Cycle Shrewsbury update

The latest news from Cycle Shrewsbury in February 2012:

Cycle Shrewsbury is moving on

You will soon be able to find us at www.travelshropshire.co.uk. This new website will be a one-stop shop for any information about travel in Shropshire, for local people and visitors. The website address will remain the same and all the useful information from Cycle Shrewsbury will be there, as well as news about new cycling projects in Oswestry and Ludlow, and events across Shropshire.

Regular social rides in Shrewsbury

There is no need to book for these, you can just turn up.

Women's rides on the first Sunday of every month: meet at Porthill Bridge in the Quarry at 10.30am
Rides from Radbrook surgery on the third Friday of every month: meet outside the surgery at 10.15am

Social rides in Oswestry

A group of people in Oswestry have recently started social rides open to all. Their first rides have been in December and January, and each time over 30 people of all ages have enjoyed a sociable ride on quiet lanes.

Have a look at this blog for inspiration.

Infrastructure

Look out for public consultation in March on plans for the Shrewsbury station area. This work will be the next step after the recent work on Smithfield Road; and will make it easier for people on bicycles and on foot to move through the heavily-trafficked area around the station.

Also in Shrewsbury, look out for the "no entry except cyclists" sign; a common sight in other European countries but new to Shrewsbury. This is a long-awaited improvement to make it easier to cycle through the town centre.

Bike It

The very successful Sustrans Bike It programme will run in Shropshire for three more years 2012-5. Kim Williams will continue her work in Shrewsbury schools and will start working in colleges; and a new Bike It officer will work mainly in Oswestry schools and colleges.

Route 81 closure

Porthill Bridge in Shrewsbury will be closed for essential maintenance from April to July. Diversions will be signposted; but this may cause a problem for for the hundreds of people who cross this bridge on foot or with a bicycle every day. It seems there are plans for a ferry service and we hope it will take bicycles – information will be added to this website as soon as we have it.

We hope to celebrate its reopening with a mass ringing of bells on Friday 27 July. This will be part of a national event.

It would be good to get groups of cyclists together all across the county to join in and ring their bells on that day. Please contact us if you would like to get involved, or if you have any other suggestions or questions.

Email cycle.shrewsbury@shropshire.gov.uk or call 01743 253008.