Flat Tyres

What:
The Dublin Bay charity fun cycle in aid of Beaumont Hospital Trauma Unit and Diabetic Centre.
When:
May 21st, 11am.
Where:
Sutton to Bray, where there will be a party. You can transport your bikes to the start by dropping it off at your local Superquinn the day before.

Find out more here:

http://www.superquinn.ie/whats_new/dublin_bay_40k.html

Strike for the Bike
posted by BK
on 1-Apr-2000

The recent transport strikes in Dublin have turned the focus back on cycling as a viable way to avoid the traffic and get around. There are many, myself included, who feel that it is the only way to get around. Yet we can not presume that cycling comes naturally to everyone, or is even liked.

There are certain times when people need to cycle, this last week especially. Many bike shops had a sharp upturn in business. It is Spring now, and the better weather and longer evenings are more of an incentive. So if you know someone who is on the verge of riding again, perhaps some quiet encouragement, and help if needed, should be given.

For more on this story, see this article in the Irish Times.

Wanted: Newsletter Editor and DTP people
posted by RV
on 1-Apr-2000

The editor of Campaign Spokes is retiring from the position after having seen the last twelve issues put together. It's time someone else took it over. If you have a couple of evenings every three months or so to put the stuff together and assemble it into a publication about cycling in Dublin, please let Spokes know. Niall O'Cleirigh has been doing the layout and production, and he is also keen to pass it on. Niall laid out the most recent issues using Quark Xpress(a template is available) but the earlier issues used Word.

High tech it ain't. So any member who has any writing, editing, layout or production experience - or who thinks they'd like to get the experience - please contact the Campaign. If nobody does, this is the last Campaign Spokes. And that would be a shame.

We would like to give a big thank you to our retiring editors and to Niall. (ED.)

Ranelagh Cycle Route Opening
posted

on 13-Mar-2000

The official launch of the Ranelagh cycle route is taking place on 3rd April at 1pm.

The DCC were involved in the planning and development of the route. We want to turn out on the day and everyone is invited. We will be meeting on the day at 12.45 sharp outside the Mansion House on Dawson Street or Belfield Church in UCD, and then making our way to Ranelagh.

There will be free sweatshirts to the first 50 cyclists, and a champagne reception on route.

The Bikes are Back in Town, Join the Jangle in the Triangle

Questionnaire Results
posted

on 12-Mar-2000

The campaign recently sent out a questionnaire to it's members to get some feedback on members issues such as: how they became a member?..... what do they get out of their membership? It is our aim to review these findings to come up with ways to attract more people, and increase our profile.

The general tone of the responses was encouraging, with most respondents saying that they were happy with the job that the campaign was doing. The results are posted here, so please have a look to see if you agree. If you received a form, and it is still lying around somewhere, it is not too late to send it in, and we will update the results.

One person pointed out that there is a higher ratio of males in the campaign, so girls, that must be a great incentive to join!

St. Patrick's Day Parade
posted

on 27-Feb-2000

We will be participating in the St. Patrick's Day Parade this year.

There will be a choreographed bicycle display on with 16-20 cyclists taking part. The theme is 'an aquatic journey'. We need ideas from everyone, and practical help, but mainly we need volunteers.

Our first try took place yesterday (26th) at Belfield Bikes (UCD). If you would like to come along to future rehearsals and participate, you are welcome. Contact us to find out more details. You must be able to commit to a number of rehearsals and, of course, the parade itself.

Car Free
posted courtesy of The Bicycle News Agency
on 12-Feb-2000

At the Dublin Cycling Campaign, we are primarily concerned with cycling issues. We keep an eye on stories like this one though.

"The city centres of 150 Italian cities and towns were closed to motorised traffic on Sunday, February 6th, and eighteen million people could test how a car-free life would be.

Some towns banned the cars in all their territory, some only in the centre. Some only for a few hours, some all day long........People walked, skated and of course biked......Many people expressed the idea that this experiment should become a real policy."

Further car free Sundays are organised in Italy for March 5th, April 9th and May 7th.

Dubliners take note! Isn't this a great idea?

For more information on the general concept of car-free days, go to the Car Free Day Support Network

Potholes!
posted

on 08-Feb-2000

The DCC pothole report form is now online.

As all cyclists are aware of, potholes do not only affect motorists. They are a sometimes daily obstacle for cyclists. You probably have your favourite one. If so, look here. Print out the form and send it off to your relevant local body.

An All-Ireland Cycling Campaign?
posted

on 22-Jan-2000

There has been talk from more than one source lately about an All-Ireland cycling initiative. Steven Patterson of Sustrans, writes from Belfast:

My suggestion that you may be kind enough to consider would be a Velo Ireland, later in 2000, or early in 2001. This would provide a forum for the campaign groups and the cycling providers (Government, Councils, Public Transport operators) to get together and share experiences to enable a more productive future for cyclists in Ireland.

It was also a topic that was discussed at the DCC Seminar, a report on which will be published here soon.