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Bike
Workshops move to new shed The
bike workshops have a new location. From the beginning of March
they will be held at the Log Cabin behind the library on Northfield
Avenue. Last
summer we started the workshops in the car park behind the University
building in Bond Street. Although we were allowed to use the location
for free, it wasn't ideal. We were subject to the whims of the weather,
and without any lights we were forced to stop holding workshops
in the dark winter months. The
move marks a return to the Log Cabin after a 4 year absence. The
workshops will offer help and advice on servicing and repairing
your bicycle. We now have a set of tools, including specialist bike
tools for those awkward jobs. The workshops are friendly and informal
and all members are welcome. We will make a small charge of £2
to cover the cost of hiring the cabin. Workshops will be held on
the first Wednesday of every month at 7.30 pm. The first one is
on 4th March 1998. We hope to see you there. Committee
changes Three
years ago Ealing Cycling Campaign almost sank without trace. The
Borough Coordinator had left the borough, the workshops ceased,
and there was no liason with the local council. London Cycling Campaign
head office were so concerned that they called a special meeting
in the borough. Only 4 people turned up. However they got lucky,
amongst the 4 people were Simon Batterbury and Michael Peel. Simon,
a lecturer at Brunel University volunteered to liase with the local
council, while Michael, a doctor, became the Borough Coordinator.
After 3 years hard work both are now stepping down. Michael is leaving
the Borough to be nearer his work in the centre of town. While Simon
flew to the USA last month to take up the post of visiting lecturer
at the University of Colorado, in Boulder. I would like to thank
them both for the amount of work they have contributed to cycling
in Ealing in the last 3 years. Particularly the major achievement
of winning £19,750 from the Government's Cycle Challenge Initiative
for a project to improve cycle facilities at Thames Valley University,
and their patient attendance at the local Agenda 21 Transport group.
Overleaf is a report from Simon on the last 3 years, and a dispatch
in his new role as our foreign correspondent. It is thanks to their
work that we now have a thriving active group. The new borough co-ordinator
is Alison Judah, an osteopath who cycles to her clients from her
base in Acton. Council Liason is now split between Ol and myself.
Ol gave up motorised transport in the 1970's and is the founder
member of the Ealing Quaker Cyclists Network. Martin
Gorst, Treasurer The
Last Three Years Over
three years, the Ealing Cycle Campaign has grown to become one of
the most dynamic LCC groups in London under Michael Peel's leadership;
working with (and occasionally in spite of!) the Council on improving
the safety and efficiency of the road network, and participating
in numerous local and cross-London events. Its work will continue,
and we are happy to note that several of our ideas - for example
the planned cycle parking at Ealing Broadway station (hopefully
with contraflow approach) - are still on the Borough's transport
agenda. We have established a presence for cyclists at Local Transport
Day, Countryside Day, and National Bike Week; begun bicycle maintenance
sessions; organised rides and leisure activities; promoted cycling
for health and exercise; and we have recently been asked by the
Council to discuss the best use of Ealing's limited cycling budget.
Over the last three years, Council attitudes have shifted dramatically
- not only have non-polluting and public transport been prioritised
and the London Cycle Network has become a local reality, but proposals
from community groups like ours (for example the development of
Advanced Stop Lines on the Uxbridge Road) have received a fair hearing
and some have been implemented. The down-side of our success, I
think, is that we are often seen as too committed and ready to provide
new ideas or strong criticism. This may be an explanation for the
drop-off in Council liaison with us in recent months. "Local
consultation" on transport engineering matters is not always
a statutory obligation for the Council, and it certainly inconveniences
planners if the "public" want major changes to proposals,
or feel the priorities in the all-important Transport Policies and
Programmes document require modification. So we don't always get
consulted early enough, or at all. I know there are a few people
that will breathe a sigh of relief that I am going. But let us hope
that my successors continue to chip away at the edifice of Ealing's
car-dominated, polluted and dangerous city streets. Ealing
Council has put 2 new cycle routes on its agenda. The first, a cycle
lane along Boston Road, is currently being assessed for its feasibility.
The second is a "radical proposal" for a two-way cycle
lane on Greenford Road. But don't hold your breath; planning these
routes takes time. Work on the Greenford Road cycle lane is not
due to commence until the year 2000. Meanwhile
plans for a cycle route up Ealing Broadway to the station are on
hold after members of the Roads Sub-Committee expressed concern
about its safety. However the council do plan to improve cycle parking
facilities at the Station. They are also in the process of installing
new cycle racks around the Borough and by 1999 aim to double the
amount of cycle parking from 1996 levels. Simon
Batterbury (I returned to the Borough in late 1999!) Simon
Batterbury reports from one of the most Cycle-friendly towns in
the USA Error!
Bookmark not defined., where I resided for most of 1998, is a very
interesting place transport-wise. Bike lanes abound - on most roads
except side roads where they are not needed. During snowfalls, the
bike lanes are swept first by little snowploughs. The roads are
done later. At junctions, there are advanced stop lines. Also, cars
wishing to turn right have to slow, check for cyclists in front
or behind them, pull to the right across the 'straight on' cycle
lane, enter the right turn lane, and go. So at junctions, straight
on cyclists cannot be wiped out by turning cars. Boulder city planners make space for bikes on buses - a rack on the front of all local buses can be pulled down for cycles. On longer distance routes, like the 30 mile run to Denver, bikes travel free in the luggage area. Around town, old steering wheels have been Error! Bookmark not defined.. Many parents take their children to school safely by cycle trailer. In brief, there is much we could learn from cities like Boulder. They make it easier. |