St Albans Car Free Day 26th September 2010 (aka In Town Without My Car)

Hosted by St Albans District Council (SADC)

This Post will be updated as various aspects of the event are developed - take everything here as a jumble of  'Provisional wild ideas' until marked as 'Confirmed'.

STACC will be supporting the event  - we are having a stall in the marquee and hope to organise cycling  activities.

I spoke to SADC on 11 Aug only to find that St Peter's Street will NOT be closed on the day - as had been hoped. (SADC did try, but it was agreed that only a full closure of the street to all motor traffic would have enabled the street space to be used for street games etc. This would have meant disrupting bus services,  contrary to the aims of Car Free Day - which is to encourage all forms of sustainable transport.)  I fully accept this - no further argument needed.

I suggested instead that streets without bus routes near the city centre should be closed to motor vehicles (eg. Market Place, Drovers' Way & Bricket Road) which, together with the open spaces around the Arena/City Offices should give plenty of space for different concurrent events/routes. This is being considered.
SADC are very keen to have as many activities as possible.
Having a network of car-freed streets & spaces  lends itself more readily to such events as Mike's (see comment) suggested alley cat races, than does the closure of St Peter's St.

We are looking for imaginative ideas related to cycling - submit yours by adding comments to this post (its very easy).
(Do not put your email address in comments, if you are a STACC member you can use your membership number and first name as a nickname when submitting comments, then I will be able to look up your contact details, so we can follow up your idea.)

Non-cycling ideas can be submitted either by comments - as above  - or directly to SADC Sustainability Officer Candice on  01727 819466.

Keep watching this post - you can jump straight here by using the short URL  http://goo.gl/T7IF
(Don't forget to click on comments to see what ideas others have submitted so far, then help to improve on them.)

Some initial cycling ideas....
slow bike race
bike races for children
stunt bike displays...come all you BMXers
races: racing bike, mountain bike, recumbents...
mobility scooter races
family / utility bike / trike solutions
bike shops presence + Dr Bike
I guess that any races would  would be over skill challenging obstacle courses rather than sheer speed.


Non-Cycling ideas using available car-freed space.....
(Those not viable without St Peter's St are struck out)

5-a-side footie and/or other games - tennis, volley ball etc.

foot races - egg and spoon,  three-legged
treasure hunts - observing hidden bits of the city centre 

skating  - blades/skateboard 

Anyone with a land-yatch?

Fly control line model aircraft. Use top deck of  Bricket Road car park.  (Model flyers have good safety rules & discipline)
Model car racing
Music - marching/folk/rock.

Dancing folk/morris by those who can,  plus conger/barn - for those who can't. 

Food & Drink - out in the open - already in SADC plan.
## I note in the Review 11/8/10 page 3, that Hertfordshire Police choir are seeking opportunities to perform - suggest they be contacted.

Additions (11 Aug)
I have suggested that the middle floor of the Bricket Road car park be used all through the day for skating (board/roller-blade & hockey if viable) requires little organisation (participants of all ages generally seem to be able to organise themselves). Being considered by SADC.

In fact all floors of this car park might as well be closed leaving three all-weather spaces for events yet to be thought of, events intended for outdoors might readily be moved under cover.
I looked at it today and find that it could be used imaginatively for a number of activities. In fact it has a sufficient area to more than compensate for the 'loss' of St Peter's St. The floor is smooth & in good condition, the up/down ramps to the top deck lend themselves to being used in a more challenging bike route. I guess that the low roof  beams and pillars would lend extra spice to five-a-side footie.
The lower deck has less daylight filtering in so might be less suitable for activities - but hold in reserve anyway.
More than one activity can be held on each deck.
There need be no time limit to use, as would have been the case with St Peter's St.
Using the Car Park has a neat CFD logic, in that it assigns space for people to enjoy, rather than to cars.
If SADC put up reasons why a car park can't be used for other purposes, my advice to them is to try harder.
By the magic of the car-parking space indicator boards on city approaches, the car park can be shown as closed.

Care should be taken with the siting of the marquee & market stalls - not near a loud music system.
Also need to leave the limited car-freed space available for fun events.

Publicity Needed to engage the folks - especially the young - of St Albans as soon as possible. Only six weeks to go.
Give CFD a high profile in Community News Wrap - (this is supposed to be issued in September, but seems to have been rather haphazard - need to confirm that the next issue will be September then  need to reserve some front page space for CFD).
Get Councillors engaged with the idea and spread it to their Wards.
The event indicator boards on city approaches should give advance notice of CFD, (starting about now).
The message nearer the date should include the advice 'WALK IT! BIKE IT! BUS IT!'
(It seems that the method of making the indicator boards alternately advertise more than one event in a timed cycle has not yet been mastered.)
## SADC are expecting to have a Car Free Day page on their website, indicating progress during the planning stages. 
## Members of the Environmental Forum should be able to come up with further event ideas. They should be circulated now. (Next Forum meeting is 13th September).


