Merton Cycling Campaign

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MCC News, Issue 19, June / July 2001
Bike Week in Merton

Come and join in the local celebrations for the national festival of cycling.

Saturday 16 June: Mitcham parade and carnival

The theme is "Mitcham through the ages". Merton cyclists are invited to join the Mayor of Merton, the leader of the Council and other VIPs who will be carried through the streets of Mitcham on genuine Indian bicycle rickshaws. There will also be a penny-farthing and other veteran bikes, tandems, bike trailers etc. The parade will congregate at 11.45 at the north end of Figges Marsh (opposite Tamworth recreation ground) for a 12.30 departure, proceeding slowly to the carnival venue at Three Kings Piece where rickshaw rides will be on offer for the afternoon. MCC will have a promotion and recruitment stand at the carnival, and will offer a free Dr Bike service. Carnival admittance is free.

Wednesday 20 June: cyclists’ barbecue

Enjoy a barbecue with members of the local cycling campaign group. Bring your bike, a bottle of something nice to drink, and something to slam on the barbie! 88 Aylward Road, Merton Park, from 20.00 hrs.

Saturday 23 June: MCC display and Dr Bike

At Centre Court shopping centre. See the latest MCC display and bring your bike for a MOT and free postcoding service outside the Centre Court shopping centre, 11.00-16.00 hrs.

Sunday 24 June: two rides

Join us for a treasure hunt ride, visiting places of historic as well as general interest locally. There are lots of cryptic clues to exercise the brain, playgrounds to exercise the children and interesting refreshment stops en route. Suitable for everyone including families with children with attractive prizes for the winners, this is one you shouldn’t miss.

Or if you prefer, you can join the feeder ride to Bloomsbury Bike Festival, using recommended back-street cycle routes into central London.

Both rides start at 10.30 from Wimbledon station.

A view of cycling for the election

MCC has quizzed Merton’s candidates about their views on cycling, but as we went to press the only full response received from those approached was from Wimbledon’s MP Roger Casale. The conservative candidate was however at pains to point out that he does have a link to the MCC website from his own.

Roger Casale said he is strongly committed to quadrupling cycling by 2012 (the national cycling strategy target). He wants to encourage coordination between the relevant government departments to support cycling and he wants sufficient funds invested in cycling to enable all local authorities to provide a network which is suitable for cycling. He is also in favour of cycling being integrated with trains and other forms of public transport. He also promises to join the all-party parliamentary cycling group again.

Campaigns news

• MCC is campaigning for one of the high streets in Merton to compete for grant money from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to reduce casualties on urban mixed priority routes. The DETR is targeting the money towards safer high streets and they are looking for five pilot schemes to fund, each of which will get Ł1m over three years to implement their proposals.

• Encouraged by the findings of a speeding survey recently carried out in Cambridge, MCC is pressing Merton Council for a similar survey here. The Cambridge survey revealed that more than 10,000 drivers broke the speed limit in a single week on a busy road near a supermarket. The data was obtained by the police using rubber strips on the road surface. MCC suggests a road such as West Barnes Lane could be surveyed in Merton, where it is known that drivers regularly break the 30mph limit and where there are four schools within a stretch of half a mile.

• MCC is putting pressure on Transport for London (TfL) to expand the remit of its new bus task force to include enforcement of London’s cycle lanes. In a letter to Derek Turner, TfL’s head, MCC supports TfL’s policy to enforce bus lanes in the capital and points out that the reasons for enforcing bus lanes are identical to those for enforcing cycle lanes. The letter presses for resources to issue penalties, for the removal of illegally parked vehicles and for the regular policing of cycle lanes by traffic wardens and parking attendants. It suggests that monies raised by fines could be re-invested into cycling schemes.

• Sustrans is working with Groundwork Merton to develop sections of the Wandle Route. Groundwork has money towards the Wandle Route. They can also apply to Sustrans for a new opportunity grant, adminstered by Sustrans. The Wandle Valley has been identified by the Government Office for London as a key area for redevelopment and attention is being paid to the amenity value of the river and its hinterland. The aim is to upgrade and enhance existing sections of the London Cycle Network, but also to develop additional strategic links to the Wandle Valley route that will radically enhance the accessibility and usability of the existing route. Sustrans has also submitted an Arts Lottery bid towards a community based art project where local artists work during the actual construction of the site to create integral works.

Like to get involved?

MCC holds evening meetings once a month to discuss and agree the future activities and priorities of the campaign.

These are comfortable and lively meetings, held in our most hospitable member’s front room. Opposing views are freely and frankly exchanged over tea and home-made cakes: we are all cyclists but the similarities seem to end there.

So if you live and/or cycle in Merton, come and get your oar in! We try to keep business brisk so that there is time for thirsty members to get to the pub before closing time.

Next meetings are (both starting at 20.00 hrs) Wednesday 20 June, (more of a Bike Week BBQ than a meeting!) at 88 Aylward Road, Merton Park, SW20; Wednesday 11 July, at the William Morris pub, Merton Abbey Mills.

MCC News is edited by Ceri Davies