London Cyclist Summer 2018

CYCLIST Summer 2018

Your voice for Magazine of the London Cycling Campaign a cycling city MY LIVEABLE LONDON ALL-ABILITY CYCLING SADIQ'S FIRST TWO YEARS INTERVIEW: BIKESTORMZ LONDON TO AMSTERDAM LONGTERM TEST BIKES

LOW TRAFFIC NEIGHBOURHOODS

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CONTENTS

36 FEATURES

FEATURES

Campaign 08 My Liveable London successes Campaign 15 What are ‘low traffic neighbourhoods’?

Feature 21 London’s all-ability cycling clubs Interview 26 The growing BikeStormz movement Campaign 31 Sadiq Khan’s first two years reviewed

Travel London to Amsterdam adventure Sport Britain’s best challenge rides Route Street art of east London

NOTICES & OPINION News & City Cycling Festival Ashok Sinha, LCC chief executive

REVIEWS 36 44 58

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Editor’s Choice 07 Summer cycling T-shirts Bikes 50 Second update on our longtermers Reviews 54 Bike helmets & summer jerseys

MEMBER OFFERS Legal advice from Osbornes Special offers for LCC members

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CONTENTS

Your voice for

a cycling city Unit 201 Metropolitan Wharf 70 Wapping Wall London E1W 3SS n 020 7234 9310 n lcc.org.uk EDITORIAL Editor: John Kitchiner, londoncyclist@lcc.org.uk Design: Anita Razak Contributors: Ashok Sinha, Fran Graham, Simon Munk, Tom Bogdanowicz, Rob Eves, Sarah Flynn, Thea Smith

ADVERTISING James Pembroke Media n Jack Watts, 020 3859 7099 n jack.watts@jamespembroke media.co.uk

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Editorial, copyright & printing policy

ROUTE

31 STREET ART OF EAST LONDON

ROUTE

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riting, or scratching, on walls dates back to ancient times with several examples in the buried Roman city of Pompeii. More recently, graffiti (plural of the Italian graffito) has become a popular art form with former New York street artist Jean Michel Basquiat featured in a major retrospective exhibition at the Barbican Art Gallery — one of his paintings achieving a staggering $110 million at auction in 2017.

Works by Britain’s most famous street artist, the unidentified Banksy, are now often protected by plastic sheeting or removed from walls and sold. In fact one of the larger Banksy ‘pieces’ we hoped to feature has vanished since we last visited.

Of course change is in the nature of street art. Even a very recent, political piece featuring Donald Trump dancing with Theresa May,

by Bambi, was painted over ahead of our deadline. So it’s always worth checking on social media for the very latest local info on a particular artwork before you visit.

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PHOTO BY: Devin Ainslee

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Hackney Wick

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Shoreditch

VIEW THE MA ONLIN P E https:// tinyurl

Nomadic Community Gardens

FACTFILE

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Brick Lane

START: Liverpool Street FINISH: Hackney Wick DISTANCE: 18km/11 miles TIME: 2-4 hours with stops TERRAIN: mostly quieter back streets and parks; a few busier roads need care

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.com/ StreetA rtLondon

Short sections down one-way streets need to be walked.

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COVER: Jess Strangward, London

LCC is a charitable limited company, reg no 1766411; charity no 1115789

The ancient scratchings on walls have, these days, been replaced by a variety of techniques including the aerosol cans favoured by ‘taggers’ (painting their sometimes very elaborate ‘tags’ on walls); to stencils and airbrushes (as used by Banksy and Bambi); to paste-ups (painted elsewhere and pasted on walls).

Tagging can be competitive with local gangs painting over rival tags.

Perhaps the most famous battle was between Banksy and his arch rival, Robbo, who favoured more conventional pieces. Banksy painted a man pasting wallpaper in the form of graffiti onto a heavily tag-covered Robbo original. Read more about the rivalry here — https://tinyurl.com/ b48fdqe.

As you follow the cycle route you may get to recognise works by the more prolific and distinctive artists: Eine (letters); Sweettoof (teeth); Selor (thin white creatures); Zabou (detailed portraits); Invader (mosaic) and Pegasus (royals and politics).

This route focuses on east London but there’s also much to be seen elsewhere across the capital, notably in Brixton and Camden.

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FINISH

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Fish Island

Tom Bogdanowicz guides us on a tour of a few of the capital’s most famous graffiti hotspots

Brick Lane [1] Currently a favourite zone with street artists, it’s not unusual to see them at work on ladders (do ask before whipping out your phone for a snap). The zone either side of the railway track just to the east of Brick Lane is virtually covered in paint.

You will find work by many of the currently active street artists (Zabou, Selor, Sweettoof); Eine has a street (Ebor Street) pretty much to himself just north of Bethnal Green Road.

In the gated market area, between Hanbury Street and Brick Lane, there is a suspended pink car that

once housed a Bansky ghost, and opposite, on the wall at the corner, is one of the tiny mosaic ‘Invaders’ (name of a French street artist) that turn up in strange places.

The bridge across the rail track, beyond the Nomadic Community Gardens, is always changing and worth a visit — but take care if visiting alone, as the area can be desolate.

If you like retro bikes you are right next to two treasure troves: Brick Lane Bikes and Isambard Cycles.

wooden sheds decorated by graffiti, surrounded by odd sculptures and adjoining conventional allotments.

Near the entrance are a distinctive vehicle which serves coffee and a street art-themed children’s play area. Beware of rats though — and not the trademark painted stencils

by Banksy (like the one under the bridge in Tooley Street, SE1). The coffee truck owner says that the Gardens are there for at least a year, so no need to rush.

Nonetheless it’s still a must-see to visit the classic (protected) Banksys in the Cargo café area in Rivington Street, plus some pieces by Stik (eponymous graffiti) and a mish-mash of old and new (is that Clapton next to the Banksy-style monkey?) in New Inn Street.

Hoardings that go up (eg in Great Eastern Street at time of writing ) are invariably festooned by street artists, so it’s worth exploring the various side streets too.

Nomadic Community Gardens [2] Open Tuesday to Sunday and right in the heart of Brick Lane graffiti-land, the Gardens are a relatively new and unusual development, with rows of

Shoreditch [3] Once a haven for street artists, much of Shoreditch has been re-decorated in plain colours as more affluent businesses have moved in.

Islington [4] Painting-over and local controls have reduced graffiti in what was its alleged London birthplace (‘Clapton is God’ painted there back in the 70s)

but there is still a rare on-street Banksy in 166 Essex Road (next to Savemain Pharmacy). Plus several pieces by Pegasus, an American/ north London artist, who likes to illustrate royals — the latest being Meghan Markle on a wall in Digswell Street next to the Holloway Road.

Look above the doorway next to Meghan and you’ll see another Pegasus work showing Kim Jong-un playing with bricks.

The route from Islington to Fish Island follows largely traffic-free roads through De Beauvoir Town — as you ride down ever-popular Broadway Market there is always street art on the corner of Ada Street.

Fish Island [5] Islington’s and Shoreditch’s loss in terms of graffiti volume has been Fish Island’s gain. As much paint is being used on the walls to be demolished, as is then painted (in plain white, of course) on the walls that are erected in their stead. Huge tags, cartoon faces and unusual designs cover every space available.

The Rolling Crew appear to be responsible for a lot of the work along with Sweettoof for whom this is home territory — he’s decorated a few houseboats on commission.

Locals, including a sizeable artists’ colony, have been campaigning to

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retain popular old buildings and keep Fish Island quiet and not traversed by a planned busy road.

It’s worth stopping off for a coffee at the Stour Space café/gallery in Stour Road. Walls along the Hertford Union Canal are repainted almost weekly in the summer.

Hackney Wick [6] Like Fish Island, Hackney Wick has been transformed from a quiet industrial and artist workshop enclave into massive building site.

Graffiti that once covered crumbling walls now daubs hoardings. Street artist Thierry Noir has a fun piece covering the whole of a children’s activity centre in Wallis Road and there is a huge multi-style piece covering the building next to the footbridge nearby.

There are numerous, and ever-changing, pieces along the canal by the Crate pub, which serves good pizza (slowly). If you are hungry the Natura pizzeria in Felstead Road is equally good but faster, and next door is Skinny Eric’s retro bike shop.

The canal marks the border to the QE2 Olympic Park where the only street art is that commissioned by the developers: the hoardings opposite Fish Island illustrate the area before it was re-developed.

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©Crown copyright 2018 Ordnance Survey. Media 060/18

LCC is not aligned with any political party. All views expressed in London Cyclist are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the editor, nor do they necessarily reflect LCC policy. Editorial content is independent of advertising. All material is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the editor. n London Cyclist is printed by Wyndehams on paper made from 100% FSC sustainably-managed and carbon-balanced forest.

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London Cyclist is published by London Cycling Campaign n Find out more about our aims (lcc.org.uk/strategy) n To become a member (lcc.org.uk/membership) n To make a donation (lcc.org.uk/donate)

CBP0007421307115017

LCC Members’ Legal Helpline

Osbornes Solicitors are the official legal partner of LCC, providing members with exclusive access to a legal helpline. If you’re involved in a collision or have a cycling-related legal issue, phone the Cycling Team at Osbornes for advice on 020 7681 8672.

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NEWS

BIKE TO THE FUTURE AT THE CITY CYCLING FESTIVAL Join us on 14 June for a free one-day event to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the bike. ‘Bike to the Future’ takes place across three festival sites at Guildhall, Liverpool Street and Queen Street in the City of London.

The three locations — themed past, present and future — will celebrate all things cycling, explore the impact it’s had on London and provide a taste of what an urban future has to offer if cities truly embrace the bicycle.

Stalls, guided rides, competitions and demos will transform the city into a cycling destination for a day.

We’ll be turning busy city streets into spaces that encourage people to stop, interact and discuss what London’s future might offer if streets were greener, less polluted and great places for people to meet, chat, walk and cycle.

We need LCC members and supporters to take part and help make it a day to remember. Bring your best or most unusual bike,

VAL SHAWCROSS RETIRES AS DEPUTY MAYOR FOR TRANSPORT After 18 years at the GLA, Val Shawcross CBE has retired from her post as London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport. Heidi Alexander, MP for Lewisham and shadow Health Secretary, has vacated her parliamentary seat and stepped into the role, that leads on cycling issues at City Hall.

LCC’s chief executive Ashok Sinha thanked Shawcross for her work and congratulated Alexander on her new position, saying: “We thank Val for her efforts, both as Deputy Mayor for Transport and previously as co-chair of the GLA Transport Committee. She has contributed substantially to making cycling safer and can take considerable credit for the positive

approach to sustainable transport that figures large in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.

“We look forward to working with Heidi Alexander in her new role and will assist her in achieving the Mayor’s ‘Vision Zero’ target of no deaths or serious injuries on the city’s roads by 2041.”

Val Shawcross was a Labour London Assembly member and co-chair of the GLA Transport Committee. Together with her Lib-Dem colleague and co-chair Caroline Pidgeon, Val was honoured by LCC members with a London Cycling Award for her contribution to cycling. Val and Caroline were largely responsible for the GLA’s influential ‘Gearing Up’

report on cycling that followed on from LCC’s Love London, Go Dutch campaign, helping pave the way to the East-West and North-South Cycle Superhighways and the international quality London Cycling Design standards.

Alexander’s recent intervention as an MP on cycling was to lobby the Prime Minister to introduce a new dangerous cycling law following the death of Kim Briggs (whose husband was a Lewisham constituent of Alexander’s) in a collision with a cyclist. Earlier, in a parliamentary debate on cycling in 2012, Alexander declared herself “a reasonably regular cyclist” and said she had been knocked off her bike in Stockwell.

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Inspiring statistics on a truly liveable city, courtesy of copenhagenize.eu

21% Copenhageners who travel to work or education in the city by public transport

9% Copenhageners using private cars in the city daily

71% Copenhageners who choose cycling (62%) & walking (9%) to get around the city

RIDE WITH TEAM LCC AT SUMMER EVENTS LCC has places available for some of the biggest, most exciting cycle challenges around. When you sign up to ride for Team LCC, we’ll provide you with expert training advice, dedicated support and a snazzy Team LCC cycling jersey. Every penny you raise in sponsorship will help support LCC’s work improving cycling across the whole city, in every borough, for everyone.

Here’s a snapshot of the challenge rides on offer: n Chiltern 100 Cycling Festival (15 July) — rated as the toughest one-day sportive closest to the capital. With three distances available, it’s perfect for all riders. lcc.org.uk/chiltern-100

n Ride London 46 (29 July) — join 30,000 fellow cyclists (and almost as many supporters) on this shortened version of the Ride London 100, starting at the Olympic Park and finishing on The Mall. lcc.org.uk/ridelondon-46 n L’Etape London (23 Sept) — brought to you by the same people who organise the Tour de France, there’s three distances to choose from, which means riders of all abilities get to ride on the same roads as the pros took on Stage 3 of the 2014 Tour. lcc.org.uk/letape-london If you have any questions, please email us on TeamLCC@ lcc.org,uk or call 020 7234 9310.

