Cycle Count Coordinator

A key role for Spokes as we are paid for cycle counts and that has allowed us to have free membership, but more importantly funds to help seed fund projects and help pay for activities such as Newbury Cycle Festival.

Counts are performed three times a year - February, June and October. There are already a list of volunteers for the counts so the role is to determine which known volunteers can help with a particular count and help to recruit new counters to have a bigger pool to draw on or replace people who are no longer able to count (typically they move away from the area).

Each count consumes about 8-10 hours of effort. This is spread over several weeks from the initial emails to getting and consolidating the counts.

The coordination does not have to be done on any particular day, but Spokes generally meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month.

About West Berkshire Spokes

The main aim of Spokes is to get more people in West Berkshire cycling as a form of transport. We achieve this by:

- Working with others to provide better cycling facilities, which includes:
o Cycle Routes
o Cycle Parking
o Cycle-friendly road layouts

- Responding to consultations:
o On relevant strategies and infrastructure proposals for West Berkshire
o On appropriate planning applications highlighting how cycling facilities can be included.
o Attend regular Cycle Forum meetings

- Training
o To ride
o Basics of bicycle checks and puncture repair

- Regularly updated website which includes relevant up to date news and local routes
- Bicycle checks
- Provision of bicycles to children whose families cannot afford one - as a bike loan scheme
- Regular Social Rides
- Membership - giving discounts at local bicycle stores
- Seed funding for larger projects
- Three time a year cycle audit on behalf of the council

Large Projects we have been involved with recently include:
- Canal towpath - raised poor state with the Canals and River Trust. Raised £100,000 through Greenham Trust to improve section east of Colthrop.
- Newbury to Didcot Railway line - working hard to reopen the line for pedestrians, cyclists and horse rides. First section opened in February 2020

What skills do I need?

Useful skill is to be able to communicate effectively with people and gentle encouragement (persuasion?) to perform counts, particularly in colder months.

Be timely and and can plan - the days the count take place on are known months ahead.

Ability to use a word processor and spreadsheet (with MS Word and Excel being ideal).

Optional to perform statistical analysis on the count information.

When is this role available?

This is a flexible role available on various days/times.

Where does this role take place?