LCC Insert September 2015
LOCAL NEWS & UPDATES
[email protected] @RichmondCycling
www.facebook.com/richmondcycling
www.richmondlcc.co.uk
We’re number one! No outer London borough has as much cycling as we do – latest TfL numbers suggest that Richmond has 7% of trips by cycle. So this issue, we wanted to focus on some of the small things going on in the borough that improve cycling: Bike rails - across the borough we're installing bike rails (or 'gutters') that allow you to wheel your bike over a bridge, rather than waiting for a train, or taking a longer route. Bike Parking - more bike parking is popping up across the borough, from increased parking on Hampton Hill (from 22 to 34 spaces) to street post adjusters (not in these funky colours, sadly!) popping up all over the place. Bike parking 2- Richmond has its first "cycle hangar" installed, with another three or four in the works, and dozens of requests queuing up. Being able to park your bike safely and nearby is - for obvious reasons - a crucial enabler for more cycling in the borough. These secure places allow you to store your bike outside, but in a secure, covered shelter only accessible by you and the five other people with bikes there. You can go to http://www.cyclehoop.rentals/ to express interest, and show the council more parking is needed! One way streets - up to 25 one way streets in the borough are planned to become two way for cycling. This has been happening across London, and is making a huge difference to our ability to get around by bike and avoid key pinch points and unpleasant junctions. Kensington and Chelsea, Islington, the City of London, Lambeth and other boroughs already do this, so it’s some welcome catching up by Richmond.
Filtered permeability - something else that makes cycling and walking better: this is about closing roads to through traffic, but making it possible to walk and cycle through. The borough already has dozens of these interventions – for example, controlling access to Chalker’s Corner so that traffic doesn’t use side roads as rat runs. More of these are being actively looked at, thanks to Richmond Cycling Campaign pressure. Schools – there are a lot of things going on with schools at the moment. From ‘Peddle my Wheels’ (where you can swap, trade in or sell a bike your child has grown out of), to grants supporting walking and cycling, Bikeability training, and support for schools doing travel planning. We know a lot of schools in the borough could do with more bike parking, so get in touch if you’d like us to help approach the council. Quietways – It looks like Richmond may get its first quietway later this year, and another one goes into analysis later this year. As long as the Quietways are just one way that Richmond aims to support cycling we think they’ll be really helpful. However, there are clearly some places where the council’s going to have to bite the bullet and do some proper segregation. Towpaths – the Ham towpath has been receiving some upgrades, and our members are keeping up the pressure for this to be a proper, safe route for cycling in all weathers (and tides) so that locals can avoid trying to cycle down the Petersham Road. We’d love to see other towpaths upgraded in the borough, too. But where would you fix first? Ride London Freecycle – We’ll be leading a group ride to this, and we need you to come along to represent the borough, as well as to help marshal the 100+ riders who usually turn up! We’re hoping to see more families with children this year, so come along – all you need is yourself and your bike!
[email protected] @RichmondCycling
www.facebook.com/richmondcycling
www.richmondlcc.co.uk
We’re number one! No outer London borough has as much cycling as we do – latest TfL numbers suggest that Richmond has 7% of trips by cycle. So this issue, we wanted to focus on some of the small things going on in the borough that improve cycling: Bike rails - across the borough we're installing bike rails (or 'gutters') that allow you to wheel your bike over a bridge, rather than waiting for a train, or taking a longer route. Bike Parking - more bike parking is popping up across the borough, from increased parking on Hampton Hill (from 22 to 34 spaces) to street post adjusters (not in these funky colours, sadly!) popping up all over the place. Bike parking 2- Richmond has its first "cycle hangar" installed, with another three or four in the works, and dozens of requests queuing up. Being able to park your bike safely and nearby is - for obvious reasons - a crucial enabler for more cycling in the borough. These secure places allow you to store your bike outside, but in a secure, covered shelter only accessible by you and the five other people with bikes there. You can go to http://www.cyclehoop.rentals/ to express interest, and show the council more parking is needed! One way streets - up to 25 one way streets in the borough are planned to become two way for cycling. This has been happening across London, and is making a huge difference to our ability to get around by bike and avoid key pinch points and unpleasant junctions. Kensington and Chelsea, Islington, the City of London, Lambeth and other boroughs already do this, so it’s some welcome catching up by Richmond.
Filtered permeability - something else that makes cycling and walking better: this is about closing roads to through traffic, but making it possible to walk and cycle through. The borough already has dozens of these interventions – for example, controlling access to Chalker’s Corner so that traffic doesn’t use side roads as rat runs. More of these are being actively looked at, thanks to Richmond Cycling Campaign pressure. Schools – there are a lot of things going on with schools at the moment. From ‘Peddle my Wheels’ (where you can swap, trade in or sell a bike your child has grown out of), to grants supporting walking and cycling, Bikeability training, and support for schools doing travel planning. We know a lot of schools in the borough could do with more bike parking, so get in touch if you’d like us to help approach the council. Quietways – It looks like Richmond may get its first quietway later this year, and another one goes into analysis later this year. As long as the Quietways are just one way that Richmond aims to support cycling we think they’ll be really helpful. However, there are clearly some places where the council’s going to have to bite the bullet and do some proper segregation. Towpaths – the Ham towpath has been receiving some upgrades, and our members are keeping up the pressure for this to be a proper, safe route for cycling in all weathers (and tides) so that locals can avoid trying to cycle down the Petersham Road. We’d love to see other towpaths upgraded in the borough, too. But where would you fix first? Ride London Freecycle – We’ll be leading a group ride to this, and we need you to come along to represent the borough, as well as to help marshal the 100+ riders who usually turn up! We’re hoping to see more families with children this year, so come along – all you need is yourself and your bike!
