Our local free paper, the snappily titled "The Midsomer Norton, Radstock and District Journal" doesn't have an online presence, so I'll transcribe a letter in this week's issue (5th May 2011):
Area's unique cyclepaths bring business to the area
I have organised cycle tours for families and adults for nearly twenty years, travelling all over the UK and worldwide.
Last year, I brought fourteen families to Radstock for four days. The reason is simple. There were three good cyclepaths leading away from a single point and there will soon be a fourth.
In my experience, this is unmatched in the UK.
The local spend on accommodation and food boosted the rural economy by at least several thousand pounds. Without the cyclpaths, both I and other organisers will go elsewhere. I congratulate those involved for having the vision to recreate these green corridors as the benefits to all are substantial.
Yours sincerely
Neil Wheadon
Coleford.
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5 comments:
Its letters like this that councils and municipalities need to receive, and will encourage them to keep up the "good work". Its great when people take the time to write and send them too!
NIgel, can I suggest that you clip and photocopy this letter and send it to all your local Councillors and planning department?
Already it would seem that the project is paying off, and it's not even finished yet!
Mark
Good thought, Mark. We've got a new local council and, bucking the trend, the LibDems are in a strong position. There are a number of them who are cyclists - I'm even doing up a bike for one of them now. So, potentially, things may well be looking, shall we say, just a tad rosie. I'm not exactly a "glass half full" person when it comes to politics, but, just this once I'll settle for a "glass quarter full".
Perhaps you can put these paths on mapmyride.com ?
You'd think governments would work this out for themselves, but I suspect the auto lobby is shouting so loudly against it, it's hard for them to think independently.
Locally, just putting up signposts for cyclists has increased the amount of journeys: that's signposts along existing safe (and not so safe) routes, no extra infrastructure.
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