Ealing Cycling Campaign
Newsletter June 2003

Ealing Bike Week Events 2003

Saturday 14 June 10am - 4pm "Dr Bike", Ealing Green, on the triangle of grass between Bond Street and High Street. Get your bike checked over and practical advice about keeping and using it.

Tuesday 17 June 8 am - 10 am. Cyclists' breakfast, outside Ealing Town Hall, New Broadway. Free to passing cyclists. Get a croissant in one leg and juice in the other.

Wednesday 18th June 7.30 pm. Sunset Ride to Richmond Park. Join us and meet up with cyclists from other boroughs to watch the sunset from Richmond Hill. Don't forget your lights! Depart from outside Ealing Town Hall, New Broadway.

Thursday 19 June 6.00pm. Round-the-Borough family bike ride; five easy miles, mostly off-road, suitable for all the family. Meet outside Ealing Town Hall. Ends approx. 7.30pm.

Cycle training for adults and young peoplee run by Cycle Training UK will be held on Ealing common on Saturday 14 June. Anyone wanting to sign up for the 2 1/2 hour on-road skills and confidence building sessions will need to register. Contact Ealing's Cycling Officer, Bob Davis, Tel: 020 8825 5771 e-mail: davisr@ealing.gov.uk for details.

Tram - Diversion of Cycle Route is still possible

In the latest round of consultation with local groups, Transport for London have released the 'provisions proposed for cycling along Uxbridge Road'. Alarmingly they leave open the possibility that cyclists may be permanently diverted off sections of the Uxbridge Road. The main points of the proposal are outlined below:

• The tram route is part of the London Cycle Network Plus. Over the next 6 years the cycle route will be completed and upgraded. The West London Tram Project Team will work with the Cycling Centre of Excellence to ensure that the two projects integrate with each other.

• Options open to the tram design team include:
  Shared tram, bus and cycle lanes, where predicted traffic flows or speed is low.
  Dedicated on-street cycle lanes where road width allows.
  Segregated cycle lanes (e.g. alongside the dual carriageway section of the route)..
  And last but not least: **'New alternative routes for cyclists.'**

• 'The design of the new proposals has yet to be determined. A special interest cycling consultation forum is proposed to look at what ideas may be acceptable and practicable.'

• 'As far as can reasonably be achieved the existing cycle facilities will be retained... TfL will discuss changes with cycling organisations.'

• 'During construction, cycle routes will need to be diverted temporarily or to new future routes, to ensure the safety of cyclists as well as other road users.'

• Trams will not be designed to carry unfolded bicycles.

• So that cyclists can safely cross tram lines, junctions will be designed to ensure that a crossing angle as close to 90 degrees as possible is encouraged.

• Where practicable, secure cycle storage facilities will be provided at formal interchange sites.

We want to hear your views on the tram. Contact David Lomas. e-mail: david_lomas28@hotmail.com

Bicycles on the Rise

According to New Scientist Magazine (24.5.2003), 'for every car manufactured in the world, 2.5 bikes are made. Thirty years ago the ratio was only 1.5 to 1.'

Events

All members are welcome at our meetings. We usually meet on the first Wednesday of the month.

The next two meetings are at 7.20pm, on Wednesday 4th June, and 7.20pm on Wednesday 2 July.

If you haven't been before you are very welcome. We meet at the rear entrance of Perceval House (the modern building to the left of Ealing Town Hall on Ealing Broadway, W5) The meeting ends at 8.45 pm at the latest, and if you're lucky adjourns for beer, wine, cheesecake, etc. at "Cafe Grove" on The Grove, W5.

Bike Week 14 - 21 June

Car Free Day: Sunday 22 September 2003