NEWS

maybe even dress in attire from your favourite cycling era, then enjoy a guided journey through the festival’s dedicated themed zones. Or perhaps you could even volunteer for the bike choir?

Bike to the Future is part of the City Cycling Festival (13-15 June), organised by LCC in collaboration with the City of London, taking place over three days during Bike Week.

The festival will be accompanied by the International Cycling History Conference, themed ‘The Future from the Past’, running across all three days of the event.

All activities for Bike to the Future are free to attend.

To register your interest in attending with your veteran, vintage, retro or ‘interesting’ bicycle, or for one of our free guided rides between the festival sites, go to lcc.org.uk/ bike-to-the-future.

If you’d like to attend the International Cycling History Conference (ticketed), go to ichc.biz. n https://membership.lcc.org.uk/ bike-future-beautiful-bikes

NUMBER CRUNCH

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Summer bike tees

N+ONE La Grand Boucle nplusone.uk.com

With the first edition held in 1903 and 104 races already in the history books, the Tour de France — or La Grand Boucle as it’s affectionately known — is the world’s premier cycling event. This combed cotton women’s tee celebrates the legendary racers, climbs and Gallic love of the sport. £22.95 KRAFTWERK Tour de France redbubble.com Back in 1983 when German electro pioneers Kraftwerk released their Tour de France single, we’re pretty sure they never foresaw its enduring appeal in the cycling world — mainly due to the iconic sleeve artwork.

Available in 17 colours, this tee is sure to be a hit with cyclists who love their retro beats. £16.99 HOWIES Off Off On howies.co.uk Hand-printed in its west Wales workshop, Howies has been producing some of our favourite bike-themed, organic cotton tees for a decade now.

The line-up’s regularly updated and the ‘Kilometre Eater’ and ‘No Coffee No Workee’ designs are also worth checking out. £25 (LCC members save 15%).

CYCOLOGY Bike Maths cycologygear.co.uk There’s more than two dozen men’s and women’s cycling tees in the Cycology collection, but we reckon this is the pick, taking the classic bike-owning equation a step forward as n+1+X2. (Here ‘n’ is the number of bikes owned and ‘X squared’ the amount of gear needed to use each bike). £22 (LCC members save 20%).

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CAMPAIGN

LONDON TURNS MORE LIVEABLE Fran Graham reflects on the My Liveable London campaign and how local election successes could herald a new era for cycling

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n the run up to the local elections, the newspapers were full of reports claiming that London was about to see a huge swing to the left. Traditional Conservative strongholds of Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnet were projected to go red, as voters turned to Labour. With the city reacting to the impact of Brexit and the many other issues that make up the

current complex political soup, pollsters predicted that the Conservatives were in for a hammering.

The projected swing to the left didn’t just involve Conservative councils turning Labour, but also Labour-controlled councils moving away from the centre ground. There were a few high-profile casualties of this early on — Labour council leader Claire Kober in Haringey stepped

down, and long-term Newham Mayor Robin Wales was ousted, both replaced by Momentumbacked candidates.

However, as the election drew closer, the predictions were dialled down, and as Londoners went out to cast their vote on 3 May, it seemed like these elections wouldn’t be anywhere near as dramatic as the papers had suggested.

Election day itself was bright and sunny, which lead to some wonderful photos under the #BikesAtPollingStations hashtag, which was trending on Twitter. And after the polling stations closed and results started to roll in, it seemed like there really wouldn’t be many surprises.

The Conservative Party retained their historic control of Westminster, Wandsworth, Kensington & Chelsea, and Barnet. The only changes in council came from Kingston and Richmond, where the Liberal Democrats pulled off a comeback to take the council from the Conservatives, and in Tower Hamlets, where Labour decisively took control of the council from ‘no overall control’.

Newham elected Rokhsana Fiaz as its new mayor, making her the first woman from a BAME background to become a mayor in London. The

ABOVE: election candidates view of the Islington hustings and copies of Tower Hamlets cycling manifesto.

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CAMPAIGN

ABOVE: #BikesAtPollingStations became a trending social media hashtag on local election day.

RIGHT: Harrow Cyclists ran a colourful Liveable Neighbourhood bike rally to the town hall.

Green Party was also pleased with the results of the election, with Caroline Russell keeping her seat in Islington as the sole opposition to Labour, and gaining four seats in Lambeth to take their total on the council to five — making them the second largest party in the borough.

WHAT DO THE RESULTS MEAN FOR CYCLING IN LONDON? The Mayor of London has set some ambitious targets in his Transport Strategy, such as every Londoner living within 400m of a high-quality cycle route by 2041 and 80% of journeys to be made by sustainable transport by the same date.

But in order to set his strategy off on the right track, he will need to lay some groundwork during the remaining two years of his term. In theory, this should be easier with the increase in Labour councillors — they will have an interest in supporting the aims and targets of the Labour Mayor. With the gain of 65 seats for Labour, and maintaining control of 21 of the 33 London

boroughs, we hope that will translate into more grassroots support for cycling and walking.

By the same token, these same councillors should also have an interest in helping Sadiq Khan meet his Sign for Cycling commitments to triple the length of protected cycle lanes and fix the most dangerous junctions (see page 31 for more detail). And in the councils where Labour doesn’t have control of the council, but have increased the number of councillors, such as Wandsworth and Westminster, they can help hold the controlling administration to these targets as well.

This election also saw an influx of new councillors, even in the boroughs where the overall control of the council didn’t change. That means a lot of fresh faces sitting in the key roles on transport, regeneration and environment. This is especially valuable in boroughs where there have either been: (a) particular anti-cycling councillors who have blocked every cycling safety scheme but who have now stood down, or (b) in boroughs that have been ambivalent about walking or cycling in

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CAMPAIGN

2014 2014

2018 2018

Conservatives Labour NOC Liberal Democrats

general, where a new person in post gives us the opportunity to re-start a discussion about building better spaces for walking and cycling.

Interestingly, the trend across London seems to be that candidates standing on an anti-cycling ticket didn’t fare so well. Cycle Superhighway 9 (CS9) was always going to be a contentious election issue, given the vocal anti-CS9 campaigns along the route. In Hammersmith and Fulham, the five Conservative candidates standing for re-election in the wards the route runs through, who actively campaigned against the cycle route, lost their seats. In Enfield, the Conservatives who had said in their manifesto that they would “halt new cycle lanes and undertake a review of the A105 to improve health and safety”, lost five seats across the borough.

However in Waltham Forest, the Labour councillors who have led on the hugely successful mini-Holland there were re-elected with healthy margins. Being anti-active travel doesn’t seem to be a vote winner.

MY LIVEABLE LONDON Because of the power that local councils hold on borough roads, the local elections are an important time for LCC. Having supportive voices for walking and cycling at the top of the council is incredibly significant when it comes to actually generating support and action to improve walking and cycling on the ground.

For this election campaign, we teamed up with Living Streets to raise the voice of people wanting

ABOVE: a borough-by-borough overview of how London’s councils fared in the May elections, with the most obvious changes in the south-west of the capital.

LEFT: this is what we’re aiming for — streets that are safe and inviting for cycling and walking.

a safer and more enjoyable London for everyone on foot and bike. In the weeks running up to the election, members and supporters of both organisations emailed the party leaders in each borough ­— the people most likely to become council leader if they won the majority of seats on the council. Thousands of people asked their potential council leaders to commit to making their borough more liveable.

Party leaders were asked to demonstrate this commitment by pledging to create a high-quality Liveable Neighbourhood, funding for which is available through Transport for London’s Liveable Neighbourhood programme. An

evolution of the mini-Holland programme, it spreads funding across London for transformational walking and cycling projects.

If used effectively, it can change town centres, residential areas and transport interchanges into places where the air is clean, there are relaxing places outside where you can watch the world go by and chat with neighbours, and children can safely play and walk or cycle to school, and where people choose to leave their car at home.

Our local groups joined the call for a more Liveable London with some fantastic campaigning of their own. Many wrote joint letters and met face-to-face with party leaders before the election, Harrow led a colourful

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CAMPAIGN CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Liveable Neighbourhoods prioritise cycling and walking over motor traffic; families gave their support to the Harrow bike rally; prospective councillors take questions at the busy Islington husting.

Of the boroughs who have yet to receive Liveable Neighbourhood funding, 54% of them have pledged to submit a high-quality bid over the course over the next four years. We also have seven boroughs that have cross-party support for a high-quality Liveable Neighbourhood: Ealing, Islington, Lambeth, Richmond, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster. This means that all of the four main parties (Labour, Conservative Liberal Democrat and Green) agreed to support a more Liveable London.

MORE INFORMATION You can see the full breakdown of all the party leaders across the boroughs who signed up before the election at bit.ly/MLLpledge. And to get involved in making sure that your borough delivers a more Liveable London, get in touch with your local group: lcc.org.uk/in-your-area.

IMAGES: Devin Ainslee, Anoop Shah

Liveable Neighbourhood rally to the town hall (read more about it here — http://bit.ly/ HarrowLNrally). Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Islington all organised well-attended active travel hustings, giving local residents a chance to meet with their candidates and quiz them about their plans to make walking and cycling safer and more enjoyable in their boroughs.

Because of the hard work of our local groups, and of the thousands of people who emailed their party leaders to show them just how important walking and cycling is in their borough, 55% of newly-elected borough leaders committed to a high-quality Liveable Neighbourhood.

BIG WIN FOR LONDON This is fantastic news going forward. Having this many leaders signed up is a big win, and campaigners now have a powerful springboard for the next four years. We have commitments from boroughs that have traditionally been ambivalent to improving conditions for walking and cycling, such as Newham or Tower Hamlets, but we also have commitments from councils who have historically been really difficult to persuade to take genuine steps towards reducing car use and making cycling safer, such as Westminster, Wandsworth, Croydon and Sutton.

We’ll be working hard to make sure that these commitments turn into high-quality projects on the ground, and hopefully this will be the start of a shift in mindset for some of these boroughs,

from one where car is king, to appreciating the many benefits of creating a borough where everyone can walk and cycle safely and happily if they want to.

Being able to push the council leaders who have signed up to the campaign to be really ambitious with their Liveable Neighbourhood projects means that we are more likely to see this money spent on delivering real change in our boroughs. And if council leaders haven’t sign-up, this isn’t the end of the campaign — both LCC and Living Streets will continue to work with all the councils to demonstrate the opportunity this funding presents, and how they can best make use of it.

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CAMPAIGN

LOW TRAFFIC

NEIGHBOURHOODS What are they, how to get one and why you should. Simon Munk explains the power of ‘modal filters’...

E

veryone gets main road cycle tracks are a vital part of the future cycling network. But what happens away from the main roads? Current Quietways are all too often not truly quiet enough for most people to cycle along them. And what happens if you want to cycle with your kids

from your front door and you don’t live on or near a Quietway?

It’s increasingly clear that cycling schemes that look at areas rather than routes are vital across London, so people can ride safely from their home to their destination — and that means more than just quiet routes or main road tracks. And for such schemes to move

forward, it’s vital to get community buy-in.

Many people will oppose a scheme on the next road over if doing it will mean more motor traffic on their road.

What many people don’t understand is that area schemes that cut motor traffic in the streets away from the main roads aren’t just good for cycling and walking — they’ve

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CAMPAIGN

WHAT A LOW-TRAFFIC NEIGHBOURHOOD MEANS FOR CYCLING The experience in Waltham Forest’s low-traffic ‘villages’ is the benefits aren’t just for current cyclists. Yes, it means you can cycle through an entire area without encountering a single car driven in haste — every road becomes a ‘quietway’. But for new cyclists, the approach means areas where kids can cycle on the road alongside parents, chatting; that trips to nearby amenities (shopping streets, the station, etc) become achievable.

The cyclists of tomorrow aren’t mostly going to be commuters intent on cycling to central London — most will do shorter journeys, to their friends, the shops, the tube. For these people, low traffic neighbourhoods are absolutely as important as main road cycle tracks.

numerous benefits for the community too. And most people have yet to grasp how to actually make these schemes work.

That’s why LCC and Living Streets have recently released a pair of briefing documents on what we’re calling ‘low traffic neighbourhoods’.

The first is a five-minute precis of the basics on these exciting approaches to improving areas for cycling and walking, for councillors, politicians and decision-makers. The second offers detail for officers to begin to get their teeth into on how these work and design considerations.

