The magic of a bicycle mirror
By Andy Chivers
Cycling in traffic requires confidence, careful steering and full awareness of vehicles around you. The backward look is a skill not all cyclists have, which is why a mirror is such a good idea.
20 mph: popular and life-saving
By Alison Hill
Following the narrow Conservative victory in the Uxbridge by-election, attributed to the public’s concern about ULEZ, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he is considering banning councils from imposing 20 mph. This would be a way of demonstrating that he is on the side of motorists.
Community getting more people to ‘RIDE!’
By Imade Edosomwan and Annette Pattinson
Hassan Sabrie is one of the directors of Oxford Community Action (OCA), a community organisation based in Blackbird Leys. He’s a recent convert to the joys of cycling – an enthusiasm he’s working hard to share with the rest of his local community.
Back on my bike
By Jane Buekett
In the early spring I had an unfortunate encounter with the stone tiles of my kitchen floor and found myself with a broken arm. ‘No driving for at least 6 weeks, no cycling for 12’, the minor injuries medic said, as he wrapped my arm in warm wet plaster and cheerfully pointed out the ‘many challenges’ I would now face.
The right to drive?
By Ian Loader
For over 60 years, cities have been dominated by the car. Oxfordshire County Council’s proposals to reduce traffic in our city – using LTNs, congestion-charging and traffic filters – have been portrayed as an attack on cherished liberties. Critics claim they will ‘trap’ residents in their neighbourhoods and curtail people’s right to drive where they see fit.
‘Cycle County Active County’ comes to Oxford
By Robin Tucker and Alison Hill
Six hundred people gathered in Oxford on 5 and 6 July for the UK’s biggest annual conference on enabling healthy and active travel. It’s called Cycle County Active County 2023, but it covers much more than cycling, and looks at cities as well as counties.
Getting back on my bike
By Kay Jass
I learned how to cycle in my youth, rode for fun and then upgraded to motorised transport, as you do. My bicycle gathered dust for years until I reached a point where the number of hours spent in the car and in traffic was excessive. I decided that getting ‘on my bike’ would be a far more pleasant and speedy way to travel for shorter solo journeys.
Does elite cycling get people onto their bikes?
By Andy Chivers
We were promised that the legacy of the London Olympics in 2012 would be a new enthusiasm for sport and fitness in the UK. There was a brief increase in physical activity, but it didn’t last. So what about elite cycling? Will that get more people riding bikes?
Festival fun and free bike repairs
By Alison Hill
It’s midsummer and festival season in Oxford city is in full swing. To mark our twentieth anniversary Cyclox had a stall at all these amazing festivals (and there are more to come). Our stall is a focal point for people interested in cycling, even if they are not themselves bike riders. We hold rich conversations about a variety of issues.
Getting rid of barriers
By Andy Chivers
There are many barriers to using a bike – lack of segregated paths, feeling unsafe, having no access to a bike, lack of a safe place to store a bike. The list goes on. But this article is about the physical barriers placed along cycle paths. They are designed to do exactly what is says on the tin – provide a barrier against something. And who are they trying to keep out?