Dear <<First Name>> 

Welcome to your April newsletter from Colchester Cycling Campaign. We hope you had a fun Easter.

On the run-up to last weekend the media was full of dire warnings from health professionals about the sugar and fat content of Easter eggs.

If you know someone who says they have overindulged – look for the telltale messy lips – please slip into the conversation that a great way to work off all that chocolate is by getting on a bike each day for a gentle trip to the shops, work or simply to see friends.

One message we want to shout about is that cycling/driving is not an either/or – people can build both modes into their lives. I know I do.

Too often we hear people say "I work ten miles away ... I couldn't cycle that" but then they jump into their car for a five-minute drive to the corner shop.

Enabling choice is key. We need high-quality cycling infrastructure to remove the fear of cars and let people choose how to travel. Choice is the key word.

Please draw your friends' attention to Head Street, the new crossings on the Eastern Approach and St Andrew's Avenue, and the soon to be completed Northern Approach bus/cycleway.

The weather is warming up (we hope) and maybe it's going to be drier, so getting new people pedalling should be a little easier.

I do hope you enjoy this month's missive. 

Editor

The campaign was contacted in March by Helge Gillmeister, a member who was stopped by city council wardens as she was about to cross Butt Road at its junction with Southway, Colchester.

The officials told her the path was a footway not a cycle route – and they issued a fixed penalty notice.

Helge had just finished a busy day at work at Essex University. After briefly querying the wardens' views, she accepted the FPN and rode to pick up her daughter from her childminder.

Helge emailed the campaign and told us she would be appealing against the decision. We swung into action with a letter of support.

Very quickly Helge heard that the fine would be revoked. Sadly our letter had zero effect because it didn't get to the right people in time.

A good result you might think – but the matter raises concern for all sorts of reasons.

Now we'd like to hear from any other cyclists who have been penalised in this way.

The background

In early autumn last year the city council consulted on renewing its PSPO, the public spaces protection order that covers the central area.

This states: “Using a skateboard, bicycle, scooter, skates, or any other self-propelled wheeled vehicle, including electric scooters, in such a manner as to cause or is likely to cause intimidation, harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance or annoyance to any person.”

We raised our concern, pointing out that 1960s road planners had left the city with fast and busy roads and one-way systems that block desire lanes and put the fear of God into cyclists.

We said: "Our concern is that the use of the word 'annoyance' could be used against 'wrong-way' cyclists who merely want to go about their business as quickly and smoothly as possible. It could turn a 'ticking off' from a PCSO or warden into a criminal matter. Annoyance is subjective." 

We also took issue with the slack wording of the order which mentions "pedestrian areas” but then is vague about whether it applies purely to pedestrian areas or the overall public highway, and whether private land such as Lion Walk and Culver Square is included. We called for all pedestrian areas to be individually named for clarity.

The campaign said: "Our overall worry is that similar PSPOs have been used in Grimsby and Southend to effectively ban cycling from some areas.

The city council response

In its reply Colchester said that the word “annoyance” was within the legal definition of the Anti-social Behaviour Act. It stressed: "This is not a ban on cyclists as Grimsby has imposed within certain areas. The order within the city centre is to address behaviour by those who use cycles, scooters etc in an antisocial manner."

It gave examples of cyclists "riding directly at members of the public or over planting areas causing damage to property".

Back to Helge's case

In our letter supporting Helge's appeal we highlighted the fact that the path concerned had been a cycle route since 2011. It is clearly marked and this should have been obvious to the wardens.

We also said the PSPO did not apply in this instance as Helge's riding did not fall under the criteria outlined in the order. 

The campaign pointed out that the action of the wardens undermined public trust. We also queried whether the officers were aware of the Boateng defence. which allows officials to waive a penalty notice if a cyclist on a footway is using it considerately to avoid riding on a busy, fast road – such as Southway.