The briefings draw upon the experiences of campaigners, councillors and officers across London who have succeeded, as well as failed, to get these types of scheme implemented.

You can find the briefings at lcc.org.uk/pages/ low-traffic-neighbourhoods — or read our quick take below.

WHAT IS A LOW TRAFFIC NEIGHBOURHOOD? Motor traffic cutting through residential streets is a big and increasing problem. With sat-nav apps like Google Maps and Waze, private hire and taxi drivers, internet retailer delivery vans — just about everyone using a smartphone (and let’s not think too hard about the implications for autonomous vehicles) — now knows whether revving down your side street will shave 30

seconds off a set of traffic lights on the main road. This means an increasing impact on the health and quality of life of people living on ‘rat-runs’ — too much traffic, too fast, too noisy, and too much pollution.

And rocketing rat-run volumes have also seen the roaming distance of urban children collapse.

Kids don’t play out any more, and neighbours don’t chat to each other.

We’ve known for decades that the lower the traffic on a street, the more community interaction and healthy physical activity we see.

When traffic drops to a very low level, particularly when that traffic is also slower and calmer — because it is limited to local drivers entering or leaving areas they care about — we see far more community interaction and cohesion.

On quiet streets in low traffic neighbourhoods children play out, neighbours catch up, air pollution is lower, and walking and cycling are the natural choices for everyday journeys.

How do we get to such a utopia? By removing the rat-run or through motor traffic, but not necessarily all motor traffic. Severing key rat-runs through a residential area of about 1km square, and bounded normally by main roads, train tracks, rivers etc means residents, deliveries, emergency services, bin lorries can drive in and out to every location in the neighbourhood, but

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CAMPAIGN

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: ‘modal filters’ take many forms, from traditional bollards to concrete blocks to paving changes and planters, but all are highly effective in preventing rat-running through traffic.

If council officers read and digest our two new briefing documents, then hopefully their first low traffic neighbourhoods shouldn’t attract any controversy. But such approaches can and have caused major concerns elsewhere — enough to derail schemes entirely in some cases.

MAIN ROADS, ‘DISPLACED’ TRAFFIC & ‘ESCAPE VALVES’ The most common issue raised about low traffic neighbourhood tends to be that it’s ‘common sense’ that if you take thousands of through car journeys a day out of a neighbourhood, the nearby main roads will instantly grind to a halt. The reality is they simply don’t.

Study after study, and latterly really good monitoring data from Waltham Forest, shows that something called ‘traffic evaporation’ is very real. Due to the massive capacity differences between main roads and side streets, main roads cope with proportionally small increases. And in the first few months after a scheme is in, the increased congestion and confusion deters a lot of traffic from using the nearby main roads anyway — some traffic (normally around 15% of the displaced traffic) evaporates. A year down the line and the main roads will operate much as they did before — not significantly more congested or horrible than they were previously.

Similarly, people view residential areas as

‘escape valves’ when there is a crash or roadworks on the main roads. But narrow roads with lots of turns don’t relieve the pressure on the main roads, and just rapidly bung up themselves. The net result is side streets, open or closed, aren’t a good place to put main road traffic. About the only main difference for drivers is that for those who are driving into or out of a neighbourhood, it’s likely their journey might be slightly more circuitous and take a couple of minutes more.

On a 30-minute drive, that’s fairly negligible.

But for those who previously were doing 5-minute drives, it can become enough of a pain that people swap those journeys for walking or cycling. Win-win.

ACCESS FOR THE DISABLED, ELDERLY & EMERGENCY SERVICES Some people worry that low traffic areas trap in the vulnerable, or lock out and confuse vital life-saving vehicles. But emergency services always sign-off on layouts, and can plan their routes in. The last few hundred metres of their journeys on residential streets usually aren’t their prime concern; usually it’s poor parking and congestion that’s the problem. In Waltham Forest, response times are quicker since the neighbourhood schemes went in. On top of that, many vulnerable people don’t drive in London and many enjoy being able to use mobility scooters in their area, or cross roads without feeling hassled by drivers.

IMAGES: Devin Ainslee

no-one can drive from a main road on one side of the neighbourhood, through and out to a main road on the other side.

The way to sever a rat-run is to use a ‘modal filter’. The most common, and one of the most effective and cheapest types, is a row of bollards across a road. These stop motor vehicles driving through, but let people walk and cycle through.

Spaced at 1.5m apart from building line to building line, these also let through a wide variety of cycles and mobility scooters. Bollards can be lockable (or even bendy) so emergency services can get through, or you can use cycle racks, planters, even ‘pocket parklets’ with kids’ play equipment as the barrier. But modal filters don’t just have to be a road ‘closure’.

Rising bollards or cameras can let through buses, deliveries, residents or other groups while keeping through traffic out; one-way systems can be designed to funnel traffic out of an area, rather than through; school streets can offer timelimited (and politically easier to deliver) filters; width restrictions can take the biggest vehicles out of an area. There’s many options.

Schemes using such approaches to removing through traffic have been around for decades — not only in Holland, where entire cities (such as Groningen) are split into neighbourhoods, but also in many London boroughs. Hackney has been

COMMON MYTHS THAT NEED DEBUNKING

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PILEN Lyx £630-£795 flyingdutchman.bike

ABOVE: ‘modal filters’ (here of the knitted bollard variety) during our #space4cycling campaign.

RIGHT: as the mini-Holland schemes have shown, local journeys by bike increase in low traffic areas.

doing such neighbourhoods for a long time. In fact if you look hard enough, you can find modal filters dotted around most boroughs from the 1970s and 1980s. For some reason the approach fell out of favour in the UK in the 1990s up until now.

But low traffic neighbourhoods are back.

Waltham Forest is winning lots of awards for its (mini-Holland funded) ones, Hackney is rolling out more and more, and Barcelona’s ‘superblock’ approach aims to turn a huge amount of the city into low traffic areas.

Perhaps most importantly, both the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and the new Liveable Neighbourhoods funding stream explicitly talk about low traffic neighbourhoods, modal filters and ‘filtered permeability’ approvingly. These schemes have TfL and the Mayor’s approval and there’s money for them for boroughs.

THE TECHNICAL DETAIL The second low traffic neighbourhood briefing document offers some of the detail officers and

campaigners need to plan and design low traffic neighbourhoods, but also to ensure they don’t suffer the dreaded ‘bikelash’.

Firstly, the approach that boroughs such as Waltham Forest have latterly adopted (and TfL is increasingly trying to do) is to engage before you consult. If the council surveys residents and overwhelmingly gets back that there’s too much and too fast motor traffic, that data can be used later to remind less engaged and more sceptical

residents why a scheme is needed.

After surveys and other data (traffic volumes, speeds, air pollution, etc) are collected, then engaging ward and cabinet councillors, key stakeholders (including your local borough group, but also shops, places of worship, GPs, emergency services and suchlike in the area) to bring them on board, and engaging with residents to have a conversation about options — rather than just presenting a finished plan — means everyone understands the scheme and feels they have a stake in it.

For schemes that are difficult to explain, a long (six months) live trial can help show people what the future could be and tweak the design as the trial goes on. But it’s vital that the trial is kept in place for a reasonable length of time so drivers adapt — the first few weeks of any major road layout changes are, unsurprisingly, chaotic.

In designing a low traffic neighbourhood, where the filters are placed (in the middle, at the edges) is worth considering, as is how to link one low traffic neighbourhood to the next using crossings. But most important of all is doing an entire area. If you leave in through routes, motor traffic just concentrates on those.

So it’s vital the conversation officers have with residents explains why other streets shouldn’t suffer, and why an area-wide approach is vital.

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With all-ability groups across London, there’s more reason than ever to get involved in cycling as Emily Esche explains

I

nclusive cycling is basically exactly as it sounds — cycling which is accessible and open to all. The aim is to provide cycling opportunities to people who would normally face barriers to riding and participating in physical activity.

Sessions are held in parks so they are in safe, social spaces, encouraging participation and interaction with others. All equipment is provided, including various types of adapted and alternative bikes such as tricycles,

handcycles, tandem tricycles, side-by-side bikes, and platform bikes to carry wheelchairs.

Regular two-wheeled bikes are also provided so people can come along and practice their cycling skills, build confidence after a period of not riding, or progress from a tricycle to a two-wheeler, for example.

Alongside the regular clubs which provide an opportunity for short rides, the main service providers in London offer other opportunities to get active, or support cycling in all its forms.

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For example, Bikeworks and Pedal Power organise competitions for current and new cyclists to enjoy a fun, accessible, competitive day. The races are ridden on the normal club bikes and are between 1km and 5km in length, so people of all cycling abilities can get involved.

This year’s competitions are being held in the shadow of the Olympic Stadium (see page 24), providing an amazing experience for participants and a real incentive to join in and get into cycling by attending clubs regularly.

WHEELS FOR WELLBEING The only inclusive cycling organisation run by disabled cyclists in the UK, WfW has been enabling disabled people to cycle, across all ages and impairments in south London since 2007. It currently runs five drop-in sessions each week, across three inclusive cycling hubs: Croydon Arena, Herne Hill Velodrome and Ladywell Day Centre.

Each year, around 1,300 disabled people cycle around 7,000 times with WfW. It runs specific sessions for disabled children at all three hubs. In Ladywell, it runs sessions for people with advanced dementia and it also supports the development of tandem riding opportunities for visually-impaired people across London.

WfW runs cyclingforall.org — a website that centralises information about most accessible cycling opportunities across the capital. It actively supports the development of new hubs across London too, so don’t hesitate to contact them for a chat. They

even provide a small cycle hire facility.

WfW also campaigns nationally on behalf of disabled cyclists, increasing the awareness of the fact that for many, cycling is easier than walking, that many disabled people do travel actively, using their cycle as a mobility aid and that they need inclusive cycling infrastructure and facilities to do so. Look up their Guide to Inclusive Cycling. n wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk; @wfwnews n 020 7346 8482

WHO IS IT FOR? Inclusive cycling is for everybody, but each provider tends to have a specific focus. In general, anyone can go along to a club and get out on a bike for a ride, regardless of ability, confidence, or previous cycling experience. The clubs provide an opportunity for people to experience the physical and mental health benefits that go along with riding a bike, even for 20 minutes.

Sessions are most frequently attended by adults with disabilities who face barriers to normal cycling and clubs. Therefore, regular attendees include: day centres who bring along their service users to exercise together, families who want to learn to ride together, older people

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BIKEWORKS ALL-ABILITY PROGRAMME Bikeworks believes that cycling should be accessible and possible for everyone, regardless of age, disability or experience. To enable this it runs All-Ability Cycling Clubs.

These clubs are open to all and have a diverse range of specially-adapted cycles for people to try out.

All-Ability Cycling Clubs are designed to bring people together, helping to build cycling confidence in an inclusive and relaxed environment. It runs three permanent clubs offering provisions across London four days a week. And in order to reach more individuals Bikeworks has a Mobile All-Ability Club which allows it to extend its reach to other parts of London with a focus on community outreach programmes, school development programmes, and health and wellbeing referral programmes.

It also runs All-Ability competitions and

looking to use a tricycle to ride a bike again, people recovering from serious health conditions such as stroke or traumatic brain injury, or simply individuals who would rather ride in a park than on the road.

However, there are sessions for children and young adults, like Bikeworks who run family sessions on the weekends and have a mobile service which visits primary and secondary schools. This mobile kit has been newly developed to enable cycling to be a part of PE lessons in schools, particularly Special Educational Needs-specific ones.

Inclusive cycling really lives up to its name by attracting a broad range of people. For example, 50% of attendees at one recent east London session were disabled, 40% were women and users ranged in age from four to 97.

WHERE DOES IT HAPPEN? There are several main providers of inclusive cycling activities in London, spread across the city. As mentioned, clubs usually take place in parks or enclosed, traffic-free spaces. There are sessions during the week and at weekends, meaning everyone has a chance to attend.

Wheels for Wellbeing has three locations in south London, one indoor (Ladywell Day Centre)

n

employability training, providing further experiences and opportunities.

For more information, including details of the sessions, you can contact: n bikeworks.org.uk/allability; @bikeworksuk (Twitter); bikeworkslondon (Facebook). n 020 8980 7998

ECOLOCAL EcoLocal’s inclusive cycling project offers cycling to everyone in a safe and supportive off-road place — whether it is on two, three or four wheels.

The sessions are held at the David Weir Leisure Centre in Carshalton and are fully inclusive, so all abilities are welcomed.

It provides a wide range of adapted cycles so everyone has the opportunity to either begin or improve their cycling, and enjoy the benefits of regular riding and getting healthy exercise!

