🚲 Cycling and the Bike Bank

For more info contact: bike@ssb.org.uk

Click here to access SSB Project management documents

Click here to access relevant SSB Policy documents

 

The Bike Bank

You can arrange a free loan of a bike from the SSB Bike Bank, on a first come basis

The South Brent Bike Bank was established by SSB in 2015 as a community resource offering a free lease of a bike for up to 7 days and promoting sustainable transport in and around South Brent. There are now 3 bikes; they are ideal for new riders, as they are easy to use and well suited to Devon being light and with plenty of gears for those hills. Each lease includes a cycle helmet and lights to get you on the road as well as a support pack full of advice, tips for new cyclists, links to cycling organisations in the area and maps.

For more information about how to join the Bike Bank download the Information & Guidance Sheet HERE.

The Bike Bank is open to adults of 16 years and over (those aged 16-18 will need a parent or guardian’s consent – download consent form HERE)

NB. You are strongly advised to wear a cycle helmet, in good condition, conforming to BS EN 1078 for your own protection when riding the bike – It is no longer possible for the Bike Bank scheme to provide these.

To borrow a bike you must register on the scheme. To register:

• Download and complete a registration form HERE and email it to bike@ssb.org.uk  or send/deliver it to: Penny Wainwright 1 Balmoral Villas Station Road, South Brent TQ10 9BB

Once you have registered, further instructions will be emailed to you and you will be able to choose and book out a bike from the green, secure cycle store at the Old School Community Centre.

If you are already registered download and complete a Booking Form HERE and email or send it to the address on the form

Please click on this link – ‘Hygeine Risk Assessment‘ and read and note the procedure to be used when hiring and returning a bike.

For more information email bike@ssb.org.uk or call Penny on 01364 72128

SSB is pleased to work with Sustrans on holding various guided bike rides in the local area. The rides vary in length and difficulty – there are gentle rides more suitable for families, as well as others which take all day and cover more challenging terrain.  Perhaps you would like  to tackle the 50 mile ‘Discovering the Dartmoor Way’! Check the Blog pages and the events calendar to see whats coming up and if there’s a ride for you.

 

The new HIGHWAY CODE applied from 29 January 2022.

For information see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code;

The new Highway Code book is also available. You can read the text here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1041273/the-highway-code-alteration-to-the-highway-code.pdf

For a comparison table showing the changes, see: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1037306/table-of-change-to-the-highway-code.pdf

and for specific rules for cyclists see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82).

 

Cycling Safely

Some of our younger followers working on an after school programme highlighted this useful page on Bike Safety – https://bobbinbikes.com/pages/bike-safety-in-the-uk

 

Cycling in the South Brent Parish Plan

Cycling is part of the Traffic and Transport section of South Brent’s Parish Plan 2016+, and SSB takes the lead for two of the relevant action points

• TT3: Maintain, and where possible lobby to improve, public transport, local ring-and-ride services and develop community transport options
• TT4: Improve the cycling experience: increase cycle walk lanes; shared use signage, develop SB bike bank project; e-bike charging points.

The Primrose Trail

SSB supports the development of the Primrose Trail and is represented on its Working Group/Board of Directors. The Primrose Trail will be an accessible,  multi-purpose, non-motorised route from the moor at South Brent to the sea at Kingsbridge. It will have a low environmental impact and will follow, as closely as possible (using mainly quiet roads and existing rights of way), the route of the old Primrose Line (which was closed as a railway line by Dr Beeching in 1963).

You can download an information leaflet about the Primrose Trail – Click here

The Primrose Trail Steering group welcomed the mainly positive responses to its detailed feasibility study published in 2021.  A further paper addressed some questions and concerns which were raised – click here to read more.

The original feasibility study is now outdated, and a new feasible project execution plan is being considered. Further consultation with local Parish Councils and landowners is being undertaken.

For more information see: www.primrosetrail.org/ or www.facebook.com/PrimroseTrail/ or email info@primrosetrail.org.

 

Cycle South Dartmoor

 

Cycle South Dartmoor is a project group, which includes SSB representatives, and is on a mission to establish South Dartmoor in Devon as one of the best connected rural areas in the UK for fun, practical and sustainable fossil-fuel-free travel for work, school, health, leisure or sport.

It aims to:

• Promote and work towards the improvement of cycling in the local South Dartmoor area covered loosely by the parishes of South Brent, Dean Prior, Buckfastleigh and Ashburton, and the surrounding area.
• Support, promote and help educate local people to encourage increased use of bikes, both manual and electric assisted, as a means of sustainable transport and for improving health and enjoyment of leisure time.
• Promote and develop the area as a centre of excellence for cycling and cyclists, and encourage tourism and sports use to attract visitors and to grow the local economy.
• Establish the ‘South Dartmoor Cycle Way‘ – a safe and direct cycle route to connect Ashburton, Buckfastleigh and South Brent.

For more information see: https://cyclesouthdartmoor.wordpress.com/

 

 

Resources

To find national and local policies and other resources linked to Greener Transport, Cycling and Active Travel – Click here

To download a list of ‘Active Travel’ references – Click here

See other cycling resource links and websites on the useful links page

 

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]