The Green Fair

One of our annual events which this year proved to be better than last regarding the weather, it was lovely if a touch on the breezy side.
Our leaflets and information packs were held down by Sustrans pencil packs which were going like hot cakes, result? Leaflets flying all over the place.
Note: At events always bring with you rather large nuts .

This year we were next to Darlovelo, the Darlington Cycle hire folks and it was good as the cycles that they brought with them really highlighted the cycling aspect of the stand

Stand preparation's.

After a glorious weekend past, the Easter break is turning out to be a bit of a let down – Drizzle and cold -

But there is always something to be done and as we are to sell a few Sustrans “Goodies” this year (bells, puncture repair kits) decided to make a better display rather than have to goods simply laid out on a table.

I have a lot of the cardboard stands for the “Smileage” flyers and these were used to make up two display stands for the bell and puncture repair outfits.

Quite pleased with the result

Fly tipping!

Jason and Brian did an early morning check of route 14 today and found about 60metres past the Old Station at Middleton St. George an appalling mess of rubbish strewn across the track.

Given the distance from the road and the type of rubbish tipped -  soil and grow bags - it was obvious that it came from the allotments just to the left of the track. If anybody had fallen into the mess they would have certainly been injured and cut, the corrugated sheet was rusty and sharp and underneath was the cut off top of an oil barrel the side of which were as sharp as any knife.

Why do people do this.

We could not remove it, so it was moved well off the track and reported to the council.

Then to crown it all, more this time dumped from the road side.

The missing signs replaced–but for how long?

It was a nice morning and with the signs in a bag set off to replace once again the missing signs.

Those to be seen as riders leave the bridge..	.
And one for riders who approach from the bypass.	Will check again in a couple of weeks and if they have been pulled off once more, will probably replace with plastic signage screwed to the poles.

Sign attack!

Once again our signs have been attacked in the same old place, just over the bridge on the by pass where the cycle path turns into a track.
This has been a common occurrence for not just our signs for NCN 14, but also the council signs.

The poles look decidedly bare But it will be rectified 

Future events for the Rangers - 2012

Pleased to announce that we will be taking part in the 2012 Spring Fair at the south Park on May 27th. which was a success last year even though the weather was against us somewhat. Lets hope for better .There was an estimated 2,500 attendance and if the weather is good, perhaps we can look toward to many more.

We will also have a stand at Darlington councils “Local Motion MEGA Festival”  on Sunday 24th June 2012.
The event will run from 11am to 4pm and will focus on encouraging the use of sustainable transport and linked to that, leading a healthy and active lifestyle. The Festival will build upon the successes of previous Darlington Cycling festivals which in the past have attracted in excess of 2000 people.

On the day there will be a range of information stands for families to find out about transport options in the local area and how to lead a healthier more active life. There will also be opportunities for people to try out various activities, provisionally these include bike try out sessions, BMX coaching, Nordic walking, health walks, zumba, tennis and athletics.

Route 14 check.

It was nice to see that most of the signs were still in place since the last check except for one torn and one removed. Considering the total number of signs along the route that we maintain, many of them in town, this was good news indeed.

Torn at the junction of McMullen road and Yarm road.

One removed at the cycle track leading to Cummins.

Crossing the bridge across the A66 bypass I got into conversation with five cyclists who had cycled down the A66 on the cycle track from nearby Sadberge having set of from Sedgefiled. There were completely unaware that the by pass crossed route 14 so it made sense to attached two route signs, one on each pole, where the track bears off to the bridge. A big plus would be that car drivers may just see these as well an say “Well I never!”. An extra sign I placed on a pole if riders do join the route from this location.

We have a few “Dodgy” trees along the route passed the “Whinnies” in Middleton St. George. These need to be monitored as it looks as though it will not be long before they topple over completely.

B. Vigurs 13th. November 2011.