One of EcoLocal’s support group carers told us: “It’s always a joy for the people I support when it’s bike riding day. They look forward to the exciting interaction, being active and participating outdoors.”

Confirming these benefits, one of the participants with learning difficulties added: “To ride around is exercise, it’s brilliant. We go on different bikes and get to share them. We can get outside and I really love meeting new people.” In school holidays, EcoLocal also runs

inclusive cycling sessions for children aged 7-14 with parents and/or carers, so no-one misses out on the fun!

EcoLocal’s friendly cycle instructors are also on hand for advice for all levels of cyclists.

Sessions are held Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 10am to noon for adults. In school holidays, it runs sessions on Wednesdays 12pm-1pm for those aged 7-14. n ecolocalcycling.org.uk

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Olympic Park, and Pedal Power has a session outside Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.

and two outdoor (Herne Hill and Croydon).

EcoLocal also runs sessions in south London (in Sutton and Merton), while Pedal Power offers sessions in two north London locations.

Bikeworks run sessions in two parks in east London and one in west London. These sessions run weekly and at weekends throughout the year.

Sessions are intended to inspire people to get out, get active and realise that cycling can be for them with a few alterations.

For added inspiration, Wheels For Wellbeing runs a session at historic Herne Hill Velodrome, Bikeworks holds one of its sessions in the

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? Inclusive cycling sessions are run by charities and social enterprises. They rely on funding and volunteers to run sessions, which means there’s many ways you can get involved. If you have a friend of relative who would benefit from inclusive cycling services, then take them along to a session.

Volunteering is a great way to get involved, and can be an incredible experience. To London Cyclist readers with an avid interest in cycling, encouraging others to cycle is the norm — whether it’s advising friends on choosing a new road bike or offering tips on cycling in traffic. However, by volunteering at an inclusive cycling club, you can really change someone’s life — by getting them on a bike, maybe for the first time, they too can enjoy the wonderful world of cycling. Instructors, session leaders and volunteers all freely admit that it’s rare for attendees not to come away from a ride with a huge grin on their faces.

And for many people the cycling club is their only opportunity to get out and exercise. They are often told they ‘can’t’ or ‘this isn’t suitable for you’, whereas at an inclusive cycling club you could actively encourage people to take part. n For more info, visit cyclingforall.org.

BIKEWORKS HITS THE OLYMPIC PARK

Bikeworks held an inclusive cycling competition in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on the London Marathon Community Track in late April this year. Over 60 people competed in 1km, 2km and 5km races around the track in the shadow of the Olympic stadium. The event was a huge success, enjoyed by all and gained the attention of both ITV and BBC News film crews.

PEDAL POWER Pedal Power is an award-winning cycling club that was formed in 2004, by the mother of a young woman with learning disability because there wasn’t a club for her to join and she is very good at cycling.

Over 13 years the membership has grown from two to roughly 2,500.

At each session qualified cycle trainers provide the opportunity for people of all ages with moderate to profound and complex needs, to enjoy cycling and improve their skills. The club also encourages support workers and family members to cycle. There is a bike to suit everyone whatever their needs.

Pedal Power has a team of about 20 volunteers, some with learning diasabilities, who work with the trainers at the sessions.

Many of the trainers and volunteers have been with Pedal Power since it started.

There’s also an important social side to the club as many people with disabilities and their families suffer from isolation.

They hold an annual birthday celebration, picnics, arrange trips to events (watching the Paralympics at the velodrome during London 2012 was a highlight), and have been part of cycling festivals. They work together with Bikeworks on the race days. n pedalpowercc.org

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BIKESTORMZ

It’s no secret that young people love bikes, but what if their riding was given a little more focus? Rob Eves speaks to Mac Ferrari-Guy, co-founder of the BikeStormz events

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T

made him realise that lots of groups of kids were doing the same things, but that they weren’t friends, didn’t know each other, and lacked a wider focal point or community.

Using word of mouth and social media, Mac and ‘Jake100’ — who was just 14 years old at the time and described as “one of the most skilful kids on a bike you’ll see” — organised that first ride four years ago.

Mac says: “I pulled up on Tooley Street and there were 400 kids on the road. I thought ‘wow, that’s a hell of a lot of people’. I felt a little bit excited, because I didn’t know how it was going to turn out.” #BikesUpKnivesDown Since then things have moved onwards and upwards, and the most recent ride this April (BikeStormz 6) attracted an estimated 4,000 riders from all over the UK. Run as a protest against knife crime at a time when London’s rising murder rate has been well documented, the hashtag #BikesUpKnivesDown was used widely to promote and publicise the event. And while media seem to have only recently picked up on the peaceful ethos

lives, offering support and trying to be the primary influence for those at risk of being drawn into trouble.

Mac can track the positive impact of the community and cycling on the behaviour and health of the people involved. He likens the four years he’s been running BikeStormz events to a class progressing through school — the 12-year-olds he first engaged with are 16 now, and the 16-year-olds are 20. Mac says he’s seen overweight children lose weight and get healthier through riding too: “They’re slim now, at 12 they were big, by the time they were 13 they were slim.”

He also tries to encourage those

I pulled up on Tooley Street and there were 400 kids on the road. I thought ‘wow, that’s a lot of people’. I felt a little bit excited... of BikeStormz, as far as Mac’s concerned it has always been about that.

He’s in touch with hundreds of kids on a day-to-day basis and tries to be a positive influence in their

taking part to adopt a positive approach to the rides and to “be hospitable to people”. He says: “I’ve explained to them that it’s your city so be nice, be polite. If someone tells you to ‘f*** off’ you tell them to

‘have a nice day’… instead of getting into a conflict with them.” He’s seen kids that were causing trouble change direction and become actively involved in helping him pass this message on to others. He adds: “The kids understand what we do, we’re not perfect, we’re not the greatest, but we try, and all the kids that I work with try.”

So does he consider that there’s something specific about bikes and cycling, something that it offers that other activities don’t?

Mac pauses, then continues: “The bike becomes your baby doesn’t it, it gets you from A to B. You’ve customised it, it’s your bike, so when you’re out there with your friends you’ve got a responsibility, your responsibility is to get your bike home.

PHOTOS: Adam Corbett

here’s a growing grassroots bike movement that’s been grabbing a few headlines over the last couple of years, organised by young people for young people. It’s called BikeStormz. And while you might not be familiar with the name, you’ll almost certainly have seen the images in national newspapers and websites — their story has even been picked up across Europe.

In fact BikeStormz has been organising ‘ride-outs’ in central London since 2014. But unlike in the past when groups of young riders were often dismissed as unruly mobs, the recent rides have had a serious focus: they’ve ridden to remember the 72 people who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire, and also been supporting the #BikesUpKnivesDown campaign against increasing knife crime in the capital.

Thankfully any adverse publicity is beginning to make way for greater understanding and when London Cyclist spoke to Mac Ferrari-Guy, one of the co-founders of BikeStormz, he explained how a scene that was initially built on bikes, wheelies, stunts and ride-outs has developed into something much more. It’s now a hub, a roving community and a point of focus for young people who might otherwise find themselves in trouble. They’re also working with the Metropolitan Police and the Mayor of London’s office.

Mac himself originally started editing videos for motorbike riders and moved onto pedal bikes when kids started sending him videos of themselves pulling all manner of tricks. The sheer volume of videos

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INTERVIEW “Instead of hanging around on the street, you’re on your bike and you’re riding — your friends have got the same hobby, you just ride around. Before you know it you’ve spent all day on your bike, fixing it or riding it, and then it’s time to go home. The bike is our glue, it keeps us together — when we have little arguments, we get on the road, we ride and the arguments are forgotten about.”

What about the routes for BikeStormz rides, where does that inspiration come from? Mac says rides always start at Tower Bridge, though they always have a destination — in the past they’ve ridden to Grenfell Tower, Burgess Park and Stratford. He says they often ride what they call the ‘city lap’, a five or six-mile route that takes in the Southbank, Waterloo, Oxford Street and Hyde Park, and they sometimes add an extra leg to Ally Pally or Primrose Hill.

When we speak to Mac, he’s just come out of a meeting with the Metropolitan Police, who he describes as “very supportive”. He’s in discussion with them about making BikeStormz ride-outs safer and more structured. He highlights obvious tensions between some young people and the police and explains that he tries to act as a kind

It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what colour you are, what your sex is or what your sexual preferences are. And you don’t have to be able to wheelie...

of mediator, using BikeStormz as an opportunity to reset what can be a negative relationship.

Making a name for themselves We ask if everyone is welcome to the rides and if people are expected to follow particular rules, to which Mac responds: “The world is welcome to come to BikeStormz, the world is welcome… when you come the rules are that it’s, well, a peaceful day with no malice towards anybody. Every prejudice that you might have, you leave it at home for the day.”

How do other road users and pedestrians react when they see

hundreds of young cyclists on the streets? “Well you get the hater and you get the lover,” Mac adds. He says many people, young and old, stop or slow down to watch, cheer them on and ask them to come back and do stunts again. But he also says the riders experience negativity too, that some members of the public get the wrong idea, and that “not everyone understands what we’re doing when they see us riding together”.

And the future may be bright for BikeStormz too. Lately they have worked closely with the Mayor of London, with an awards ceremony hosted at City Hall. Mac’s also

helped with casting for a recent video produced as part of the Mayor’s campaign to combat teenage knife crime — check out London Needs You Alive: Don’t Carry A Knife on youtube (https://tinyurl. com/londonneedsyou).

Brands and businesses are even beginning to take notice — not only well-known bike companies, but Nandos and even Nike have been getting in touch. “They want to work with us,” says Mac, “they realise that we’re decent people and there’s actually a future in what we’re doing.”

Asked to summarise the ethos behind BikeStormz, Mac again cites peace, non-violence, tolerance and the #BikesUpKnivesDown campaign as central threads. He says it’s about fun and “having a great time”. He emphasises inclusivity saying: “It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what colour you are, what your sex is or what your sexual preferences are. You don’t have to be able to wheelie… if you’re not used to smiling, just come out and smile.”

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SADIQ AT THE HALFWAY MARK Two years into Sadiq Khan’s first term as Mayor, how is he doing on cycling?

Simon Munk assesses his promises and progress TRIPLING PROTECTED SPACE During our #signforcycling campaign, Khan promised LCC members and supporters to triple the mileage of protected space for cycling — using main road Cycle Superhighway-style tracks. TfL is currently compiling a database of all cycling infrastructure and routes in London. But, until that’s released, LCC’s infrastructure experts have been working on a map of our own.

Pictured overleaf is the map, still in evolution. It

shows that the previous mayor, Boris Johnson, was responsible for sections of filtered space along CS1, the substantiallyprotected CS2 and the rebadging of the tracks on Cable Street for CS3. But Johnson’s biggest achievements were undoubtedly the North-South and East-West Cycle Superhighways along Blackfriars and the Embankment. When Khan was elected, all these amounted to approximately 29 miles

IMAGE: Martin Hoscik/Bigstock

W

e’re two years into Sadiq Khan’s first term as Mayor of London.

Sadiq made several commitments on cycling both before his election and since — so what has he actually delivered so far? What progress has he made on turning London into a “byword for cycling” with half his term gone?

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Built by Boris, high quality - Pre #signforcycling TfL construction – the ‘good’ Built by Boris, low quality - Pre #signforcycling TfL construction – the ‘bad’ Built by Sadiq, high quality - Post #signforcycling TfL construction – the ‘good’ Built by Sadiq, low quality - Post #signforcycling TfL construction – the ‘bad’ Planned by Khan - Six new routes Jan 2018 announcement - Post #signforcycling TfL consultation

of protected cycle tracks (counting miles in each direction).

We are still compiling a database of boroughled schemes that also appeared before Sadiq — such as Tavistock Place and Royal College Street in Camden, brief sections of Quietway 1 and Waltham Forest’s mini-Holland. We’ll be checking those against borough schemes over the next two years, but right now there are few boroughs where scheme progress has been rapid, most notably the Waltham Forest and Enfield mini-Hollands. Sadly, most boroughs have done very little.

So taking just TfL and Mayor-led schemes, there have been just 9.2 miles of protected space built since Sadiq came to power — and all of it

was agreed under the previous mayor (eg the extensions to the East-West and North-South Cycle Superhighways).

Encouragingly, Sadiq has approved (or brought forward to consultation) a further 20.3 miles of protected space. However, some of these schemes were already at an advanced stage under Boris, many of the new schemes exhibit serious flaws (particularly Nine Elms and Fiveways) and none of these schemes are in construction, yet.

It’s therefore welcome that Sadiq has also announced which six of the top 25 cycle routes in TfL’s new Strategic Cycling Analysis will move forward first. These routes seem set to be 75% main road cycle tracks and 25% Quietway-style

routes. Our best guess is that these routes will deliver a further 34 miles of protected space.