Meeting on Friday 13th Aug with SADC and invited participating orgs (inc STACC).
Young people should be included in the organisation stage, so they can tell us what they want.


Post updated throughout: 11/8/10       
## Afterthoughts 12/8/10 shown thus

St Albans Car Free Day 2009 - Success

Picture by phatcontroller

St Albans 2009 Car Free Day (announced in an earlier post ) was welcomed as a modest success. In this, the first year that St Albans District Council (SADC) has promoted the event, the aim had not been to attempt to reduce the volume of car traffic in the city.

In the end, four stalls were manned - STACC's own, Transition St Albans [see], Intalink (Public Transport) [see] & SADC.

There was to have been a Travelwise/Intalink bus as well, but it is thought to have broken down. (Happily my bike showed better reliability in transporting the contents of the STACC display.)

I must thank the 14 STACC members who turned up to assist and support. It was a remarkable turnout at such short notice & on a working day. Some of you stretched your lunch hours to be there. Your presence was extremely encouraging and generated much additional public interest in our stall and in the whole event. In fact we ran out of stocks of free maps and literature well before the end of the event.

The Slow Bike Race was - significantly - won by St Albans' cycling Mayor - Councillor Chris Oxley, STACC member Pat was second. I am at pains to stress that Pat (who had been much fancied to win) was NOT under team orders allow the Mayor to win.

I believe that SADC will be encouraged by the support given & will, we hope, be able to host a larger well planned event in future years - STACC will be urging them to do so.

UPDATE - 29/7/2010 - by STACC Tom

Date for CAR FREE DAY 2010 is Sunday 26th September.

(Provisional date had been given as  19th Sept - so please change your diaries.)

Bike Week: Increased turnout on rides organised by other groups

Possibly as a result of the publicity we gave to the three rides organised by the Forty-Plus Cycle Club (Tue & Thur) and the Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC) (Wed), they both report that the number of riders was augmented beyond the normal turnout. 40+ reported 6 extras on both days and CTC 6 extra.
So thanks to both groups for welcoming the newcomers.
Remember that the three rides are held regularly every week (CTC two-weekly in winter) and you will be made equally welcome at other times - but the CTC always arranges for their Bike Week ride to end in St Albans, for the benefit of newcomers, on other dates it often ends at different pubs requiring you to make your own way home.
For further details refer to the runs programmes on the two clubs' web sites:
CTC [HERE]
40+ Tuesday [HERE] Thursday [HERE] (In case you've not twigged - you need to be over forty years of age.)
Be sure to verify the starting point/time for all rides before you venture out!

(CTC programme of Sunday longer rides can be found [HERE] should you wish to try them).

Both the clubs are the local sections of nation-wide clubs - regular group cycling is happening everywhere.

Verulam Cycle Club's Ride for a Reason today will, no doubt, have been well supported mainly because of the weather and perhaps a little by our supportive publicity. They too have regular rides and other events - see their web site [HERE]

I've recently heard of an off-road group which goes out every Wednesday at 7pm, ask at Rock & Road bike shop, Victoria St. I don't know the standard - might be quite genteel or on the other hand gloriously muddy - but they sound like a welcoming bunch either way.

On Friday evenings through the summer, you can take the short ride to Gosling Stadium Track, Welwyn Garden City and watch the racing - really good free entertainment, all ages taking part. The Welwyn Wheelers club runs the event and also takes on children from age seven offering racing training (on another evening) - so take your children - they (and you) might get hooked. Details [HERE]

STACC aims to support all cycling in the area.

Mobile Cycle Repairer

I have recently heard of a Mobile Bike Repair service called Cycledelik.
Details & prices appear on their web site HERE

I have no knowledge of their quality of service, so this post should not be taken as a recommendation.
If you use them, please add a comment to this post - use your first name & membership number as your ID when doing so, then I can contact you for more details.

If their service is OK and as they are local, STACC might request some member discount.

UPDATE: 13/8/8
Since the original post, I have found out more by chatting to Cycledelik (at the Kaleidoscope Festival at Welwyn Garden City).
I determined that they only have an office in St Albans - this had made me think that they operated locally. However their operating area is currently in London (with a demand for quick service from cycle couriers etc) and they hope to expand their area as time goes on - so I doubt if they will be operating near St Albans any time soon.
They certainly have a very professional attitude, so I hope they prosper.

