Lady cyclists in the Herne Bay area may be pleased to learn that a new Herne Bay Ladies Cycling Club just started up.

We’re pleased to announce that the Oyster Bay Trail phase 2 shared cycle route which links the Crab & Winkle Way in Whitstable to the existing portion of the Oyster Bay Trail at Swalecliffe has been given the go ahead at the Canterbury City Council Executive committee meeting this evening. The voting was essentially unanimously in favour with one member abstaining due to having an interest in the scheme.

Liz Wall, one of our committee members, has had one of her bicycles stolen from Sittingbourne railway station. If you have any information that may help to find it please email Liz. The bicycle’s details can be seen below, together with a photo to the right:

Trek
DS 8.2
130 mi

serial #: 2361U0211
style: dual sport
color: dark blue and white
shop: tri the bike shop gravesend
sale price: £425
sale date: 24/10/11
material: alpha gold aluminium
size: 17.5
suspension: front sr suntour NEX 4110
hubs: alloy
tires: continental travel contact 700x36
rims: alloy
cassette: shimano TZ31 14-34 7 speed
cranks: shimano altus48/38/28
f. derailleur: shimano tourney
r. derailleur: shimano Altus
pedals: nylon platform
seat post: bontrager SsR
saddle: specialized ladies
handlebars: bontrager approved riser steel 50mm rise
grips: giant ergo
stem: bontrager approved 15 degree
headset: semi-integrated semi-cartridge bearings sealed
brakeset: tektro alloy linear-pull brakes w/shimano EF51 adjustable-reach levers
Bike shepherd pulse ID 110032268

The Friends of the Crab and Winkle Line now have a Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfTheCrabAndWinkleLine

Kent County Council have just opened a consultation to propose upgrading a footpath in northern Dover to allow cycling. The proposal will benefit a number of schools and provide a convenient and largely traffic-free link between Whitfield and Dover town centre.

Please write in support of this proposal. The consultation closes on 27 April 2012.

Kent Highway Services are proposing to close a gap in Thanet’s cycle path network by extending the existing cycle path beside Westwood Road as part of highway changes along the road. We encourage you to write in favour of this scheme by filling in the questionnaire supplied in the consultation documents, emailing traffic.schemes@kent.gov.uk making it clear that you’re referring to this scheme, or writing to KCC Highways and Transportation, Traffic Schemes & MHF Team, Ashford Highway Depot, Henwood Industrial Estate, Javelin Way, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8AD. The consultation closes on 12 March 2012.

Yesterday saw a three hour debate about cycling in Parliament, triggered as a result of The Times’ Cities safe for Cycling campaign and secured by co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and MP for Cambridge Dr. Julian Huppert. You can watch a video the whole debate below:

Canterbury City Council are consulting on a proposed new section of cycle path to link the existing Great Stour Way cycle and pedestrian path with the end of Whitehall Road. The proposed path will avoid the need to climb a hill when cycling between the Great Stour Way and Canterbury city centre. We encourage you to write in support of this proposal. The consultation closes on 26 March 2012.

Another new bench has recently been installed beside the Great Stour Way. This one conveniently allows bicycles to be parked between the slots at the back whilst providing a comfortable outlook to the river and shared cycle / foot path ahead. The bench is situated not far from the Toddlers’ Cove playground at the Canterbury end of the route.