So, in short about 30 miles were built before Sadiq, who therefore needs to complete a further 60 miles to hit his tripling commitment.

Currently, he’s built 9, moved forward 20 and announced a further 34. On that basis he will need to complete everything on the table within two years to achieve his pledge. And given how slow progress has been on schemes like CS11 (stuck at Regents Park), he will need to massively increase the pace of progress to do that.

BETTER JUNCTIONS Sadiq also promised our members and supporters he’d complete the Better Junctions programme,

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LEFT: our map shows the work completed during Boris Johnson’s mayoralty and that undertaken or planned by his successor Sadiq Khan.

(Mapping research: Simon Still) ABOVE: Cycle Superhighway 4, from Tower Bridge to Greenwich, is one of the schemes moving forward, though nothing has yet happened on the ground.

RIGHT: the extension of the North-South Cycle Superhighway to King’s Cross is one of the few places where actual construction has taken place.

and has since added more sites to the list, taking it from 33 to 73.

Of the initial 33 only two have been completed to a satisfactory level — Blackfriars and Westminster Bridge Road. A further eight have been consulted on, but are not in construction yet — including Vauxhall, Swiss Cottage and both ends of Lambeth Bridge. Stratford is good, and building is underway.

Ten junctions have been completed, but not to a satisfactory level — including Aldgate, Parliament Square and Tower Gateway. And seven remain without any detailed plans at all, including Surrey Quays, the Nag’s Head and Marble Arch.

In the new Safer Junctions programme, further junctions to be looked at include the Euston Road/

Judd Street junction at the end of the North-South Cycle Superhighway extension, Elephant & Castle’s southern roundabout and Tooting Broadway. But the remaining seven from the Better Junctions programme are missing entirely.

It is good to see long-hated junctions such as Waterloo and Lambeth Bridge moving forward, but Sadiq will have to accelerate to fulfil his pledge at the current rate of progress.

MINI-HOLLAND FOR EVERY BOROUGH Sadiq pledged during LCC’s #signforcycling campaign to provide funding for a mini-Hollandstyle scheme in every London borough. This has morphed into the Liveable Neighbourhoods funding pot. Boroughs can bid for between

£2-£10 million pounds for town centre, transport link and residential neighbourhood schemes aimed at reducing motor traffic dominance and boosting walking and cycling.

While smaller in scope than the £30 million given to the original three mini-Holland boroughs, the good news is that the Mayor and TfL seems committed to ensuring that funding is only given to good schemes and that that funding is staged, with boroughs needing to demonstrate they can deliver before they are given the full money.

Seven boroughs have thus far been funded through their first ‘feasibility’ phase. The second round for funding bids for other boroughs is October this year.

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DIRECT VISION LORRIES Sadiq also pledged to take the most dangerous lorries off our streets, making ‘Direct Vision’ lorries (which have far fewer ‘blind spots’) the norm.

Since election, Sadiq has established the world’s first five-star Direct Vision rating; lorries rated 0-star will be banned by 2020 and all below 3-star banned by 2024.

However, following TfL’s assessment that more than 60% of lorries entering London would not meet the 0-star rating there has been a progressive weakening of the proposals, seemingly to answer industry concerns over the pace of change.

TfL’s current proposal is a compromise that allows lorry ratings to be boosted using other improvements — including cameras, sensor alert systems and driver training to mitigate the issues of poor driver sightlines in sub 0-rated lorries.

LCC has reiterated its commitment to a strongly evidence-based approach to lorry safety, and the importance of direct vision to achieve safer lorries.

THE GOOD NEWS… The Mayor has embraced TfL’s holistic ‘Healthy Streets’ approach which quantifies the many benefits of ‘active travel’ ­(walking and cycling) and taking public transport, as well as the pure transportation advantages.

This has led to a new Mayor’s Transport Strategy with lots of welcome commitments, most notably that by 2041, only 20% of journeys in London will be done by car (currently 36% of journeys), that 70% of us will live within 400m of a high-quality and safe cycle route, that ‘Vision Zero’ will mean zero deaths or serious injuries on our roads. But that’s by 2041 — many mayoral terms away.

Similarly, the London Plan has been retooled to be far more stringent on car parking in developments and far more positive to cycle parking — and TfL appears more than willing to withhold funding if needed to really push boroughs to do better. And, more immediately, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) looks set to be extended to at least the North and South Circular, possibly all of London.

The Mayor has also announced a doubling of the cycling budget from his predecessor’s peak.

However, this has already started to be pushed back, with more and more spending pushed beyond this Mayoral term. The worry is that budget will be the problem of the next term, not this one.

THE BAD NEWS… The main worry is the current slow pace of progress, compounded by the continuing advancement of schemes like the new Silvertown Tunnel that will increase motor traffic, pollution and congestion. Plus the language from TfL

ABOVE: driver’s eye view from one of the new breed of ‘Direct Vision’ lorries championed by Sadiq Khan, though there’s signs that his star-rating system is now being watered down.

BELOW: the capital’s Ultra Low Emisssion Zone looks set to be expanded to the North and South Circular.

suggests even the smallest delays to buses, and any significant delays to private motor car journeys may derail cycling schemes: worries over the ‘bikelash’ trump the need to crack on, it seems.

There’s also the ailing Quietways programme.

We desperately need more safe, low-traffic cycle routes between main roads. But we are still seeing far too many boroughs treating Quietways as a low-cost, low-intervention way to say they are doing cycling schemes, without actually doing much.

Recently-approved Quietway sections have routed their supposed audience of less confident cyclists onto rat-runs with many thousands of vehicle movements daily, with nothing but some signs and the odd speed hump to help. This simply isn’t good enough — and sends a terrible message to boroughs that business-as-usual schemes will continue to be funded — another sign that the fine words aren’t translating yet into real action.

TWO YEARS DOWN, TWO TO GO Fine words for the future, but a real shortfall in schemes on the ground, and even quality being reduced, means that the Mayor’s pledges to us all

look increasingly unlikely to be fully realised in this term.

While the Mayor’s Transport Strategy is clearly ambitious, and indicates Sadiq’s heart is in the right place, his attention looks clearly elsewhere — on development, housing, crime etc. Meanwhile TfL has so far been unable to translate an increased cycling budget and ambitions into the pace and quality of on-the-ground construction that was seen in the last two years of the Johnson administration.

Similarly, there appear to be far more layers of TfL and City Hall between the Walking & Cycling Commissioner Will Norman and the Mayor for him to use the Mayor’s political authority effectively to bring boroughs to heel and deliver at the pace required.

Of course, we won’t be accepting this ongoing drift for another year. Watch this space…

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TRAVEL IMAGE: Tashka/Bigstock

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TRAVEL

LONDON

to

AMSTERDAM A tour to the Dutch cycling city is a must says Nick Moffitt — and you can join the 2018 ride

Y

ou'd probably never guess that I could make the 350 miles to Amsterdam just by looking at me. And when people find out that I've made the journey twice on my heavy Dutch omafiets ('granny bike') I do get a raised eyebrow or two.

So how did an out-of-shape dad manage to lead a rag-tag band of commuters and monthly social riders on an award-winning (the ride won a 2017 London Cycling Award) international cycling adventure? Well I'll let you in on my big secret... it's far easier than it looks.

For most people, the David Eales Memorial Ride is their first long-distance or non-UK tour.

We spend two days riding through Belgium and two through the Netherlands, with an optional two-day 'prequel' ride from London to Dover for the more committed.

We cycle on smooth protected cycleways

beside canals, railway lines and roadways. It's not uncommon for riders to cry out "I wish our borough had something like this!", or "We should get our council out here to see how it's done!"

My involvement began when I first spotted an ad for an LCC-managed fundraising ride from London to Amsterdam in the pages of this magazine. A number of us who had registered took over planning when LCC had to cancel the event at the last minute. I reached out to David Eales, prominent member of LCC's Ealing borough group, who intended to travel on his recumbent tricycle. David helped us get our plan for the trip together, but his most important lesson was not to overcomplicate things. He taught me that once you have lodgings and ferry tickets sorted out, the rest of it is really just getting on bikes and pedalling.

Sadly, David died from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome that summer and he never got to join us on the trip. We decided to dedicate the Amsterdam ride to his memory. We filled the empty spot on the ride at David's wake and in September of 2016 six of us cycled to that beautiful Dutch city.

The 2017 Ride Four veterans of the 2016 journey joined nine new riders for last year's return outing. Among our mixed fleet were three Dutch-style upright commuter bicycles, two recumbent tricycles, and one Brompton folder. To see us go past, you'd never guess how much distance we'd end up covering.

Six of us made the extra two-day trip from London, starting at Parliament Square and enjoying the lovely cycling facilities of Cycle Superhighways 3 and 6 along the Embankment and Blackfriars Bridge. Quietway 1's best

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TRAVEL

ABOVE: our route from London, via the DoverDunkerque ferry crossing, and on through Belgium and the Netherlands to Amsterdam.

FROM TOP RIGHT CLOCKWISE: stopping to admire the knooppunten signage; making the most of Dutch elevators; and an early stop at the Cyclopark café.

smaller groups of four to five riders to make our way to Belgium.

We saw a general improvement in safe cycling provision with each day we travelled. Level terrain, smooth paving, courteous driving and a tendency to take the details seriously made quite a contrast to what we were used to.

Belgian beers and cobbles My group picked up our fourth rider at the Dunkerque railway station and we headed through the forest to the Belgian border. No-one at the café on the Belgian side batted an eye at how early it was for us to have our first celebratory beers of the day.

For the most part we navigated our way through Belgium by following canals and railways. The airy cycle tracks beside the inland waterways of Flanders are a definite cut above the gloomy rubble we generally call towpaths in England. And with the prevailing wind at our

backs, it was an easy day's pedalling to Bruges.

Getting to and from these straight routes was made easier by the excellent knooppunten network. The whole of Belgium and the Netherlands is dotted with numbered signs representing locations on a map. Each sign lists one, two or three nearby nodes with an arrow indicating whether to turn left, right, or go straight.

We wrote down sequences of numbers while planning the trip and knew that, for example, '01, 84, 09' would take us from the border café to a lunch stop in the town of Veurne. If we got separated for some reason, we could call each other and quickly say: "Let's all meet up at knooppunt 08 in Nieuwpoort," and know we'd all arrive at the exact same landmark.

Bruges to Antwerp Bruges is the best-preserved medieval town in Belgium, and it's a fantastic place for a night out.

The cobbles are a bit rough to ride over, so we

IMAGES: Nick Moffitt, Gareth Redmond-King

stretches took us to Greenwich, and once we crossed into the Eastern Hemisphere we followed the quiet back roads of Bexleyheath toward National Cycle Network route 1.

Lunch on the first day was a stop at the cafe in the fantastic Cyclopark on National Cycle Network route 177 in Kent — a stretch of the old disused A2 alignment that's now something of a handy protected bypass route for some of the squirrelly bits of NCN1.

We stayed the night in Whitstable, sleeping through Storm Aileen and waking up to clear skies and a brisk tailwind. We felt relaxed as we climbed hills through picturesque forest via the Crab and Winkle Way, a converted railway track.

We soon passed through Canterbury to glide eastward toward Sandwich and the coast. A quick stop for fish and chips in Deal left us plenty of time to cruise up the gentler (though longer) eastern slope of the Dover cliffs against a steady headwind.

At a hotel bar near the port of Dover we gathered all but one of our number and rolled in together to board the ferry to Dunkerque. A simple two-hour crossing and we were settled in for the night at an inexpensive hostel near the French ferry terminal.

Before setting off the following day we gave the bikes and kit a final check, and divided into

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TRAVEL Going Dutch at last The next morning we followed the cycle routes alongside the railway lines north. The Dutch border at Essen posed less of an obstacle than some barriers we navigated on Quietway 1 back in London. While it would be trivial simply to

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: inside the amazing Plum Gent bike museum/shop; cruising through the famous Vondelpark; and the classic 'finish line' photo.

ride on through, it's hard to resist stopping to take a photograph in front of the bollard that separates the two countries.

On arriving in the Netherlands, the approach to the route changes dramatically. Instead of hugging canals or railway lines, you can take your bike to just about any major road and find a lovely cycle track alongside it. We followed the road atlas straight into Roosendaal for lunch, and straight out again towards Rotterdam.

The countryside in south-east Holland is rural, but populated and we rode along raised dikes while schoolchildren passed us on their way home from school. The Haringvliet is a broad estuary that flooded with seawater in the 13th and 15th centuries, and the bridges across it have an entire separate section for cycling and farm vehicles — meaning you can turn your attention to the stunning views without worrying

about the high-speed motor traffic on the rest of the structure.

