GMCC News

Newsletter of the Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign

No. 5
Spring 2014

Apologies for the late arrival of the GMCC Spring Newsletter, but it's
been an eventful few weeks. The AGM saw the election of Jonathan
and Joanna as the new Secretary and Membership Secretary with
Ted continuing as treasurer. Our new GMCC officers introduce
themselves on this page.
The death of Joshua Jarvis has been uppermost in our minds these
last few days and Helena writes about the instalation of a ghost bike
memorial opposite.
The wonderful cover photo by Rolf Hengartner is of one of Pavol
Gajdos's hire bikes. Adam Farkas writes about Manchester Bike Hire
on page 6 along with Alex Bailey's advice on storing your own bike
followed by news about cargo bikes and Stockport's poor quality
cycle route proposals on page 7. In the middle pages is our biggest
events diary ever, news of the return of the Spokes dance troupe
and their North West Velo fest and an exclusive interview with Kevin
Mayne.
This edition is back down to 8 pages to keep our costs under control,
so you can be grateful that there wasn't space for me to rant about
the plastic Armadillos in Salford. If you would like to save money by
receiving an electronic version then email join@gmcc.org.uk so we
can add you to the list. You can also donate to the campaign by
contacting treasurer@gmcc.org.uk. The deadline for the next
newletter will be the first week in May in time for Bike Week. Please
send your contributions to newsletter@gmcc.org.uk and get active!

Mike Armstrong
Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of
GMCC.... This newsletter was created using Scribus, open source
desktop publishing software.

GMCC Contacts
Secretary
Membership
Treasurer
Media Officer
Newsletter
Social Sec.
Web Admin
Web Site
Facebook
Twitter

- Jonathan Keenan
- Joanna Long
- Ted Lawson
- Vincent Walsh
- Mike Armstrong
- Rob Raikes

- secretary@gmcc.org.uk
- join@gmcc.org.uk
- treasurer@gmcc.org.uk
- media@gmcc.org.uk
- newsletter@gmcc.org.uk
- social@gmcc.org.uk
- web@gmcc.org.uk
- www.gmcc.org.uk
- www.facebook.com/GMCycling
- @GMcycling

Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign

c/o 68-70 Dickenson Road, Manchester M1 4 5HF

Secretary's Report

Hello. For those that do not know me I'm the new Secretary at
GMCC. I work as a freelance photographer, based in my studio in the
Northern Quarter, live in Chorlton with family and more bikes than I
care to admit to.
The new role for me as Secretary to GMCC got off to the worst of
starts, learning of the death of Joshua William Jarvis whist he was
cycling in Fallowfield. It will be some time until details of the incident
are known but there will be few of us who would did not also picture
ourselves, or our loved ones, on this, or a similar stretch of road and
imagine the worst. Our hearts go out to family and friends.
In looking at the future of GMCC I am confident we can start building
on the growing membership to tap into the great wealth of
knowledge, enthusiasm and energy that we have amongst us. It
would be great to welcome and engage with as many people as
possible and let everyone help steer the direction of the campaign.
One key element of this being improvements to our internal
communications, enabling members to be as active as they wish, at
whatever level, beyond the confines of the monthly general meetings.
Recent meetings have shown that each of us bring different skills and
areas of interest about campaigning and it's important to help people
connect, collaborate and subsequently feed the work back into the
wider campaign.
Internal communication will need to be transparent to allow people to
get involved and help spread the workload about. There is a great
deal happening in cycling all over Greater Manchester and we should
make sure we have a strong voice in influencing how things develop.
The monthly meetings are important in focussing efforts but making
the background campaigning work more easily accessible will have
huge benefits both in our effectiveness and engagement. It's my
intention to make the general meetings feel more about campaigning.
Discussion on campaigning issues, actual activity and understanding
or developing policy and less about our admin.
Our Twitter account now has over 1 600 followers and has proven a
useful way of communicating and finding out about what is
happening in cycling all around the world. We have found ourselves
able to help influence decision making and keep cycling issues on
the political agenda, offer advice and encouragement to those new to
cycling, and those returning to cycling, and to other campaigns
around the UK and world.
We now have a Communication and Media policy to make sure this
and other output doesn't stray from what we have agreed are our
collective policies, which are also now written down and ready for
further development.
The technical aspects of this are being worked out but its my hope
that the next few months will see a wonderful move on for the
campaign.
Jonathan Keenan is a freelance photographer, pottering cyclist &
mountain biker. Scratching a retro road bike itch. @JonathanKeenan

