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MCC News, Issue 43, Dec-Jan 2006/7
Ravensbury Park barriers
In the spring of 2006,
"kissing-gate" style barriers in heavy black steel tubing appeared
across two of the three entrances to a public beauty spot, Ravensbury Park, in
the south of the borough. Impassable
for most designs of wheelchair, and for all but the most conventional style of
bicycle, the barriers were erected on the instructions of LB Merton's Leisure
& Open Spaces division.
Thanks to Mark Dawson at Pollards Hill Cyclists for
this photo
Neither Merton's cyclists
nor the borough's disabled groups were consulted by Merton before the barriers
went in. At a reported cost of over
£7,000, Merton thus installed the barriers in ignorance of its own public
commitment to consult fully with cyclists & named cycle groups including
the LCC on matters of access & cycling promotion (see Merton website
here)
The barriers lie across
the Wandle Trail, a part of the 20,000 mile National Cycle Network, which is
recognised by LB Merton. Pollards Hill
Cyclists, a flourishing local riding group, now largely ignores Ravensbury
Park, since the barriers greatly impede the passage of even small groups.
Tandems cannot pass them, and trailers and baby extensions must be unhooked.
So, who welcomes the
barriers? Those who like a quiet life,
whether in public administration, law enforcement, or residents. The Friends of Ravensbury Park point to the
reduction in use of mini-motorbikes, or ‘mini-motos‘, by rowdy youths, since
the barriers went in. It would have
been nice then, if Merton’s council officers had considered other measures such
as signing or CCTV in the park, before dropping in the barriers. They didn’t.
Despite claiming that their policing of Ravensbury Park is “intelligence-led“,
the Met’s LB Merton division has been unable to say how many complaints were
received about mini-moto abuse in the park. So the police have no basis of
comparison, and cannot quantify the problem. That has not stopped local Met
chiefs from defending the barriers.
Sustrans officials &
representatives of other local cycling bodies met the borough’s officers twice
in 2006 to press for the barriers’ removal. In a letter to Sustrans chief
executive John Grimshaw, Merton official Lynn Carpenter expressed regret for
the imposition, but says she sees no reason to remove them.
No-one in MCC or Sustrans
defends anti-social riding and noise of mini-motos in a public park. But LB Merton don’t seem to understand that
crudely erecting barriers just moves the menace from one area to another, making
it someone else’s problem. Truly
intelligent, committed policing by forces other than Merton’s Met, has seen
productive action to nip mini moto yobbery in the bud. In nine weeks this summer, Kent Constabulary
used existing laws to seize & crush 104 mini-motos, arresting 20 people
& issuing 123 warnings. They spoke to 12 parents and recovered 17 stolen
vehicles, all in response to 264 complaints.
Other forces as far apart as Coventry, Darlington & north Wales have
won plaudits from residents for similar resolve. In one crackdown, police co-operated with council workers in
plain clothes, exchanging cameraphone photos of yobs for arrest later. Meanwhile LB Merton & the Met co-operate
to drive the mini-moto yobs elsewhere.
Using the Freedom of Information
Act, Sustrans are asking the Metropolitan Police how many mini motos have been
crushed in Merton & neighbouring boroughs since 2004; the answer may make
interesting reading…
Physical barriers have in
the past been removed from the National Cycle Network, of which Ravensbury Park
forms a part. Other removals have included stiles in Northumbria and
Warwickshire. Transport for London, which funds much of LB Merton’s cycleway
spending, is reportedly working to a “no-barriers” policy along the entire
London Cycle Network.
Despite having less money
than its neighbours to spend on cycling, LB Merton achieves some good things
for cycling. But breaking its promise
to consult, then putting barriers across a strategic cycleway, and collaborating
with the police to push an anti-social menace elsewhere in the borough, hardly
seems to be its finest hour.
Photo: MCC member Jenny
Roden struggles to push her disabled mother through the barriers
Alban Thurston
MCC’s Cycle Rickshaw is Beefed Up!
Our cycle rickshaw is a
genuine Indian workshop job with a sturdy, if heavy, steel frame and a generous
and soft bench seat, complete with ornamental ironwork. It has none of the lightweight aluminium
panels and framework of the modern day versions now made in the UK and
frequently seen flitting around the West End being used as short distance
taxis.
But, the authenticity and
comfortable seating for two passengers of our version came with a snag - it had
a fixed sprocket wheel drive and was
the very devil to propel. With two
passengers aboard it took a lot of muscle for the driver/stoker to get going,
and tackling hills was out of the question.
Now, thanks to the money
from a grant, its propulsion has been greatly eased by the fitment of a free
wheel sprocket drive AND a three speed derailleur gear. We are much obliged to AW Cycles of South
Wimbledon for their expertise and skill in achieving this great improvement.
We’ve improved the rickshaw’s
“all weather” comfort, too, by fitting it with a generous hood to keep
passengers protected from rain and sun.
This was supplied and fitted also by another local tradesman: shop blind
fitters C B Wright of Kingston Road.
They ingeniously adapted a Dutch blind cut down to size so as to fit
over and around the bench seat.
So, our rickshaw is ready
for enhanced duties as an eye catcher at events. We dare to hope it might even
earn us a bob or two in this way.
There’s still room for
more improvement by way of embellishment to make its appearance more attractive
or striking. So, if you have any ideas
for this or perhaps even suitable materials, do let us know!
John Waller Tel: 020 8946 8435.
Cycle Holidays
Cycle culture in Baden-Württenburg
Last September I went to
Stuttgart in south-west Germany for a holiday staying with a friend. I was very
impressed on the journey from the airport to the city centre (in a metro-style
S-Bahn train) by the overall "green-ness" - lots of trees, car-parks
partly covered in grass, even a cycle-lane on top of a
"tunnel-bridge" for motor vehicles. At the Leinfelden station (A
suburban station near airport), good width concrete ramps are provided at the
side of the steps in the underpasses and subways, presumably for bikes and
prams.
More news and photos of
this visit in the next issue.
Duncan Harper
Cycling in Estonia
Next Wednesday I shall be
paying my fourth visit this year to wonderful Estonia (Eesti), researching
cycling facilities.The large islands and the interior offer 1950s road
conditions and there are blue cycle route markers identical to those in UK.
Parnu - known as the Summer Capital-hosts the David Oistrakh music festival and
there are outdoor events like free folk dancing all the time. Apart from the
E67 the roads in summer are very very quiet. You can have the roads to
yourselves or walk in the National Parks over kilometres of wooden walkways.
The sea was frozen in February but 23 deg C in July, with an air temperature of
32 C.
The Finns, Norwegians and
Swedes have discovered the fine sandy beaches which stretch for km upon km and
say the English can see no further than Tallinn. easyJet and Air Estonia fly to
Tallinn and Ryanair to Riga in Latvia. I am told the islands are gems and
intend to find out next week. Prices are low, food is good, but young men
beware! Keep your eyes on the road when cycling, as the girls are blond, slim
and beautiful. If that isn't enough the Estonians will captivate you when they
sing or play music at their many concerts and outdoor summer events. Some
German and Dutch cycle tourists have discovered the Baltic States and it’s time
for a few of us to get there before the secret is well and truly out!
Arthur Wyatt