Although Rotterdam has plenty of bridges, the best way to enter it is via the Maastunnel. This impressive structure was built by the United States just after World War II to help restore shipping in the city. Again, spacious lifts are available, but some riders simply can't resist the novelty of joining the locals in taking their bicycles on the escalators.

On the final day we rode from Rotterdam first to a café famous for its apple pie and then pressed on for the final stretch. Even the least athletic of us found that four straight days of constant cycling had built up our endurance and we made good time through farms and greenhouses, past Schiphol airport and into the Amsterdamse Bos. We emerged briefly onto the streets of Amsterdam before entering the lovely Vondelpark.

At long last we pedalled our bikes through the center of the Rijksmuseum and posed for celebratory photos in front of the 'I Amsterdam' sign. It was only at this moment that it sank in just how far we had travelled under our own pedal power. And that we'd finally gone Dutch.

THE 2018 RIDE The David Eales Memorial Ride (named after the late Ealing Cycling Campaign member, pictured left) is an annual event and we're always looking for new riders to share the adventure. Registration is open all summer for this year's ride, which takes place from 15-18 September (with the optional two-day ride from London on 13-14 September). When you sign up, you'll get regular info for beginners and experts alike on how to prepare for the journey. n lcc.org.uk/londontoamsterdam2018; or email londontoamsterdam@lcc.org.uk.

IMAGES: Nick Moffitt, Paul James

stored the bikes in our hostel's indoor parking facilities and walked to the central square for dinner. The hostel even had a lovely bar on the ground floor, and some riders decided to just relax and recover from their first long day's ride.

It was with a mix of regret and high spirits that we left Bruges the next morning to make our way to Antwerp. The morning ride was another pleasant canal route to the city of Ghent, with a pit-stop for coffee and cakes at a mouth-watering bakery in the little hamlet of Bellem.

Ghent has recently begun filtering motor traffic out of most of the city centre, which makes it far more pleasant to cycle through. The market square has you spoiled for lunch options, and the biggest challenge is getting the will to leave on schedule.

Alas, my pannier rack had cracked, and we needed to get some parts to help another team with their mild mechanical troubles. As luck would have it Ghent hosts one of the most famous bike shops in Europe: the century-old Plum Gent is not just a simple repair shop, but a piece of cycling history. The staff were too busy to fix our bikes at that moment, but were more than happy to let us use their workshop and tools. We took turns making repairs while the rest explored the adjoining museum of bicycles, some of which date back to the 19th century.

We raced the sunset to Antwerp. Some teams arrived with a little daylight left, but most of us arrived after dark. There are no bridges over the Scheldt here, but the tunnels underneath have levels specifically for cycling across ­— the lifts up and down are spacious, but it's common for people to just take their bikes on the escalators.

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Don’t let your friendships fall flat this spring. Introduce a friend to LCC and we’ll send you both a free Park Tool track pump.

Visit lcc.org.uk/friend to learn more

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SPORT

BRITAIN’S BEST CHALLENGE RIDES

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Looking for a new cycling challenge this year? John Kitchiner suggests seven of the best, for novices and experts alike

DUNWICH DYNAMO southwarkcyclists.org.uk Start/Finish: London Fields to Dunwich (Suffolk) Date: 28-29 July Distance: 200km (120 miles) The ‘DunRun’ ranks as the LC team’s favourite long-distance ride for several reasons: firstly, you can do it on pretty much any bike; secondly, it’s free; and thirdly, it ends at the sea. Next to a café and pub. And it’s probably the most informal challenge that you’re ever likely to find. What’s not to like?

Sure, there’s the small matter of covering 200km from Hackney to get to the beach, but in our minds that’s more than compensated for by the unique sensation of cruising deserted country lanes with an endless stream of lights flashing across the horizon. We’ve even seen bats on more than one occasion. This year will be the 26th DD and, if the weather’s kind, you can expect about 3,000 cyclists to pitch up on the Saturday evening and starting to head off at about 8pm. We’ve ridden it on road bikes, tourers and fixies and you’ll likely see the odd tall bike and Santander hire cycle too. Ride anything, wear anything, pack BEST FOR food and drinks, waterproofs and a towel (for a celebratory swim) and you’re RELAXED sorted. The only thing you need to plan is the return trip — Southwark Cyclists ATMOSP HERE organise coaches (£25-45), but you’ll need to get in quickly to secure a spot.

TOUR DE YORKSHIRE RIDE letour.yorkshire.com Start/Finish: Leeds Date: 5 May 2019 Distance: short (40-60km), medium (70-100km) or long (110-130km).

BEST FOR

the long route delivered a whopping 2,059m of vertical ascent! The organisers have also teamed up with Strava to reward the King & Queen of the Mountain on one designated segment — and everyone’s able to compare their times against the pros who ride the exact same route later in the day. Entries for 2019 are open now (£45-£49.50) — plenty of time to find those climber’s legs.

PHOTO: TdY

On the final day of the Tour de Yorkshire professional race, 5,000 amateur riders take to the very same roads, experience the same roaring crowds and cross the same finish line as the likes of Mark Cavendish and Lizzie Deignan.

Now in its fourth year, the sell-out TDYR brings a new meaning to the phrase ‘up-hill and down dale’ with riders tackling some of the toughest climbs the county has to offer, including Hartwith Bank, Greenhow Hill and Chevin Bank — this year

WANNABE BROWNLEES

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LONDON TO BRIGHTON bhf.org.uk Start/Finish: Clapham Common to Brighton Date: 17 June 2018 Distance: 87km/54 miles When newbie cyclists ask us which charity/ challenge event we’d recommend as a first ‘big ride’ we always point them to the L2B. It’s suitable for riders of all ages and abilities, you don’t need to be super fit and pretty much any roadworthy bike will go the distance — plus the atmosphere, especially along the seafront at the end, is very special. There’s several iterations, but the biggest and longest running is organised by the Britsh Heart Foundation, and it now attracts 15,000 participants each year. If you cycle to work regularly you’ll easily have enough miles in your legs for the L2B and the only real hurdle is Ditchling Beacon (which you should make a personal challenge in its own right) — but the reward for BEST FOR cresting the South Downs is a fast downhill to the finishing straight.

FIRST-TIME BIG RIDERS Trains back to London don’t accept bikes on the day, so you’ll need to book a coach ticket in advance.

FIVE OF THE REST: TOP UK EVENTS VELOTHON WALES velothon.com When: 8 July 2018 Distances: 60km/125km/140km

PHOTOS: Steve Fleming, John Pickles, BHF

CORNWALL COAST & CLAY cornwallcoastandclay.co.uk When: 23 September 2018 Distances: 37km/71km/109km/161km ISLE OF WIGHT RANDONNEE cycleisland.co.uk When: 5 May 2019 Distances: 55km/100km ETAPE CALEDONIA etapecaledonia.co.uk When: May 2019 Distances: 65km/136km TOUR OF WESSEX pendragonsports.com When: May 2019 (three days) Distances: 520km/355km/or one stage

FRED WHITTON CHALLENGE fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk Start/Finish: Grasmere, Lake District Date: May 2019 Distance: 180km/112 miles Regarded as the hardest one-day ride in the UK, the Fred Whitton Challenge is something of a right of passage in roadie circles. And it’s not hard to see why, with this monster loop taking in the notorious Lake District climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott and Wrynose passes. It’s relentless stuff and even when you think you can smell the finish line there’s one final nasty uphill surprise left at the 98-mile mark — with a 30% gradient! Unsurprisingly, regulars (yes, quite a few masochists go back every year) claim that it’s as tough as any Alpine sportive and we’d have to agree; we found it tougher than the Étapes du Tour we’ve completed.

The quickest riders complete the route in just BEST FOR under six hours, but 11 SCENERY & hours and over isn’t CLIMBING uncommon for many club riders. Just don’t forget the chamois cream.

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SPORT

RIDE LONDON

RIDE ACROSS BRITAIN

prudentialridelondon.co.uk Start/Finish: Olympic Park/The Mall Date: 29 July 2018 Distance: 160km/100 miles

rideacrossbritain.com Start/Finish: Land’s End to John O’Groats Date: 8-16 September 2018 Distance: 160-190km per day (9 days)

Designed as a ‘legacy’ event following the London 2012 Olympic Games, RideLondon has quickly become one of the biggest, best organised and best supported sportives in the world — with 80,000 people entering the ticket ballot for the 25,000 starting places this year.

But if you’re not successful in the ballot, you can try to secure a place via one of the partner charities, including LCC (see below).

The 100-mile ride starts in the Olympic Park, before heading south-west and out into the Surrey Hills (including a climb of Box Hill), before the classic finish on The Mall. The course is then cleared for the pros to compete for one of the biggest one-day prizes in cycling. But, of course, RideLondon is really a full weekend of cycling fun, with FreeCycle taking place on the Saturday, featuring closed-road family rides, Brompton world championships, trials demos, festival areas and more.

BEST FOR n Join Team LCC for the UK’s biggest sportives, including RideLondon. We’ll ICONIC (CARFREE) ROADS secure you an entry and all you need to do is commit to some fundraising.

Find out more at lcc.org.uk/teamlcc.

DRAGON TOUR letapeuk.co.uk/wales/dragon-tour Start/Finish: Crickhowell Date: 8-10 June 2018 Distance: 79km/104km (Friday), 70km/85km (Saturday), 99-300km (Sunday) The original Dragon Ride has had a cult following in roadie circles for 15 years and it’s now been extended into the Dragon Tour, giving participants the chance to experience stage riding over two or three days. In 2005 the Dragon Ride became the first UK cyclosportive to be included in the UCI calendar and in 2016 was taken over by ASO (Tour de France organisers) as part of the L’Etape UK series. New for 2018, the Dragon Tour will start from the Glanusk Estate (where Top Gear is filmed) at the foot of the Black Mountains. There’s BEST FOR two route options on the W ELSH RARE first two days and four on BITS (& UPS) the final day — but expect 1,400m+ of climbing on each of the longer stages.

If you want to ‘go big’, you can’t go any bigger than Land’s End to John O’Groats (LEJOG) and the Ride Across Britain packages it all up for you as a nine-day, multi-stage event. It doesn’t take the shortest route either, instead it follows more scenic options across wild moorlands, hidden green valleys, winding back lanes, stunning coastal roads and historic sites. You can choose from camping or hotels (the organisers sort everything), with food on the ride and mechanical support included. And if you don’t have time for the full RAB, then you could try the five-day England BEST FOR portion (526 miles, 8-12 MULTI-DAY Sept) or the four-day M EGA MILES Scotland part (449 miles, 13-16 Sept). Truly a once-ina-lifetime challenge!

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OM IVAL.C

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BIKES

LONGTERM

TEST BIKES Second update on two of our rolling test fleet

SCHWALBE’S CONTROL TYRES As not all tyres are equal — and tyres are such a critical factor in how a bike rides and feels — we use different rubbers supplied by leading manufacturer Schwalbe to act as ‘control tyres’ in our testing. On city bikes and hybrids we’ve been using Durano DDs or Marathons, on the cyclocross/adventure bikes we’ve run X-Ones and G-Ones, while on the mtbs we’ve been swapping between Nobby Nics and Magic Marys.

ADVENTURE/COMMUTING RALEIGH Mustang Comp Enduring some of the worst winter weather we’ve had for years in London and the SouthEast, my first few weeks riding the Mustang gave me a good initial test of its capabilities. I used it on a few commutes and longer rides on rough, often ice-covered Kent and Sussex lanes. The bike felt stable and easy to control on the trickier surfaces, yet nippy enough to zip around city streets. As the first aluminium frame I had ever ridden (I’m an old-school steel frame rider), it did feel a touch different at first, harsher and less forgiving than the Roberts Roughstuff I’ve toured on for the last decade. But to be honest, the more I rode the Mustang, the more I became accustomed to the feel of the ride and after a while I didn’t even notice the difference. With a few tweaks to saddle and seatpost the XS size fitted me fine — no aches after a long day in the saddle which off-the-peg rides don’t often deliver to someone who’s a ‘non-standard’ size.

So I decided to give it a real test — a trip to the North West of Scotland, mixing camping and bothying. By the end of that trip, I had grown quite fond of this steed. Fast and light enough to handle on the sharp climbs around the

Torridon and Strathcarron area, but able to switch comfortably from smooth tarmac to winding gravel tracks. It dealt with the bumpy ascent up into Attadale and down to Ben Doraig bothy really well, tyres gripping enough to allow me to ride up a good deal of the very steep zig-zags. I found the 1x11 drivetrain perfectly adequate for my riding; a low enough gear at 40x42 to get me up everything I attempted.