Hi everyone! I just wanted to say a few words to introduce

myself as the new membership secretary for GMCC and tell
you about my plans for growing and strengthening our
membership over the coming year.
I first joined GMCC just over a year ago after moving to
Manchester 1 8 months ago. I've ridden a bike through many
cities in my life (Aberdeen, Vancouver, London, Liverpool),
always with the same poor or non-existent infrastructure. I
was also becoming angry at lazy, ill-informed decision-makers
spending money on making driving easier when the solution to
so many of the environmental, economic, health and social
problems we face is the bicycle.
So I joined GMCC.
I'd never been part of a campaign group like this before and I
thought my role would be helping out with specific campaign
events or lobbying. However, at the 'Imagine Cycling' event
and through my subsequent involvement with the

Greetings from your new membership secretary

communications sub-group, I found myself getting more and more
passionate about membership issues, particularly the need for
GMCC to represent the number and the diversity of people who
cycle in Manchester.
So I stood as Membership Secretary. And here's what I plan to do
with my time in office:
My number one priority for the coming year is to achieve our target
of doubling the membership. I don't just want everyone who cycles
in Greater Manchester to join our campaign, I want everyone who
*wants* to cycle to join and everyone who cares about someone
who cycles to join
My second goal is to make GMCC more representative of current
and future cyclists in GM. That means attracting new members
from across GM, from Wigan to Oldham, Rochdale to Stockport. It
also means attracting new members of all ages, genders and

Joshua Jarvis

The mother of a Manchester Metropolitan University student killed while

cycling in Fallowfield has paid tribute to her 'gifted' and 'popular' son.
Joshua Jarvis, 21 , died after the bike he was riding was in collision with
a cement lorry on Wilmslow Road on Tuesday 11 February. The
student, who was living in the Fallowfield area, was pronounced dead
at the scene by paramedics.
He was born in Birmingham, but moved to Longhoughton in
Northumberland, at 1 6 months old and went to the villages first school.
In September 201 2, Joshua moved to Manchester to study film
production at university and was in the second year of his course.
Mother Alison Jarvis told how he loved film production and hoped to
make a living from it. She also spoke of his love of music, recalling how
he played the violin as a child as well as sang, before later learning the
acoustic and then electric guitar.
Mrs Jarvis, a 49-year-old midwife, told how her son also enjoyed travelling, having spent last summer in Hong Kong with the girlfriend he met at
university, Camilla Warburton. He was also keen on flying, with his father Simon, a 53-year-old retired policeman and microlight instructor. Mrs
Jarvis said of her son, who had a brother Sammy, 20, and sister Charlotte, 1 7: He was incredibly gifted and skilled. He loved living in
Manchester, loved the course.
He had met loads of really nice people, he was incredibly popular.
He had a huge sense of fairness, that everything had to be fair for everybody. That is what made him so popular.
He just loved life. He lived it to the max. He would have gone far, without a shadow of a doubt.
Joshua, who cycled daily, died following the collision at 3.25pm last Tuesday close to his student house. The circumstances are being
investigated by Greater Manchester Police.
Mrs Jarvis said the family would be campaigning for safer roads for bikers, adding: We will be doing that forever now because I think it
something that needs to be addressed. There are too many families like us and it is not right. I do not want my sons death to be in vain.

Photo and text adapted from the Manchester Evening News web site.

Ghost Bike Memorial

species of cyclist. We are a diverse family and GMCC should

reflect that.
My third goal is to enhance the membership database to make it
a more powerful campaigning tool for GMCC. You, our
members, are our most valuable resource and if we can mobilise
everybody in the right way I believe we can make a big difference
for cycling in GM.
I would like to thank my predecessor, Ted Lawson, who served
as membership secretary for more than 1 0 years. I have big
shoes to fill. He remains our Treasurer and I look forward to
working closely with him to ensure that the people and the pound
signs add up.
I look forward to meeting lots of you over the coming year. If you
see me at a GMCC event or meeting do come and say hello!
Look for the Gazelle with black and orange panniers
Joanna Long is a freelance writer and researcher and the new
membership secretary of GMCC