Alban Way temporary closure 11th Feb for 3 weeks - REOPENED 3rd March

ALBAN WAY REOPENED ON MARCH 3RD - ON TIME

So the rest of this post is redundant.

Information from Debbi White, Assistant Estates Surveyor, St Albans City and District Council, Tel: 01727 819515 - summary of her letter.

Alban Way will be closed between Camp Road and Orient Way from 11th February for about three weeks (depending on the weather).

This is to allow for works to take place in connection with the Linden Homes & City Station development to provide mains drainage

BUT NOT YET (as previously stated) the (good news) cycling & pedestrian ramp from the site to the Alban Way, giving off-road access to the station.

SADC, appreciating the importance and popularity of the route, had hoped to keep the Alban Way open during the works, but for justifiable safety concerns (a 3.5 metre deep trench is required) closure was the only option.

The work will include re-surfacing affected areas.

Formal notices will appear in the local press and closure notices are erected at Dellfield and Orient Close.

The footpath from Dellfield to Vanda Crescent will remain open

Diversions will be posted.

[[ End of Debbi's Info ]]

Additional info from me....

The first week of closure falls in half term, so the impact will be reduced somewhat.

A number of local school have been notified, STACC have been asked to identify any others which we feel should be notified.

Diversions

Diversion notices in the form of maps are posted at each end of the affected section.

There are no directions posted along the line of the diversion route (only motorists get those), so I have prepared route sheets of my own suggested diversions (below). Please advise any errors to me by way of a comment to this post.

You can print clips from these to take with you if you are not familiar with the area.

Two routes are suggested, one almost entirely on-road & faster, for experienced riders, the other entirely a combination of off-road and quiet roads.

There is a different route sheet for each direction.

Alban Way closure 11 Feb 08

Diversion for EASTBOUND users - ON-ROAD Option

(Traffic conditions could be heavy in some roads at some times, especially around City Station.)

Halfway along Orient Close, instead of going straight ahead, turn left - up slope (also Orient Close)

At Roundabout (London Road Junction) go forward into Grosvenor Rd.

(Option use nearby pelican crossing).

Follow up hill to junction with Ridgmont Rd.

Turn right into Ridgmont Rd.

Go through line of bollards, bearing left (still Ridgmont Rd).

At end turn right into Victoria St. (often busy).

Over railway bridge, forward at traffic lights.

At next junction, main road bears left, go forward into Grimston Rd.

Turn left into Flora Grove.

At fork, bear right to continue in Flora Grove.

Down hill and turn left into Vanda Crescent.

Just before school, take footpath on right (walk).

At end rejoin Alban Way - turning left to cross bridge.

Alban Way closure 11 Feb 08

Diversion for WESTBOUND users - ON-ROAD Option

(Traffic conditions could be heavy in some roads at some times, especially around City Station.)

After bridge over Camp Rd. take footpath on right, beyond school (walk).

At end, turn left (Vanda Crescent).

At end turn right (Flora Grove).

Bear left at junction & follow to tee junction,

where turn right (Grimston Rd.)

At junction with Stanhope Rd, go forward & again forward through traffic lights.

After railway bridge, but before traffic lights, turn left (Ridgmont Rd.)

Forward for 200 metres then right through line of bollards (still Ridgmont Rd)

At junction with Grosvenor Rd, turn left into Grosvenor Rd.

At roundabout (London Rd junction) go forward into Orient Close.

(Option use nearby pelican crossing).

Down incline then turn right to rejoin Alban Way.

Alban Way closure 11 Feb 08

Diversion for EASTBOUND users - OFF-ROAD/QUIET ROAD Option

(Traffic conditions should be very quiet on this route, suitable for children.)

Halfway along Orient Close, instead of going straight ahead, turn left - up slope (also Orient Close), using cycle path.

At junction with London Rd, use pelican crossing to cross London Rd (walk).

Go right & cross Grosvenor Rd, to join cycle path alongside London Rd.

Pass under railway bridge & cross two side roads.

At Cunningham Hill Rd, turn left.

This is a quiet cul-de-sac, so ride on road.

As Cunningham Hill Rd bears right, go left into Barncroft Way.

After 50 metres go through gap with three bollards on right.

Using footway (walk) bear left & go through four bollards.

Still keeping left follow footway and continue alongside Parkview Close.

Continue on footpath alongside playing field, through barriers & down hill.

At Dellfield turn right then take path on left just before junction with Camp Rd.

Up slope to rejoin Alban Way, turn right to cross bridge.