And then I decided to take it up the now, it seems, world famous Bealach Na Ba. And we did just fine. Only once did I feel just a hint of the front wheel lifting ever so slightly. It felt stable, even at my slow climbing pace — and, more importantly, it got me down safely, a much trickier proposition.

I’ve now had the bike six months and it’s definitely grown on me. No doubt because the Mustang seems to love the kind of mixed riding I do. We’ve done well over a thousand miles and I’ve really liked the SRAM components, especially the gearing. I’ve also really appreciated the hydraulic discs; powerful but with a light touch All in all, not a bad little bike so far! Jane Davis n raleigh.co.uk

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BIKES

E-BIKE/COMMUTING RIESE & MULLER Packster 40 It’s a sign of how the e-bike market is maturing in the UK that there’s now a decent choice of e-cargo bikes. The Packster (from the Germanbased firm behind the clever Birdy folder) sits somewhere between the minimalist offerings that are based on conventional frames and ‘box’ designs that can be electric-powered behemoths, capable of carrying a small nursery. The central carrying box in the Packster’s case is a very compact one, measuring about 56x44cm around the top. Combined with a 2.23m bike length, this means the Packster doesn’t suffer from the unwieldiness that some larger e-cargo bikes do. The obvious advantages are two-fold: good comparative manoeuvrability and easier storage (weighing in at under 30kg with the batteries removed, I managed to lift it up and over a large door threshold). It’s rated to carry 60kg and I had around 30kg of groceries in the front. This kind of weight on any bike is going to affect handling but on the Packster the weight is kept low down and means it’s very stable, even at speed, and there is plenty of hydraulic braking power to hand (low speed turns, especially on steep gradients, just need careful technique). There’s an excellent weather cover to keep your box contents dry and it’s designed to take a small child too with its fold-out seat and seatbelt. The Bosch Performance CX motor, Gates belt drive and stepless Nuvinci gear hub make for a powerful, extremely competent, compact and stylish-looking performer. As you’d expect from a brand like R&M, the LED lighting is powerful and high quality, while sturdy mudguards, rear rack, and an Abus Bordo lock and frame-mounted wheel lock finish off what is a complete and very practical package. Richard Peace n r-m.de

BIKE UPDAebTsiteEatS

Via the w r and Twitte lcc.org.uk g lin yc @london_c

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REVIEW

BIKE HELMETS

REVIEWS: John K, Chris Jubb, Sarah Flynn

ROAD/SPORTIVE

URBAN

BELL Falcon MIPS £99

KASK Lifestyle £125-250

zyrofisher.co.uk

kask.com

Weight: 284g Sizes: S-XL Colours: black, navy/cherry, red/black. yellow/black, white, white/smoke

Weight: 390g Sizes: M-L Colours: anthracite, aqua, grey, silver, champagne, white, black, olive, blue

Available in six gloss colours, the Falcon includes a rear reflective strip as standard. At sub-300g it’s light and ideal for longer rides, but most interesting is the new MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) technology, not often seen on helmets this price. This tech, brought over from the mountain bike sector, features a slimline cradle inside the shell which is designed to reduce rotational forces that can result from certain impacts.

The MIPS band is minimalist and doesn’t interfere with the fit, which we rate as one of the best we’ve tried; to dial it in there’s a simple ‘float fit’ system. 18 well-shaped vents kept our head cool and contributed to a stylish overall design — it’s not a pro-style ‘aero’ look, but certainly doesn’t look out of place on the Sunday run or daily commute. Our only issue was with the strap adjustment, which if not fitted correctly had a tendency to work loose.

The near-identical women’s Nala (£89) comes in two sizes and two colours.

Being offered in 11 super tasteful finishes and colour combinations partly explains why the Lifestyle’s pricing varies so much (see Kask’s Amazon shop) — but mostly it’s the luxurious Italian design touches. Comfort was a notch above the other urban helmets tested, thanks to the quick-wicking CoolMax padding and ‘eco-leather’ chinstraps — no scratchiness or irritation here. There’s only two sizes but they can be easily adjusted for a perfect fit. However there’s no escaping the most visible feature — the flipdown visor — which is a true love/hate affair. Either you’ll like the convenience of not carrying sunglasses to protect against the elements and London’s air-borne debris, or you’ll feel like the world’s slowest time trialler as you chug along CS3. E-bikers on the continent favour such visors, which makes sense. That one thing aside it was a pleasure to wear.

LAZER Blade £59

BERN Union £75

lazersport.co.uk

ultrasporteu.com

Weight: 240g Sizes: XS-XL Colours: black, white, titanium, red, orange, blue, mint green

Weight: 355g Sizes: S-L Colours: black, grey, teal, red, neon yellow

Style-wise the unisex Blade is based on the pro-level Z1 helmet and comes in seven colours.

You’ll barely notice its featherlight weight and the fit is snug with excellent comfort, either combined with a thin winter cap or without. Wearing the helmet with a cap in milder weather did not cause overheating issues either, thanks to 22 large vents, including a whopper at the front. Lazer is one of the few manufacturers to employ a fit adjuster on top of the shell rather than at the rear, meaning you have to roll the dial rather than twist it; it’s marginally more fiddly, especially in the wet, but a neat alternative to the traditional method. Likewise the strap adjustments have proved robust and easy to tweak. For an extra £30-£40 (depending where you shop) you can get a MIPS version of the Blade, with the added impact protection that offers. From a style perspective we really like the blended two-tone colour choices and you’ll certainly find a match for your favourite jersey. A winner on value.

Perfect for commuting and urban riding, the Union strikes a great balance between quality, value and the stylish design that Bern is known for.

The Zipmold+ shell offers a bit more coverage, both at the front and back, than many other city helmets, which can take some getting used to. But the fit can be dialed in with the Boa adjuster (like the ones you get on sports shoes) and once set it doesn’t move around at all. We really liked the flip visor, which can be worn up or down like a roadie cap, and it’s also removable so can be taken out for washing or swapped for a winter liner (not supplied) when the temperature drops. The venting is good for an urban helmet but you will get warm if you’re a fast-paced rider. We’ve seen the Union on sale at major London shops for £40 which makes it something of a bargain; the identical women’s Parker (same RRP) comes in four colours.

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MTB/ADVENTURE GIRO Chronicle MIPS £99 zyrofisher.co.uk Weight: 365g Sizes: S-XL Colours: black, blue, dark red, grey, vermillion, lime green, walnut Borrowing features and style cues from the top-tier Montaro, the Chronicle is aimed at mountain bikers and gravel grinders alike. The polycarbonate shell incorporates the latest MIPS technology for added impact protection (thankfully not tested in anger yet), and fit is tailored by a small flywheel at the rear. The CoolMax pads do a fine job of absorbing sweat (and wash up nicely) and you can feel the vents working while riding, though our head still got pretty warm on extended climbs. Overall comfort and stability is excellent, always appreciated over rough ground, but we did notice the side retention straps came down lower behind our ears than other models; we found this occasionally rubbing against sunglasses. The huge duck-bill visor kept rain and flying crud at bay and can be easily repositioned, while best added extra goes to the simple clip-on mount for GoPro cameras and helmet lights. A great all-rounder.

SMITH Rover £85 smithoptics.com Weight: 340g Sizes: S-L Colours: black, white, charcoal Aside from the small visor, the Rover is exactly the same as Smith’s Route helmet aimed at road riders, so our findings apply equally to both. It’s unique in this grouptest as the ‘Aerocore’ construction pairs an EPS foam liner with patches of Koroyd (the green bits in the image) — this polymer honeycomb material theoretically provides cushioning for both high and low-energy impacts. Whether it’s truly effective or not will have to wait until we have a more serious ‘off’, in the meantime it doesn’t interfere with performance — the Rover channels air over the head and through the massive rear vents brilliantly. Coverage isn’t as good as the Giro Chronicle (though few are), but fit is reliable, adjustments quick and overall design streamlined. Interestingly the small visor is fixed but can be removed, meaning you have a roadie-style option for tarmac training days.

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REVIEW

SUMMER BIKE JERSEYS

REVIEWS: John K, Chris Jubb, Thea Smith

ROAD/SPORTIVE

URBAN

ALTURA NV2 £59

DHB Trail £25

altura.co.uk

wiggle.com

Sizes: S-XXL Colours: black, red, hi-vis yellow

Sizes: S-XXL Colours: black/grey, black/blue, black/red

The Yorkshire brand is probably best known for its panniers and best-selling reflective waterproof jackets — and its from the latter that the NV2 gets its inspiration.

Using proprietary ‘Darkproof ’ technology, the jersey incorporates multiple reflective strips and tabs which offer impressive 360-degree visibility in low light/night-time. The fit’s not skin tight or constricting like many road tops and the polyester material feels great next to the skin — it’s a little thicker than typical summer jerseys, so could easily work in spring and autumn too. Wicking is fairly rapid, aided by subtly-located vents and a full front zipper. We also loved the sleeve cuffs — really comfy compared to old-style silicon bands and they don’t ride up. Five decent-sized pockets mean you can spread your load rather than overstuff. Well featured for the money and the women’s version is £10 less.

The ‘Trail’ name on this jersey is actually a little misleading as it’s far from an off-road-specific top, with enough to appeal to both city cyclists and those venturing further afield. What hits you straight away is the marl-textured fabric which feels as comfy next to the skin as your favourite thousand-timeswashed band t-shirt. It’s super breathable too, wicking perspiration away rapidly and comes with an anti-odour treatment so you won’t offend anyone when pitching up to the pub or office after a fast-paced spin. Mesh underarm panels do a great job of shedding excess heat too, you can actually feel the cooling effect as you ride. The logo and rear tab even offer a smidge of reflectivity. In fact our only gripe is that the women’s version is slightly pricier at £30.

HACKNEY GT Tricolour £85 hackneygt.com

RAPHA Technical Polo £70 rapha.cc

Sizes: XS-XXXL Colours: blue/grey/pink,

Sizes: XS-XXL Colours: purple, black

Made in England and designed in east London, Hackney GT’s latest shortsleevers continue with the ‘funky but functional’ ethos, bringing much-needed colour to the often conservative road market. Primarily aimed at drop-barred riders, we’ve found the jerseys equally at home on mtb trips, due to the non-skintight fit, overall comfort, performance in variable conditions and high-quality detailing. The classy-feeling fabric wicks perspiration away a treat and the full-length zip allows you to let off steam, but it’s the little things that make this top stand out — the three rear pockets are double-stitched and slanted for easy access, a hidden zipped pocket is big enough to hold an iPhone 6, the wide arm cuffs are a joy to wear and there’s a reflective tab at the hem. With a dozen men’s and women’s styles available, you can go as bold as you dare...

While performance ‘Lycra’ is still the mainstay of Rapha’s business, it also has a burgeoning ‘City’ collection, which includes smart shirts, trousers, insulated jackets, luggage and even prescription-ready glasses. The Technical Polo tested here is typically refined and uses the same ‘micro-mesh’ fabric as the brand’s favourite Flyweight Jersey, though the cut is looser and the material doesn’t cling to you when it gets sticky. Turn the sleeves up and they reveal neat reflective bands for improved night visibility; the logo’s reflective too. The snap rings pop open to offer a bit of extra venting while riding, though we found the material plenty light and airy in its own right — definitely more of a summer than three-season item for us. Although there’s no Technical Polo in the women’s range, the Merino T-shirt (£60) also features those ‘signal’ cuffs.

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MTB/ADVENTURE PEARL IZUMI Launch £49 pearlizumi.co.uk Sizes: S-XL Colours: dark red, blue After a few years out of the limelight in the UK, Pearl Izumi is back with a trio of new mtb/urban tops (check out the collared Versa jersey for a stylish crossover design), as part of a much-expanded bikewear range. The three-colour chest print is repeated on the rear but, like the Roust below, it’s in the fabric mix where the performance is felt out on the trail. The lower half is a polyester mesh and allows moisture to escape and evoporate quickly; on several long balmy spring rides we stayed cool and dry for the duration, though its lighter weight saw us reaching for a gilet when the sun dropped. Worth noting is that the fit’s more tailored than most ‘off-road’ jerseys and we had to upsize to allow for freer arm/shoulder movement. Women get a choice of either short-sleeved (£39) or three-quarter sleeve (£49).

GIRO Roust £49 zyrofisher.co.uk Sizes: S-XXL Colours: acid wash, black/red, blue distressed, lime distressed, lime fade, vermillion geo Giro will always be best known for its huge range of bike and snowsports helmets, though the brand’s been producing small collections of road and mtb clothing (including shoes and gloves) for several years now.