A ghost bike in memory of Joshua Jarvis marks

the place of his death, outside Papa Johns at the
junction of Wilmslow Road and Landcross Road.
My partner Phil and I painted the bike and
installed it one evening, accompanied by Kay
Fletcher, Secretary of the Fallowfield Brow and
Whitebrook Road Residents Association. As we
paused in reflection the bells pealed out from Holy
Innocents church on Wilbraham Road. Then we
were joined by Sophie, a housemate of Joshua's.
She was moved by our initiative and stayed with
us to light some candles. A young cyclist stopped
and added a bunch of flowers. A local shop
worker came and offered his condolences.
Two days later on 26 February local residents
held a short ceremony to dedicate the bike in
Joshua's memory. In attendance were his
girlfriend
Camilla,
friends,
housemates,
representatives from churches, businesses and
Withington Councillor Chris Paul. Resisting the
wind we lit more candles and then held a minute's
silence followed by readings, prayers and poems. A
student read a moving tribute sent by Joshua's father,
Simon. Cllr Paul briefed us on planned improvements to
road safety in the vicinity.
Joshua's family are fully aware and supportive of the
ghost bike. They ask for donations to be made to
Roadpeace, the national charity for road crash victims. It
helps families after road death and injuries, campaigning
for a fairer justice system and to reduce danger on our
roads: www.roadpeace.org
See Me, Save Me is one of their key campaigns,
dedicated to reduce lorry danger and save lives through
the mandatory use of HGV safety technologies (such as
sensors and cameras) to eliminate lorry blind spots:
www.seemesaveme.com
Helena Kettleborough is a local resident in
Rusholme/Fallowfield and GMCC Member.
3

Manchesters Bicycle Dance Troupe is Back!

We are The Spokes Bicycle Dancers. And this summer, across Manchester, we will be
communicating the JOY of cycling .through the medium of DANCE!

North West Velo Fest

1 6th to 26th May 201 4

Some folks may be familiar with our mini-bike exploits. Manchester was the first city in
Europe to have its own bicycle dance troupe. For 5 years, we confused and entertained
anyone who was willing to watch.

For the third year running, North West Velo

Fest will bring a range of bicycle base events to
the parks and streets of Manchester.

Weve been on sabbatical for about a year, but 201 4 will see the return of grown women
attempting to dance on childrens bikes. Pop Up Bikes on Corporation Street have been
kind enough to offer us their space as our new HQ, allowing The Spokes to reform.

Events will include the return of the Bicycle

School Sports Day and Random Tandem
Bicycle Lock Key Swap Party, as well as long,
short and tweed rides, a treasure hunt, plus a
biking and canoeing trip.

The membership has been completely refreshed, with 5 new members who have never tried
anything like this before. They met for the first time at the start of February. Within two hours
we had the basics of a new routine, some dazzling poses, and fantastic costume ideas!
Its not too late for you to be involved. Were on the look out for women who can give up
one evening a week and have the enthusiasm for trying something new, fun, and silly. No
experience of performance or bike tricks necessary. Will 201 4 be the year you join a bike
gang? The Spokes are now taking bookings for the summer. If you have an event youd like
us to perform at then get in touch. Performance details will be announced over the next
coming months on Facebook, Twitter and our blog. Details below.
thespokes@yahoo.co.uk - www.thespokes.wordpress.com
Facebook: The Spokes Manchester - Twitter: TheSpokesMCR

What Kevin did next

Exclusive interview with former head of CTC by Vincent Walsh

Kevin Mayne only spends four days a year in the UK so I was lucky to catch him
at his brother's birthday party in Penistone. We chatted over breakfast looking
out across Holme Moss where Le Tour peleton will speed in July following its
Grand Depart from Leeds.
After high profile jobs in private industry Kevin served as chief executive of CTC
for 1 4 years. During his tenure membership rose from less than 50,000 towards
70,000, the HQ relocated, CTC became a unified charity and Bikeability was
launched. In 201 2 he sought a new challenge as Development Director with the
European Cyclists' Federation. Founded in 1 983, the ECF is the umbrella
federation of the national cyclists associations in Europe. Based in Brussels,
Kevin's role combines advocacy, business planning, fund raising (1 m from the
bike industry) and much travelling - 1 6 countries in 1 6 months. The focus has
been on Eastern Europe setting up CTC-type organisations and CycleNations particularly promising is Hungary.
Brits talk of "going Dutch" but Kevin believes we should aspire to me more like
Germany which has increased cycling from 8% to 1 3% in the last 1 0 years.
Berlin lacks Dutch infrastructure but benefits from lower speeds (30kph). ECF
organises Velo-city - the premier international planning conference, designed to
encourage cycling as part of daily transport and recreation. Velo-city began in
1 980 in Bremen, the venue now alternates between Europe and elsewhere:
201 3 - Vienna, 201 4 - Adelaide. Shamefully, UK planners and politicians are not
engaged - in Vienna there were 1 400 delegates from every continent but no
British representation. Even the cash-strapped Greeks turned up. Perhaps Brits
will manage Nantes in 201 5 but probably not Taipei (Taiwan) in 201 6.
Kevin has followed the "Get Britain Cycling" debate and gave evidence to the
All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group's inquiry in March 201 3. "Culturally, the
UK is extremely insular and bad at learning lessons from other countries in
Europe. Tiny sprinklings of cash (Cycle City Ambition Grants?) will not make a
difference. Department for Transport's attitude to traffic management is key,
Britain is virtually the only country which continues to provide priority to motor
traffic over cyclists and pedestrians." He considers the cycling fraternity waste
too much energy squabbling. Cycling is still for out-groups in the UK. We need
more spontaneous lycra-free cycling. He bemoans the loss of the unifying

