Merton will not be entering the twenty first century with a programme of new cycle routes due to low level of funding from the Government Office for London (GOL).

With only £80,000 allocated to Merton for the year 1999-2000, the focus will have to be on improving existing routes and not starting new ones. This comes as a blow to cyclists in the east of the borough - already behind the west in cycle route provision - and where links to Croydon and Streatham had been planned in order to complete the London Cycle Network by 2005.

Despite latest accident statistics which show that the most dangerous junctions and links are in the east of the borough (London Road/Streatham Road junction and Streatham Road itself) funding for an alternative cycle route will now not be available until 1999-2000.

More money is also needed to complete routes which divert cyclists from the boroughs other accident blackspots: junctions of Morden Road/London Road; Bishopsford Road/Green Wrythe Lane; Grand Drive/Hillcross Avenue and Bishopsford Road/Wandle Road.

Accident statistics show Streatham Road, Martin Way and St Helier Avenue to be the most dangerous links for cyclists.

As work to the Wimbledon-Croydon Tramlink progresses, a much-needed alternative to the Kingston Road in Merton Park as part of the main east-west route has become available. It is now possible to cross the Tramlink line and so cycle from Melbourne Road into Sheridan Road.

MCC activists have succeeded in getting road danger to be considered under crime and disorder matters.

This breakthrough came about as Merton prepares to publish its first strategy document for combating those crimes which consultation showed to be the residents principal concerns.

The crimes most residents were worried about were those with racial motivation, those related to drugs and alcohol and those involving young people. Car crime is included only in respect of having vehicles stolen or things stolen from them, but representatives of the local authority and police agreed that there was a need to change the perception of crimes such as exceeding the speed limits and dangerous illegal parking (such as on zigzag markings outside schools).

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 requires the local authority and local police to publish the strategy with priorities and targets by April 1999. It will be reviewed in about a year when MCC and other organisations concerned with road danger will have the chance to incorporate their concerns.

MCC's voice was supported by other Merton organisations calling for greater integration of environmental and transport policies in the future, according to the results of the Councils consultation on the latest planning policy draft.

More than 60 per cent of respondents want road space reallocated to pedestrians, cyclists and public transport and control on commuter parking.

This is bad news for cyclists who had hoped that the relaxation of legislation announced last year would make it easier for local authorities to introduce lower speed limits.

Until there is a change in the culture which perceives it acceptable to exceed the speed limit, or money is made available for the police to enforce traffic speeding offences, we're clearly going to have to put up with the uncomfortable ups and downs of traffic calming.

A valuable cycle lane will be lost in the redevelopment of Wimbledon Town Centre, resulting in a more dangerous detour.

Proposals exhibited in March showed that the cycle route along Victoria Crescent near the present Safeway store will disappear. Instead cyclists will have either to negotiate with cars, buses and lorries along the one-way gyratory system or dismount and walk.

The exhibition was held with little notice and scant publicity, but MCC's coordinator Richard Evans went to examine the plans. Responding to the proposals he said "Victoria Crescent is plenty wide enough to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians on a pedestrian priority basis. The proposed outright ban on cycling here is likely to be flouted, leading to unnecessary conflict".

There were some positive gains from the proposals, however: the narrowing of the carriageway on The Broadway, and the introduction of a 20mph speed limit.

Cycling has yet to receive a mention in the Greater London Authority Bill, but MCC aims to change that. Lobbying local MPs, campaigners have asked for pro-cycling amendments in this important piece of legislation for Londoners.

Wimbledon MP Roger Casale has joined the all-party cycling group.