The design of many of Harrow's main roads enables cars to travel fast but makes cycling unpleasant or dangerous. However there are many quiet residential roads which can form a useful cycle network if they are linked together by cycle paths along the main roads, and through motor traffic is barred from minor roads which are used as a 'rat-run'.

In some cases the design can easily be improved with no detriment to motor traffic and for the same initial cost. Changing the design after it has been built will cost more money, but is still cost effective if it will truly improve the cycling environment. The convenience and safety of pedestrians and cyclists should take priority over the provision for motor traffic, as advised by the British Medical Association, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and public health bodies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzE-IMaegzQ
 
Just a little video to brighten up your Friday

Tesco fails to cope with bike rack requests

 
Tesco small format stores have sprung up all over Harrow - rather like funghi in a forest after a rainstorm. There's yet another one planned for Pinner Road (near West Harrow station on the old Apollo pub site) so you could do a Tesco crawl.
 
Harrow Cyclists argue that the Express format is ideal for bike-riding customers. Most people only buy a few items so no one needs the 4x4 required for a shop at one of its largest stores.

 
But while Tesco has stretched the planning process to open its stores, spending a fortune on lawyers, it is less willing to consider basic cycle racks outside its stores.
 
The big central Harrow store has a tiny bike parking facility hidden away - it used to be more prominent but was moved to make way for a money making children's ride.
 
The existing Pinner Road store has a nearby rack but that is because it is a neighbour of The Bike Shop.
As for the others, most are rackless.
 
Now this is what Tesco promises on its website.
 
Tesco aims to apply the principle of sustainable development, meeting the needs of the present without
compromising future generations:
- Tesco, its directors, officers and employees will at all times comply with all applicable laws and regulations
relating to the environment.
- We will develop, maintain and implement policies, procedures and management systems to assess and
monitor, on a continuous basis, the environmental impact of our operations.
- We will set targets annually in order to achieve continuous improvement.
- All senior management shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with the Tesco policy, including the
establishment of programmes and reporting requirements throughout their organisation.
- We will incorporate in our environmental practices the best available technology that is economically
achievable.
- We will minimise the use of all materials and energy and not use any materials derived from endangered
species.
- We aim to apply the principles of reduction, reuse and recycling to the management of our products and
their packaging.
- We will communicate regularly with our stakeholders, including shareholders, staff, and customers, on
matters of environmental policy and practices.
- Tesco is committed to reporting on its environmental performance through our website,
Social policies
 
Sorry, if that is overlong but it is worthwhile reading.
 
Now how does that translate into reality?  
 
 
 
The official line from the superstore is:
 
'Tesco are keen to promote active and healthy lifestyles.  We look to ensure that cycling facilities are provided for our customers wherever possible.  Listening to our customers is extremely important to us and where customers are seeking additional cycling facilities, we will seek to work with them.'…
 
But there is no one in Tesco centrally who is charged with bike usage policy or who can be contacted to discuss this matter.
 
Instead, the best Tesco can suggest is for cyclists to contact their local store.
 
This has problems.
 
1. The manager may not be around
2. The manager may not be sympathetic
3. Even if sympathetic, the manager may not have the time.
4. And even with the time, the manager will not have  the expertise and ability to deal with the issue.
 
But, nothing ventured etc....so a big attempt at writing to Tesco with details of where we want bike racks will at least show Harrow Cyclists are serious.
 

2 o clock on a Wednesday in the centre of London. I saw three potential bike thieves casing for bicycles to steal. There were three of them & they were riding at odd assortment of bikes. They rode by University Colleage Hospital a couple of times. They slowly & deliberately checked out the bikes sat in the racks.
Bike Theft in London is a scourge. But what can be done to solve it?
-First, although prevention is important it is not a complete cure. The police push for the use of two locks & you can see the sense in it. The thief might need to carry two types of tool & is more likely to pick an easier target. But therin lies the problem - what you are really doing is saying 'don't steal my bike, steal someone elses'. My bet is that the impact on overall cycle theft figures is not massive as it costs the thief a bit more time to find a bike to steal, or they take the time to break both locks. In the meantime the cost of two locks & the pain of carrying them will discourage some people from starting to cycle in the first place. So prevention 'Yes!', lock your bike sensibly through the frame, rear wheel & a solid bike stand & it is more difficult to steal. But what we should say no to is putting all of the responsibility for solving this problem onto the shoulders individual cyclists, the police need to play their part too.

-That leaves us with enforcement. But lets be realistic, no borough commander is going to sanction police time to investigate the theft of individual bicycles. The chances of recovery are too low & the amount of police time is too high. What we need is a more intelligent approach.
I would focus police effort at the points of re-sale. By this I mean the Brick Lane street market as well as online vendors such as eBay & gumtree. The idea is to break the market. Reduce the ease with which a stolen bike can be sold on & you reduce the value of the bike to a would-be thief. We need an intelligence lead approach to take out the markets & the key individuals who are organising the trade in stolen bikes.
In the centre of London meanwhile, the three potential bike thieves noticed they were being watched. They stared back for a few short seconds
before disappearing round the corner - heading on to which other bike rack?
 
The London Cycle Campaign are running a 'Beat the Thief' campaign here.

Is Halfords a friendly bike shop with some car accessories attached or a rapacious, private equity controlled firm which intends to drive every independent bike shop out of business?
 
Perhaps it's a mix of the two.
 
So before going to ask them for some funding, please let me know whether this is a good idea or supping too closely with Satan.

You would never credit it but among all the other things to argue about (politics, location of bike racks, and whether Britain has talent or not) a hot topic for Harrow Cyclists is - wait for it - the efficacity or otherwise of plastic tyre levers.
 
Does this sound trivial, pathetic and about as much worth as the relative merits of Coca-Cola vs Pepsi-Cola or Visa vs Mastercard?