North West Velo Fest is brought to you by the

Spokes, the UKs first all-female bicycle dance
troupe. Expect their patented brand of fun and
inclusive tomfoolery on bicycles, with an open
bike dancing session and a performance to be
announced.
To find out more and to get involved, visit
https://www.facebook.com/NorthWestVeloFest
or email thespokes@yahoo.co.uk.

Cycling England - sacrificed in the Coalition bonfire of the

quangos but there are some signs of hope, "Cities can be
engines of change. We need visionary mayors willing to
create car-free centres. London is still too permeable to
cars. Elsewhere we need to re-balance the car/bike
relationship, enforcing 20mph limits is critical - although I
am not anti-infrastructure, " he notes.
Kevin lives 25km from the centre of the Belgian capital,
commuting by Brompton and train. Cycling in Brussels is
not for the timid with only 1 % of modal share. Linguistically
he survives on O Level French and German. Kevin agrees
with H G Wells, "When I see an adult on a bicycle I do not
despair for the future of the human race." Follow his
(Mayne not Wells) blog at www.idonotdespair.com

Vincent Walsh is the GMCC media officer and coordinates 20's Plenty for Manchester

Greater Manchester Cycling Events Calendar

March 2014

from Love Your Bike

www.loveyourbike.org/cyclingcalendar
Saturday 1 2th

Saturday 1 st

1 0:00am - 1 2:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

1 :00pm - 3:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

Sunday 2nd

8:00am - 1 :00pm Chorlton Velo: Sunday Runs, Truth hair salon

1 2:30pm - 3:00pm, Bike Jumble Sale, PopupBikes

8:00am - 1 :00pm Chorlton Velo: Sunday Runs, Truth hair salon
1 0:00am - 1 :30pm Spring Series 201 4 - The Big Tour, Heaton Park
(Smithy Lodge Entrance)

Wednesday 5th

2:00pm - 4:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

6:00pm - 9:00pm Chorlton Velo: evening run, Truth hair salon

Thursday 6th

5:00pm - 7:00pm Women Only Bicycle Maintenance Course

(Manchester City Centre), City Tower Cycle Hub

Saturday 8th

1 0:00am - 1 2:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training BikeRight!

1 0:00am - 4:00pm Bike and Triathlon Show, Manchester Central
1 :00pm - 3:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

Sunday 9th

8:00am - 1 :00pm Chorlton Velo: Sunday Runs, Truth hair salon

1 0:00am - 2:00pm Chorlton Wanderers: Miner's Arms, Lower Poynton,
Chorlton Water Park
1 0:00am - 1 :30pm Spring Series 201 4 - Pennine Escape, National
Cycling Centre
1 0:00am - 4:00pm Bike and Triathlon Show, Manchester Central

Monday 1 0th

7:00pm - 9:00pm Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign meeting,

Friends Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester

Wednesday 1 2th

2:00pm - 4:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

6:00pm - 9:00pm Chorlton Velo: evening run, Truth hair salon
6:00pm - 7:45pm Stockport Cycle User Group, Meeting Room 6 Town
Hall

Thursday 1 3th

Sunday 1 3th

Monday 1 4th

7:00pm - 9:00pm Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign meeting,

Friends Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester

Wednesday 1 6th

4:00pm - 6:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

6:00pm - 9:00pm Chorlton Velo: evening run, Truth hair salon

Saturday 1 9th

3:00pm - 6:00pm, Bicycle Village 201 4, Jackson's Boat

6:00pm till late live music (tickets 2 advance, 3 on the door)
http://www.bicyclevillage.the-bike-barn.co.uk/

