Plastic Traffic Islands 1, Armadillos 0

Salford may be desperate to have your opinion of armadillos, but they have been overshadowed by the bigger Jislon plastic traffic islands installed a few days ago.



Whilst the armadillos are almost invisible against the road surface the traffic islands stand out reasonably well despite the poor choice of colour.



Whilst the armadillos are no protection the islands are a better deterrent against drivers.



The only sign of contact with traffic was on this one higher up the hill



which showed signs of being scraped by a lorry tyre.



It is a shame the trial wasn't also run on the other side of the road where drivers frequently block the cycle lane, it would have put both measures to the test.



Further along in Liverpool Street the story is pretty much the same.



The traffic islands seem fairly effective, though one has to wonder how long they would last.



Whilst I don't think the plastic traffic islands are an ideal solution they are far better than the crap armadillos which are no protection against traffic and a danger to people cycling. These islands come with middle sections to make them longer so they could be used to make a totally segregated cycle track.

Car-Free Households in Manchester

The processed Census data published by TfGM is a mine of information that overturns many people's assumptions about driving in Manchester, including mine.

Many people in Manchester won't go half a mile down the road to fetch a newspaper without resorting to their car, even some people who live in the city centre, or at least that is the impression you often get.

So it comes as some surprise to discover that 45% of all households in Manchester do not have a car or van. Outside of London, the only other local authorities with lower levels of car ownership are the Isles of Scilly and Liverpool. The figure is 31% for Greater Manchester as a whole.



Manchester City council need to stop wasting time and money on pandering to the motorists and enable more people to get around Manchester without a car.

Image and stats from TfGM.

Cycling levels up and down in GM

The processed Census data published by TfGM is quite revealing when it comes to people's chosen method of travelling to work.

Whilst there have been exaggerated claims in the press about increases in cycling levels in Greater Manchester, the reality is rather more sobering.

The headline-grabbing figure of an 82% rise is only for the Manchester area, and is wildly exaggerated by a number of factors.



This figure is only for Manchester where the population rose 19% during that same period, so the rise is closer to 55% corrected for the rise in population.

However, if you correct for the increase in travel as well by looking at the proportion of journeys the rise is more like 22%. Cycling in Manchester went from 3.2% to 3.9% of journeys to work, a quite modest rise.

If you look at Greater Manchester as a whole the proportion of people cycling to work went from 1.9% in 2001 to 2.1% in 2011, a rise of around 10%.



In other parts of Greater Manchester cycling fell overall and as a proportion of journeys to work in Bolton, Oldham, Rochdale, Thameside and Wigan.

So cycling is both up and down in Greater Manchester, depending on where you live.

Images and stats from TfGM.

North West Velo Fest 2014

The Spokes have done it again! North West Velo Fest 2014 will be 11 days of bicycle-related fun events from Friday 16th to Monday 26th May 2014.



Friday 16 May
Random Tandem Bike Lock Key Swap Party
Come and have a go on a random steed. We’ll swap bikes for short rides to around Platt Fields Park so make sure you bring a tool so you can adjust your saddle height. Who knows what bike you will end up riding!
Meet at 6 pm to ride at 6.30pm. The Boathouse, Platt Fields Park, M14 6LA.

Saturday 17 May
Space4Cycling
Join the Greater Manchester Cycle Campaign for a mass participation ride with the aim of inspiring Councils to create safe Space for Cycling on our streets
Meet at 1pm for a 2pm departure. The Boathouse, Platt Fields Park, M14 6LA.

Spokes at Manchester Vegan Fair
Food, drink and a variety of performances for your enjoyment. Include The Spokes Bicycle Dancers who will be performing at 1pm.
11am to 5pm, Chorlton Irish Club, 17 High Lane, M21 9DJ.

Sunday 18 May
Alleycat
The now classic Spokes Alleycat – a fast paced urban treasure hunt with silly challenges. Ride in teams of two on any kind of bicycle you want. Prizes not just for speed but challenge points and perhaps even fancy dress.
Meet from 1pm, riders set off at 2pm. The Sandbar, Grosvenor St, M1 7HL

Monday 19 May
Open Spokes
Come have a play on our tiny bicycles. We’ll show you some moves, tricks and poses.
6-8pm. Contact us for location info.

