onionbagblog

On yer bike was very much the message given to Wivenhoe locals last month when the Estate Management team from the University tried to explain the confusion that the new Knowledge Gateway is going to create.

Clingoe Hill is clogged up. It ‘aint gonna get any better with a new feeder road being built. The serious suggestion for folk commuting out of the Tendring Peninsula was one of pedal power. Fine in theory, but you need the infrastructure to convert people to two wheels.

Which *possibly* is where Keep Colchester Cycling comes in.

Coming from the good folk that brought you Keep Colchester Cool, the Colchester Free Festival and pretty much all that is good in the live music scene around Sunny Colch, keepcolchestercycling.co.uk is being launched to simultaneously showcase Colchester, and encourage people to enjoy the town from a free to hire bike:

“The Colchester cycling community has donated the bicycles. They are made available for use by members of the public who do not own the bicycles, but can pay a fully refundable deposit to hire them for personal use.

Every Keep Colchester Cycling bike will come with a lock, a safety pack and set of cycle maps, including discount vouchers for venues along the different routes.”

It is a fascinating project, combining transport practicalities with social art. As well as getting from A to B, it is hoped that users will use social media to document their ride, and open up the culture of cycling to others.

The project is being rolled out by asking for memories about your first bike. It’s all about creating a buzz about bicycling, and proving that the purest form of transport can open up new lifestyle possibilities. I’ve blogged my little bit over here.

More locally and a similar scheme is already informally in place down at Cansdale Ross & Co. Frustrated by the pace of an officially sanctioned Wivenhoe bike hire scheme, the lovely Nigel and Lisa simply put a couple of bikes on the racks outside the grocers for locals to use.

This bottom up approach to transport is incredibly effective. Keep Colchester Cycling aren’t quite sure where the project will take them - this is a deliberate approach, as well as being half the fun. You start the wheels rolling, and then see what possibilities come your way.

Wivenhoe itself is incredibly accessible by bicycle, both from the outside and within. You need something quite sturdy for the Trail; mudguards are essential.

I tend to walk around Wivenhoe doing my various bits of local business during the day, but anything north of the Cross sees a cycle trip. The notorious Wivenhoe parking woes aren’t a factor, and I’m free to pretty much allow my day to unfold wherever my travels may take me.

So yeah - if you’re clogged up on Clingoe Hill over the coming months, think seriously about Keep Colchester Cycling. I appreciate that it’s not for everyone - young families, work materials, suited ‘n booted - all of these aren’t exactly bicycle friendly.

But it’s got to be better than banging your head against the dashboard as you crawl down Clingoe Hill.

Chapeau!