.

All three cycling stands were well attended consistently throughout the day. There was a great deal of interest in the Wight Bike stand and the test road was put to great use with people trying e-bikes ranging from a two seat model with fat tyres for use on soft surfaces, standard style e-bikes, and a Brompton-type that was fully folding to go on public transport.

Isle Access were there to raise awareness of their adapted cycling programme that offers cycling opportunities to disabled people. While only one of their cycles was electric, they demonstrated tricycles with various adaptations to suit a range of disabilities. They also had single, and two seat hand cycles, for those with good upper body strength, a tricycle tandem, and a wheelchair carrying trike. There was a lot of interest shown with the hope being that more people will become aware of the adapted cycling programme and take up the cycling opportunity it provides.

The People Powered CIC stand had 4 electric cargo bikes on display, and a guest visit from Dan the cycling gardener on his electric cargo trike. The team enabled people to see and try out the e-cargo bikes and generally find out more about them, discussing a number of business opportunities and also how they can be used by families.

Isle of Wight council vice-chairman, Cllr Lilley, was willing to jump into the passenger seat of one of the cargo bikes, and Isle of Wight council kindly offered up a press release as a result, mentioning the IW Council internal mail service currently delivered by cargo bike. https://onthewight.com/isle-of-wight-absolutely-perfect-for-an-electric-vehicle-revolution-says-vice-chairman/

Go Electric was a very successful event and one that has definitely increased awareness across the Island of the range of sustainable transport options available, their practicality, and future development plans. "

We have received the following information from the Tour of Britain organisers. You may be interested. See attachment.

"The Tour of Britain is offering several different experiences from Hospitality packages to riding 50km on the day with semi local Dan Martin." We have been sent an attachment with more details. If you want to book  hospitality you can use this code. Cyclewight15  If you want to participate in any of the other experiences, you book through Destination Sport

Please make a date in your diary for 10th September. The "Car Free Day/Tour of Britain" event in Newport. We are attending a meeting next week to find out more.

The paths from Cowes to Sandown and in Yarmouth are now being cut back but too late for the beginning of the holiday season. We shall pursue a more sensible maintenance programmes.

We have commented on the plans for housing developments at Shalfleet and Freshwater.  Both are disappointing from the point of design. In fact at Freshwater a walking and cycling route has been removed from earlier proposals!