User:Brianthegiant/sandbox



Pedals is a voluntary organisation founded in 1979 to encourage more people to use bicycles and to campaign for safer and more attractive conditions for cyclists in the Nottingham area. Pedals campaigned to get Nottingham one of the country's largest network of urban cycle routes, it continues to press for many more facilities, especially in and across the City Centre and the north side of Nottingham, as well as linking better to nearby countryside. Pedals has also successfully campaigned to get hundreds of cycle stands installed locally and also cycle lockers at several locations. Members of pedals benefit from discounts at many local cycle shops and receive minutes of meetings and newsletters. Monthly meetings are held at 7pm on the third monday of every month (except public holidays) at the Vat and Fiddle Public House near Nottingham railway station.

Strategic Vision
The group describes its strategy as follows: Pedals wishes to see support for cycling in 3 ways, all in close consultation with cyclists: - Promotion of cycling as a healthy and sustainable means of transport including:- - Improvement of existing infrastructure to make cycling safer - Expansion of specific facilities for cyclists

Funding
Pedals is a voluntary organisation, the majority of its modest operating costs are covered by members subscriptions.

Engagement with other organisations
Pedals represents cyclists as an informal stakeholder group at various committees, these include: Broxtowe Borough Council Transport Sub Group Nottingham City Council Cycling Development Group Nottingham City Council Local Access Forum East Midlands Trains Stakeholders Forum

Pedals operates as a stakeholder group representing cyclists in the Greater Nottingham area, as such it regularly scrutinises and comments on planning applications, highway changes and new policies

Pedals members also attend one off meetings to discuss plans for new infrastructure which will benefit or impact on Cyclists, these have included: Widening of the A453 Trunk Road, which will include a cycle path Erewash Valley Trail, a circular walking and Cycling trail from Trent Lock to Langley Mill Nottingham Express Transit Phase 2 HS2 cycleway, a proposed North south cycle route which will run parallel to the proposed HS2 rail way line Many Pedals members are also cycling instructors for Ridewise or are volunteer rangers as part of the Sustrans Nottingham rangers group who help to maintain Route 6 and Route 15 of the National Cycle Network which pass through Nottingham.

Pedals is affiliated to Cycle Nation and the European Cyclists' Federation. Pedals activists communicate regularly on campaigning issues with national organisations such as Twenty is Plenty and the Cyclists' Touring Club. Pedals periodically host the annual meeting of the East Midlands Cycling Forum, which aims to bring together cycle campaign groups in the region

History
Pedals started the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride in 1982, run by Nottinghamshire County Council from 1985 to 2010 and from 2011 to be run by the Perfect Motion Sports Management Consultancy in Beeston. Pedals in 1983 started the Summer Guided Rural Cycle Rides Programme, and continues to play a major part in these events, run by the County Council from 1985 to 2010 and from 2011 to be run by Ridewise, supported by Pedals. The work of Hugh McClintock as a leading figure in Pedals was acknowledged in the 2004 New Year Honours List with an MBE ‘for services to cycling’