Sunday 20th

8:00am - 1 :00pm Chorlton Velo: Sunday Runs, Truth hair salon

Wednesday 23rd

4:00pm - 6:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

6:00pm - 9:00pm Chorlton Velo: evening run, Truth hair salon

Friday 25th

8:00am - 8:45am Bike Friday (various locations)

6:00pm - 7:30pm Manchester Critical Mass, Central Library

Saturday 26th

1 0:00am - 1 2:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

1 :00pm - 3:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

Sunday 27th

8:00am - 1 :00pm Chorlton Velo: Sunday Runs, Truth hair salon

Wednesday 30th

4:00pm - 6:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

6:00pm - 9:00pm Chorlton Velo: evening run, Truth hair salon

May 2014

5:00pm - 7:00pm Bicycle Maintenance Course (Manchester City

Centre), City Tower Cycle Hub

Saturday 3rd

8:00am - 1 :00pm Chorlton Velo: Sunday Runs, Truth hair salon

1 0:00am - 1 :30pm Spring Series 201 4 - The Big Tour, Heaton Park
(Smithy Lodge Entrance)

Wednesday 7th

Sunday 1 6th

Wednesday 1 9th

2:00pm - 4:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

6:00pm - 9:00pm Chorlton Velo: evening run, Truth hair salon

Saturday 22nd

1 0:00am - 1 2:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

1 :00pm - 3:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

Sunday 23rd

6:00am - 3:00pm The Manchester Cycle, MU Football Ground

8:00am - 1 :00pm Chorlton Velo: Sunday Runs, Truth hair salon
9:30am - 3:00pm The Manchester Family Cycle, MU Football Ground
1 0:00am - 1 :30pm Spring Series 201 4 - Trans Pennine Trail: A Route
to Lymm, Trafford Water Sports Centre

Wednesday 26th

2:00pm - 4:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

6:00pm - 9:00pm Chorlton Velo: evening run, Truth hair salon

Friday 28th

8:00am - 8:45am Bike Friday (various locations)

6:00pm - 7:30pm Manchester Critical Mass, Central Library

Sunday 30th

8:00am - 1 :00pm Chorlton Velo: Sunday Runs, Truth hair salon

April 2014

Wednesday 2nd

4:00pm - 6:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

6:00pm - 9:00pm Chorlton Velo: evening run, Truth hair salon

Saturday 5th

1 0:00am - 1 2:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

1 2:30pm - 3:00pm, Bike Jumble Sale, PopupBikes
1 :00pm - 3:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

Sunday 6th

8:00am - 1 :00pm Chorlton Velo: Sunday Runs, Truth hair salon

Wednesday 9th

4:00pm - 6:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

6:00pm - 9:00pm Chorlton Velo: evening run, Truth hair salon

Thursday 1 0th

6.00pm Salford Cycle Forum, committee room 3, Salford Civic Centre,

Swinton. http://www.salford.gov.uk/cycle-forum.htm

1 0:00am - 1 2:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

1 2:30pm - 3:00pm, Bike Jumble Sale, PopupBikes
1 :00pm - 3:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!
4:00pm - 6:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

Saturday 1 0th

1 0:00am - 1 2:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

1 :00pm - 3:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

Sunday 11 th

1 0:00am - 1 :30pm Chorlton Wanderers: Dog Inn, Peover, Chorlton

Water Park

Monday 1 4th

7:00pm - 9:00pm Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign meeting,

Friends Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester

Wednesday 1 4th

4:00pm - 6:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

Friday 1 6th

The first day of North West Velo Fest 201 4 - see opposite page

Saturday 1 7th

1 0:00am - 1 2:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

1 :00pm - 3:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!
1 0:30am - 1 :00pm Bicycle Repairs, Victoria Park, Stretford
1 :00pm - 3:00pm GMCC Family Ride, Victoria Park Cafe, Stretford

Wednesday 21 st

4:00pm - 6:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

6:00pm - 8:00pm Trafford Cycle Forum, location tbc.
http://www.trafford.gov.uk/residents/leisure-and-lifestyle/sport-andleisure/cycling/trafford-cycle-forum.aspx

Saturday 24th

1 0:00am - 1 2:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

1 :00pm - 3:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!
1 :00pm - 7:00pm Envirolution Festival 201 4, Platt Fields Park
http://envirolution.wordpress.com/

Monday 26th

North West Velo Fest ends - see opposite page

Wednesday 28th

4:00pm - 6:00pm Freewheeling adult cycle training, BikeRight!

