Cold, Ice and Snow - January 2010

Weather

Well the weather through the end of December and January was pretty tough for cyclists. Some found their journey to work by bike much easier than sitting in the traffic jams - well the mountain bikers that took the tow path did!

Many of us found other ways of getting to work, and that's reflected in our stats over the period.

When the weather changed though, it was great to see so many people out. Were it not for a headwind slowing the main pack we would have seen 9 on the first ride of the year. As it was 2 people rode in, ahead of the pack, together thinking they had missed us.

Lets hope it stays mild!

Big Rides this year

Never too early for cyclists to start thinking about the 'big ride of the year'. We started a thread in our discussion forum: http://ur1.ca/lk0c

Anyone care for 112miles over all 6 Lakeland passes - the Fred Whitton? Or how about one of the rides bikebradford.org.uk has picked up on their Challenge Page: http://www.bikebradford.org.uk/?mastertag=bcycling&tag=challenge?

Cycle Lanes, Traffic, and Repairs

You may have noticed a big increase in the amount of cycle lanes on the route between Keighley and Bradford. On the whole this is a welcome introduction, and highlights our route as a great option for commuting.

The closure of Ireland Bridge for 6 months of repairs, has forced more traffic onto the main road, but it has also slowed it down. Really, it doesn't seem to have affected the bike bus very much, and the cycle lanes up to Cottingly Bar, while not always observed by motorists, are quite useful. (It's a difficult junction, and really a good traffic management solution would be difficult to find...)

Interesting article in the Telegraph and Argus about traffic levels recently:
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4887211.Commuters_hit_by_traffic_nightmare/

We also have discussion at our forum about the Saltaire Roundabout improvements: http://ur1.ca/lk1g