Mini-Holland (Go Cycle) – September 2019 update

Following our update earlier this year on Kingston Go Cycle schemes, what has happened over the past few months?

New Malden to Raynes Park

The biggest milestone passed in the past few months has been the opening of the off-road New Malden to Raynes Park cycle and walking paths on 13 July 2019. We are delighted with the opening of this route and are very pleased that our campaign to get separate cycle and walking paths (rather than a shared path) was successful. You can find further information on the route in our post marking the opening of this new link. We’ve already noticed how popular this new route is and we look forward to it being enjoyed by the community for many years to come.

Kingston to Surbiton

Most work has now been completed on Wheatfield Way with it being declared officially open in the past couple of months. This was the 4th Go Cycle route to be finished (New Malden to Raynes Park is the 5th) and we have been pleased to see line markings being added to the segregated cycle tracks to make these areas much easier to identify. We will also be asking the Council to look at improving the wayfinding on this route to better guide people on bikes through the five junctions the route passes through along the way.

New 2-way cycle track installed on Wheatfield Way

Work has been continuing at some speed along Penrhyn Road which is the Go Cycle route connecting Wheatfield Way to the Surbiton ‘links’. When the Penrhyn Road scheme is finished it will link Kingston Station to (almost!) Surbiton Station. We were pleased to see that the Council has been listening to ours (and others) feedback and has reduced the amount of shared use areas along the route although some will still remain where space is constrained. We will continue to ask the Council to look at all possible ways to reduce shared use on remaining Go Cycle routes. We also continue to speak to the Council about how they plan to address the missing link between St Marks Hill and The Crescent (i.e. between Surbiton station and Waitrose).

Kingston Vale

This is the longest Go Cycle project which will go all the way from Old London Road (next to Wilko’s) to the Robin Hood Junction on the A3 linking a number of key destinations (Kingston Town Centre; Kingston Hospital; Kingston University campus (Kingston Hill); Richmond Park).

Most of the work between Galsworthy Road junction and Derwent Avenue on the route is now complete with some final snagging work underway (including picking up some points that we wanted improved) as well as workers putting the finishing touches to five new zebra crossings on the route. We have been impressed with the short amount of time taken to install a new type of segregation kerb on Kingston Hill. At less than a tenth the cost of stepped cycle tracks, these bolt-in kerbs make cycle segregation possible in many places where costs would otherwise be prohibitive.

New cycle segregation kerb that has been installed on the Kingston Vale route

Work has almost been completed at Manorgate roundabout where five new shared crossings have been installed though signage is yet to be installed. Over the Summer holidays, construction focussed near Tiffin School upgrading the crossing from Old London Road to a new 2-way segregated cycle track which will run along London Road to Manorgate roundabout.

Kingston Station

On the weekend of 23/24 March, the new pedestrian and cycle bridge was installed. This 4m wide bridge replaces a narrow 1.8m shared use bridge previously in place. Works around Kingston Station since March have focussed on building the paths each side of the new bridge to link Kingston Station to the Thames as well as Ham & Richmond via Skerne Road and Lower Ham Road.

New cycle and pedestrian bridge near Kingston Station

Preparatory works have also started for the new cycle storage hub next to Kingston Station. We are in discussions with the Council about how this cycle hub will be managed when it opens (due to be some time in 2020).

Future progress

Construction of the Penrhyn Road scheme is expected to complete in early 2020 which will complete a new cycle route from Surbiton to Kingston Station. Early 2020 should also mark the time that construction moves to Ewell Road as work starts from Surbiton towards Tolworth which will, when complete, link Tolworth to Kingston Station with a 3 mile long cycle route.

Work will also continue into next year on the Kingston Station and Kingston Vale schemes. We also expect to see further progress announced on the Kingston to New Malden scheme along Kingston and Cambridge Roads which currently feature narrow advisory cycle lanes and which have unfortunately been the location of many collisions involving cyclists and other vehicles.

Links to further information from Kingston council:

2 part ride to Cheam & Sunbury

Hogsmill open space, West Ewell. credit: Rob R

Sunday 8th September. Part 1. A mostly Sunny day saw 18 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth & the greenway, the Bonesgate path, Horton Country Park, (with a freshly laid uncomfortable Gravel path), West Ewell, -with a visit from the ‘P fairy’, (a Tack the culprit),- A short bit of Hogsmill Path (Photo), Stoneleigh, Nonsuch Park, to Cheam village for lunch at ‘Ye Olde Red Lion’, North Cheam, Worcester Park, New Malden, Berrylands to Kingston. Sub-total, 16 Miles, 4 new Faces, thanks to Steve F for back marking, & others for marking corners, 1 vist from the ‘P Fairy’.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/924647

Note: I’ve added a nicer alternative return route, (Red Dashed line), slightly longer, with a level Crossing, which might have hindered our journey, but much more pleasant, if time is not an issue.