Friday 30th

8:00am - 8:45am Bike Friday (various locations)

6:00pm - 7:30pm Manchester Critical Mass, Central Library
Details may vary from the above, please check web site for more
events and up to date information, and add your events at

www.loveyourbike.org/cyclingcalendar

Get That Bike out of the Hallway

Did your household gain a bike at Christmas? Did you make a new years
resolution to declutter? Perhaps your other half is always nagging you
about the bike in the hallway. If your home is starting to look like invasion of
the bikes, help is at hand - with these storage solutions.
Storing a bike in an outbuilding using a bike hook

Outside toilet buildings are known for being solidly built and
they can be made secure with a five-lever lock. Believe it or
not, there is space for a bicycle inside if the bike is hung
from its front wheel. The Delta Leonardo hook is good for
bikes with tyres of up to 42mm. It retails online for about 1 0.
Josta make a bigger hook suitable for MTB tyres. Bike hooks
are also good for storing bikes in cellars.
Storing a bike in a back yard or on a patio under a tarpaulin

When stored outside, a bike needs chaining to a

wall anchor or ground anchor for security. A
tarpaulin can then offer protection from the
weather. The top corners of the tarpaulin can be
screwed to the wall and the bottom corners tied
to the ground, so it stays put.
Storing a bike on a wall in a utility room or other
interior space using a shelf

Space in utility rooms tends to be at a premium,

thanks to all the other stuff stored there. If the
bike has a horizontal top tube (or crossbar), a
solution is to hang the bike on the wall from a
bike shelf. A bike shelf consists of two shelf
brackets and two 1 8 planks of wood. These
form a shelf just shorter than a bikes top tube,
with a groove for the top tube to sit in.
Securing a bike in a shed

Garden sheds offer rich pickings for thieves. An existing shed can be
fortified by bolting flat steel bar to one or more the main timbers to provide
a locking point. Proprietary versions are available. If youre building a new
shed, install a locking point to the ground beneath with a strong chain
attached. Build the shed on top if it and feed the chain through the shed
floor. This enables bikes to be locked directly to the ground.
You can find further information about these storage solutions at
www.cyclingfortransport.com.

But the hallway is all I have

Wherever you store a bike, there are a few techniques

to make it take up less space.
If the bike is to be leant against a wall, park it with the
right side against the wall, to keep the chain and the
sprockets away from the walkway.
Turn the cranks so that the pedal nearest the wall is at
the six o clock position. This lets you get the bike a
couple of inches closer to the wall.
If the bike has a traditional headset with a
threaded stem, loosen the stem bolt and
turn the handlebars through 90 degrees.
This lets you park it 6 inches closer to the
wall and ensures the handlebar doesnt
stick out. Just remember to fully tighten
the stem bolt before riding it.
If two or more bikes need to be parked in
the same space, top and tail them.

Alex Bailey is a writer and teacher

based in Bury. He writes about mobility,

sustainability and education

Casual rides

Manchester Bike Hire moves up a gear

Renting a city bike is a newish notion in Manchester: we have neither
a bike-sharing scheme nor a mass culture of casual, hassle-free rides
in town. Now a local company is on a mission to change this. You
might as well have spotted their customers coasting casually on their
sturdy yet elegant city bicycles, the full chain case advertising both a
company and a new phenomenon: Manchester Bike Hire. Intrigued?
Just ask one of those cyclists and you are in for a convincing sales
pitch between two green lights. Those people are not just customers
they are converts.
The man behind the wheels, Pavol Gajdos knows the secret of
building such loyalty. For him, a bicycle is not a product but a service.
Ive done my homework and I had found no bike-hire company in
Europe that offered high-end city bikes and flexible, unlimited service
during the rental period let alone long-term renting schemes he
says. So he went to Scotland and bought 1 4 Paper Bicycles which he
himself helped to assemble not out of charity but in order to know the
bikes like the back of his hand so that he could fix a glitch fast. Today,
this expertise is at the very core of his success.
Here is the deal: you phone Manchester Bike Hire to order a bicycle
and they deliver it within hours. You sign a paper, pay, and off you go.
When the time is up, they will collect the bike at whichever place and
time you have agreed upon. The bike is insured and the lock you get is
practically napalm-proof. And whenever you have a flat tire, sagging
chain or a wobbly saddle, you just lock the bike somewhere, give a call
and they will fix the bicycle promptly and deliver it back to you.

Manchester Bike Hire thrives on two new ideas espoused by ever

more Mancunians: first, that cycling feels good, and second, that
renting is often more convenient than owning if you factor in the
service that saves you time. More and more people start cycling so
we need to expand our fleet. The demand for family and tandem
bikes is also increasing says Pavol while measuring up my bike
sternly from a distance. Without touching it, he knows: number 11 is
running fine.

