Dear fellow members and friends
3 October 2006
If you subscribe to the excellent Bricycles Newsletter - and if you don't please think about changing that! - you will have seen the list reproduced below at the end of the current issue. I've been liaising with Becky with a view to highlighting a few specific local problems we can bring to the local authority's attention via the consultation procedures. The hope is to establish a permanent mechanism for keeping such issues under review until they are satisfactorily addressed. Please e-mail Becky on the Bricycles address below (copy it to me) either to support us raising specific points or suggest others that you think are more important. But please note that to get anywhere we need to prioritise. Which issues are the most urgent in your opinion?
Some of these will be taken forward by Clarion cycling club and Bricycles in a joint effort to get some improvements from the Council. Any views?- Parking in cycle lanes.
- No-entries for cycles
- Poor signing for the A23 north bound cycle path at Patcham
- Vehicles waiting in cycle lanes on the Lewes Road when waiting to turn left or right
- Lack of widening, maintenance and priority for cyclists on Route 90 north of Coldean Lane
- Dangerous contra-flow cycle path on Kings Esplanade (near King Alfred).
- New pinch points in the Lewes Road and London Road.
- Right-angle turns on seafront cycle path at the western end of Hove Lawns and at Hove Street South.
- 'Tramlines' on the seafront cycle path and elsewhere.
- Need for a city wide 20 mph speed limit for all motorised vehicles including buses.
- Need congestion charging to reduce traffic volume.
- Need travel plans from all schools, employers
- Inadequate cycle path past St. Peter's Church
- Too many big buses in the city centre
Contact Bricycles at bright@cycle20.freeserve.co.uk or Clarion at i.bullock@ntlworld.com
I've included the piece on Walter Southgate that Ed found a few weeks back at the end of this circular [in the History section of the website]. I tried to include Michael's latest discovery too but I can't get the photograph to copy. So I'll e-mail it to Fred who crossed fingers may be able to add it to the 'history page' on our Brighton and Hove Clarion website - for which, incidentally, I have just renewed the domain name for another two years.
Boots!
Ian
The Next Ride
Sunday 15 October
[Several people have phoned me during the last week and I'm not 100% sure I've taken down everyone's e-mail address correctly. Please e-mail me on i.bullock@ntlworld.com
Cuckoo Trail - Polegate to Heathfield and back. 24 Miles
Our exploration of the 'unknown' southern section of the Cuckoo Trail was made more like a Victorian expedition in search of the source of the Nile by inconsistent and baffling signposting (see Fred's report and photos below). But it made me think that it was perhaps time we 'did' the 'normal' Polegate to Heathfield section of the Trail. Although we've used bits particularly at the lower end frequently, we have only done a straight 'up-and-down' ride twice. The first occasion was our very first ride in April 2004 when we had only Joyce, Sheila and myself (plus torrential rain) and one that Fred organised in March last year when he was accompanied by only two friends from Hastings! So, time we had another go especially since, with luck the trees will be turning to autumnal tints and this is a very 'arborial' route. And perhaps we can tempt out some people we haven't seen for a bit? It is gently uphill to Heathfield and more or less downhill all the way back! I'll try and suss out a pub to have lunch at in Heathfield.
Catch the 10.20 from Brighton or meet at Polegate station at 10.57 (some 8 minutes later than the same train last Sunday, but it is direct). Trains back leave at 42 minutes past the hour (direct) and 2 minutes past (with change at Lewes)
The Last Ride - Fred's report
Sunday 1 October
Unexplored Cuckoo Trail, Sovereign Harbour, Normans Bay… and back
I met Tessa at Brighton station, after thinking it may have just been Ian and myself braving the weather. The forecast predicted heavy rain (there was a waterspout spotted off Brighton beach at dawn) but it looked quite promising, albeit windy. Ian was waiting at Polegate station, and so was newcomer Marilyn. We set off along a well-travelled route, but didn't turn off for the Cuckoo Trail heading north, but carried on, into uncharted territory.
Tessa, Ian and Marilyn at the start of the Cuckoo Trail, southern section
The deserted A22
It looked welcoming at first, the newly laid surface following at a safe distance the almost deserted A22 south towards Hampden Park along Sustrans route 21, but suddenly, without warning we were teleported to Slough, or rather the industrial estates of outer Eastbourne!
Unhelpful signs!
At last - the sea
Walking the dog
After crossing several roundabouts and consulting unhelpful signs, we eventually found the sea and headed east towards Sovereign Harbour. Along the coastal cycle path we had the alarming experience of a Dotto train heading straight towards us (something I was not quick enough to photograph). At Pevensey Bay we took a couple of wrong turns, but eventually found the road (marked cul-de-sac) to Norman's Bay. After an incident with an impatient motorist at the only manually operated railway crossing in the UK, we arrived at the popular family pub The Star for lunch, where we were joined by Sue and Terry.
At Norman's Bay level crossing
Tessa, Terry, Marilyn and Sue at lunch
The Star Inn
Afterwards we headed against the wind through the Pevensey Levels on the most direct route to the Cuckoo trail, missing Pevensey Castle this time. Along here we encountered our first shower and stopped to don waterproofs, though the sun was out again within minutes.
Marilyn, Fred, Tessa, Terry, Sue and Ian after lunch
A passing shower
Back on the Cuckoo Trail (northern branch) again, we stopped at the Old Loom Mill for tea and cakes and said goodbye to Terry and Sue who'd left their vehicle at Pevensey Bay. I'd never noticed before but a plaque on the wall said the building had been blown up by a doodlebug brought down by a Tempest in July 1944! With plenty of time, we ambled back to Polegate and Tessa and I got on the train just as the heavens opened! Thanks to Ian for planning another adventurous afternoon.
Fred