To coincide with the launch of the Mini Roads in Everton Park on Wednesday 26 July – Peloton Liverpool is running the On Yer Bike women’s summer cycling extravaganza across the city. We need many more people to choose cycling – and today women across the world are less likely to do this – but we know that creating safer spaces like this could help take us in the right direction.
Mini Roads The Mini Roads offers sessions for all ages, starting from 18 months old, including lessons, games and workshops, as well as acting as a meeting hub for longer rides. There are free bike loans, starting with balance bikes for kids, and refreshments on offer. The Mini Roads site has been created from the disused amphitheatre events space at the bottom of Everton Brow.
Using a special material for the track, made of recycled plastic and tarmac, the scheme is designed to capture carbon. They have also turned the old pond into a wildflower meadow with the help of Scouse Flowerhouse. The space is a partnership with Liverpool City Council and is also supported by British Cycling’s Places to Ride investment programme.
On Yer Bike The On Yer Bike women’s summer sessions happening in Liverpool are:
‘Get to know your bike’ basic bike maintenance session – clean your bike special! – Tuesday 15 August, the new Mini Roads in Everton Park, 6-8pm
‘Molly Coddle’ mum and baby bike session – try a bike that fits kids from around 9 months to 3.5 years – Wednesday 16 August, Sefton Park Bowling Club, 12-2pm
‘Molly Coddle’ mum and baby bike session – try a bike that fits kids from around 9 months to 3.5 years – Thursday 17 August, Sefton Park Bowling Club, 12-2pm
Childwall-Wavertree-Centre Active Travel route consultation Liverpool City Council is asking the public for their feedback on the proposed active travel route, which would run from Childwall through Wavertree and into the city centre. Download a PDF of the plans here Fill in the consultation form here www.liverpool.gov.uk/activetravelconsultation Consultation closes: Monday 31 July 2023
20mph in the Wirral Wirral Borough Council is consulting on new 20mph speed limit schemes with the public being asked for their views on the proposals. These schemes will cover the roads in residential areas and parts of roads running through suburban district centres. More information here: https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/hub-page/20mph-scheme
Lark Lane questionnaire Liverpool City Council has secured £750,000 of funding for redeveloping Lark Lane and there is now a questionnaire for people to make their suggestions on the scheme. The information provided will help the city council produce a draft design for the redevelopment of the Lane. This will be followed by a wider consultation to see what people think of the draft design and any changes that are needed. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdeTQ_dyrPqY-ekqPpAxrDhLXeDwqSKpmO1rFNuPJQmaweyIg/viewform
After a series of workshops on the proposed cycle lanes in Liverpool, MCC and other cycling groups have submitted a document in response to the consultation. A PDF of the document can be downloaded here.
We were absolutely delighted to welcome more than 70 people to DoES Liverpool for the first MCC AGM since the COVID-19 pandemic brought in-person meetings to a halt. And we were even more delighted to hear how local community and infrastructure campaigners alike have been working away during this time to get Merseyside moving.
MCC AGM 2023
Our first keynote was Chris Malburn, who shared details of a trip, part-funded by MCC, that he took to Copenhagen to learn more about ‘safe cycling cities’ – and the answer was just that – we may not see more ‘bakfietsmoeders’, or ‘cargo-bike mothers’, unless Merseyside is safe to ride. This video that Chris recommended explains more about how to make a car-free family life possible.
Chris Malburn
Helen Holcroft, from Aigurth, L8 and Croxteth Community Cycle Groups explained how she’s managed to attract nearly 500 people across three clubs in little over a year. She puts some of the success down to the app Spond – and you can join the Aigburth or L8 groups by following the links – and also shared some feedback from members, who say it’s improved their health, helped with loneliness and more.
She’s a force to be reckoned with – and that’s why she was named one of Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling 2022. “Being part of this group has really changed my life,” one rider said.
Helen Holcroft
Asylum Link Merseyside shared a video of some of their riders, who arrive in the UK with very little, and have very little to live on when they get here. This means a donated bike and getting confidence on the roads by riding with a group can be a real lifeline. They always need bikes, volunteers and more – email Rory for more information.
Danny Robinson from Peloton talked us through a number of big plans he’s got coming up this year – the biggest being a Mini-Roads development in Everton Park that will help build cycling culture into the lives of local children. You can find out more about the scheme here and get in touch with Danny if you’d like to help support the build – he needs local organisations to sponsor the site, starting from around £1,500 per year.
Danny Robinson
He’s also got more joyous Friday-night Joyrides in the diary – plus a couple of Overjoyed holidays planned – you can join Peloton on Spond for more details.
