Oxford Cyclists Shop for the Shelters - Sat 8th Dec, 2pm Broad St, Oxford

Oxford Cyclists Shop for the Shelters
Saturday 8th December, 2pm Broad Street Oxford

Oxford Shelter Shop Alleycat is a race against time to bicycle around the city to buy useful Christmas presents for one of Oxford's homeless shelters.

A fun event; entrants will be given a map of Oxford, a list of participating shops and a list of small items such as toiletries and clothes that are needed by Oxford Night Shelter to distribute to the homeless. There is a time limit, and prizes for fancy-dress and fast-finishers, so an incentive to pedal up and plan a good route. A ceremony at the end will see the competitors' prizes awarded and the accumulated gifts handed over to a representative from the Oxford Night Shelter.


WHO IT'S AIMED AT
Anyone with a bicycle - young or old, slow or fast - who would like to take to the streets and give a little time and money to help the homeless this Christmas.

WHERE AND WHEN
Saturday 8th December, Broad Street (Waterstone's end), 2pm - ending 4pm at the Anchor Inn, Hayfield Road Jericho.

WHAT TO BRING
A bicycle - prizes for the best the best array of decorations (safely) arranged on your bike to make it look like a Christmas tree. Dressing yourself as Santa Clause may not win a prize but may keep you warm...

HISTORY
Alleycat rides take place in many cities around the world. Originally run by cycle couriers at night as a way of testing their speed and route-finding ability, Oxford has seen 2 Alleycat rides in the last year. The emphasis for these rides has been altogether more mellow - with a fancy dress theme and a great sense of fun. The last ride took place at Halloween, and will explain why you might have seen monsters on bikes zig-zaging through oxford's back streets fumbling with maps and clues. The rides are basically bicycle treasure hunts and have proved a great way for new Oxford residents to discover some of the city's more scenic back streets and hidden pleasures.

Organising the ride, Dan Harris of Oxford Cycle Workshop says "The alleycat rides have proved a great way to have fun on the streets this year and the Shelter Shop Alleycat gives people the chance to help those most in need this winter; an ideal antidote to traditional Christmas shopping."

CONTACT
www.myspace.com/oxfordalleycat
Dan Harris; 07756 858038
Oxford Cycle Workshop, 39 Magdalen Rd Oxford. 01865 456968

Connect2 A Slice of £50m Lottery Cake For Banbury and Didcot - ITV 4th December

Your Vote Could Make The Difference: Online Voting Opens Today

The first opportunity to help bring a slice of a £50 million Big Lottery Fund grant to Oxfordshire starts today - so everyone is encouraged to get online to support Sustrans’ Connect2, and transform walking and cycling in our region. By going to www.thepeoples50million.org.uk and voting for Sustrans’ Connect2 everyone can help bring new local travel routes to the doorstep, making it easier for millions of people: both locally, and across the UK to walk and cycle for everyday journeys. Internet voting starts today, Monday 26 November, at 9.00 am and closes at 12 noon on Monday 10 December.

79 communities around the UK, including Banbury and Didcot, would benefit from the sustainable transport charity winning the £50 million grant in the Big Lottery Fund’s: The People’s £50 Million contest in December. Connect2 would build bridges, foot and cycle paths, and even reinstate a ferry, giving people easier and healthier access to their schools, workplaces, shops, parks and countryside. Connect2 is competing against 3 other organisations, with the winner being decided by public vote.

The Banbury Connect2 scheme will improve the towpath and construct a new pedestrian/cycle bridge over the canal. This will provide a traffic-free link for commuters and shoppers to get to the railway station and town centre on foot or by using a bicycle. An improved towpath would also encourage those living in and around the town to walk or cycle to the attractive countryside south of Banbury.

Didcot is a community divided by the mainline railway. A successful Connect2 scheme aims to replace the narrow one-way tunnel and raised footpath shared by pedestrians and cyclists. Access to the railway station, local schools and shopping centres will be much improved. Together with other improvements around the town, walking and cycling around Didcot will become the easiest and quickest way to travel.

Sustrans’ Chief Executive John Grimshaw says, “Now’s your chance to make sure some of that £50 million Lottery money benefits people here in Banbury and Didcot. Log on to www.thepeoples50million.org.uk and vote for Sustrans’ Connect2, and get your friends, family and colleagues to do the same. A vote for Connect2 is a vote for a healthier more sustainable future, for us - and our children: just a minute of your time could make all the difference. And if you don’t have access to the internet, look for the programme about Connect2 on ITV1 on 4 December*, or text Connect2 to 80010 or call us on lo-call number 0845 058 13 73 and we’ll send you the voteline number as soon as we know on 7 December.”

Broadcaster Jon Snow (Channel 4 News) says, “I’m backing Sustrans’ Connect2 Lottery bid to bring good news to the UK’s pedestrians and cyclists. Connect2 will make a real difference to communities across the UK, giving more people, including schoolchildren and commuters, the chance to travel in ways which benefit their health and the environment.”

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly is leading the Connect2 bid, along with former minister Charles Clarke. Connect2 is also supported by author Bill Bryson, designer Wayne Hemingway and actor Alistair McGowan, among others.

Each of the bids will be highlighted in programmes on ITV1 in the week commencing 3 December. Sustrans’ Connect2 will be featured on 4 December*. The winner will be announced on 12 December.

C40C Cyclox hosting national CCN/CTC cycle campaign conference Sat 17th Nov 2007 - website live

Cyclox hosted the national CCN/CTC cycle campaign conference on Saturday 17th November 2007, when cyclists from across the UK were welcomed in Oxford to hear the latest developments in cycle planning. Click here for C40C website & programme.