Rogers review of 2024

We started 2024 with some very impressive Numbers, supporting the regular rides, frequently over 20 on each ride, needing to split into two groups, on many occasions, (thanks to Bai for showing willing to lead a 2nd group when required, also Nigel & Mags, who led groups for Midweek rides). In March we had a feeder ride to the ‘LCC Womens freedom ride’ (no it wasn’t restricted to just the fairer Sex), a rather chaotic finish, led to a late return. Towards the end of the year the Weather was not so good, persuading many to cancel, or not join up. We finished the year with an average of 19.2 on Sundays, 15.7 Midweek, & 10.2 Evenings.

Sadly I took a few tumbles this year, thankfully aside from a few bruises, no problems, 1 slippery surface the cause in February, an inattentive 8 year old in September. The Family Fun rides, were well supported, but some of the Weather wasn’t so helpful, on 2 occasions, hoping the Gods will be more helpful in 2025! We were delighted to be awarded a a shield at the Borough sports awards, ‘Community actiivist of the year’, thanks to all the Marshal’s who were willing to help with the Family rides.

I look forward to seein g you on a ride soon.

Roger Mace

Midweek ride to Battersea

Wednesday 11th December. A dull grey, chilly day saw 19 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands- group 2 collecting 1 more-, New Malden, Motspur park, Lower Morden, Morden, South Wimbledon, Wandle trail, Earlsfield, Wandsworth Common, Clapham Common, to Battersea for lunch at the Asparagus (Portobello pubs), – now just 1 group, as a few have departed-, a bit more Battersea, Thames Path, Wandsworth Park, Putney, Barnes Common, to East Sheen for Tea & refreshments at Palewell Common Cafe, Sheen gate Richmond Park, Ham gate, Ham, Canbury Gardens, to finish back in Kingston. Total 27 Miles, thanks to Steve D & Toni for back marking each group, also thanks to John E for back marking after Tea. Apologies, no Photo this time. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2826090

Christmas special ride to Thames Ditton

Sunday 8th December. With ‘storm Darragh’ still blowing through the area, it was wise to advise all to go straight to the lunch venue, but amazingly a total of 11Cyclists, either didn’t read the message, or decided to ride regardless, after a brief discussion, a decision was made, so via Portsmouth Rd, to Surbiton for an impromptu Coffee stop at the Clocktower Cafe, then a tour of Berrylands & Tolworth, to Thames Diitton for a delicious lunch at the ‘Limping Fox’, joined by another 23 or was it 24 Cyclists (some with Bikes, some without), after thank-you speeches from Bai, & a response from myself, with 2 prizes this time, for Bai with all his co-leading & Celia for her cheerful back marking, sometimes with really nasty Weather, now with steady drizzle & time getting short, 3 more joined the return trip back to Kingston. Total 8.5 Miles Cycled, special thanks to Celia for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2823884

2 Part Bread pudding ride to Chessington & Sunbury

Sunday 24th November, Part 1. A very blustery windy day, not a surprise than 8 people cancelled, just 4 left the Market via Lower Marsh, Berrylands- to find 1 more unexpected guest waiting, (now 5)-, New Malden, Motspur park, North Cheam, Cheam Park (Photo), Nonsuch Park, Stoneleigh, West Ewell, a little bit of the Bonesgate path, to Chessington for lunch at a very hospitable William Bourne (Stonegate Pubs), back on the Bonesgate path,, Tolworth, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Sub-total 16 Miles, very special thanks to Bai for leading part 1, thanks to Neil for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2806965

The brave few; Cheam Park: Lindsay & Bai

Part 2 Still very windy, so farewell to 1, & welcome 3 fresh faces, 7 Cyclists left into a strong headwind, on Portsmouth Rd, Giggshill Green, Weston Green, Esher, Walton- a new 2 way cycle lane in the town centre-, Walton Bridge, Shepperton, Haliford, to Sunbury, just in time for Tea & refreshments at the Walled Garden, more Sunbury, Hampton, to find the management of Bushy Park had decided to keep it closed all day, so a detour via Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Sub-total 16 Miles, Total 32 Miles, thanks to John E for back marking. Sorry no Pic for part 2. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/924654

Kingston Gate – save our protected bike lane! Again!