Adam Farkas studies journalism at the University of Salford and

works as a freelance writer. farkas.adam.mail@gmail.com
Photo by Rolf Hengartner

BIKES REPLACING TRUCKS AND VANS?

The bespoke use of cargo bikes has already started in
Manchester:
TNT Post has just established a new operation in Manchester
that will employ 1 ,200 people, 700 of whom have received
Bikeablility training to Level 2 and are now to be seen out on
Pashleys delivering post.
Manchester Bike Hire, Pavol Gajdos' new bike hire and cargo
courier, uses a bike trailer to deliver hire bikes to customers
and the same trailer is used to carry larger parcels that the
bike couriers find too big for their shoulder bags.
Coffee Cranks Co-op uses a bespoke tricycle as the base for
its mobile coffee shop, pedalled to its location by the barista
(Zym Wysocki or a colleague).
But now picture a load of parcels to deliver on a weekday
morning in the middle of Manchester, to shops (e.g. urgent
pharmaceuticals), to businesses (e.g. specialist spare part for
a computer) and to people's homes (e.g. the latest CD ordered
on-line). Overnight these items have been put together at
distribution hubs by the big carriers. At the outskirts of
Manchester, the loads are disaggregated onto smaller delivery
vehicles, often only partially loaded, and off to the city
centre...into congestion and parking tickets.
Imagine instead that at the outskirts, the disaggregated loads
are grouped together, irrespective of the delivery firm that did
the long distance journey, and then distributed by cargo bike.
This zips through the congestion, has no trouble parking and
delivers on time.
This is the prospect, not just for Manchester but for all town
and city centres over the next decade. Already, the
combination of modern logistics and supply chain systems,
with the latest designs of cargo bike, has proved to be
commercially viable elsewhere. In Cambridge, there is
Outspoken Delivery, using bikes like the 8Freight (up to 80kgs
payload) and a bigger tricycle with up to 250kg payload. In
London, Gnewt Cargo uses a combination of cargo bikes and
small electric vans.
For more on cycle logistics, visit: www.cyclelogistics.eu or
contact Richard Armitage
richard@ratransport.co.uk M: 07973 538 556.

Oi Stockport ...it is not acceptable to

leave gaps in cycle route provision*
On 7th February, Stockport Cycle User Group (CUG) members
received the agenda for a CUG meeting on 1 3th Feb. The top
item was Stockport Council's proposal for a Vlocity 2025
cycle link between Cheadle and the Mersey Valley. (1 ) The
deadline for comments was Monday 1 7th Feb.
Love Your Bike and every person attending the CUG meeting
agreed that not only was the proposed route dangerous but
clearly did not connect with any safe cycling infrastructure on
the Manchester side.
The Velocity 2025 (Cycle City Ambition Grant) describes how
this cycle route will bridge the severance caused by the M60
motorway and the River Mersey and fully-segregated cycle
tracks will link Cheadle to The Corridor Super Cycleway. (2)
More generally, Velocity 2025 states that at the core of our
proposals is a network of continuous cycle routes, more
continental in style, to key destinations of employment,
education and training. Each of the routes outlined below will
be segregated from other traffic wherever possible and
supported by the creation of 20 mph speed limits in adjacent
areas.
The proposed route ended before the Mersey Bridge and did
not provide a safe and continuous route that connects to
places that people would want to "go to". The design also had
a number of other poor or dangerous features:
* anyone using the proposed route would have to cross two
lanes of 40mph traffic at both ends of the route without any
signalised crossing facilities. This is both dangerous and
unlikely to encourage less confident people to cycle on this
route.
* the proposed facility is not wide enough and did not meet the
standard recommended in the GM Cycling Design Guidance.
Nor did the route have any stage separation between path and
road.
* anyone cycling on the route would be required to give way
when crossing minor lanes.
Stockport Council's proposed design failed to meet the Velocity
2025 vision as well as the Key Design Criteria outlined in the
Greater Manchester Cycling Design Guidance & Standards
which states that "It is not acceptable to leave gaps in cycle
route provision."
It is unacceptable that Stockport Council proposed such a poor
scheme. Also, it is not encouraging that when such "crossborder" schemes are proposed that the desgns for the
Manchester side of the scheme were not available for scrutiny.
If Greater Manchester is to achieve a more connected cycling
network via the Velocity 2025 programme then we need to see
both better designs as well as more strategic co-ordination.
Surely a role for Transport for Greater Manchester?
Love Your Bike and GMCC fully supported the need for this
area to have a cycle route that provides a high quality, safe
and continuous route for everyone, be they aged 8 or 80. We
welcome that the proposed designs have been withdrawn and
that work has started on a new and hopefully much better
design. Watch this space!

