At the launch, our group of two, Christina and Jim became three we were also joined by Steve from Lancaster Transition Town Transport group, and although small we had a lively and fruitful discussion. Chief among the key aims we identified was the need to reduce the number of cars on the road.

It is no great revelation to realise that that we love our cars and that this love affair has been going on for some time. How much money and creativity is invested in glossy ads for cars on television, in magazines and on bill boards? We all know how comforting it is, in spite of congestion, to move along in our own little bubble not needing to engage personally with each other.

Many ideas came up about how to make it easier for people to choose other options. But first of all, to find out what people's attitudes and habits are and to get some dialogue going we plan to do a transport survey and a thought provoking creative project in schools.

We looked at some improvements that need to be made to make public transport, cycling and walking more viable options. Buses are relatively expensive for short journeys. Accessibility needs to be improved at railway stations and lost stations need to be reinstated. We know that the Upper Calder Valley Renaissance's Sustainable Transport Group are working on rail issues and we will be meeting with them to find out how our two groups can work together. There needs to be more training for cyclists, and measures implemented to improve safety on the roads and a change in attitudes towards cyclists. We will look into infrastructure to assist cycling up hills like there is in Norway.

At the second meeting on the 9th of June three new people joined the group raising such questions as the role donkeys or horses could play in local transport and bringing information about organisations such as Bikeability.

We will be meeting again on Tuesday the 29th June at 6pm, at the Nutclough Tavern, 6-8 Nutclough, (Keighley Road).

Contact Christina by e-mail at coyotedream@riseup.net