Arthur Lamy, who has left Boudins after 29 years

How often do you see people using their mobile phones whilst driving? Even if you disregard the high per capita number of vehicles in the Island, it’s unquestionably far too often.

What is worrying is that it appears to be a growing trend. A recent survey undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory, which was conducted among 12,000 car and taxi drivers, and 2,500 van drivers in London, showed that the number of people committing this offence had doubled to 2.8% over the past two years.

In the United Kingdom, the campaign group Road Peace are currently petitioning the Prime Minister, in an attempt to make using a mobile phone whilst driving an offence that leads to a driving ban. Tests show that drivers who are on the phone have slower reaction times than drunk drivers, and that people who attempt to text and drive, are 23 times more likely to become involved in an accident.

As the most vulnerable group of road users, after pedestrians, I think that this issue is something that we cyclists should think about.

Braking News

Transport for London hire fees favour the fast and the frequent
On Thursday 10 December, Transport for London released the hire fees for its cycle hire scheme which starts next summer. The charges certainly favour shorter, more frequent trips over long term hire: to be able to use the bikes, one has to pay a £1.00 access fee per day, this will allow you a sub 30-minute ride for nothing.

If you get lost, or if you are loving it so much, that you keep cycling for just under three hours, then you’ll pay £15.

If the rider chooses the daily or weekly (£5) access fee, they will also have to pay a pre-authorisation charge of £ 150 on their credit card. This will also allow you to authorise up to three other users. For people who think that they would use the scheme a lot, there is a £45 annual membership.

At a first glance it might look like the scheme is quite expensive, but given that most journeys in the capital are not that far, it does mean that a year’s travel around London can be yours for as little as £45.

Contador suggests transfer scheme for pro-riders
2009 Tour de France winner, Alberto Contador, whose contractual obligations have forced him to stay with the Astana team for another year, has suggested that pro-riders should have a clause in their contracts that would allow them to change team without anyone’s permission. He goes on to say that cyclists would probably not realise the multi-million dollar fees of a professional footballer.

This comes after seeing riders, Cadel Evans and Bradley Wiggins, change teams, and after fellow team member, Lance Armstrong, left Astana to form new Pro-Tour team Radio Shack. It must be mentioned that Radio Shack is made up of some of the best Astana riders from this year’s Tour de France squad.

Cycleurope upgrades its shops in France
Cycleurope, France’s leading cycle manufacturer has plans to upgrade selected ‘Velo & Oxygen’ bike shops throughout the country. The company is bringing a Premium Dealer scheme among its 450 shops in order to modernise and unify the brand image.

So far 50 shops have been refurbished, and Cycleurope hopes to have as many as 200 shops ready before the end of 2010.

There is no cost to the dealers who take part, but they do have to meet certain criteria: they have to stock Cycleurope’s bike brands: Bianchi, Puch and Gitane, and also the company’s Spectra parts and accessory line. In addition to the modernisation of the store, dealers are also able to access unique ranges of bikes, special discounts and other specific services.

Sprint Bonuses

• Julian Sayarer has now broken the record for the fastest ‘Around the World’ cycle ride. He took 11 days off the recent record set by James Bowthorpe, by doing a lap in 165 days.
• First pictures of Team Radio Shack’s new bikes are on www.bikerumours.com. Replicas should be in a bike shop near you in March next year.
• St.Helen’s Primary School in Ipswich has removed its cycle racks in an effort to discourage pupils from cycling to school.
• Lance Armstrong promises that he will retire (again) in 2011. Until then it’s business as usual for the 7 time Tour de France winner.
• And the BBC Sport’s Personality of the Year……….wasn’t Mark Cavendish! Never mind, maybe next year.

And Finally,
After 29 years, I’ve left Boudins the Bike Shop to concentrate on my tourist guiding and writing interests.  However, I will continue to write this blog for the foreseeable future.

• Arthur Lamy is the author of Jersey Cycles.

He has written books, guides and articles for, among others, IPC media, Ottaker’s Bookshops, Seaflower Books and Jersey Tourism. He is a Blue Badge qualified tourist guide and is also a keen photographer.

More information can be found on his website: www.arthurlamy.com