As we go to press, the council is consulting on the creation of a 20 mph zone in an area just to the west of Wimbledon town centre - one of the first to be established in the borough.

The area, encompassing a number of schools and a park, will start in the east along the one-way section of Hartfield Road and Beulah Road stretching westwards along Dundonald and Toynbee Roads to the junction with Lower Downs Road. The main line railway track will form a northern border and the zone will reach Kingston Road from the tramline level crossing at Merton Park, cover the whole of Merton Hall Road and be bounded by the Wimbledon Chase cycle track.

The proposals incorporate speed tables at the junction entries to the zone, modifications to existing chicanes on Toynbee Road and new road humps on Burstow and Toynbee Roads.

The announcement to create the 20 mph zone came as Dundonald Road prepared to be one of only five roads in the whole of London to close entirely to motor traffic as part of European car free day on 22 September.

Meanwhile in Wimbledon town centre, the council is also consulting residents on proposals to improve bus reliability as part of the London bus priority network. Cyclists will benefit from measures proposed which include a contra-flow cycle lane in Mansell Road and advance cycle stop lines on Wimbledon Hill Road at the junction with Mansell Road. New traffic signals are also proposed for this junction together with a central traffic island incorporating gaps for cyclists crossing east-west over Wimbledon Hill Road.

Bicycles proved again to be the quickest means of transport in the Wandle Valley commuter challenge held during ETA Green Transport Week in June.

In the biggest event of its kind for Merton, eleven teams, including those from neighbouring Wandle Valley authorities Sutton and Wandsworth, all converged on the civic centre from a variety of starting points and using different modes of transport.

As in previous years the cyclists came out top. Speaking at the civic centre after the event, MCC’s representative Dorothy Ker expressed her hope that the result would help put cycling at the top of the transport agenda. "Cycling, today - and at every other commuter challenge past - has come out in front. As a means of efficient, fast and reliable transport, cycling is way out in front! Why then is it still in the back pocket of transport policy?" She pleaded to the officials present to fund "serious and appropriate facilities and infrastructure so that everyone who can ride a bike is enabled to ...[making] it a natural, safe and pleasant part of their daily life".

Ivan Illich* claims that when working out the (effective) average speed of a mode of transport, you should also include the time you spend on maintenance, filling the tank, washing it, etc..., and also the time you spend earning the money to cover the capital and operational costs. ‘The time spent "in" the vehicle, the time spent "for" the vehicle, and the time spent "earning the necessary money for the purchase and maintenance" of the vehicle.’

Like that the car ends up looking very unfavourable indeed. "The typical American male devotes more than 1,600 hours a year to his car. He sits in it while it goes and while it stands idling. He parks it and searches for it. He earns the money to put down on it and to meet the monthly instalments. He works to pay for petrol, tolls, insurance, taxes and tickets. He spends four of his sixteen waking hours on the road or gathering resources for it. And this figure does not take account of the time consumed by other activities dictated by transport: time spent in hospitals, traffic courts and garages: time spent watching automobile commercials or attending consumer education meetings to improve quality of the next buy. The model American puts in 1,600 hours to get 7,500 miles: less than five miles an hour."

*Ivan Illich, Energy and Equity, Calder and Boyars, (London 1974).

Amidst the recent protests against the price of fuel we have heard many calls for fair taxes. And there are always roadusers who complain that cyclists pay no road tax.

MCC coordinator Richard Evans has come up with a formula to address both, based on vehicle weights: the road wear caused by the passing of a vehicle is equivalent to the fourth power of axle weight. Therefore, if a car weighing 1500 kg pays £150, a 40-ton truck should pay £1.94 million. And a bike and rider weighing 100 kg should pay 30p - to be paid in an advance lump sum of £15, perhaps, to cover the next 50 years?

Over the past few months MCC has run cycle training courses in conjunction with Cycle Training Ltd, the council and the health authority. MCC News asked Christine Bickerstaff, a recent participant, about her experiences:

News: How long have you been cycling?

CB: I started last year at the age of 55. I had never cycled as a child, but I felt ashamed that I was using a car to get around even for short journeys in fairly flat Wimbledon. So I asked for a bicycle for my long service award at work. Even then I left it unpacked for more than a year. I was finally pushed into it by one of my bicycle-riding borough councillors.

News: So what do you think about it now?

CB: I started because I thought I ought to. Now however I really love cycling and try to spend lots of time on my bike at weekends, even doing shopping that way. I am still not brilliant at cycling - unfortunately I am rather fat - I have to get off whenever I encounter a hill!

News: Have you got any recommendations for others?

CB: Yes, it is never too late to learn.

Cycle Training Ltd is looking for an administrator to help in the running of this fast expanding business. Hours and salary flexible according to experience. Must be an experienced, confident and regular cyclist. Familiarity with Microsoft Office an advantage. Contact Simeon or Vicky on 020 7564 5990.