Author: Rachel M

Holes Holes Holes…
…And how to get them filled

The recent bad weather has taken it’s toll on the local roads and cycle paths. Cyclists are particulary vulnerable to potholes, so why not help everyone and Report It! Fortunately ACF make it easy for you, most can be reported online so if you are reading this it should not take more than 2 minutes

Why should I bother? Well if everyone said that they would never get repaired, Roads are inspected, at best, every 6 months. A couple of good reasons include:

• You are making the roads safer for all users?
• If someone were to have an accident and claim against the council for damage, the coucil can be “not aware” unless it has been reported (or has been there 6 months)

So don’t delay – do it NOW – Just visit the ACF Pothole Tool to learn how. Some tips to get your hole filled

• Be specific – particulary with the location e.g. “Garthdee Road near the University” is not that helpful, the council is receiving many such requests per day – if it’s not clear it’s likely to be ignored… Garthdee Road, Eastbound aprox 50meters from Junction Cragievar road” is much more likely to work
• Specify the hole it’s in a cycle lane and causing a danger to vulnerable road user
• If the roads is not lit at night – say it
• Include your contact details – It’s not unheard of to be asked for more details

ACF’s on TWITTER

ACF is keen to communicate with our membership in as many ways as possible. In addition to the exisiting web pages and e-News service we are please to announce Aberdeen Cycle Forum is now on TWITTER. Follow us us at:

twitter.com/aberdeenCFIf you are already one of the “Twitterati” then subscribe to our feed and get the news updates before they appear on the web. If you are not don’t worry the existing email e-News system is still continuing.

ACF At Veer’s UK Premier Screening

On Saturday 21st November Becycle has arranged a screening of Veer at the Transition Extreme Sports Centre [map-link]. Veer is not yet on general release in the UK so why not come down and view it on Saturday, it’s got to be better than staying in and watching yet another reality TV show…

ACF will have a stall before the film, so there’s the added incentive of meeting some of the people who make ACF work for you.To learn more see the BeCycle Website.

Cycle Parking – Just for U

ACF has secured some improvements to the cycle parking at Union Square though it has taken us nearly two years of harrassing the developers Hammerson to achieve it! If you have been down you may have seen only a handfull of stands at the main entrance – we wanted many more, if stopping at the Market Street end of the complex there’s nothing except a few convenient signposts

The better news is that just round the corner at the bus station there are now 17 new stands in place, under a canopy, and there is an entrance to the shopping mall from there. The Railway satation has (just) five outside the entrance, but dont forget the 35 in College Street Multi-Storey Car park. We are continuing our long running struggle to get some stands actually in the railway station itself….there is a faint glimmer of progress on this one. Watch this space.

Interesting Union Square themselves quote “Union Square has 200 cycle parking places – most undercover and monitored by CCTV”. If you are generous and count the ones in the rail and bus stations and assume 2 bikes per stand ACF can’t find more than 160, if you can do better get in contact there’s a prize for the first person to get to 200…

UPDATE (12 Nov) – the total is now 187, some very well hidden ones between Palmerston Road and TK Max, can anyone beat 187…

UPDATE (4 Dec) – Just had a Union Square Sponsored Citizen “wrap round” delivered – U-S now state 160 stands, so who owns the other 27?

Bus StationMain Car Park, pity there are not more!Market St end of the complex

Temporary Closure of the Deeside Line at Cults

Some readers may have already have noticed that the Deeside Way is closed for quite a long stretch around Cults . The good news is this is to allow the works to bridge the (steep!) up and down section through the barriers at West Cults Road [map].

The work should be completed by the end of the year, in the meantime there’s a few weeks of having to use the North Deeside Rd for a stretch. The council should be putting in place diversion signs. Leave the line (coming into town) at the Newton Dee turn off and rejoin it via School Rd in Cults.

Getting Out and About use your LOAF -Come and Meet ACF!

Aberdeen Local Outdoor Access Forum – LOAF is the statutory body that advises the city council on the implementation of the outdoor access , rather boringly known as The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

ACF is a member of the LOAF and has been instrumental in getting a number of the new core paths adopted in the city

On Tuesday 10th November (18:30-20:30) the LOAF is holding an open public event in the Townhouse, ACF will be there and anyone is welcome to come along either to see us on our “stall” or to the presentations themselves. Download the agenda (PDF)

The LOAF can do a lot for cyclists in Aberdeen, a good representation form cyclists will help this happen, so come on down on Tuesday evening, there is even free coffee!

Active Travel – Inactive Government?

It’s not every day you get the opportunity to tell the Scottish Parliament what you think, however now you can. The Parliament is conducting a “call for views” on walking and cycling in Scotland, titled “an enquiry into active travel” ACF has responded to the consultation, you can see our response online (PDF).

In addition to organisations such as ourselves any individual in Scotland may submit their views, ACF encourges you send a few words to the comittee. No need to be formal – a simple email is enough – just email any or all of your answers to the questions below to: activetravel@scottish.parliament.uk. To get some tips you might want to see the responses of other individuals

• Q1 – What more can be done to encourage people to change their travelling habits and walk and cycle more?
• Q2 – Is enough progress being made in developing and delivering improvements in the uptake of walking and cycling?
• Q3 – If not, what are the barriers to progress? (for example, lack of policy development, lack of political leadership, lack of funding/investment, the lack of prominence given to active travel in transport policy development, project planning and construction etc.)
• Q4 – Why do walking and cycling policies set out in national, regional and local transport plans not result in a greater modal share for walking and cycling?
• Q5 – What further action is required by the Scottish Government, local authorities and other bodies to ensure that significant progress is made in the development and implementation of walking and cycling, particularly if transport is to make a greater and more meaningful contribution to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions?
• Q6 What can Scotland learn from good practice/successful implementation in other countries?

Deadline for responing is Friday 11th December 2009 – so don’t delay have your say today.

ASDA’s Big Boss drops in to see ACF

ASDA Chief Executive Andy Bond is cycling from Land Ends to John O’Groats raising money for the charity Pedalpower. For those who dont know Pedal Power working with the CTC, is about to set up 300 bike clubs for young people across the UK.

Andy passed through Aberdeen where ACF were on hand to meet him at the Asda Bridge of Dee Store. Our ever popular stand provided shoppers with everything they wanted to know about cycling in Aberdeen.

 

Learn more and see some videos of the event at the Pedal Power Blog.

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New Signs Highlight Cyclist Safety

Aberdeen City Council has recently invested in a number of Variable Message Signs (VMS) at 8 locations in Aberdeen, these are designed to highlight traffic congestion and roadworks round the city. At times when there are no such problems (yes they do occasionally exist) the signs show a road safety messages randomly selected from a list.

ACF now has regular meetings with Grampian Police and the City Council to discuss cycle safety matters. At our suggestion the council has agreed to add two new messages to the signs’ list.

BE ALERT FOR CYCLISTS
GIVE CYCLISTS ROOM WHEN OVERTAKINGThese should now appear randomly in times of no traffic issues, so most motorists at some time or another should see them.

If you have any comments, suggestions or thoughts on how to further develop this idea them please do get in contact:

Change to June Meeting Location

Due to operational issues the normal meeting room in the townhouse is not available ? the meeting will take place at the meeting room above the Carlton Bar on the Castle Gate (this is in the South West Corner of the Castle Gate, enter the bar door and take the stairs immediately in front of you