In a dramatic revision of its statistics, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that levels of cycling in Great Britain have gone up, rather than down, since the mid 1990s.

Previous issues of its Transport Statistics Bulletin suggested that cycle use fell by 10.6% between 1993 and 2001. The latest figures now suggest that there was really a 5.5% rise in cycle use during this period.

The principal change in methodology is to take more account of traffic on minor roads, which attract proportionately more cycles than other vehicles. The DfT believes that the new way of compiling the statistics gives a better picture of traffic that use these roads.

Buoyed by the success of congestion charging, London Mayor Ken Livingstone has promised 20 mph restrictions on most London roads if he is re-elected in next year’s mayoral election.

A group of 25 regular and occasional cyclists assembled outside Wimbledon station under the eagle eye of Jean Curry. Once up "Mount" Ridgway Place we were off and away across the common and round Richmond Park to meet other Borough groups at the Roebuck pub, have a few beers and imagine what the sunset would have been like if it had not been cloudy. Jean and Mike cut short their drinking to take one group back in time for some riders to catch trains home. The late group, guided by the intrepid Richard Evans, took an off road route through the Park in the dark. Philip Box took a tumble, but bruises apart, was still able to keep up with the group and make it for last orders to the Hand in Hand on Wimbledon Common. An enjoyable ride which we should try to repeat on a smaller scale during the summer.. next time keeping to the road.

Peter Seager

Dirty marks, mud or dust on your reflector strips, pedal reflector & cycle lights? *

Use some damp kitchen paper to wipe the dirt off and wipe them again with some dry kitchen paper. Repeat regularly throughout autumn and winter for clean, shiny reflectors and cycle light

* at your own risk

You can get from Colliers Wood to Earlsfield (Garratt Lane, SW18) in just around 10 to 15 minutes by cycling on the London Cycle Network route 74 through the Wandle Trail, which is largely vehicle-free.

Duncan Harper

We are invited to visit the deputy mayor for chat and sarnies, and tour of city hall, date T.B.C, any MCC member who wants to come, contact Richard Evans by email (preferably) or phone.

For email & tel number, please see the bottom of back page.

Fed up with potholes appearing on the roads throughout the Borough of Merton? Annoyed with the pieces of broken glass that may well increase the chance of punctures to your tyres? Tired of litter obstructing the bike anes / paths / footway / alleyway? re overgrown weeds or needles obstructing the cycle lanes?

If the answer is yes, then here's a chance to get the council to fill in the potholes, sweep the broken glass away and uproot the rotting weeds. For local roads (not Red-Route roads or TfL Red Route A roads), these are the ways of contacting the council to help make a safer, cleaner environment.

Duncan Harper

London Cycling Campaign potholes website:

London Borough of Merton Council telephone numbers:-

Pothole Line: 020 8545 3133

Street Cleaning: 020 8545 4157

Footpath Repair & Road maintenance: 020 8545 3700 / 3071

Highway Verge & Tree Maintenance: 020 8545 3826

Transport for London, (Red Route A-roads): Street Faults Contact Centre: 0845 305 1234