Alban Way closure 11 Feb 08

Diversion for WESTBOUND users - OFF-ROAD/QUIET ROAD Option

(Traffic conditions should be very quiet on this route, suitable for children.)

After bridge over Camp Rd. turn left, down slope to Dellfield.

Turn right then after Hawkshill take footpath on left, up hill (walk).

Through barriers and alongside playing field, continue on footway alongside Cell Barnes Lane.

Bear right between four bollards, then through gap with three bollards.

To join Barncroft Way, turning left.

After 50 metres go right into Cunningham Hill Rd.

This is a quiet cul-de-sac, so ride on road.

Just before end (junction with London Rd) go right on shared cycle path.

Cross two side roads & go under railway, continue to Grosvenor Rd.

Cross Grosvenor Rd & take pelican crossing over London Rd (walk).

Join cycle path in Orient Close, go down slope to tee junction.

Turn right to rejoin Alban Way.

Post updated 4th March with reopening info.

Post updated 31 Jan due to fault in Blogger, which resulted in route sheet headings being rendered with font-size of zero!

Post updated 8 Feb due to the closure start date being brought forward (or incorrectly advised) - It is now Feb 11th, not 12th. Plus other detail changes.

Verulamium Park - Consultation Continues

The exhibition of the proposals for the lottery bid & the consultation process continue through the week (from 5th November) in the Verulamium Museum foyer - but will not be manned.
You will still be able to leave more comments on Post-It notes - you are not limited to one note.

Notes will be collected once per day.
Opening times will be those of the museum
Monday - Saturday 10.00am - 5.30pm
Sunday 2.00pm - 5.30pm
Visit as many times as you like - with all those afterthoughts.

The exhibition also appears on-line from Monday 5th Nov &
continues for at least a week. It is [HERE] .

There is also be a Discussion Forum where you can leave more comments, it is located [HERE] .


New Readers catch-up: See earlier post [HERE]

Verulamium Park - View Plan - On-line or on 3rd November

Information on the master plan for a lottery bid for Ver Park is currently available on line
[HERE]

It will also be available from 12noon until 7.30pm on Saturday, 3 November in the foyer of Verulamium Museum.
I would encourage all those who wish to see cycling in the park to make sure their views are heard.

STACC member Gwen says...
I have just read the press release on the SADC website,'Ver Park Plan goes
live'. I am concerned not to find a single reference to cycling, in
amongst the herons and chalk stream, is it being hidden in the proposed
path round the edge of the park? Another reason for visiting the
exhibition on Sat.

Amended 8 Nov
See later Post [HERE]

St Albans Review - On-Line Comments - Looks Useful

If you read the local free paper St Albans Review, as well as the letters page you will have seen the page and a half of comments which readers have made on line.

It occurs to me that this is a handy way to plug STACC and the cycling message, and has more chance of being printed than a letter.

The more comments on a subject, the higher ranking it seems to get.

Just go to HERE and get typing, anytime you see a relevant article, but it appears that you can only add on-line comment to the 'Most Read' articles listed. (Add a comment to this post if you find out how to comment on any article or reader's letter, not listed as 'Most Read'.)

ALSO: added 26 Oct
The Review's website is not a static version of the printed paper, it is constantly changing with new stories added - and further chances for comment. So you need to keep a regular eye on things.

PS: added 25 Oct
There's currently an article running on line, with opportunity to comment....
Bright ideas for Verulamium Park [HERE]
It's about young people's ideas for the park (but they forgot to say cycling).
Moreover the article says the park is a "haven for ..... cyclists ...." - bit of scope for comment?

Updated 10 April 2008 adding text in green italics

French Connection - Marseille Bike Hire

Marseille's new cycle hire scheme was launched recently.

Jack Pia (SADC Councillor for St Peter's Ward & former STACC member) - pictured - happened to be there near the launch date & used the system often during his visit and is full of praise for it.

Jack has been a proponent of 'appropriate' urban transport - walk-cycle-bus for the last half century.
However, before you ask, there are no prospects of such a scheme in St Albans, the city isn't big enough to support one.

The scheme is identical to the one in Lyons (first one in France) - Blogged here and the one in Paris - see useful tips in English here

The scheme name is Vélib’ in both Paris & Marseille and Vélo'v in Lyons (accents & apostrohes - essential for us pedants) .

Whilst Paris & Lyons systems operate 24/7 there's some indication that Marseille does not operate at night yet here

Hmmm... I hope that Jack remembered to ride on the right.

