Can you have too much of a good thing?
There is no doubt that the Isle of Wight is a great place to cycle. Lonely Planet recently described it as a cycling paradise and included it alonside Provence, Tasmania and New Zealand in its list of the 10 best places in the world to cycle. The 100k, signposted, Round the Island route, is an obvious choice for umpteen charity rides and in the last couple of years the big Sportive companies have also got in on the act. The Isle of Wight is 23 miles long and 13 miles wide. How many large scale cycling events can you fit onto a small island before you start to antagonise the local population?
Signs for this weekend's Sportive join signs from last weekend's charity ride and 2 waymarked routes
Generally there is very little friction between cyclists and motorists on the Island. In May almost 1700 cyclists took part in the Randonnee. This was followed on subsequent weekends by 'Pedal for Parkinsons' and a ride in aid of the local hospice. On 20th May 600 riders took part in the Wight Riviera Sportive which charged a hefty entrance fee and included 25km of closed roads. Signs warning of the road closures went up weeks in advance but there were angry letters in the local paper, particularly from a Canon whose parishioners were unable to attend church – 'virtual prisoners in their own homes' he said.
Last weekend the Solent Coasts Cycling Challenge past this way, as did the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust Cycling Challenge. On Saturday and Sunday this week large numbers of cyclists will ride the Wiggle Wight Ferry Sportive, a popular event that has been sold out for weeks. September sees the annual Cycling Festival and in December there is the Wiggle Wight Winter Sportive.
Obviously I am all in favour of cycling events but I do wonder if the number of large scale commercial cycling events that have appeared since 2011 could jeopardise the relations between cyclists and motorists on the island. The Randonnee has been running for over 25 years but there are always people who complain about it. It is however a locally organised, none profit making event. Only the grumpiest of motorists complain about charity events. The big Sportives however are commercial ventures that charge high entry fees and presumably generate a profit. It can be quite difficult to pass large groups of cyclists. Few people mind if this is a one off but if it occurs on consecutive days and consecutive weekends I can see people's patience wearing a bit thin.
The Isle of Wight is a great place to cycle. I would like as many cyclists as possible to enjoy it but I would hate to see a backlash from angry motorists who feel they are constantly being held up by cycling events. What do you think? Can you have too much of a good thing?
A difficult question Hilary, especially for an outsider to judge. Angry motorists is to be expected but church-goers prevented from getting to church seems an issue. I suppose it depends on how well the events are organised. An average of, say, one event per month doesn't seem too bad and if they are successful – lots of cyclists – I'd put up with it if I lived there as a non-cyclist. Presumably they are all approved by the local authority? So it's up to the Council to make the case and explain how it's good for the island.
Event signs and notices should be removed straight afterwards though. I don't know much about running events but there's no excuse for leaving them up. This happens everywhere of course.
BTW, I can confirm that the Isle of Wight is a great place to cycle.
July 7th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
On Eurosport last week I heard the commentators comparing the things done by the Tour de France riders and the Sportive one in this country.
They said that Tour riders throw their litter away but there is a very big clean up team employed to collect this.
The Tour riders use hand signals to warn other of obstacles. Sportive ones shout and swear.
They also complained about the general behaviour towards the local population in particular some of the aggression shown by some riders towards other people not taking part in the activity. It was said by the commentators that in some areas Sportives are running out of local goodwill fast.
So when the local population have had enough and the rides are stopped it will not be the fault of those taking part (according to them) but local people hating cyclists.
The island does rely on tourism but it has to be the correct sort and if these rides start to put other people of from visiting then the rides will become even less popular there.
As the only time the rest of the population have anything to do with cyclists is normally when driving a motor vehicle (Bike Van), this is the obvious flash point. Unfortunately large groups of males are not noted for being nice and helpful so friction is caused bringing antagonism to all cyclists to the fore.
So to me it is only a matter of time before the island population has had enough of these types of event. Cyclists doing them selves no favours and thinking they can do as they like because they have paid to ride does not help.
The council could employ some body to remove the signs and clear the litter then charge the organisers a hefty fee for doing so. There has to be the will to do this by the local council.
July 8th, 2012 at 6:37 am
... unlike the Tour de France, an event of national prestige which doesn't go the same way twice. As it happens, this weekend (for the first time in many years) a British rider – Bradley Wiggins – is wearing the yellow jersey and has a chance to become the first Briton to win the tour. Mark Cavendish is 'the fastest man on two wheels' and the GB Cycling Team is one of the strongest in track cycling. Is there a connection with the rising popularity of sportives?
I've argued several times before (!) that Britain will never become a 'cycling nation' by trying to 'go Dutch' and building more cycle lanes, but we do enjoy the perfect environment for leisure cycling and sport – not just on roads but off-road too (a number of Tour riders have their roots in mountain biking). It's good to see these Sportives sold out and some angry letters seems a price worth paying. The local democratic process should ensure that too many events are not concentrated in one place and that people can get to church. As I say, without living on the Isle of Wight it is difficult to judge whether the limit for the island has been reached.
July 9th, 2012 at 10:00 am
It is an interesting question, Hilary. We have the annual Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour over here, and I know it is an inconvenience for residents along the route. I am always bothered by large groups of riders who insist on riding side-by-side, especially when climbing hills. It is very frustrating for motorists who could overtake a single file safely. When they do get a chance to pass they have to gun it.
The attitude of some cyclists that "we own the road" does no one favours.
July 9th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Hmm......the jury is still out on this one! Most weekends in summer we have some sort of charity cycle either on or off road. Last year we also had 2 big Sportives, this year we had 4. I think it is the timing of the events that matters, the winter one is fine but I think too many one after the other could be asking for trouble.
The organisation of the Wiggle event seemed to be impeccable and the signs were removed immediately. The Ellen MacArthur cycle challenge ones are still there but as most of them simply say 'Motorists be aware Cyclists in road' thats fine by me! The worst offenders for leaving signs up seem to be the smaller charity rides whose printed direction arrows are sometimes never collected.
As for litter, there are a few gel wrappers, discarded inner tubes and lost maps. Ideally it shouldn't happen but its insignificant compared to the bags of household rubbish, old TVs etc that motorists leave in laybys.
July 10th, 2012 at 7:03 pm
I relied to your post at work, dunno where it went, not on here anyway. I did not realise that the Isle of Wight had so many sportives running so closely to one another. Yet, strangely the opposite end of the country – the Isle of Man only has 2 (that I know of), although there are plenty of 'proper' road races. Youth Tour closes roads, but as a 'rolling closure' and they are open again quick smart, once the ride is done.
There is a new sportive coming in September to the IOM being run from a UK based company, but they are using the TT course, a road I avoid so I wont be riding their event. They are not closing roads, and large numbers of cyclists on a road without a speed limit... I shall wait and see how this ride pans out, and read with interest the comments in local papers afterwards.
How much revenue do these rides bring to the island? Accommodation and food consumed can bring in quite I lot I would of thought, but this has to be balanced with the quality of life for those living on the island all the time.
How much does it cost to cross the wet bit to the IOW? Its £100's if someone brings a car to the IOM, so that cuts a lot down on numbers for a bike ride – although bicycles if ridden onto the ferry are free.
Litter can be a major issue. My daughters friend asked me for some sportive tips. Mine included stuff like – you brought an inner tube with you, make sure you take one back with you, your pockets are also for your rubbish, so make them take your gel packets back once used. I have a big THING about litter, although while on my sportive recently, litter lining the attractive lanes on the IOM all had the words "Big Mac' stamped boldly on them, so not dropped by cyclists.
Good post Hilary.
July 11th, 2012 at 6:48 am