We said that the campaign had worked for 34 years to bring about a cycling culture but until we get in place a comprehensive, high-quality network, criminalising cyclists unnecessarily will not help to achieve more cycling, better public health or boost the fight against climate change.

Finally we flagged up the irony of the situation: "You only have to stand next to Southway for a few minutes to see drivers using their cars in an aggressive and/or inappropriate manner. Why aren’t the officers taking issue with these motorists? Why pick on a lone female cyclist?"

Turning back to our letter to the city last autumn we note that they replied that cars are covered by a separate district-wide vehicular public space protection order that prohibits anti-social behaviour using a motor vehicle. We wonder how many drivers have been stopped.

The current state of play

As mentioned, Helge's fine has been revoked. We have however forwarded our letter to the department that waived the penalty and asked for a response. In the meantime we urge any cyclist who has run foul of Colchester wardens to make themselves known to the campaign.

We are considering issuing advice to members not to give their names or addresses to Colchester wardens if they are stopped (the legal requirement to do so only applies to a police officer in uniform). This will be discussed at Bike Meet on Monday April 15. Anyone who can give good legal advice will be especially welcome.

The painted markings have been added to the road at the top of North Hill as work continues on the two-way cycleway along Head Street.

Northbound and eastbound cyclists, ie those planning to go down North Hill or along High Street, will get a mini "cyclist green light" seconds before people in the general traffic lane. This is intended to head off the risk to cyclists from right-turning motor traffic going into High Street.

We asked Essex County Council about the width of the bike lanes opposite Yates's Wine Lodge but we have been told that at 2m total it is the maximum possible given pipes and wiring beneath the road and a 1m wide traffic island for the traffic lights to sit on.

When the cycleway opens, please yell about it from the rooftops, especially to students at Colchester VI Form and the Institute. We have been after two-way working of Head Street for many years as it links up the north and south of town without making a substantial diversion.

Will Bramhill says he once led a VIP ride from North Hill and asked his guests to explain how they would get to the old Odeon cinema in Crouch Street. They were amazed to realise they would have to go via Queen Street and St Botolph's Street or walk.

We're stressing this a lot but it needs saying: this is only a part of the planned north-south cycleway and it will not realise its potential until the full route is complete and open for use.

Alex Hooper writes: It's cold and raining so I pull on my hi-viz and waterproofs. I cycle down Maldon Road, turn left into Wellesley Road, go across Southway and ride across Crouch Street (yes you can) into Rawstorn Road and across the bridge towards the Balkerne Gate. Then it's down the shared path on Balkerne Hill past the Hole in the Wall pub (there can’t be many places where you can cycle past such wonderful Roman remains on a commute).

I then plunge into the chaos of MIddleborough. Will anyone indicate at the roundabout? That pothole is perfectly placed in the middle of the only bit of cycle lane over the bridge. Fortunately I know about it but it glowers there, a trap for the unwary.

At least North Station Road is wide enough for drivers not to make close pas… oh, they’ve done it anyway.  

I take my life in my hands at the Albert roundabout ... and in the restricted access section outside the Magnet pub there are plenty of cars to keep me company.

Will anyone pull out in front of me at Essex Hall roundabout? Wow, lucky this time! On to Station Way and there's just time for a motorist to make another close pass before I escape up the slope to the railway station bike park.

Phew, another morning bike commute complete and I'm in one piece.

That evening there is the brief camaraderie of the station's secure cycle parking cage where a fellow rider and I empathise with each other about the weather. 

I gently navigate my way along the shared path by the bus stops, and I'm off down the lovely, protected cycle paths along Station Way and Colne Bank Avenue. I cross at the traffic lights, ride into Sheepen Road and then I'm up into the majestic Hilly Fields.

There's a  short climb and I'm surrounded by  nature. The company so far this year has included deer, foxes, rabbits, a green woodpecker and a grumpy badger.