Pete Abel is a volunteer with Love Your Bike - a Manchesterbased cycling advocacy campaign.
A Workshop on Setting Up and Running Cycle Based Delivery Service,
run by Outspoken Delivery and sponsored by the EU Cycle Logistics
Project, was attended by Pavol Gajdos (Manchester Bike Hire), Zym
Wysocki (Crank's Coffee Co-op) and Richard Armitage. In the group photo,
Zym is on the left, sat in a Dutch Bakfiets cargo box; Pavol is on the back
row, second from the right (sat on a Danish Bullitt).

(*) Greater Manchester Cycling Design Guidance & Standards

Version 2.0 (Page 2)
(1 ) The initial designs for the Manchester Road, Cheadle Proposed Shared Use Pedestrian/Cycle Facility are no longer
available online.
(2) http://cycling.tfgm.com/velocity/Velocity2025_vision.pdf

Bike Shop Discounts

All these shops offer 5% or 10% discounts to GMCC members on production of a

valid membership card.

A1 Cycle Spares (01 61 998 2882) 41 4-41 6 Palatine Rd, Northenden

A6 Cycle Warehouse (01 61 248 5400) 752-762 Stockport Rd, Longsight
Altrincham Bike Shak (01 61 929 9355) 1 0 Oakfield Trading Estate, Oakfield Rd,
Altrincham

Sale Moor Car & Cycle (01 61 969 1 81 8) 1 74 Northenden Rd, Sale M33 2SR
Bicycle Doctor (01 61 224 1 303) 68-70 Dickenson Rd, Rusholme
Biking Factory Shop (01 61 773 21 25) 424 Bury New Rd, Prestwich
Coffee Cranks Cooperative (07599 088 81 6) Central and South Manchester
Devereux Cycles (01 61 973 5234) 45 Green Lane, Sale
Eddie McGrath Cycles (01 61 748 2733) 31 Station, Urmston
Harry Hall Cycles (01 61 236 5699) 67 Whitworth St, Manchester
Keep Pedalling (01 61 222 601 5) 23 Hilton Street M1 1 EL
Ken Fosters Cycle Logic (01 61 881 71 60) 374-376 Barlow Moor Rd,

Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Lane End Cycles (01 61 431 0777) 5 Lane End Rd, Burnage, M1 9 1 WA
Manchester Cycle Exchange (01 61 748 2532) 1 Brook Terrace, Barton Rd,
Davyhulme
NW Mountain Bike Centre (01 61 428 3311 ) 249 Stockport Rd, Cheadle
Popup Bikes (01 61 839 0709) Arch 5 Corporation St. M4 4DG
revolveMCR mobile cycle repairs (07939 062 600) South and Central Manchester
Skidmores Cycles (01 61 624 591 2) 37 Union St, Oldham
Withington Cycles (01 61 445 3492) 26 Burton Rd, Withington
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the details here are correct but no
responsibility can be accepted for errors.

About GMCC
Greater Manchester Cycling
Campaign is a voluntary group
working to make cycling in Greater
Manchester quicker, safer, easier and
more enjoyable.
Less than 2% of journeys in Greater
Manchester are by bicycle because
many people who would like to cycle
are intimidated by the quantity and
speed of motorised traffic. GMCC is
campaigning to change this.
Our aim is to increase cycle use in
Greater Manchester by ensuring that
cycling is promoted as a cheap,
healthy, sustainable transport choice
within local authority strategies,
schemes and programmes for all
types of trips including, commuting,
shopping and leisure.
Meetings to organise campaigns are
held on the second Monday of every
month at the Friends Meeting House,
Mount St, Manchester M2 5NS, close
to Manchester Town Hall, starting at
7.00pm. There is bicycle parking at
the side of the building. At 9pm the
group usually head to The
Waterhouse, 67-71 Princess Street.
Everyone is welcome, members and
non-members alike.

Join Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign Today

We are offering the first year of
GMCC membership for free, but
donations to Greater Manchester
Cycling Campaign are welcome.
Just fill out this form, and post it to
Greater Manchester Cycling
Campaign
c/o
68-70 Dickenson Road
Manchester
M1 4 5HF