Cycle to RSH day

Cycle Shrewsbury's promotions manager, Emma Bullard, tells us all about last week's cycle event at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital...

We were so lucky with the weather! 16 March was a perfect day for cycling, sunny and clear and with not much wind.

Everyone was smiling: have a look at these photos.

emma-with-keith-barrow-and-jim-moorcroft martin-beardwell

On my way up to the hospital it was good to see the new signs taking people along quieter streets from Shelton Road to the hospital. Getting signs put in might not sound very exciting, but I know Mytton Oak Road puts people off cycling, with its busy traffic and confusing road markings (they are not cycle lanes but "edge of carriageway markings" designed to reduce the speed of the traffic).

new-signs Several people mentioned these signs during the day including a member of staff at the hospital who cycles in from Woodfield Road; even though she lives so close she was unaware of this alternative route. The signs are the first in Shrewsbury to give times as well as distance, to show that cycling can be as quick as driving for short journeys.

I counted 35 bicycles around the hospital site; 11 of the 12 new parking locations had bikes at them which is a good sign, it means we have put stands in the right places, but 35 is a very small number so there is plenty of rooom for improvement. We should be aiming for at least 100 this time next year, to fill up the cycle parking. There was quite a lot of interest in the Cycle Shrewsbury information from staff and visitors, so I'm hopeful.

The people who did come along appreciated the services of Dr Bike and the local police who were marking bikes for security.

police-security-marking-at-rsh-16.03.10 dr-bike-at-rsh-16.03.10

Next steps are to add information for cyclists to the hospital's website; and hold a staff and families cycle training day in April. If you work at RSH, or know anyone who does, please contact us and we'll send you more details.