[Closed] New Forest National Park Authority - latest anti-cycling nonsense

Do you know what, I've never been minded to join the wiggle sportive in the area, as I ride those roads all the time. But, I might this time round as a sign of support and be part of the 'resistance'

Funny enough, that was one of the reasons I joined a Wiggle ride there last September 😆

Most of the people I came across were polite and friendly but there were one or 2 who made it clear that we were not welcome - close passes when it wasn't needed, ranting from their front gardens etc.

the issue is the discriminatory manner. 1000 cyclists cycling through the forest is dangerous/inconvenient, but 95000 visitors (lets be generous and say 3 per car average, evenly split over the 3 days) >1000 cars per day for 1 event is absolutely fine. Nothing about the past issues strikes you that the NF council are an itsy bitsy anti cycling?

I live down the road from Lyndhurst and the whole route into the forest via road is just gridlocked every time the new forest show is on. Hilarious irony.

OK, looks as though I'll be driving through the New Forest and really need some stickers on my car to reinforce the fact that I'm a cyclist although that's obvious from the roof mounted cycle carrier.

I thought of getting hold of some drum'n'bass to play really loudly whilst I park up in an inconvenient place to unload my bike and wobble from side to side on the road whilst ringing my bell and frightening their stray creatures.

What else can I do?

Sprinkle tacks on their (verderers) drives.*
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* don't do this its stupid, much like the nimbys

"What else can I do? "

The main source of funding is a direct grant from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). (3.4ish million)

*they also seem to have gotten a family cycling grant - "In light of both recent and forthcoming increased procurement by the Authority,
particularly due to large grant schemes such as the Family Cycling" (? .5M) which as far as I can see came from "are funded by the Department for Transport through the local highways authority Hampshire County Council."

So I'd try your MP - it's the traditional public money issue - there is a bit of an accountability problem - in that you have no real control over how your money is spent and you cannot take it to another supplier......

edit - maybe got a "Local Sust Transport Fund" grant as well (nearly .5m)

Yes the NF had various grants to improve cycling facilities and boris type bikes.

My understanding is they voted not to spend it on cycling, but instead on road improvements, by widening certain roads that are perfectly fine.

I really want to see 'Cycling Welcome' or 'Bike Friendly' stickers in local business if they really do care about this.

Maybe wiggle should add 'je suis charlie' on the rider boards....'je suis sportive rider?'

If at any point a local stops or rants at me I'll be recording them on my phone and it'll be going straight on youtube.

If a few ride with go pros during the event and capture any of the closepasses you get then post those too.

The more evidence we have for unreasonableness the better.

DT78 - Member

My understanding is they voted not to spend it on cycling, but instead on road improvements, by widening certain roads that are perfectly fine.

AFAIK DfT awarded funding for cycling schemes. Once they had the money they changed (or abandoned) some of the schemes (such as the road improvements, bike hire), and as such had to hand back £1.5million:

[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-30037035 ]BBC[/url]

Know your enemy

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i have just spoken to the New Forest National Park Authority about what numbers we need to come riding (group of 10 of us) - the operator was very confused - eventually got put through to a nice bloke to explained it is only for large cycle events - I then explained with this sentiment I would have to look elsewhere to take people.

Number is 01590 646600 if anyone wants to spend 5 mins getting the message to them

Feels a bit like the Michael Moore approach: sticking it to the man by causing lots of hassle for receptionists (see also: Mark Thomas). While I'm sure a lot of us support the sentiment, the people directly and immediately impacted by lots of people ringing in with "questions" are not the ones who set policy, and indeed they're often among the lowest paid people in an organisation.

Targetting comments directly to those at the top (assuming contact details are available) might be a better approach?

So I got 'tac'd' today. On the run from Lover to RP way. Only a couple of houses well away from the road. I'm thinking it was 'tactically' placed. Luckily I didn't come off but its trashed the tyre. Not pleased

Report it.

Who to? Police surely won't be bothered. i took a photo and stuck the tack into a wooden post so know where the evidence is....