I emerge into Sussex Road for a boneshaking run up to the cycle lane in Lexden Road, where I turn left. There's not much  much traffic tonight so it's a smooth right turn into Oxford Road then on to Maldon Road. Signalling to turn for home, a driver finds time for one last dangerous overtake before I can leave the bike in the hallway and go straight into the chaos of the kids’ bedtime. 

Yes my commute sounds scary but I wouldn't be without it at the start and end of each working day. Those 12 minutes raise my heart rate, clear my head and help me prepare for a busy day ahead. In the evening my ride helps me wind down after a hectic time in London.

• Alex is a committee member of the campaign. If you would like to tell people about your beautiful commute, please send 200 words or so to admin@colchester-cycling.org.uk

Editor's note: Essex County Council planned a north-south and an east-west route that would have made Alex's journey to work far safer and much more pleasant. Sadly this didn't quite come off – but the technical drawings are in the engineers' bottom drawer, ready to be pulled out as soon as more funds become available and public attitudes change for the better.

One route that Alex could take will be improved shortly – this is the exit on to Southway from Wellesley Road (https://maps.app.goo.gl/a37RecfLiTNsCF7t7).

The next Bike Meet takes place online on Monday April 16 at 8pm. We hope to have a special speaker from London -- Carla Francome, above, who is a television producer, everyday cyclist and all-round good egg. Please email admin@colchester.gov.uk for joining instructions or, if you are a member, watch for messages from the CCC email group.

Please keep your eyes peeled for this Specialized Turbo Como ebike which was stolen from outside McDonald's on Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, on Monday April 1 between 21.50hrs and 22.10.

The owner, Jo Pearson, locked up her cycle using a high quality D-lock and went into the restaurant to pick up an order. She came out 20 minutes later ... and the bike had gone. A witness told her they saw a youngish man riding away on it.

Jo says: "My ebike is so special to me, I love(d) it and it is my main form of transport. I use it to go shopping and go to work. I'm devastated."

The bike is bright red and has several chips on the downtube. It had the two black plastic panniers (pictured) when it was stolen.

If anyone sees Jo's ebike please take a picture and message her with the location.

The bike is on the National Bike Register (is yours?) which means it will be harder for the thief to pass on. She has reported the theft to police.

Colchester Cycling Campaign gives this advice about how to keep your bike safe and/or find your bike if it is stolen.

Finally Kim Barnetson and Will Bramhill also run the Stolen/Found bikes in Colchester group on Facebook. It's not all gloom and doom: we have recently helped to recover two bikes: one was abandoned and the other was in the thief's home.

Three cyclists take a break on a verge in Fordham Road, Wormingford, probably in 1910 or thereabouts. Note the little Primus stove and the picnic tablecloth – no bike trip can be complete without stopping for tea and a bite to eat. Three bikes, four handlebars ... if you count the chap's wonderful moustache!

Lucinda de Jasay, who lives next to Boxted bridge, is hassling Tom Cunningham, the Essex transport convener, after he promised to look into reopening the bridge to pedestrians and cyclists walking their bikes.

Since that pledge two months ago, she says there has been radio silence.

Lucinda points out that the structural report on the bridge pointed to faults but did not recommend closure to anyone, let alone lightweights such as us. She says it was Ringway Jacobs, Essex's contractor, that "decided on such drastic action".

If there's any development we will keep you in touch via the CCC group.

Have you signed the Colchester Cycling Charter yet? If not, please do. If you work or volunteer, please ask your organisation to sign too. The more people on bikes, the fewer traffic jams will snarl up our city.

Feel free to pass on this newsletter via email and social media by using the link at the very top ... and encourage your friends to join the campaign so they receive their own copy every month.

Chairman: Stuart Johnson
Vice-secretaries: Alan Spence and Will Bramhill
Treasurer: Catherine Johnson
Your committee: Alex Hooper, Chris Stevenson, Jean Quinn, Nathaniel Catchpole, Paul Avison and Paul Byrne