Part 2 Saying farewell to 10 & welcome 7 fresh faces, still with Sunny Skies, 15 Cyclists left via Portsmouth Rd track, Giggshill Green, Weston Green, Esher, Walton on Thames, Ashley park, Walton Bridge, Shepperton, Haliford, to Sunbury for Tea & Bread pudding at the ‘Walled garden’, Hampton, Bushy Park, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge. Sub-total 16 Miles, Total 32 Miles, thanks to Karen for back marking, & others for marking corners, thanks to John for the BP.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/924654

Bread pudding ride to West Horsley

Prince’s Coverts Credit: Andrea D

Sunday 25th August. A hot, (even Sultry) Sunny day saw 23 Cyclists leave via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Esher, Fairmile, Cobham, Hatchford, Ockham, to West Horsley for lunch at the Barley Mow, alas they weren’t serving food, the select few that self catered where happy to stay, but the majority who did want food continued a bit further to the ‘ King William the IV’, regrouping after lunch, via East Horsley, Effingham, Bookham, Fetcham, Fetcham Mill Pond, Leatherhead, Prince’s Coverts, (Photo), Claygate, to Long Ditton, for Tea & Bread pudding at ‘Squires Garden centre’, Surbiton, to Kingston. Total 31 Miles, 2 new faces, thanks to John E for back marking & many others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/912831

Midweek ride to Greenford

Hammersmith Bridge (sans Traffic)

Wednesday 21st August, a bright Sunny day saw 15 Cyclists leave via Skerne Rd, Latchmere, Ham gate Richmond Park, White Lodge, Roehampton Gate, -with the first of 4 Level Crossings, with a long wait, shortly followed by the 2nd Crossing 😦 -, Barnes, the ‘Cyclists delight’, Traffic free Hammersmith Bridge 🙂, (surface not so delightful 😦) (Photo), Hammersmith, Ravenscourt Park, Wendell, Acton Park,- 3rd Level crossing, another age before the Train appeared-, North Ealing, Pitshanger Park, Footbridge to Perivale, Gr. Union Canal Path, to Greenford for lunch at ‘the Black Horse’, afterwards, with the Towpath closed for repairs, (to Ellie’s delight), a detour via Oldfield Lane, & Ferrymead, more Greenford, Southall, Norwood Green, Osterley Park, Hounslow, Whitton, to Kneller Gdns for Tea & Refreshments, Twickenham, Strawberry Hill, fourth Crossing, -only a short wait this time-, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge. Total 30 Miles, 2 new face’s, thanks to Steph for Back marking, and others for marking corners.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/909611

Evening ride to Ewell

Wednesday 14th August, a mostly pleasant evening, with a heavy Shower at the finish, saw 9 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Malden Manor, Stoneleigh, Nonsuch Park, East Ewell to Ewell for refreshments at ‘the Wheatsheaf’, the Hogsmill Path, West Ewell, Tolworth, King Charles Bridge, Cranes park to Kingston. Total 13 Miles, thanks to Derek for Back marking.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/903978

Challenge ride to Old Farleigh

Ashburton Field, with the Crystal palace Masts Credit: Ian G

Sunday 11th August, a mostly bright, Sunny day, with a gusty Breeze, saw 22, with 1 more joining us as we exited the Market place, so 23 Cyclists left via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Motspur park, Joseph Hood Park, Pyl Brook path, Benhilton, Wrythe Green, Hackbridge, Beddington Park, Wallington, Waddon, South Croydon, Sanderstead, Kings Wood, Warlingham, to Old Farleigh for a splendid lunch at ‘the Harrow’, then via Fickleshole, -with a minor Road rage incident, causing 1 of our party to take a tumble, 😦, – but spirits lifted with a Flypast by a fantastic Spitfire, Coney hall, Shirley, Ashburton Field (Photo), Woodside, Heavers Meadow, Thornton heath, Norbury, Lonesome, Mitcham, to Mordon Hall Park for Tea & Breadpudding, then Morden, Cannon Hill, Raynes park, the new link to New Malden,- with everyone loving the new route,- the Cut, Mount pleasant, Norbiton, Farefield to Kingston. Total 44 Miles, 2 new faces, thanks to Steve D for Back marking, and many others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP & thanks to Ian for the Photo, thanks also to Mike for some of this route.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/821611

Prudential ride London reminder

If you are planning to join us on Saturday 3rd August, to ride to Central London, for the ‘London freecycle’, please make sure your Bike is in good working order, Tyres pumped, Brakes working, a bit of Lubrication on the Chain, all help to make the ride a lot easier, Please remember to bring some Water for drinks, & Suncream, in case it’s Sunny & hot.

