In its newsletter from automn 2010, the UK National Agency for Leonardo, Grundtvig and transversal programs has published an article about Talking Bikes focusing on our partner from Newcastle, the community social enterprise set up in June 2006, Recyke y’Bike.
You can download the full bulletin on the Agency web site.
Go directly to page 6 of « edUKation Issue15″: Green Bikers.
During the exchange organised mid-September in Newcastle, the project team from Recyke y’Bike and Academy International has designed two routes to cycle together with the Spanish, French, Italian and Polish learners.
The Rising Sun Route is designed to propose a distance between 6 to 12 km according to the physical conditions of the bikers (and it can also be adapted to the time available).
The Quayside Route starts nearby the Recyke y’Bike premises near the Tyne River. It is a 14,5 km path.
Some pictures taken during the meetings held in september 2010.
Visiting Recyke Y’Bike
Recyke Y’Bike lorry
Unit 1 -where our Recyke Y’Bikes are checked over and stored before they are refurbished
Learning how to fix a puncture outside Recyke y’Bike’s workshop.
Puncture repair
The milenium bridge crossing
Newcastle’s Silver room where all the groups meet the Lord Mayor on Thursday 16th September.
Nice earings
Following the cycling meeting organised for the participants of the Talking Bikes project by Recyke Y’Bike and Academy International, an article has been published in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
An illustrated passport-sized booklet, containing key terms for cycling, different types of bikes for different mobility needs, and good cycling infrastructure has been published in 27 languages.
It also contains information on EU-funding sources for cycling, and statistics on economic, health and environmental aspects of cycling.
This second edition of the Lexicon was launched at the international conference on cycling policy « Velo-city Global 2010 » in Copenhagen. It is the first publications of its kind and was prepared by the EESC’s Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN) in collaboration with the European Cyclists’ Federation.
« The lexicon is indispensable for anyone who wishes to cycle in another European country. It raises awareness, both among citizens and at different levels of governance, about the many advantages of cycling and the need for good cycling infrastructure. »
Download the Bike lexicon in pdf (6,7 Mo).
More info on the European Economic and Social Committee publication web page where you can also ask for paper copies.
Chris, Bob and Dave recorded what we did in Poland and then learned how to create a movie.
This tour is proposed by the Spanish team as a 4 hour tour and a medium-high difficulty named after the typical bird of this mountain region called “Treparriscos”. We have not tried it but obviously we would need much more than 4 hours to accomplish these 90 kilometers. Let’s hope that we will have the opportunity to visit them in June.
The description
« The “Treparriscos” is a tourist bicycle tour of 90 km and 965 ms of difference in height, which is taking place the last Saturday of June every year. It is a route by road that begins in the city of Sabiñánigo, province of Huesca, in the Aragonese Pyrenees. The route is on the Tena Valley with marvellous mountain landscape views.
From the start in Sabiñánigo, it starts to ascend slightly to the village of Biescas, passing through the top of Bubal, the tunnel of Escarrilla. There we turn to the right over the dam and we reach the village of Lanuza, later we arrive at the village of Sallent de Gállego to finalize the ascent in the ski resort of Formigal, very close to the French border. We return there by the state road passing through the villages of Sandiniés, Tramacastilla and again Biescas until the finish in Sabiñánigo. »
The Spanish team proposes to share an easy cycling route.
« We leave from Jaca, by the St. James Way to Castiello de Jaca, a town situated in the Aragon Valley. Once we reach this village we cross the N-330 towards the East of the village and we take the way which goes to Villa Juanita. There we turn to the left and we pass through the village of Aratorés and we return the same way we came. »
Les participants français au projet Talking Bikes ont élaboré un questionnaire pour évaluer les possibilités de développer l’utilisation du vélo au Puy-en-Velay. Ce questionnaire a été soumis à 118 habitants, qui sont appelés les «Ponots», le 2 Mars 2010 à divers endroits de la ville, avec l’aide des partenaires européens à l’occasion de leur visite en France.
Nous avons été surpris de découvrir que 62% des citoyens ont un vélo, VTT ou vélos de ville essentiellement. La première raison pour ne pas avoir un, c’est qu’il est trop dangereux de circuler en ville. 87% pensent que l’utilisation du vélo pourrait se développer, en créant par exemple davantage de pistes cyclables. Cela permettrait de réduire le dioxyde de carbone (pour 38%) et de rendre la ville plus conviviale (pour 32%). Le «Ponots» semblent plus préoccupés par le bien commun que par leur propre santé, en effet, personne n’a relié la pratique quotidienne du vélo avec les effets positifs sur la santé.
Et lorsque les personnes enquêtées affirment qu’il ne serait pas possible de développer l’utilisation du vélo, elles le justifient par les risques trop importants liés à la circulation automobile.
80% pensent qu’il serait utile d’organiser un système de location, 73% estiment qu’une telle initiative pourrait s’appliquer à leur ville et 68% affirment qu’ils en seraient clients. Ils seraient prêts à payer jusqu’à 1,40 euros par heure (pour info, à la date de l’enquête, à Paris, un abonnement d’une journée au service Vélib coûte 1 euro, et la semaine 5 euros).
Au Puy, comme dans toutes les villes, malgré les pentes de certaines rues, le développement de l’utilisation du vélo ne dépend que de volontés politiques. Les citoyens sont prêts à utiliser le vélo, ils ont juste besoin d’être protégés des voitures.
The French learners of Talking Bikes have elaborated a questionnaire to evaluate the possibilities of developing the use of bicycles in le Puy-en-Velay. This questionnaire has been submitted to 118 inhabitants, who are called the « Ponots », the 2nd of March 2010 in various points of the town, with the help of the European partners being in France.
We have been surprised to discover than 62% of citizens have a bicycle, mainly mountain bikes or city bikes. The first reason for not having one is that it is too dangerous to cycle in town. 87% believe that the use of bikes could develop, for example by creating more cycling roads. This will reduce the Carbon dioxide (38%) and will make the city more friendly (32%). The « Ponots » are so more preoccupied by the common good than by their own health: nobody has expressed that it will be good for the health.
And when respondents says that it would not be possible to develop the use of bikes, all, of them thinks that it is too risky to run a bicycle with the car traffic.
80% have a positive opinion of the possibility to organize a renting system, 73 % believe that such an initiative could apply to their town and 68 % says they would be customers. They would be ready to pay up to 1,40 euros per hour (for info,in Paris a one-day subscription to the Vélib‘ service costs 1 euro, and a 7-day, 5 euros).
In le Puy, like in any town, despite the sloping streets, developing the use of bicycles only depends on political wills. The citizens are ready to use bicycles, they just need to be protected from cars.
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