I got stopped by SUSTRANS in London Fields last night. They tried to get me to sign up for a £5 a month membership and to help out building cycle paths, does anyone know what that's all about?

The bloke said you get free insurance with your membership, but couldn't tell me what it covered.

Sustrans are a pretty decent organisation. I used to be, and probably will be a Ranger for them again.

Take a look here for more information.

I know about SUSTRANS, I've written about them in the past.

http://www.smartplanet.com/news/tran...ttery-vote.htm

I just didn't get why they were asking for my help to build the cycle path when they have just been given £50 million to do just that.

s-trans is an evil cult once you join your theirs, they even make you put brakes onyour bike

the sustrans image is that of an incredulous and naive middle class white person, helmet perched on the back of the head, uncertainly wobbling along on a hybrid to a terminus of doom.

£50 million is for a specific series of projects that is by no means extensive and won't complete even a tenth of a comprehensive national cycle network. Just because they ahve a bunch of money, doesn't mean that they should cease their fundraising activities.

Yeah, there's no place in this world for people to be cycling. They should just get in cars and on buses.

too true

too true

yes of course, that's exactly what I really meant isn't it!

thanks for that.

join the BCF and get proper insurance, and ride on the road network which is already in place.

Sorry, touchy about the perpetuation of an erroneous stereotype. Given the work I've done it gets a bit tedious.

eh?

I'm not saying they shouldn't fundraise, but he seemed to be trying to get me to build the network - as in digging holes and laying tarmac.

The money only goes so far (planning work, land agreements/purchasing, material supplies). They still need volunteers to help build and maintain the network. If you don't ask for volunteers, you rarely get any.

Whats BFC?

i think this is true of most cycling organisations unfortunately. however, their head office is here in bristol and i know some of the folks and they are lovely folk, some are pretty mean riders too. the guy who started it all off is my mates stepdad. an amazingly driven guy, with vision and inspiration and love for what he does. they provide a huge wealth of info to cyclists and walkers alike. maps, routes that span the uk, raise awareness of cycling/walking issues, try to encourage folks fat asses out of cars etc, and they are a charity. im not a fan of charity fundraisers personally and they cant always give the info you need. but id say sustrans are worth a few quid a month. if you want insurance, join the ctc.

big fat cunt

the real cycle net work is maintained by road crews. that would be because its a road.

That seems remarkably self limiting.

it's a typo of BCF !

british cycling federation

we may mock the SUSTRANS image, but i doubt that more members of the public would take up cycling if they were accosted by RPM and Object, covered in tattoos and looking for all the world like a pair of punk rockers

yea, largely, but not all of it. there are plenty of traffic free sections around. and even the road sections still have to be ridden, checked, sign posted showing national routes etc. the work of rangers i think they are called, who are volounteers i believe.