Tip: Looking for something?
Try the Site Search or the
Document Archive

This Cycling Life

View Slideshow >>

Above: crossing Swinford Bridge with not a care in the world ... image © Sue Chapman

The bicycle is rapidly becoming the coolest way to get around in Eynsham - as much a lifestyle statement as a means of locomotion. But local cycling goes back a long way, as the slideshow reveals ...

• Don Chapman reports its role in the early Women's Liberation movement under the catchy title Knickers, Eynsham, and Women's Lib in the Eynsham Record 17 (2000).
• Eynsham Primary School has a willing band of volunteers to train up older students in cycle proficiency before they move on to secondary school; and has installed bike racks in the grounds as part of its school travel plan.
• Eynsham's 3 churches regularly support Ride & Stride, a sponsored cycle ride arranged by Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust each September. The recommended route takes in Cumnor, Standlake and Bablockhythe (16.4 miles).
• Cycles feature strongly at Eynsham Carnival, among committee members, marshals, and participants alike. GreenTEA members excelled themselves in 2010 with creations ranging from a bamboo bike to flying pigs (you had to be there, perhaps).
• Solid, sensible cycle racks are becoming more available - witness the Baptist Church, Sports Centre and Village Hall. In May 2011 the Parish Council offered £250 towards improvements from S137 funds; priority sites included Back Lane car park and Witney Road.
• If you need a new lock or a puncture kit, Evenlode DIY on High Street is never short of spares or helpful suggestions.
• The neighbourhood policing team occasionally offer free bike security marking. It was especially popular at the Community Safety Partnership roadshow on 30 July 2010 - a wise move, perhaps, with cycle thefts at their highest for 5 years.
• When they're not busy with other things, Eynsham Road Runners take a break with Social Sycling: a family-friendly round trip of 20-30 miles, including the all important tea shop, pub stop and supper back in Eynsham. For shorter trips why not check out the Easy Riders?

Opportunities for digression and diversion abound on a bike. Endless cafés, pubs and restaurants beckon; other cyclists swap routes and anecdotes; and occasionally pedal power generates enough energy to make your own refreshing smoothies ...

FURTHER READING

• 14/04/2013 new cycle stands plus a new chance to support the Community Path campaign
  
• 03/10/2012 cyclists win the latest commuter challenge
• 23/06/2012 Family Bike Day
• 15/11/2011 the campaign group has won £6,000 for a feasibility study.
• 21/06/2011 West Oxfordshire Sustainable Transport Forum has produced a new map (16 MB) of cycle, pedestrian and public transport routes. Download the Eynsham section (298 kb).
• 14/06/2011 Eynsham - Farmoor - Botley cycle track: a new action group has surveyed the route, is investigating funding etc. and would welcome your support.
• Route Map 1 - round trip to Witney (10 miles).
• Design your own cycle trail with an interactive map

Related Documents