Kent and Sussex Air Ambulance are holding their annual Double 100 Cycle Challenge on Sunday 23rd June 2013 The ride will start and finish at Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey and the route will take in the counties of Kent,Surrey &Sussex. Riders will have the choice on the day which of the two distances they would prefer to do 100 miles or 100kms.
The Active Travel (Wales) Bill was laid in the National Assembly for Wales on the 18 February 2013. Its great to see such huge focus on walking and cycling,and surely this helps provide focus for our local campaigns to get cycling recognised and funded as a viable option for shorter journeys? Cycle Seahaven (and our other campaign partners) will be using this Bill as a template of what can be done at national level to promote cycling for everyone.
OVCN are forging ahead with their vision for a cycle network between Lewes and Newhaven,connecting up the towns and villages of theLower Ouse with the South Downs Way. The section between Kingston and Lewes has been given the go-ahead,and now OVCN are requesting planning permission from SDNPA (South Downs National Park Authority) to put a bridleway between Rodmell and Southease which of course would be open to cyclists. This is only a small one mile section,but it helps the overall scheme to provide cycle access along the entire route.
Sunday 24th March 11am till 4pm Our local friendly bike shop Mr Cycles is holding another demo day. This time its the excellent mountain bike range from GIANT. No booking this time its first come,first served.
By Andy Lock,on March 3rd,2013 Take care on the coast path between Newhaven fort and the Peacehaven highway. There has been a cliff fall and the path has disappeared.
The Ouse Valley Cycle Network project group have released their Egrets Way video into the public domain. This 14 minute-long video explains the history,vision and proposals for a local cycle network to join up Seahaven and Lewes via the villages of the lower ouse valley. You can see the video on the OVCN webiste here:http://ovcnet.ning.com/video/egrets-way-cycle-route
Our annual AGM minutes are now available for you to download from this link:Cycle Seahaven AGM 17 01 13 MINUTES Theres plenty of information on how we are doing as a club,including . . .
By Andy Lock,on February 1st,2013 Lewes rail station is to get a new 250,000 cycle hub as part of the 62m cycling fund announced by Norman Baker. This infux of new money is great news for local cyclists. Whilst falling short of actually giving us somewhere to ride,its great to see the profile of cycling get a boost from mainstream funding.
By Andy Lock,on February 1st,2013At our AGM in Jan 2013 the membership and committee voted to officially support the Ouse Valley Cycle Network project for their planned routes names The Egrets Way. We aim to run club events throughout 2013 to raised funds for this exciting cycle project,which will link Newhaven and Lewes via the 7 villages of the Lower Ouse valley. More details of OVCN can be found on their website. We urge you to join online (its free and without comitment) to show your support.
The first section of the Egrets Way from Kingston to Lewes now has full funding,with the final 50,000 agreed this week by the ESCC Economy Transport &Environment Committee. We look forward to seeing work begin this spring! OVCN are thrilled that work on the first section of the Egrets Way will start very soon,and as a community led organisation would like to thank everyone involved,especially all our members throughout the valley.
Cycle Seahaven has posted a new item, 'A259 Cycle Consultation - Newhaven toPeacehaven' Sorry for the short notice - we've just got wind of a consultation from ESCCregarding the A259 between Newhaven and Peacehaven.
By Andy Lock,on January 16th,2013 Great news! This popular ride is on again,so make up a team to raise money to fight cystic fibrosis. A 20 mile off-road ride from Ditchling Beacon to Seaford Downs Leisure Centre. Teams of five to seven riders,20 per person (paid by Feb 23rd). Includes goody bag and refreshments at the end. Download an entry form from the club website using THIS LINK The write-up and results from last years ride are also on the club website on THIS LINK
Whilst the driving theory test has some optional cycling awareness questions,not everyone is tested with these and the practical driving test does not have any particular focus on cyclists. If drivers are not trained to be aware of cyclists and how to drive around them they will retain the lack of awareness after they pass their test. British Cycling supports the motoring organisations which are calling for harder tests and the inclusion of cycle awareness in the test. British Cyclings manifesto says:changes to the driving test to make cycle awareness a core part of driver training and testing with emphasis on how much space to give cyclists and how to safely overtake cyclists. We need to make this happen and stop people being needlessly killed on the roads.If you agree then please sign the online petition here
Southern Rail have labelled the route between Lewes and Seaford a green zone,which allows the carriage of all cycles at all times,including rush hour. But there is also the caveat that we reserve the right to refuse access where cycle spaces are already occupied or where services are especially busy. This is welcome news for some,but falls short of a full solution where cycles are always accommodated on all public transport.
On 28 November 2012 Norman Baker announced an additional 20m of funds to help improve cycle safety at junctions and to assist in Linking Places. Support for cycling is growing,and Cycle Seahaven continue to make this point with local and national authorities.
