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Northala Fields Easy Ride - 2010

At the top of the hill - northala fields 2010
The Northala Fields for 2010 took place over the Bank Holiday weekend. It was designed as an Easy ride, which means that it was local, lesuirely & not too fast. There were eight of us on the ride, including Oscar aged 14 months (riding but not pedalling).
We took quiet back roads down to Northalt Village and Northala Fields. The three grassy mounds were built only a few years ago using the rubble from the old Wembley stadium. The paths that go round them can be ridden up if you are careful. At the top we enjoyed a blustery view of 20 miles in each direction.

Draft Letter to Tesco managers on bike rack provision


NOTE: There are nine tesco stores in the area with a tenth due to open shortly (junction of Vaughn Road and Pinner Road on the old Apollo pub site.

We should aim to send these out in early September.

 

In the meantime, comments appreciated

Dear Tesco Branch Manager,

I am writing to you on behalf of Harrow Cyclists, part of the London Cycling Campaign, to ask for your help in improving cycling in the borough.

 

In particular, we would like Tesco, as the UK's largest retailer, to help promote cycling by helping to increase the provision of secure bike parking racks in the vicinity of your store.

 

This could be accomplished in two ways.

 

  • The provision of a sufficient number of visible bike parking spaces near the entrance to those stores where Tesco has a car park under its control. In this respect, Tesco falls behind the large Sainsbury's and Waitrose stores in the Harrow area.

  • Offering to sponsor racks on the pavement outside those stores which do not have their own parking space – this applies in particular to the Express format stores. A Tesco financial contribution would help overcome present local authority budgetary constraints.

     

There is a Tesco business case for this.

Cycling in London has more than doubled over the past decade and is set for further exponential growth over the next five years.

Tesco now sells bikes and bike accessories.

Cycling offers many a way of shopping which is healthy, environmentally friendly and convenient.

In particular, cycling is ideal for the typical shopping basket at your Express stores as well as for smaller purchases at larger stores. If Tesco has facilities such as racks, then it will attract trade from cycle users rather than competitor stores.

This fits in with Tesco's Corporate Responsibility Report 2010 and the following Tesco core values

  • The success of our business depends on listening to people and responding to what they tell us.

  • Working with our customers to help the environment.

  • Playing our part in local communities.

We want to work with you and Harrow council on this. So please contact me so we can forge a way forward.

I have copied this letter to directors Andrew Higginson, the chief executive of retailing services and Lucy Neville-Rolfe who serves on the Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change.

Cycle Parking Success!

 The Harrow Cyclists are pleased to report that we have our first success. The council has put in new bicycle racks at a number of locations across the borough. Sheffield stands have gone in at Wealdstone library, on High St/Wealdstone Road, at Rayners Lane library, Kenton Lane, Canon's Park station & on Eastcote Lane.

 

Many thanks to council officer Sajjad for getting these in place. Hopefully next year their will be a budget for a few more.

 

Maybe Tesco's could help out by providing cycle parking in front of some of their new Express stores in the borough?

 

See Tony's Opinion Piece.

The Aspire ride

 
 

David & Colin provided support at the beginning of the local Aspire ride. This was a charity ride to raise funds for supporting those with Spinal injury. The ride started at the Stanmore Orthopaedic Hospital & offered riders the choice of a 30 or 50 mile route.
We checked over a number of bikes, looking at tyre pressures & brakes, as well as publicising the Harrow Cyclists by getting a leaflet into the goody bag.
Around 40 riders took part in the ride this year. They enjoyed a beautiful but blustery day in the saddle for a good cause. Roll on next year.

Camden Green Fair and Bikefest

Riders at Kingsbury
 
Four riders left from North Harrow, but after stops in Kingsbury and Gladstone Park we were almost 20 strong by the time we reached Regents Park for the Green Fair and Bike Fest.
 
 
David led us on a lovely quiet route through the Welsh Harp - and he got to cut the cake to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bikefest, being one of the original organizers.
 
 
A big credit goes to our newest rider, Ashton, who managed to cover ~35 miles on his first ride!
Many thanks to David and the Brent crew for a great day out.

Sunday 06 June: Ride to Camden Green Fair and Bikefest

Lead by Dan/David. We're joining up with Brent Cyclists for a fun day out. Meet 10:15 am North Harrow Station or 11:00 Kingsbury Station or 11:45 Gladstone Park railway bridge for an easy ride, on minor roads so far as possible, to Regents Park to take part in this well-known fun eco event. The Bikefest is run by Camden Cyclists and is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Return by about 5:30 pm. Total distance 30 miles.

Three in four drivers 'ignore 30mph limit'

Julie Bull
Interesting article in todays The Scotsman Three in four drivers 'ignore 30mph limit'. Based on a study by road safety charity Brake. The recommendation of course being the reduction of the limit on non trunk routes to 20mph. The IAM of course opposes this.
 

Harrow cyclists join with Spokes in Peterborough

Harrow Cyclist were welcomed by the Watford Spokes Group in Peterborough. We had some excellent Peterborough Cycling Club guides who led us through miles of cycle paths, showing us the sites around the town.
The weather held and we had NO rain with much rain forecast? It was of course incredibly windy and we watched the time trials struggling back against the wind.
 
 
 
 

Survey Results

 The results are in! We contacted 145 out of the 196 candidates standing for election to Harrow Borough Council. So far 41 have responded. We'd like to thank them for taking the time and showing that they respect the cycling community. They were asked to respond to the following nine questions: (Click Read More to continue)

 

Survey Results coming in

So far we've had a good response to our email survey of candidates standing for election to Harrow Borough Council, as well as a number of interesting emails from candidates. We'll post details soon, but so far we've had responses by party (click the "read more" link for details):

 

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