Merton Cycling Campaign

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MCC News, Issue 3, June 1997

Welcome...

To our new MPs, Siobhain McDonagh (Labour, Mitcham and Morden), and Roger Casale (Labour, Wimbledon), who have both made encouraging pro-cycling noises. Roger has already pledged support for our Wimbledon Cycle Station plan for attended cycle parking at Wimbledon rail station.

Cyclists speak out

A massive investment in cycle routes, bike parking and traffic calming is needed to meet pent-up demand from local cyclists. Bikers in the borough are desperate to use their machines for fun, shopping and getting to work - but are bitterly frustrated by the lack of decent local facilities.

That's the message from Merton Cycling Campaign's first-ever survey of cyclists - and would-be cyclists - in the area.

On Local Transport Day on March 1, we asked visitors to the MCC stall at Centre Court, Wimbledon to fill in a quick questionnaire. We got a much bigger response than expected: 168 people, of whom 93 percent owned bikes.

The survey results reflect the wide variation in what individual cyclists need and want. But the information is a powerful tool in our campaign to win back ground from the car and make cycling a more convenient and popular transport method in the borough. Here's a summary of the findings:

WHAT WE DO WITH OUR BIKES

Most people were leisure cyclists, with 89 percent riding for pleasure. But most only went riding 'now and then' - i.e. less than weekly.

Shopping was the next most popular reason for using a bike, mentioned by 57 percent of those surveyed. But again, most cycling shoppers braved the run to the supermarket only now and then.

Commuting was cited by only 54 percent, but the majority of this hardy bunch pedal to work most days of the week. More than half (55 percent) the total number surveyed said there weren't enough facilities at work for cycle commuters.

WHAT WE THINK OF LOCAL CYCLE FACILITIES

Oh dear. Only four percent reckoned Merton facilities were any good.

Most (47 percent) rated the local system of signs, paths and racks as 'poor', with 45 percent plumping for 'average'. A bitter four percent reckoned local facilities were so bad they were 'non-existent'.

A whopping 87 percent said Wimbledon town centre didn't cater sufficiently for cyclists, while an overwhelming 92 percent said Wimbledon Station didn't have enough facilities.

When asked which would happen first: people landing on Mars or the arrival of adequate cycle parking at the station, a hopeful 46 percent put their faith in the latter. But a sceptical 37 percent reckoned a Mars landing was more likely.

WHAT WE WANT

This is what people said would encourage them to get their bikes out of the shed more often.

More/better cycle paths (mentioned by 80 percent)

More/better cycle parking (62 percent)

More/better signposting (60 percent)

More traffic calming (56 percent)

A local cycle map (54 percent) (due soon: see back page)

All urban roads limited to 20 mph (50 percent)

Higher status for cycling (47 percent)

Better weather (37 percent)

Petrol at Ł15 a gallon (35 percent)

WHY WE DO IT

Nearly everyone (83 percent) said exercise was the main benefit of cycling. But riding a bike was also rated highly as a clean (79 percent) and cheap (74 percent) way of getting around.

Others valued bikes because they posed little threat to fellow road-users (62 percent), or because they took up only a small amount of space (61 percent). A fun-loving 45 percent reminded us that apart from the above benefits, cycling was also convenient and enjoyable.

WHAT WE SAY (choice comments from the survey)

"Since moving to London three years ago I’ve only ridden my bike twice because of the amount of traffic."

"I’d use my bike more, rather than my car, if it were safe: that is, if there were more cycle paths."

"Cycle tracks are OK but too many people park there or walk their dogs on them."

"Cycle parking should be covered to protect bikes from the rain. And we need more racks."

"Cycling is fun and healthy - except if you get hit by a car."

"We need safer roads, not cycle routes."

"Make it safer for children to cycle."

"I’ve had three bikes stolen from outside Centre Court and now use a scooter."

"Stop cars parking on St Helier Avenue."

"The worst bit of my journey is getting through central Wimbledon."

"We need more restrictions on cars and better promotion of cycling by Merton Council so cyclists aren’t made to feel like weirdos."

"It makes me really cross that I have to breathe in car fumes when I don’t drive a car myself."

"Stations should have large, lit cycle parks, guarded by video and patrols."

"There should be more space and easier access for bikes on trains."

"You can’t cycle on many roads because of poor surface maintenance, speeding cars and poor signposting"