So here we go again! Kingston Station is at the heart of Kingston’s cycling network. It’s where the main routes from Wheatfield Way and nearby Old London Road converge, as well as other bike routes to the town centre, the riverside, and north along Richmond Road. But only a hundred metres away, a revised planning application has been submitted to rip out the existing protected bike lane on Richmond Road. So what’s going on?

Kingston Gate is a proposed development, building over a car park and an adjacent busy road. The developers propose diverting this traffic onto Richmond Road, but they want to remove the protected bike lane in order to do so. This will completely sever this route, and their proposed cycling diversion on the pavement and around the back of the shops is a waste of time.

If this seems familiar, it’s because the same developers proposed something similar in 2021. But this time there’s no phase 2 proposed, no reinstatement of the bike lane at any point in the future, and so removing this protected bike lane will be permanent.

This has to be stopped before it gets started, or we will lose this route forever. Richmond Road is a key cycling artery, both now and for the future. The council should be providing protected space for southbound cycling, never mind retaining the northbound protected route. The Council’s own plans are to upgrade the cycling route all along Richmond Road, and earlier this month they applied to TfL for millions of pounds of funding to do so. But this planning application will ruin it all, if it goes ahead.

It’s not too late for the developers to change their proposals, or for the council to reject them. But for this to happen we need your support.

How to Object

Kingston Cycling Campaign have already submitted our detailed objection to this scheme – covering much more than the problems covered here. But the best way to ensure this route is kept is for everyone to add your own objections – we know from experience that the more objections, the more weight is given to them.

If you objected in 2021, please also object again today!

Visit the application on the council’s website: 19/02323/FUL
Fill in the form, and pick “Object” as your stance
Tick “Access or traffic problems”
In the comment, say that you object to the proposal on the grounds of Road Safety, that you object to the removal of the protected bike lane on Richmond Road, and you object to there being no consideration of a southbound protected bike lane being added at any stage of the project or in the future.

Note that comments have to be submitted by the end of Tuesday 26th November 2024 – so please take a minute and submit yours right now!

Midweek ride to Maida Vale

Wednesday 13th November. A bright day, with some Sun, after 1 late cancellation, saw 15 Cyclists leave the Christmas Market place, via Skerne Road, Latchmere, Ham gate Richmond Park, White lodge, Roehampton gate, Barnes Common, Putney, Putney Bridge, Parsons Green, Brompton Cemetery, South Kensington, Kennsington Gardens, Bayswater, to view an odd House or 2, Paddington, to view an ‘arty Clock’ & a few ‘Animals’ enjoying lunch- sort of-, a rather congested with traffic Marylebone, to Maida Vale for lunch at the Carlton Tavern, Kilburn, North Kensington, Shepherds bush, Hammersmith to Ravenscourt Park for refreshments at the recently refurbished Paddenswick Tea Gardens, Cycleway 9, Chiswick, Grove park, Chiswick Bridge, Mortlake, Sheen gate Richmond Park, Kingston gate, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, thanks to Dave P for back marking & others for marking corners.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2162317

With ‘Wild Table of love’, a Gillie & Marc piece, near Paddington Station: Lindsay.

Note; see more G & M art, in Kingston Town centre at the moment.

KCC receives Community Activator Award

Kudos to our members whose dedication meant we received the Community Activator Award at the Kingston Borough Sports Awards on Monday 11 November! From family-friendly rides and cycle buddying to bike repairs for vulnerable residents and bike light giveaways, huge thanks to all our members for making such a positive difference.

As we were given the honour from our local Mayor at Guildhall, the judges told us the award recognises all our volunteers’ exceptional commitment to campaigning and promoting cycling in Kingston and reaching our goal to make cycling a fun and accessible way to explore Kingston, and beyond.

A particular thank you to everyone who has helped marshal our fun, confidence-building rides over the past 18 months, which has raised our local profile further and inspired our being nominated for this award.

