All Party Parliamentary Bike Ride

Just back from a quick sortie over Lambeth Bridge to Westminster to have a ride with some of our Parliamentary representatives - from the House of Commons and the House of Lords on their annual ride. Here they 'all' are, with non-parliamentarian Victoria Pendleton.


And, yes they can ride a bike - although there were also a lot of electric bikes on the ride with the supporting entourage.

Dodging death at E&C

While I'm an experienced London cyclist my preference is to take the mellow cycle by-pass around Elephant and Castle.

Currently the bypass is so blocked and disrupted by works for the Cycle Superhighway that I've given up on it and risk the roundabouts.

I'm sure I'm not the only one doing this and my mind boggles at how a measure to make cycling safer can be introduced in a way that encourages the riskier route to be taken. There is no signed detour and no sign of any overtime working to minimise the amount of time the by-pass is out of action.

I'm afraid that the lack of care and consideration shown by TfL in building the Superlieway may be reflected in the finished route.

Action meeting at Pedal Power Cycle Hub

Representatives from Lilian Baylis Technology School, Archbishop Sumners and Walnut Tree Walk Primary Schools, Citizen Schools met yesterday alongside mechanics and ride leaders in the new cycle hub.

Saxa, a parent of a child at Walnut Tree Walk and committee member of the PTFA there, is going to be putting his carpentry skills to good use to tidy up the front of the building. Tools and spare parts are ordered and the South Bank Employers Group are providing abandoned bikes. Work starts on getting them up to scratch this coming week.

Other necessities such as a kettle have been donated. A chance find while out with the trailer were four chairs destined for the skip. They now grace the space instead - reflecting our policy of reuse over buying new where possible.

We've had our first ride!

Okay, so we only had two lads from Lilian Baylis - but they had a fantastic time riding the Herne Hill track, thanks to Judith, our instructor, who introduced us all to fixed-gear riding with feet strapped to the pedals! It's quite daunting getting going knowing that if you stop you're falling over and the surface is like very coarse sand-paper.

We're all keen to have another go on the track and I'm sure out next ride down there will be packed out.

We had a fast ride down from Kennington, through Brixton. As I hoped would happen, one of the boys said, "Wow, is this all the time it takes to cycle to Brixton?". A good chance to show on the map where else was within a comfortable 20 minute cycle ride.

Pedal Power inching forward

The stud wall has gone in to the new space in the Lilian Baylis Community Hub and lighting goes in tomorrow. It looks as though, thanks to the work of Ben Stephenson, Public Realm Manager of the South Bank Employers Group, we'll be getting some bikes donated from SBEG companies.

The first ride with Lilian Baylis pupils along the river is planned for this Wednesday and we're off to try Track Riding at Herne Hill Velodrome next Tuesday.

Cycle Parking proposal for Bonnington Sq., Vauxhall Gr., Langley Lane

Though not one of the makes currently proposed, I think this may be an option for some residents' cycle parking in the Kennington area. I saw these in Rotterdam recently and was impressed, though I'd want to be sure I could lock the frame to something secure inside too.

It's great to see detailed cycle planning and consultation taking place in the Bonnington Sq area - see Viva Vauxhall here:


You can read about the parking pictured on this enjoyable Dutch blogspot

Repair or Rebuild?

Our Dr Bike on the 28th April at Lilian Baylis Technology School didn't have many bikes turning up with a short lead in to promote it. However one enterprising lad nipped home and returned with his bike that needed new brake cables and outers; new gear cables, new gear shifters; major saddle readjustment and comprehensive lubrication! Ola and Marcel did great work with cables, oil and a donated gear shifter that I had put aside on the off-chance of needing one. End result one happy cyclist.