Send your yellow bike to Africa

A yellow-painted bike, no matter how creaky, has become the accessory du jour for Yorkshire businesses and community organisations to proclaim their support for the Tour de France. Fearful that all these yellow crocks will end up on the scrapheap come August, York bike shop Shannons Cycle Centre has announced a plan to recycle them – to Africa.

“We would like to open the offer of recycling the bikes to Africa to anyone who has painted an old yellow bike to celebrate the grand depart - but will just be throwing it away after the event,” Carol Walker told the York Press.

The bikes will be despatched to Africa by Re-Cycle, a Colchester-based organisation that has so far sent over 54,000 used bikes to the continent.

Western Europe

The map now covers Western Europe - just the base map so far, no place search or route-planning; they'll be along later. That means the hill colours have changed too - there weren't enough in the old palette to cover the top of Mont Ventoux!

It'll be slow for a few days while the new maps are drawn, but do have a play and let me know of any feedback.

CTC announces new boss

CTC, the cycling charity, has announced a new Chief Executive. Paul Tuohy is a cyclist who is currently CEO of Mentor, a drug and alcohol prevention charity. CTC says he is an experienced “change management specialist focusing on building brands, fundraising and income generation”. They quote his cycling activities as including weekend rides with his wife Wendy, commuting, club runs with Catford.cc, audaxes and Sunday racing.

Details emerge of Newcastle’s new cycle routes

Newcastle City Council is announcing details of the first of its new city cycle routes, paid for by Government money.

This week, the public will be asked for their thoughts on a new cycle route in the West End of the city, the first of seven “strategic cycle routes” that radiate from the city centre. This one will follow Elswick Road and Benwell Lane, providing an alternative to the busy Scotswood Road and West Road.

A dedicated cycle lane will be provided away from traffic (including buses), with raised bypasses around bus stops. If the plans are approved, construction will take place this autumn.

Councillor Marion Talbot, the city’s cycling champion, told the Newcastle Chronicle:

“We’re trying to encourage more people to cycle. In order to do that we have to be sure the roads they use are safe. But we’re not looking at this as purely for cyclists – there are improvements for pedestrians, road safety and health benefits like improving air quality. It is people rather than traffic focused.”

The seven proposed routes will link the city centre to Walbottle, West Denton, Great Park, Gosforth, Longbenton, Benfield and Walker. The most ambitious is the Great North Cycleway, running north/south through the city at a cost of nearly £2m.

First Birmingham ‘revolution’ route opens along canal

The first of Birmingham’s new ‘Cycle Revolution’ routes opens today.

But to describe the route as revolutionary is perhaps a bit of a stretch – as it’s simply a 1.5-mile section of upgraded canal towpath. The opening has been scheduled to be ready for National Bike Week, which begins on Saturday.

The Canal & River Trust has been resurfacing the towpath from the National Indoor Arena, in the centre of Birmingham, out to Winson Green. The route is along the New Main Line canal, an arrow-straight route designed by Thomas Telford in the 19th century. Though the towpath in the central area was good quality already, the route further towards Winson Green could be puddly and bumpy.

Several other parts of Birmingham’s 100-mile canal network are to receive towpath upgrades as part of the Government-funded scheme, including routes out towards Selly Oak in the south and Aston in the north. Consultation is also underway on other parts of the Cycle Revolution network; a new section in Bordesley Green was announced this week.