Bread Pudding ride to Thorpe Green

Sunday 10th November. A cloudy grey day, with light Mizzle (misty Drizzle), with 1 late cancellation, 1 forced to abandon the ride due to a defective brake, 1 extra guest, who had mistakenly booked on a different event, 20 Cyclists split into 2 groups, group 1 not quite ready, so group 2 led the way via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, to Hanworth to pause at the War Memorial for the 2 minute silence, -but as they were in the midst of a longer service, sadly no chance for Andrea to read from Laurence Binyon’s ‘For the Fallen’-, Sunbury, Ashford, Staines, Staines Bridge, Egham, Stroude, to Thorpe Green (Photo group 1), for lunch at the Rose & Crown (Barons Pubs), – very speedy service, with great food & drink, (Photo group 2), alas 1 of group 1 had a visit from the ‘P fairy, despite a slightly confused assistant, who got the Tube’s mixed up, soon fixed-, continuing via Lyne, Bretlands, Addlestone, Weybridge, to Walton Bridge for refreshments at ‘Wilde Brunch’- joined by 1 more (21)-, Walton, Esher, Weston Green, Giggshill Green, Portsmouth Rd, to finish back in Kingston. Total 30 Miles, 1 new face, special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to Celia & Amy for back marking each group.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2802886

Group 1, approaching lunch, Thorpe Green: Lindsay

Groupp 2 (and 1 refugee from group 1), at lunch

Bread pudding ride to Brockley

Sunday 27th October, with the clocks having returned to GMT, a bright Sunny day saw 20 Cyclists split into 2 groups, -alas about to depart, 1 of group 1 found a flat, thus a change of groups, 2 became 1 & vice versa-, leave via Raynes park, Wimbledon Chase- sadly 1 of group 1 had a tumble, a couple of bruises, but quite shaken, decided to head for home-, South Wimbledon, Colliers wood, Tooting- joined by 1 more for group 1-, Tooting Bec Common, Streatham Hill, Brockwell Park, (Photo group 2), Dulwich, Dulwich Park (Photo group 1), Peckham Rye Park, Nunhead, to Brockley for lunch at the Brockley Barge (Wetherspoons), a bit more Brockley, then Ladywell fields to join Waterlink way, via Catford, Sydenham, & Cator Park, then Beckenham- Group 1 decided to ignore the ‘path closed sign’s, for South Norwood country Park, whilst group 2 took a new detour via Beckenham Cemetery, (Red dotted line on Map)-, Norwood, Heavers Meadow, Selhurst, West Croydon, Wandle Park, Beddington, Beddington Park, to Carshalton for Tea & refreshments at ‘Sassis in the Grove’- joined by 1 more unexpected guest-, the Wrythe, Benhilton, Pylbrook path, North Cheam, Motspur park, to finish back in New Malden. Total 32 Miles, 1 new face, special thanks to Bai for leading group 1, thanks to Ellie & fresh back marker Andrea C for back marking each group. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2415136

Group 1 Dulwich Park; embracing a modern art piece.

Group 2 Brrockwell Park, with colourful Trees in the background: Lindsay

Midweek ride to Northolt

Wednesday 16th October. A rather Dull grey Morning, with a bright Sunny afternoon, after 2 late cancellations, 14 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Fulwell, Crane River path, Whitton- joined by 2 more (16)-, Hounslow, Osterley, Osterley Park, Norwood Green, Southall (including the new Cycle path on Kensington Rd), to Northolt for lunch at the Crown- very good service, with only 1 person, serving/ Waitering, without issue-, alas as about to depart, 1 person had suffered a visit from the ‘P fairy’ with a new gadget to get the Tyre back in place, ‘Tyre Glider‘-, alas more woe, the intended path has been closed by HS2 works, so retrace our steps, more Northolt, Greenford, Perivale to vist the Art Deco Hoover Building (Photo), – now some flats & a Tesco store-, a missed path led to a slight detour, vis North Ealing-, Ealing town, South Ealing, Brentford, to Syon Park for Tea & refreshments, Isleworth, St Margarets, Twickenham, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Total 31 Miles, thanks to Toni for back marking & Celia for marking corners.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1212522