The latest advice from NICE (National Institute for Health and ClinicalExcellence) is to put Active Travel (walking, cycling) at the heart of theHealth Service to help combat avoidable forms of disease. We agree. Their 126page document entitled 'Walking and cycling: local measures to promote walkingand cycling as forms of travel or recreation' is ...
Cycle Seahaven has long known about the benefits of cycling for health reasons,and now it seems the goverment has clicked,too. A report by NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) stated that walking and cycling should be promoted for health reasons. From April 2013 councils will be able to spend their health budgets on Active Travel.
The Times cycle safety campaign is still plugging away on behalf of city cyclists, and their latest survey will be passed to a Parliamentary team as evidence for the need for safer cycling.The survey is very quick to fill in, so please support this welcome initiative to improve the highways for cycling and cyclists.the times.co.uk/cyclesafesurvey You may view the latest post athttp://cycleseahaven.org.uk/have-your-say-on-the-future-of-cycling/
At the Hillcrest Centre, Newhaven on Wednesday 14th November there is an open Meeting for OVCN Ouse Valley Cycle Network Project. Pop along to support this groups plans for the Egrets Way - a new cycle route from Newhaven to Lewes! There will be a short film about the proposed cycle route,containing some amazing aerial photography of the Ouse Valley.
By Andy Lock,on November 1st,2012 The wet weather is well and truly upon us but thats no excuse to sit at home gazing out the window. With the right kit you can still enjoy riding your bike.
By Andy Lock,on August 30th, 2012 The Ouse Valley Cycle Network group are holding their AGM at Lewes Linklater Pavilion on Friday 14th September 7.30pm.First there will be a talk by Michael Blencowe of Sussex Wildlife Trust on The Wildlife of the Ouse Valley OVCN will present their short film The Escape Route,which shows the glorious Ouse Valley and the plans that OVCN have for a shared walking and cycling route.
By Andy Lock,on July 6th,2012On Saturday 14th July there will be the Seaford Sporting Celebrations event,held at Seaford Community College,Steyne Road,between 2:30 pm and 4:30 pmCompete in friendly competitions and try your hand at something new. Were hoping that Cycle Seahavens members will clean up on the cycling medals :-)
By Andy Lock,on July 9th,2012 BASIC BIKERY Learn how to love your bicycle: cleaning, easy maintenance, how to spot wear &tear. Harveys Depot Pinwell Lane,by Lewes Station Saturday 21 July 10-4pm FREE! All welcome: men,women and children of all ages. Bring your own bike!
By Andy Lock,on July 6th,2012Tuesday 3rd July 2012Cycle East Sussex (CES),of which Cycle Seahaven are proud to be a part of,is a group of local cycling organisations who work together to help improve our local cycling infrasturcture.
By Andy Lock, on June 7th,2012 The A259 between Newhaven and Peacehaven has a long narrow section of the highway that has been separated from the road. Many road users believe this to be a cycleway and they get annoyed when cyclists do not use it as such. In fact,this was created to keep heavy traffic off an unstable section of the A259 that was subsiding. Unfortunately this section is not ideal for cyclists a lot of puncture-causing debris collects in the gap between the road and pavement,and its not easy for road sweeepers to deal with. Cycle Seahaven have suggested that the gap is filled to make the footpath much wider so that debris cannot collect,possibly making it suitable for a shared walking/cycling lane.
On Saturday 17th March, 89 cyclists set off from the top of Ditchling Beacon tocycle the 20 miles off-road back to Seaford as part of a fundraising cycle forthe Cystic Fibrosis Trust. In teams of 5 , 6 or 7 riders, the competitivespirit was unleashed and there were some blistering times set. ...You may view the latest post athttp://cycleseahaven.org.uk/cycstic-fibrosis-ride-results-2012/
Good news for local cyclists. The Lewes to Kingston route has been given the go ahead.This has come as a total (but welcome) surprise to many people but it seems its the outcome of a Linking Places Fund of 15m that Norman Baker announced in February to encourage cycling and walking,to provide access to employment and reduce carbon emissions.
By Andy Lock,on March 12th,2012Rethinking the Seafront:Investigations and Visions for Seaford Seafront at The Crypt Gallery,Seaford on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th March from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Rod &Maria at your local independent bike shop,Mr Cycles,are pleased toannounce that the exclusive discount offered to members of Cycle Seahaven hasnow been increased.
South East Mountain Biking is offering 50% off all tuition and guided rides for groups of 4+This offer is for club members exclusively.This Club special offer will run till the end of April
The Times newspaper are running a cycle safety campaign. Please have a look and sign up to the campaign.http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3306502.ece
