Ealing
Cycling Campaign
News
September
2007
West
London Tram Route Derailed
The Tram is dead. On
2nd August Ken Livingstone, and Councillor Jason Stacey, Leader of Ealing
Council, announced that, instead of building the tram route, they would
work together to improve bus transport along the Uxbridge Road. Officially,
the cancellation depends on the Government approving the Cross-Rail scheme.
This would increase public transport in the area and reduce the need for
the tram. If approved, Crossrail is expected to be completed in 2015.
In the last few years Ealing Cycling Campaign members have put in hundreds of hours of work attending planning meetings and pouring over plans for the tram. It had advantages, not least a 1.5 metre-wide mandatory cycle lane along the whole route. But it also had disadvantages - the danger of getting wheels stuck in the track, and a large number of turns would have been banned. The increased risk to cyclists meant that, on balance, we were against it.
Ealing Cycling Campaign will continue to push for the introduction of the mandatory cycle lane proposed in the scheme.
Cycle into Summer Project
Ealing
MP, Steve Pound with Ealing Cycling Campaign member John Cieslik-Bridgen
at the Dr. Bike at the summer fete of Our Lady of the Visitation primary
school in Greenford.
Our project visiting school fairs rolls on through September. Look out for us at the following events, or come and give us a hand.
Brentford
Festival
We are running an information stand and Doctor Bike at the Brentford Festival,
on 2nd September from noon till 5.30pm. It’s a great afternoon out
for all the family; face painting, fun fair, music, the list is endless.
Full details at http://www.fobm.orguk/BrentfordFestival.htm
Greenford Street Festival - 15th September
Hanwell Street
Festival - 22nd September
We’ve been offered a stall at both events and CTUK will be supplying
mechanics so we just need to run information stalls (complete with new
flags!) – volunteers needed for both events.
Britain's
Oldest Cycle Path to get Make-over
The cycle track alongside
the A40 is the next route planned for improvements as part of the London
Cycle Network. The route was the first cycle track in the country, and
was opened in December 1936 by Hoare Belisha, the Minister of Transpart.
Ealing Cycling Campaign will attend the Cycle Route Inspection Meeting
(CRIM) due later this month.
When the path was installed in the 1930's, cyclists' organisations opposed it. They feared that it could lead to cyclists being banned from cycling on the road. They were also concerned about the danger and inconvenience to cyclists that arises where the path crosses side roads. Cyclists on the main road have priority at side junctions; those on the cycle route have to stop and give way to cars turning left. It's a problem that still remains, and it will be interesting to see if today's planners can find a better solution.
Over the last few years ECC have attended four CRIMs for routes on the London Cycle Network that pass through the borough. We ride the suggested route in both directions prior to the official ride and this provides vital information and saves time on the day itself. Our input is taken on board by the consultants. Construction of these routes is yet to start, but TfL have noticed our efforts. In section 3.11 (page 15) of this rather long document you’ll see our name http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/businessandpartners/Review-of-CRISP-reports.pdf
Cycle Hire
Wizzbike in Brentford
are trying out a new venture at weekends during the summer with a rental
scheme at the old toll office in Brentford Gauging Locks opposite the
new Holiday Inn. A perfect spot to start a tour up the grand union canal
or south along the Thames tow path. More details at www.wizzbike.com
or phone them on 020 8326 2819.
