Best Rides Leader 2015 – London Cycling Campaign
A huge thank-you to everyone who has come out for a Bread Pudding ride this year, we are sure it was a large reason why we have been named as Ride Leader of 2015 by the London Cycling Campaign.
John & Roger
Illustration of proposed greenway
Our petition with 1700 signatures, both paper and electronic, in favour of the proposed New Malden to Raynes Park Mini Holland Cycling and walking route was debated at the Council meeting on Tuesday 13 October at 7.30pm, members of the public attended.
The petition in opposition to the route was also presented. After so many arguments had been raised in opposition the “Antis” confined themselves to one point. They argued the proposed route was a “wildlife valley” and this was not compatible with cycling and walking (or “fast” cycling, as they saw it). The area is not a nature reserve but a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). It is common for cycling to be allowed in SINC’s and for these areas to have cycle routes through them; they’re often ideal for family cycling.
Parts of the Wandle trail, Morden Hall Park and Hogsmill trail are all SINCs and all are also cycle routes. Therefore this does seem a bit of a non point. As we’ve always said low impact transport like cycling and walking is certainly compatible with a favourable ecology and environment for wildlife; in fact sometimes it can enhance it.
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Sunday 11th October. a cool Sunny day saw 20 Cyclists gather at the alternative meeting point, Fountain New Malden, go via Motspur park, Bushey Mead, Merton park, Morden hall park, Mitcham, Thornton heath, Selhurst, South Norwood, Monks orchard, Shirley, Addington village, Featherbed lane to Fickleshole for lunch at ‘the White Bear’, then joined by 1 extra Cyclist and with a small ‘breakaway group’ safely Shepherded to Chelsham by John W, Warlingham, Mitchley wood, Riddlesdown common, Purley, South Croydon, Wallington to Beddington park for Tea & BP, then Hackbridge, the Wrythe, Sutton, Pyl brook path, Joseph Hood memorial park, Motspur park to New Malden. Total 36 Miles, 5 new faces.
Map :-www.plotaroute.com/route/126643
Near the ‘Mark Bolan tribute’, Barnes Common
Sunday 27th September Part 1. A bright Sunny day saw 19 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Malden golf course, Copse hill, Wimbledon common, Putney heath, Roehampton to Barnes for lunch at the ‘Red Lion’, then Barnes green, Roehampton gate of Richmond park, Ham cross, Ham gate and North Kingston. Sub total 16 Miles, 3 new faces. Part 2 , farewell to 10, welcome to 6 fresh faces, left via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth, the ‘Greenway’, Bonesgate path, Horton country park, Clarendon park, St. Ebba’s path, Hogsmill path, Ewell village, East Ewell to Nonsuch park for Tea & BP, then Stoneleigh, Worcester park, New Malden, Berrylands to Kingston. Sub total 16 Miles, 2 new faces, 1 Puncture. Overall 32 Miles.
Goldsworth Park Lake
Sunday 13th September. A mostly cloudy morning, with a brighter afternoon, saw 18 Cyclists gather for an early start, leave via Portsmouth Rd, Giggs hill green, Weston green, Esher, Walton on Thames, Oatlands, Weybridge, Brooklands park, Byfleet village, Wey navigation, Pyrford, Woking, Goldsworth park to Knaphill, for lunch at ‘the Royal oak’. Afterwards, leaving via the ‘secret gate’, to Waterers park, Castle green, Chobham, Stonehill, Homeland park, Addlestone, Victory park, Wey navigation towpath, Thames towpath to Walton bridge for Tea & BP at ‘Gino’s’, (with the ‘white elephant’ of a new Cafe/toilet block, still vacant), Walton on Thames, Molesey, Thames Ditton, & Portsmouth Rd to Kingston. Total 40 Miles, 1 new face.
Map :-www.plotaroute.com/route/9665
Queen’s Road is familiar to anyone who has visited Richmond Park through Kingston Gate. It is a road heavily used by people on bikes going to and from Richmond Park and the footways are busy with people going to the park on foot too. Whereas the speed limit in Richmond Park is 20mph, the limit on Queen’s Road is still 30. There is also a substantial amount of traffic going to and through Richmond Park. During peak hours drivers avoid the Norbiton roundabout by cutting along Queen’s Road and King’s Road.
Queen’s Road is a residential road except for the Albert Pub at the Kingston Hill end and Park Hill School and Nursery and St Paul’s Church. The roads leading off Park Road to the west, downhill, sensibly have a 20 mph speed limit. One of these roads, Alexandra Road has St Paul’s Junior School and St Alexandra’s Infant School and of course lots of children going to school walk along and cross Queen’s Road. Recently the views of some councillors in Kingston has been that there should be 20 mph speed limits outside schools.
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Wednesday 2nd September.
The last evening ride of 2015 saw 9 Cyclists leave via Surbiton, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Littleworth common, Esher to Molesey for refreshments at ‘the Bell’, then Thames Ditton and Portsmouth Rd back to Kingston. Total 13 Miles.
Hounslow Heath and the ‘Dragonfly’, with some Kingston Cyclists
Sunday 23rd August. A dry start, with a heavy shower of rain during lunch, saw 15 Cyclists leave via Kingston bridge, Bushy park, Fulwell, River Crane path, Whitton, Hounslow heath, West Hounslow, Cranford, Harlington, Sipson to Harmondsworth for lunch at ‘the five bells’, after lunch with some light drizzle still in the air, the option to visit the ‘Cathedral of Middlesex’, or the Harmondsworth great barn, as it is more properly known, before finding the rain had ceased, and even some bright Sun, then Harmondsworth moor, Poyle, Stanwell moor, Stanwell, Bedfont, Feltham, Hanworth, Hampton, Bushy park to ‘the Pheasantry for Tea & BP, then to Church grove & Kingston bridge. Total 29 Miles 2 new faces.
Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/108975
Map :-
A Mini Holland proposal
Our petition with over 1600 signatures, both paper and electronic, in favour of the proposed New Malden to Raynes Park Mini Holland Cycling and walking route is to be debated at the Council meeting on Tuesday 13 October at 7.30pm, members of the public can attend;
http://moderngov.kingston.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=137&MId=7870
Please keep signing the petition, every signature helps make the route more likely to happen;
http://bit.ly/new-malden-greenway
The Co-ordinators of the Kingston and Merton Cycling Campaigns have jointly written to the local media in support of this route;
https://drive.google.com/a/dmzone.co.uk/file/d/0ByG6pIbWG27yTDZWWWlZZ0FKZzA/view
Background
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames has a once in a generation opportunity to improve its facilities for walking and cycling and for environment and community friendly travel for all its residents and visitors. Last year the Borough was awarded more than £30million from the Mayor’s Outer London Cycling Fund (the Mini Holland Programme) and has christened the project “GoCycle”. The idea is to promote active travel for all, particularly children, the old and women.
https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/cycle-mini-hollands
http://www.kingston.gov.uk/info/200355/go_cycle/1118/about_the_go_cycle_routes_and_projects/3
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Wednesday 12th August. A bright evening saw a Bakers dozen (13 ) Cyclists leave via Skerne Rd, Lower Ham rd, Thames Towpath, Aerospace estate, Ham, Ham House, more Towpath to Richmond bridge, Ducks walk, St Margerets to Twickenham for refreshments at ‘the Sussex arms’, then Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton wick, Kingston bridge. Total 11 Miles, 4 new faces.
Kingston Cycling Campaign 