See you Saturday, 9.30am

Train assisted ride from Wokingham

Smith’s Lawn, Polo field, Windsor great Park, credit: Jon White

Sunday 21st July. A largely overcast day, with some brighter spells, & some threatening clouds at lunch. With Network Rail having scuppered the original plan for today’s ride, a valient 26 Cyclists, made there way to Wokingham, leaving via the Holt, Cantley Park, the Warren, Binfield, Priestwood, Wick Hill, Chestnut path, Harvest Ride, Chavey Down, (very un chavey ?), Mill ride, North Ascot, Ascot Racecourse, with a visit from the ‘P Fairy’, swiftly repaired, Cheapside, to Sunningdale for lunch at the very hospitable ‘Nags Head’, (finding 1 extra person, already enjoying a Beer, later joined by 1 more, but also 2 of the original group departing), with 1 meal delivered a bit late, Blacknest gate of Windsor great Park, Smith’s Lawn Polo field, (Photo), the Totem Pole, Virginia Water gate,- with a Park Ranger recognising our Leader as ‘a Legend’, 🙂 -, Virginia Water, Lyne, Bretlands, Addlestone, Victory Park, Portmore park, Weybridge, to Walton Bridge for Tea & BP at Gino’s, -with a change of back marker, due to other commitments,- Walton on Thames, Walton park, Esher, Weston green, Giggshill Green, Portsmouth Rd to Kingston. Total 34 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to Karen & John E for back marking, and many others for marking corners.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/243158

Evening ride to Wimbledon

Wednesday 17th July. A largely bright Evening, with just 1 or 2 spots of moisture, before the start, saw 15 Cyclists leave via, Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Motspur park, Cannon Hill, Merton park, South Wimbledon, to Wimbledon, for refreshments at the’Wibbas Down Inn’, (with 1 dissenting voice using an alternate venue), then Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, to join the brand new Raynes Park to New Malden link,- C31, the latest Cycle route No. from the London Mayor,- Mount pleasant, Norbiton, Bonner Hill to Kingston. Total 14 Miles, 2 new faces, thanks to Jon W for Back marking.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/879155

New Malden to Raynes Park cycle and walking paths – now open!

We are delighted that the New Malden to Raynes Park cycle and walking paths were opened on Saturday (13 July 2019) and are now available for use. Will Norman, the Mayor’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner joined local children to officially open the route.

The route features separate walking and bike paths following our campaign (and many others joining us) against the original plans for a shared path for the route.

The route has been given the designation Cycleway 31. ‘Cycleway’ is Transport for London’s new designation for cycle routes across London that meet TfL’s quality criteria. The branding replaces the previous Quietways and Cycle Superhighways names.

Cycleway 31 is open 24 hours a day (there is LED lighting at night) for people to travel on foot or by bike between New Malden and Raynes Park. Along the route, an area for a nature trail has been established with lots of new plants added along the rest of the route. We expect more planting to take place during tree-planting season.

The new route connects to the existing pedestrian and bike paths on the Cut, providing a c.2km off-road cycle route all the way from Elm Road in New Malden to Raynes Park recreation ground. The route from Raynes Park recreation ground then follows quiet residential roads (Taunton Avenue and Camberley Avenue) to join a new 2-way cycle path on West Barnes Lane to link to existing cycle paths on Coombe Lane which carry on to Raynes Park station.

Map of the new route connecting New Malden station and West Barnes Lane, Raynes Park

Access points

You can access the new route:

next to New Malden station;
via Camberley Avenue and Taunton Avenue in Raynes Park; and
via a new ramp connecting the route to Alric and Duke’s Avenues in New Malden.

Next steps

This route is one of Kingston Council’s new Go Cycle or ‘MiniHolland’ routes which are being funded by TfL and delivered by the Council. Construction continues on other routes across the borough including Kingston Vale and the first part of the Kingston to Tolworth route on Penrhyn Road.

Kingston Cycling Campaign

Promoting safer and more enjoyable cycling in South West London and beyond