Feeder ride to London Freewheel

Ride London 2016Saturday 30th July. A mostly cloudy day with an appearance from the Sun in late afternoon, saw a gathering of 100 plus Cyclists leave the Market place via Skerne Rd, Kingston gate, Richmond park, (gathering more along the way, approx 130 in all), Roehampton gate, Barnes, Thames towpath, Putney bridge, Fulham, Parsons green, Brompton Cemetery, South Kensington, Belgravia to Buckingham Palace. After Lunch, and touring a much improved ‘Central Route’, approx 70 Cyclists gathered on Constitution hill, via Hyde Park, Serpentine path, Kensington Gardens, South Kensington, Brompton Cemetery, Putney bridge, Thames towpath, Barnes, Roehampton gate, Richmond park, Kingston gate to the Market place. Special thanks to Steve for back-marking, and all the other Marshals, it made for a very enjoyable day.

Map of our outward and return route at www.plotaroute.com/route/258450 and you can see photos of everyone on the feeder and return rides in Prudential RideLondonFreeCycle 2016 at www.flickr.com/photos/kingstoncyclingcampaign/albums

Ham cross, Richmond Park

Ham cross, Richmond Park

Prudential RideLondonFreeCycle – check your bike!

repairing a puncture on the rideJoin our feeder ride tomorrow – bring the family along! And please make sure you’ve checked all the bikes in your party – see lcc.org.uk/articles/checking-your-bike if you need a quick refresher.

As with all our rides, remember to bring a spare inner tube too (there’s more useful  information about our rides at kingstoncyclecampaign.wordpress.com/rides-2/rides-calendar/#on-the-ride)

Bread Pudding ride to Iver

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Langley Park Lake

Sunday 24th July, a mostly bright day, with more clouds in the afternoon, saw 24 Cyclists leave via Kingston bridge, Bushy park, Hampton, Fulwell, River Crane path, Whitton, Hounslow Heath, West Hounslow, Cranford, Harlington, Sipson, West Drayton, Slough arm of the Grand union Canal towpath, with the exit path almost invisible due to Nettles Brambles etc. in urgent need of a visit from the ‘Strimmer gang’, to Iver, (with 4 members needing an extra bit of Shepherding from the leader)  for Lunch at ‘the Red Lion’. Afterwards via Shedding green, Langley park, George green, Middle green, Langley, Ditton park, Horton, Poyle, to Stanwellmoor for Tea & BP at ‘Vermulens Garden centre’, then Stanwell, Bedfont, Feltham, Hanworth, Hampton hill, Bushy park and Kingston bridge. Total 37 Miles, 5 new faces.

Thanks to Steve for acting as Back Marker, and thanks to Derek for the Bread pudding

Map :-www.plotaroute.com/route/254416

Train assisted ride from Wokingham

10 July 2016, group at Ascot racecourseSunday 10th July, a small group of 8 Cyclists met at Twickenham, but once on the train we met another 6 had joined at Clapham Junction, (probably to get the best seats ;-)), then on arrival at Wokingham another 12 who had come on earlier trains. So 26 Cyclists left via Holt lane, Cantley park, where a broken Pedal cleat caused a small delay, Binfield, Popeswood, Bracknell, Wick hill, Chestnut path, Chavey down, North Ascot, Ascot Racecourse, Cheapside to Sunningdale for lunch at ‘the Nags head’, with a small group electing for the local cafe. After lunch, with everyone back together, (edited), Trumpsgreen, Lyne, Addlestonemoor, Victory park, Addlestone, Weybridge, to Walton bridge for Tea & Cookies, (in the absence of the trusted BP makers) at the (almost) brand new Gino’s cafe, a brief bit of Towpath, Walton on Thames, Rydens, Esher, Weston green, Giggshill green, Portsmouth Rd to Kingston. Total 33 Miles, 1 new face. Thanks to Steve for Backmarking

Map, alas the ‘Tracker’ didn’t restart properly after lunch, so for the moment, it’s only partial. :-www.bikemap.net/en/route/3644879

Consultations open until 18 July 2016

Kingston Council have four Mini-Holland consultations open until 18 July 2016  – see

http://consult.kingston.gov.uk/portal/planning/go/consultations_summer_2016/

These schemes need real improvement  so we’re asking you to respond to all four, calling for the routes to be completed and for cycles to be separated from both motors and pedestrians.  We have suggested responses at:

kingstoncyclecampaign.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/suggested-response-to-mini-holland-consultations-july-2016/

And please feel free to join in our discussion on Cyclescape:

http://kingston.cyclescape.org/

Walton bridge Cafe, Hooray !

I’m sure everyone will be pleased to know that the ‘new’ Cafe at Walton Bridge has finally opened for business, only 2 Years after the building was complete, it’s good to hear that Gino is still in charge, I can’t wait to try it out, maybe this Sunday on our ride from Wokingham.

Suggested response to Mini Holland Consultations July 2016

Kingston Council have four consultations open until 18 July 2016 on their Go Cycle or Go Programme (previously Mini Holland).

http://consult.kingston.gov.uk/portal/planning/go/consultations_summer_2016/

The schemes need real improvement. So please complete all four and call for the routes to be completed and cycles to be separated from both motors and pedestrians.

These are our brief suggested responses which please feel free to use as the basis for your own responses. Do complete the “comments” sections – the questions asked are closed and will not allow you to seek what cyclists really want.
Continue reading →

Mini Holland Consultations

Kingston Council have four Consultations open until 18 July 2016 on proposed Go Cycle or Go Programme (their branding for Mini Holland) cycle routes.

  • Kingston Station
  • Wheatfield Way
  • Kingston to Surbiton
  • Fountain Roundabout, New Malden (below)

Fountain Roundabout proposed layout

You can access the consultations here;

http://consult.kingston.gov.uk/portal/planning/go/consultations_summer_2016/

Please complete all four and call for fully protected space for cycling separate from both motor traffic and pedestrians. Our initial view is that the proposals are disappointing. Mini Holland and the Mayor’s Cycling Vision for London were intended to be transformational. Kingston’s proposals have a lot of space shared by pedestrians and cyclists, creating conflict for both. Junctions which are challenging for inexperienced cyclists are sometimes ignored.

There are some promising features such as segregated cycle tracks, but the schemes need real improvement if they are to work. We managed to get the Council to improve Portsmouth Road so please let’s get these schemes improved by completing the consultation.

Our detailed discussion of all 4 schemes is publicly available on Cyclescape.org;

http://kingston.cyclescape.org/

Please feel free to contribute.

 

2 part ride to Cheam & Bushy park

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Horton country park

Sunday 19th June, part 1, a mostly bright Sunny morning,  saw 15 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth, the Greenway, Bonesgate path, Horton country park, Ewell village, a very congested East Ewell, Nonsuch park to Cheam for lunch at ‘ye Olde Red Lion’, then North Cheam, Worcester park, Old Malden, New Malden, Berrylands to Kingston. Sub total 17 Miles, 2 new faces. Part 2, with thickening clouds perhaps deterring some people, we said farewell to 10, and welcomed just 1 new face, so 6 Cyclists left via Canbury gardens, Lower Ham, Aerospace estate, Ham, Ham gate of Richmond park, to Petersham gate, a busy towpath to Richmond bridge, Ducks walk, Isleworth, Whitton, Twickenham, Fulwell, Bushy park to the ‘Pheasantry’ for Tea & BP, then Hampton Wick & Kingston bridge to Kingston. Sub total 14 Miles, Total 31 Miles. Thanks to Mike for back marking, also Diane & others for corner spotting,  thanks to Derek for the BP.

Map :-www.bikemap.net/en/route/3606472