We also heard from Eamon Preston, speaking on behalf of the Bradbury Fields and SAVI tandem club for blind and visually impaired people. They’re always looking for front riders on the second Sunday of the month and even did the Liverpool-Chester last year, raising over £4,000 for the group. Eamon said that donated tandems are a “lifeline”.
Kirsty Styles, Eamon Preston
Snoof Kattekop, a volunteer with Wheels for All, gave us an insight into her adventures as a wheelchair user – but said “everything is possible – it might just look different for different people”. Wheels for All have sites in Croxteth, Litherland and Springfield Park – it’s open to all – and your first session is free!
Snoof Kattekop
The formal part of the AGM began with the awarding of the Gary Clarke Cup – given to someone who’s making a difference in local cycling – in memory of police officer Gary, who was killed while off-duty riding his bike.
This year it went to Shazia Chaudary from Women on Bikes Liverpool who’s focused on empowering more women, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds, to get on their bikes. Sessions include riding with beginners and learners on Saturdays, and intermmediate rides on Friday. Join here.
Simon O’Brien, Shazia Chaudary, Don Thompson
The Cup was presented by cycling commissioner Simon O’Brien – who told us more about a ‘Mini Holland’ video he’s working on – to help us secure a multi-multi-million funding bid to make south Liverpool a safe space for walking and wheeling.
We also had updates from: • Jim Yeoman who’s leading the City of Liverpool FC Cycling Club – join here • Obi from Cycle of Life in L8, who told us more about the success he had during the pandemic delivering ice creams by bike. Cycle of Life also offer cycle training, including for kids, rides and more – join here • Cycling UK has supported nine clubs in Merseyside and typically reaches as many women as men – including lots of non-regular cyclists – and can help new clubs, new leaders, on maintenance workshops and more – email Magdalena to find out more • You can get in touch with Ed Gommon if you’d like to get involved with the Active Travel Stakeholder Engagement Forum – working with local decision makers to improve our infrastructure • Sustrans North share useful things about consultations and infrastructure issues here and you can find our Wirral-based speaker Lou Henderson tweeting here • Email MCC for questions for Roland Graham about cycle audits • If you know people who work in the Royal or Women’s – let them know about the work Stewart Walsh is doing to make cycling a priority for the NHS • And do get involved with upcoming consultations from your local council • Our final keynote was David Bisset, from the Bolton Clarion, whose cycling club was celebrating a massive 127 years the very same week – he invited us to the annual Easter Meet, happening in Lytham – where you can find out more about how to build a bike club that lasts 100-plus years We’ll be looking through the asks, offers, ideas and obstacles people shared and working out what we can do to build them into our plans. In the meantime – do join the Merseyside Cycle Campaign for free to stay in touch with us: https://www.merseycycle.org.uk/membership/s
Liverpool City Council (LCC) have published a report that details the results of the public consultation undertaken for converting “pop up” cycle lane routes to permanent cycle lane routes.
Following consultation, the recommendation is to proceed with the implementation of two permanent cycle lanes.
LCC approved the conversion of the “pop up” cycle routes on West Derby Road and Sefton Park into permanent routes, in order to allow detailed plans to be further developed and funding to be sought for Sefton Park route and continuation of the West Derby Road route. Additional public engagement for Liverpool Loop North route will be done before a decision is made. This will be scheduled for Summer 2023 and reported back to cabinet in Autumn 2023.
The routes are – Liverpool Loop North (Vauxhall Road/Commercial Road/Stanley Road) West Derby Road (Farnworth Street – Muirhead Avenue) Sefton Park (Sefton Park – Crown Street – Towerlands Street)
The schemes for West Derby Road and Liverpool Loop North will continue to be developed and detailed design carried out, as funding becomes available. Discussions are taking place to secure funding for Sefton Park route and it is hoped that this will become available within the next twelve months.
Wirral Council would like feedback on proposals to introduce a package of highway measures and environmental improvements along Birkenhead Road, Seacombe Ward.
The proposals include an upgraded segregated pedestrian footway and cycle track along the east side of Birkenhead Road (between Kelvin Road and Seacombe View).
The proposals are to improve walking and cycling facilities on and around Price Street, Bidston and St. James Ward.
The proposals include a new 3 metre wide, two-way, segregated cycleway along Beaufort Road with a “Tiger Crossing” incorporating a pedestrian zebra and cycling crossing facility.
Charing Cross and Grange Road Active Travel Scheme
Closing date: 22 January 2023
Wirral Council has received a £2.969 million funding package from the UK Governments Future High Streets Fund, it is proposing to use this funding to make improvements on Grange Road, within the Charing Cross junction and on Grange Road West.
