Ealing Cycling Campaign
Newsletter August 2005
This summer has seen
a wave of new cycle facilities in Ealing. The council have installed Advanced
Stop Lines on Uxbridge Road at the junction with Hanger Lane, and made
Bedford Road in West Ealing two-way for cyclists, providing a new route
from Waitrose to the south.
Colin McKenzie, Ealing's Assistant Cycling Officer reports
on other improvements:
There is a point no entry with cycle exemption in Federal Road, Perivale,
and another in Castle Rd, Southall. The path over Horsenden Hill is being
resurfaced and relit (may be done by now) and should end up with barely
noticeable humps. There are also a few smaller upgrades to cut-throughs:
Jeymer Drive Greenford, Rowdell Road Northolt, and others.
You should also be noticing lots of new cycle stands. We have more in
stock, so suggestions for additional locations are welcome.
One other advance piece of good news: we finally have permission from
Hanwell Area Committee to convert Westminster Road to point no entry withcycle
exemption. I will try to get this installed over the summer.
Please pass your suggestions for locations for cycle stands to Colin McKenzie
at Ealing Council: 020 8825 5140
colin.mckenzie@ealing.gov.uk
The
London bombings in July have resulted in a surge of bike sales in the
capital, but as a new cyclist are you safer cycling than travelling by
tube or bus? The short answer is no. According to a report on Radio 4's
Today Programme, cycling is 100 times more dangerous than taking public
transport. But before that puts you off, the programme also pointed out
that the risk is still tiny. There is one fatality for every 25 million
kilometers cycled, and that risk is at least partly offset by the health
benefits - the exercise means that, on average, people who cycle live
longer.
But if you are new to cycling, you probably want to reduce the risk as
much as possible. For most commuters the good news is that the risk is
already reduced - the older you are, the safer you are; a cyclist over
30 is less than half as likely to be injured as an 8-15 year old. Much
of this reduction is probably down to experience, but the next best thing
is to take an on-road course. Ealing Council offers cycle training for
Ealing residents through Cycle Training UK, a London based company with
plenty of experience of cycling in the capital. If you want to arrange
training, please ring Freephone 0800 093 6454 and ask for Cycle Training
for Ealing.
Many cycle parking
spaces were removed from Greenford station a while back, leaving an inadequate
handful. Well, my understanding is that 10 cycle stands are being provided
in the nearby National Car Parks site while the station refurbishment
takes place. I also understand that some more stands are to be installed
outside the barriers.
Many thanks to Hilary Sudlow for bringing this to our attention, and to
Dr. Davis of Ealing Council for following it up.
Those who visited
our local bicycle factory last October will recall the hints of coming
changes. Well, they’ve arrived: ten new models have been added to
the existing five. There are various combinations: with luggage rack or
not, with dynamo, battery or no lights, with 2, 3 or 6 gears, with titanium
or not... Out go the curly handlebars and in come straight or ‘butterfly’
ones. In comes new luggage. The model range includes the existing basic
3-speed (at £380), 2-speed super-light (lots of titanium, 9.7 kg
and £965), 6-speed serious touring ones at £807 and more,
up to the model P6R-XDL at £1225. Check www.bromptonbicycle.co.uk
at your peril...
All
members are welcome at our meetings. We usually get together on the first
Wednesday of the month. Our
venue is downstairs at "Cafe Grove" on The Grove, W5.
If
you haven't been before you are very welcome.
P.S. The cafe does very good cheesecake and Polish beer.
