Share your views on bike parking in Kingston. Say where you think we need more. Say what you think of it so far. Do the survey at http://www.kingstonbikeparking.uk/
Bread pudding ride to Hanwell
Brentford dock, Grand union Canal towpath
Sunday 21st February. A mostly cloudy day with strong blustery winds saw 19 Cyclists leave via, Canbury gardens, Ham, Teddington footbridge, Strawberry hill, Twickenham, St. Margerets, Isleworth, Syon park, Brentford, Grand union towpath to Hanwell, for lunch at ‘the Fox’, then Hanwell viaduct, West Ealing, Ealing, West Acton, Acton park, Stamford, Ravenscourt park, Hammersmith, Fulham to Bishops park for Tea & BP, Putney bridge, Putney, Barnes common,where the ‘P fairy’ (or perhaps a faulty Tyre) left 1 member looking for a train from nearby Barnes station, the remainder continued to Roehampton gate of Richmond park, to Kingston gate, to the Market place. Total 30 Miles, 1 new face, 1 Puncture.
Wheatfield Way
Kingston Council are asking for views on how they can improve this ring road. The survey opens on Friday 19 February and you can read more at:
Our Mini-Holland officer has already has something to say:
Challenge ride to Dorney
Virginia water Waterfall
Sunday 7th February. A dry but windy day saw 14 Cyclists, leave via Kingston bridge with 1 more having suffered a visit from the ‘P fairy’, catching up in Bushy park, Hampton, Hanworth, Feltham, Bedfont, Stanwell, Stanwell moor, Poyle, Horton, Datchet, then the ‘Jubilee River’ path to Dorney for lunch at the ‘Pineapple’, then via the Dorney footbridge, Monkey island, Fifield, where the ‘P fairy struck again, Cranbourne chase, ‘Peanut’ roundabout, Cheapside, Windsor great park & Virginia water lake and Waterfall, Virginia water village, Thorpe green, Chertsey, Chertsey bridge, Shepperton to Walton bridge for Tea & BP at ‘Gino’s’, Walton on Thames, Esher, Weston green, Giggshill green, Portsmouth Rd to Kingston. Total 48 Miles, 1 new face + 1 returnee from 5 years ago. 2 Punctures.
To Go Cycle or not Go Cycle !
At last some public action on Kingston Council’s “Go Cycle” or Mini Holland programme ! On Thursday 4 February our representatives attended a “key stakeholder” consultation. Draft plans for around half the projects were on show. Some at an advanced stage, others very much an outline.
First the good news; Portsmouth Rd construction works are underway (photos above and below). The southern section is scheduled for completion, although not necessarily opening, this summer. The plans for the northern section look good; continuing the fully protected bi directional cycle tracks on the river side. There are some attractive public realm proposals for access to Queens Promenade for pedestrians. As so often cycling funds are being diverted for other purposes but if it enables the scheme to proceed so be it!
There is a potentially excellent proposal for a fully segregated cycle route from Kingston station to College roundabout. This comprises bi directional cycle tracks on the east side of Wheatfield Way providing a really safe route for families and children to navigate the intimidating race track which is the Kingston one way system.
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Driving and using a mobile phone
The Department for Transport is running a survey on proposed changes to penalties for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving. Some have pointed out that there is no explicit mention of law enforcement, only points and penalties, and that it doesn’t seem to apply to sat nav ‘adjustments’ while driving. However there are free text boxes for those who want to offer their thoughts.
The online survey is at http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/83EV0
Alternatively, you are welcome to email them directly at mobilephone.consultation@dft.gsi.gov.uk or you can write a letter to:
Mobile Phone FPN Consultation
Department for Transport
RULIS Division, Zone 3/29
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London, SW1P 4DR
Taking Action on Air Pollution
By Jon Fray for the Kingston Cycling Campaign
At the beginning of January the Kingston Cycling Campaign (KCC) responded to Kingston Council’s ten page draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP), pointing out a number of concerns and omissions. The Plan correctly identified that most of the air pollution is caused by road traffic and acknowledged that domestic and industrial boilers and other sources also contribute to high levels of oxides of nitrogen and particulates. Maps in the Plan show that those pollutants were concentrated on busy roads, especially along the route of the A3 and the Kingston Town Centre, which won’t be a surprise to anyone.
Road space reallocation: 10 bikes can be parked in the space taken by one kerbside car
We found the Plan to be lacking in ambition in that it did not seem to address the issues of high levels of traffic but settled for actions such as “measures to support cycling including led commuter rides, Dr Bike sessions and maintenance classes”. While we approve of these things we think they are probably too passive. Our response was that the Plan should recognise the importance of reallocating road space for safer cycling more pleasant walking and bus priority measures in order to provide the improvement in conditions that that people want if they are not to drive. Quite remarkably the AQAP did not even mention Kingston’s mini-Holland schemes and the £30 million awarded to provide protected cycle routes around the borough. There seems to be a lack of awareness even within the Council of the importance of mini-Holland schemes.
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Bread pudding ride to Pyrford lock
the former Wisley Airfield
Sunday 24th January, a mostly overcast day, with a few snatches of Sun, saw 18 Cyclists leave via Portsmouth Rd, Giggshill green, Weston green, Esher, Walton on Thames, Weybridge, Brooklands park, Byfleet village, Wey navigation towpath to Pyrford lock for lunch at ‘the Anchor’, then Wisley, Wisley Airfield, (thanks to Steve for the interesting history lesson), a rather muddy Bridge end farm, Martyr’s green, Cobham, Fairmile to Claremont lake for tea & BP, then Esher, Littleworth, Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton & Kingston. Total 28 Miles, 1 new face.
Bread pudding ride to Battersea
Wandsworth Common
Sunday 10th January. A dry, mostly Sunny day saw 22 Cyclists ready for the 1st Ride of 2016, go via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Motspur park, a very wet path across Bushey Meads, Merton park, South Wimbledon, Wandle path, (special mention for the ‘Wandle trust’, clearing yet more debris from the banks & the River itself), Earlsfield, Wandsworth common, Clapham common, Battersea, (where a sneaky move by the back marker nearly left the Leader stranded), Battersea park to Battersea for Lunch at ‘the Woodman’, with a small detachment taking lunch at the Cafe in Battersea park. Afterwards with all back together, using the Thames towpath, Wandsworth, Wandsworth park, Putney, Barnes Common, Roehampton, (where ‘an unplanned dismount’, led to a small sub-group, including the BP carrier overshooting the Tea stop ), the majority stopped for Tea & BP at Roehampton gate, then via White lodge, Ham cross, Ham gate, North Kingston to the Market place. Total 25 Miles. Map :-www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3159298
As an aside, Wandsworth Council have just launched a consultation on 2 improvements to local routes that are worth adding your thoughts to, (positive I hope). http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/quietways
Tolworth station link
On Thursday 7 January on a very wet morning three campaigners from KCC met on site with three traffic engineers from Transport for London (TfL) and the Cycling Officer from Kingston Council. The meeting was in response to our letter to TfL sent in November.
Many of our members will be aware of three major planning proposals near Tolworth railway station. To the north a large scheme involving around 700 homes is proposed. To the south of the railway a new Premier Inn is envisaged and, most recently Lidl are proposing to move their UK headquarters to a site at the junction of Kingston Road and Jubilee Way.
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Kingston Cycling Campaign 