UPDATED 26 Oct
Comment on-line about this at St Albans Review's website [HERE]

Cyclists Wanted, 10 Nov, to Welcome group cycling from Glasgow

Message from Liz

The Mayor, Cllr Kate Morris, has asked for some STACC members to escort some members of the crew of HMS St Albans who will have cycled from Glasgow and be arriving in St Albans on Saturday, November 10th. The idea would be to await their arrival at approx 2pm. at the entrance to Woollams (sports ground), just outside the St Albans boundary on the Harpenden Rd. We then cycle with them to the Town Centre where they will be greeted. They are raising money for charity while their ship is in dock in Glasgow.
As you probably know, the crew have the Freedom of the City of St Albans and they will be staying the week-end and attending the Remembrance Day parade on the Sunday.
Please let me know if you would be able to support this good idea and see how many cyclists we can muster!


Amended 8 Nov
See later post [HERE]

STACC Welcomes St Albans Mayor in Bike Week

St Albans Mayor, Councillor Kate Morris, is expected to join us for the 6 mile Family Ride along the Alban Way on Thursday 21st June.

The event starts at 6:30 pm.
Finalised Venue for the Start & Finish is Earthworks, Hixberry Lane.
(Venue was originally the Highfield Centre, Hill End Lane, next to SPAR, but in view of the Mayor's visit we have changed it to Earthworks. We will be looking out for people who arrive at Highfield Centre and redirecting them)

We hope that there will be a good turn-out of STACC members to welcome the Mayor in style.

Success of the Cycle Campaign depends so much on good impressions made to the District Council and encouragement to the folks of St Albans who will see reports and photographs of the event in the local press.

Phone number for STACC - Not Operational

, originally uploaded by mike1727.

You can NO LONGER CALL or send a text message to STACC via the number formerly published here.

STACC members can make phone enquiries to any of the individuals listed on the back of your membership card.

Anyone else should make contact via email - see www.stacc.org.uk for the address.

(Updated 23/7/09 by STACC-Tom)

Things that go bump on the road

SEE LATER POST ON POTHOLES HERE

pot·hole (pŏt'hōl') n.
1. A hole or pit, especially one in a road surface. Also called chuckhole.
2. A deep round hole worn in rock by loose stones whirling in strong rapids or waterfalls.
3. Western U.S. A place filled with mud or quicksand that is a hazard to cattle.

Answers.com

At best an uncomfortable jolt on your journey, at worst a danger to both you and your bike. Deep, hard edged, debris shedding- often disguised as a simple puddle, these hazards lurk all over the district's roads, despite Herts Highways' patching efforts. Here's a quick reminder of how you can help reduce the problem by reporting them; watch out for future posts as we put Herts Highways' performance under the microscope over the coming months!



"During the year ending March 2005, 88% of reported potholes were repaired within 24 hours."


Herts Highways promise to fix hazardous potholes within 24 hours. Unfortunately Herts Highways don't tell us what they consider to be a hazardous pothole! This definition from Cambridge Cycling Campaign is as good a guide as any, but if you see any hazard in the road which is big, deep or rough enough to make you want to swerve to avoid it then it should be reported.

"Potholes are considered dangerous when they are vertically sided, and more than 20 mm deep, with an area of greater than 0.1 m² in principal road carriageways and 50 mm deep in non-principal road carriageways and more than 20 mm deep and have an area of 0.1 m². in any footway, cycleway and marked cycle lane and are sufficiently far from the edge of the carriageway or footway to be surrounded by bituminous material. Other conditions which occur should be judged in accordance with the good practice and specification requirements, and dealt with accordingly"

You'll need to note the following details- if you don't have a piece of paper handy try writing a text message to yourself on your mobile (you don't need to send the message, just save it).

Location- road name, carriageway, nearest house/landmark
Description- size, depth, distance from kerb
Date
If possible take a photo.

Armed with these details, you can report the hazard and start the repair clock ticking.

There are several ways to report hazards:

Online at hertdirect.org. Navigate through the options to select the most appropriate hazard type - pothole for a pothole or carriageway/road/cycleway for other hazards).

Online at the CTC's site fillthathole.org.uk. Use the map to locate the hazard, the CTC will report the pothole to Herts Highways on your behalf.

By phone. Call Herts Highways on 01438 737320. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am - 8pm and Saturdays from 9am - 4pm.

Here. Leave a comment here and we'll report the hazard for you- please make it clear that you haven't reported it yourself. You can email any photos to stacc.potholes@hartleys.org.uk- this includes sending in pictures direct from your cameraphone!

However you report the hazard, please note the reference number and add it as a comment here so that we can track it. This is important since it enables us to keep an eye on Herts Highways' performance.

Coming soon- what to do if a pothole damages your bike or causes an accident.