Tuesday 20 May
Evening Jolly
30-mile jolly road ride with a mid-way drink stop. Bring lights etc.
Meet from 5pm, ride at 6pm. The Sandbar, Grosvenor St, M1 7HL.

Wednesday 21 May
01FIX1 Wednesday Night Right Out
An evening ride for the fixed gear and fixed-curious.
Meet 6.30pm, ride at 7pm. Zoo, Grosvenor St, M1 7HL.

Bicycle Life Drawing
Come and draw (clothed) live models posing with their bikes or even strike a pose yourself. Get a portrait taken with your ride in our photobooth.
From 6pm. 486 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton, M21 9AS

Thursday 22 May
Manchester Hardcourt Bike Polo
Come along or just watch, if you can ride a bike you can play! Bikes and mallets available. http://www.mhbp.co.uk/
6.30-9pm at The Powerhouse, 140 Raby St, M14 4SL

Tweed ride
A genteel paced ride – well one could not possibly sweat, could one? Come dressed in your tweedy, vintage or smart finery. It’s more about the tweed’itude than the clothes.
Meet at 6pm to ride at 6.30pm. Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square, M60 2JT.
Ride will terminate at The Beech, Beech Road, Chorlton, M21 9EG.

Friday 23 May
Pow Wow Pedalpowered Party
An evening of pedal powered music and general merriment! Performers welcome so get in touch if you want to help provide entertainment.
From 8pm The Boathouse, Platt Fields Park, M14 6LA

Saturday 24 May
Envirolution
A free day of live music, theatre, workshops, discussions, family fun and food & drink, with plenty of bicycle based activities and stalls. This is not organised by NWVF but our very own Spokes will be performing.
1 to 7pm. Eco Garden, Platt Fields Park, M14 6LA.
Spokes performance times TBC.

Sunday 25 May
Messing about on the Mersey
A leisurely 5 mile cycle to the River Mersey where we will be exchanging our bikes for canoes. We paddle downstream to Chorlton where the canoes are collected and our bikes delivered to us. Post-paddle optional rides and pints then follow.
Booking is essential, see contact details below.
Meet at The Deaf Institute on Grosvenor Street at 11am for breakfast. Depart at Noon.

Monday 26 May
Ministry of Silly Pedals
An afternoon of fun bicycle based events including handsfree challenges, slow and three armed races, pick up duck and bicycle buckaroo. Bring a bicycle and a picnic. Hecklers welcome.
Meet from 2pm. Whitworth Park.

Contacts:
thespokes@yahoo.co.uk
thespokes.wordpress.com
Twitter: TheSpokesMCR
Facebook: North West Velo Fest

May 17th Manchester #Space4Cycling

Manchester will take part in the national demonstration campaign ride for Space4Cycling.

The ride will assemble at the Boathouse in Platt Fields Park from 1pm on Saturday 17th May and will ride off at 2pm.

The route has yet to be finalised, but is expected to go down "Curry Mile" and then along Oxford Road before arriving in Manchester City Centre.



We need to get thousands of people out on this ride to protest at the lack of campaign for space for cycling in Manchester.

Facebook Event

April Manchester Critical Mass

Despite the wet weather there was quite a good turnout.



This is the first mass of the year setting out in the light, albeit with heavy cloud cover and rain.



The ride was fairly late setting out, but there were plenty of last minute arrivals...



With all the barriers and roadworks the best exit was round to Albert Square again.



The wet weather brought out many full sets of waterproofs.



There were a few occasions where the ride had to stop to reform,



but soon got underway again.



As we turned south down Oxford Road, we saw Reggae Man riding the other way. Sadly he didn't join us.



If anything the ride seemed to get larger as we went on.



Sadly wet weather often brings out the worst in some people...



I left the ride on Moss Lane East as they headed for Hardy's Well.



Music was Hybrid, Soundsystem 01.

More paint to protect the plastic crap

Since I walked up Middlewood Street and Liverpool Street on Thursday morning, Salford Council have been busy adding big white arrows to try and protect the new plastic traffic islands.



This paint is a desperate attempt to prevent these plastic measures being smashed up before the consultation period ends on 5th May.



It is such a shame that Salford Council didn't use all the space available in these locations to put in the correct width cycle lanes.