The loose-fit Roust comes in half-a-dozen graphic/colour combos, but all share the same basic construction: a denser weave polyester on the front panel, with a looser weave on the sleeves and the rear to enhance breathability. In our experience the mix works well and our back was noticeably less clammy when wearing a rucksack. A feature we wish all jersey manufacturers would copy is the lens wipe on the inside seam, a simple and time-saving idea. The women’s Roust comes in short-sleeve or three-quarter sleeve (£55) options.

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ROUTE

STREET ART OF EAST LONDON Tom Bogdanowicz guides us on a tour of a few of the capital’s most famous graffiti hotspots

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riting, or scratching, on walls dates back to ancient times with several examples in the buried Roman city of Pompeii. More recently, graffiti (plural of the Italian graffito) has become a popular art form with former New York street artist Jean Michel Basquiat featured in a major retrospective exhibition at the Barbican Art Gallery — one of his paintings achieving a staggering $110 million at auction in 2017.

Works by Britain’s most famous street artist, the unidentified Banksy, are now often protected by plastic sheeting or removed from walls and sold. In fact one of the larger Banksy ‘pieces’ we hoped to feature has vanished since we last visited.

Of course change is in the nature of street art. Even a very recent, political piece featuring Donald Trump dancing with Theresa May,

by Bambi, was painted over ahead of our deadline. So it’s always worth checking on social media for the very latest local info on a particular artwork before you visit.

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The ancient scratchings on walls have, these days, been replaced by a variety of techniques including the aerosol cans favoured by ‘taggers’ (painting their sometimes very elaborate ‘tags’ on walls); to stencils and airbrushes (as used by Banksy and Bambi); to paste-ups (painted elsewhere and pasted on walls).

Tagging can be competitive with local gangs painting over rival tags.

Perhaps the most famous battle was between Banksy and his arch rival, Robbo, who favoured more conventional pieces. Banksy painted a man pasting wallpaper in the form of graffiti onto a heavily tag-covered Robbo original. Read more about the rivalry here — https://tinyurl.com/ b48fdqe.

As you follow the cycle route you may get to recognise works by the more prolific and distinctive artists: Eine (letters); Sweettoof (teeth); Selor (thin white creatures); Zabou (detailed portraits); Invader (mosaic) and Pegasus (royals and politics).

This route focuses on east London but there’s also much to be seen elsewhere across the capital, notably in Brixton and Camden.

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Islington

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Shoreditch

VIEW THE M A ONLIN P E https:// tinyur

Nomadic Community Gardens

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Brick Lane START

l.com StreetA rtLondo / n

Short sections down one-way streets need to be walked.

Brick Lane [1] Currently a favourite zone with street artists, it’s not unusual to see them at work on ladders (do ask before whipping out your phone for a snap). The zone either side of the railway track just to the east of Brick Lane is virtually covered in paint.

You will find work by many of the currently active street artists (Zabou, Selor, Sweettoof ); Eine has a street (Ebor Street) pretty much to himself just north of Bethnal Green Road.

In the gated market area, between Hanbury Street and Brick Lane, there is a suspended pink car that

once housed a Bansky ghost, and opposite, on the wall at the corner, is one of the tiny mosaic ‘Invaders’ (name of a French street artist) that turn up in strange places.

The bridge across the rail track, beyond the Nomadic Community Gardens, is always changing and worth a visit — but take care if visiting alone, as the area can be desolate.

If you like retro bikes you are right next to two treasure troves: Brick Lane Bikes and Isambard Cycles.

Nomadic Community Gardens [2] Open Tuesday to Sunday and right in the heart of Brick Lane graffiti-land, the Gardens are a relatively new and unusual development, with rows of

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ROUTE

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Fish Island

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Hackney Wick

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Nomadic Community Gardens

FACTFILE

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Brick Lane

START: Liverpool Street FINISH: Hackney Wick DISTANCE: 18km/11 miles TIME: 2-4 hours with stops TERRAIN: mostly quieter back streets and parks; a few busier roads need care Nonetheless it’s still a must-see to visit the classic (protected) Banksys in the Cargo café area in Rivington Street, plus some pieces by Stik (eponymous graffiti) and a mish-mash of old and new (is that Clapton next to the Banksy-style monkey?) in New Inn Street.

Hoardings that go up (eg in Great Eastern Street at time of writing ) are invariably festooned by street artists, so it’s worth exploring the various side streets too.

Shoreditch [3] Once a haven for street artists, much of Shoreditch has been re-decorated in plain colours as more affluent businesses have moved in.

Islington [4] Painting-over and local controls have reduced graffiti in what was its alleged London birthplace (‘Clapton is God’ painted there back in the 70s)

Fish Island [5] Islington’s and Shoreditch’s loss in terms of graffiti volume has been Fish Island’s gain. As much paint is being used on the walls to be demolished, as is then painted (in plain white, of course) on the walls that are erected in their stead. Huge tags, cartoon faces and unusual designs cover every space available.

The Rolling Crew appear to be responsible for a lot of the work along with Sweettoof for whom this is home territory — he’s decorated a few houseboats on commission.

Locals, including a sizeable artists’ colony, have been campaigning to

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retain popular old buildings and keep Fish Island quiet and not traversed by a planned busy road.

It’s worth stopping off for a coffee at the Stour Space café/gallery in Stour Road. Walls along the Hertford Union Canal are repainted almost weekly in the summer.

Hackney Wick [6] Like Fish Island, Hackney Wick has been transformed from a quiet industrial and artist workshop enclave into massive building site.

Graffiti that once covered crumbling walls now daubs hoardings. Street artist Thierry Noir has a fun piece covering the whole of a children’s activity centre in Wallis Road and there is a huge multi-style piece covering the building next to the footbridge nearby.

There are numerous, and ever-changing, pieces along the canal by the Crate pub, which serves good pizza (slowly). If you are hungry the Natura pizzeria in Felstead Road is equally good but faster, and next door is Skinny Eric’s retro bike shop.

The canal marks the border to the QE2 Olympic Park where the only street art is that commissioned by the developers: the hoardings opposite Fish Island illustrate the area before it was re-developed.

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©Crown copyright 2018 Ordnance Survey. Media 060/18

wooden sheds decorated by graffiti, surrounded by odd sculptures and adjoining conventional allotments.

Near the entrance are a distinctive vehicle which serves coffee and a street art-themed children’s play area. Beware of rats though — and not the trademark painted stencils

by Banksy (like the one under the bridge in Tooley Street, SE1). The coffee truck owner says that the Gardens are there for at least a year, so no need to rush.

but there is still a rare on-street Banksy in 166 Essex Road (next to Savemain Pharmacy). Plus several pieces by Pegasus, an American/ north London artist, who likes to illustrate royals — the latest being Meghan Markle on a wall in Digswell Street next to the Holloway Road.

Look above the doorway next to Meghan and you’ll see another Pegasus work showing Kim Jong-un playing with bricks.

The route from Islington to Fish Island follows largely traffic-free roads through De Beauvoir Town — as you ride down ever-popular Broadway Market there is always street art on the corner of Ada Street.

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SUMMER CITY 1

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Whether you’re spending summer in the city or escaping to the lanes, LCC membership has got you covered with great discounts on all manner of cyclingrelated goodies. Here’s our round-up of a few things that might come in handy over the coming months...

5 1 | Frank Green

Enjoying your coffee on-the-go shouldn’t be wasteful, which is exactly what led Frank Green to create its range of SmartCups and SmartBottles. Innovative, stylish and good for the environment, the great thing about these cups (particularly for on-the-go cyclists) is their portability. And a clever one-handed, push button operation opens and closes the SmartCup’s spill-resistant lid, so you can toss it straight into your rucksack without your latte spilling everywhere.

The website also allows you to customise the colours of your cup.

And if that wasn’t enough, LCC members now get 20% off the entire range.

2 | PedalMe

With the weather finally in beer garden degrees, a quick pint after work is always tempting. But we all recognise the ‘just one more’ scenario, right? Well now you don’t

MEMBER BENEFITS

IN THE

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6 need to stress about how to get home, thanks to PedalMe — the fully pedal-powered taxi service operating across the majority of London. Whether you’re catching a lift home from the pub, headed to a meeting, or even moving house, the guys at PedalMe can handle it all.

Fast, fun, competitively priced and environmentally-friendly, you can enjoy your first two rides free as an LCC member.

3 | Green People

While great for your health, cycling day in and day out on the streets of London can have potentially adverse effects on our skin, which is why it’s important to give it regular maintenance just as we would our bikes. Green People offers a range of certified organic skincare, bodycare and make-up products, including a children’s line. Every product is packed with 90% active natural and organic ingredients to protect, nourish, balance and, most

importantly, respect your body.

LCC members can get 15% off any products in the collection.

4 | Howies

Take a break from your Lycra and slip into something a bit more relaxed. Howies, an award-winning clothing company based in west Wales, not only makes crossover ‘bikewear’ but also great day-to-day clobber that’s perfect for active lifestyles ­— including jeans and sweatshirts, shorts and brilliant t-shirts. You also don’t have to compromise your morals (or budget) with these guys, as they make high quality, sustainable gear and take their environmental commitments seriously. And more good news, Howies is giving our members 15% off its products.

5 | Blaze

Even though it’s staying lighter later, a good set of lights is still vital to safe cycling in the city. With a range of

intelligent products, Blaze is making urban cycling smarter, safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

Its Lazerlights and Burners are the perfect pieces of kit to ensure you’re seen on the road and they’re pretty sharp looking to boot. LCC members can now get 10% off any Blaze lights or accessories.

6 | Bloomsbury Publishing

A good book can be a cyclist’s most valued companion during your summer in the city. And leading independent publisher of fiction and non-fiction, Bloomsbury Publishing, will certainly have something to suit your taste; from stunning photography and gripping narratives, to maintenance and bike fit manuals, its books are soughtafter by riders and enthusiasts alike.

Whether you’re soaking up rays outside a café or taking a break on Hampstead Heath, take advantage of 20% off Bloomsbury Publishing titles with your LCC membership.

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MEMBER BENEFITS

ESCAPE LANES TO THE

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3 1 | Wild Things Publishing

Before you escape to the country, you’ll need to know where you’re going (or at least a vague idea of where to start). Get inspired for your next break with Wild Things Publishing. Whether you’re looking for lost lanes with Jack Thurston or interested in learning the art of bikepacking with Laurence McJannet, enjoy 25% off their books with LCC membership.

2 | Finisterre

Contrary to popular belief, Lycra isn’t the only option for those looking to explore the great outdoors on two wheels. Finisterre makes a great range — from merino baselayers to recycled insulated jackets — that are perfect for taking you anywhere from the mountains to the sea. Originally created for watersports fans, Finisterre is now as well known by outdoors lovers with a passion for adventure and sustainability, so we’re chuffed to be

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able to offer our members 15% off any full-priced item.

natural performance nutrition will give you all the support you need, wherever the road takes you.

Brand new to our membership benefits package, LCC members can now try a TRIBE Pack for just £1 — yes £1 — with each containing six 100% natural performance nutrition products custom-built by you, tailored to your training and delivered to your door. Talk about having your cake and eating it!

6 | Cotswold Outdoor

3 | Mack Workshop

Jon is the man behind Mack Workshop, and he makes simple and functional cycling bags and accessories at his home workshop in south-west England. All products are backed by a lifetime warranty which just goes to show how much Jon believes in the things he creates.

Have an idea for a bag that you can’t find anywhere else? Chances are Jon can probably put it together for you, whether it’s a frame-bag, odd-sized bar-bag, or something completely custom. LCC members get 20% off all of these made-toorder masterpieces.

4 | TRIBE

Sure, cake stops are a guiding force of many a cycling adventure. But sometimes you need a bit more down-to-earth fuel for the tank.

Enter TRIBE — its range of 100%

5 | AeroPress

If there’s one thing all cyclists can agree on, it’s coffee. Whether you’re preparing for a day trip out to the Surrey Hills or a five-day camping tour around the Peak District, we think an AeroPress will prove to be your must-have piece of kit.

All you need is ground coffee and hot water and you’ve got all the makings for the perfect brew. LCC members can get 10% off AeroPress products — and while we’re at it, 15% off Perky Blenders beans too.

With a wide range of products for pretty much any kind of adventure, cycling or otherwise, Cotswold Outdoor has got you covered. With brands including GoPro, Garmin, Arc’teryx, Berghaus and more, you’re bound to find exactly what you’re looking for. Plus all stores carry a range of tents, sleeping bags, mats, stoves and other camping essentials.

Knowledgeable staff are eager to share their experience with you, ensuring you make the most of the outdoors (and your budget). LCC members can enjoy a 15% discount online and in stores.

To check out the full range of discounts you get as an LCC member, visit membership.lcc.org.uk.

We go further when we #savetogether.

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OPINION

ASHOK SINHA LCC’s chief executive reflects on the latest local elections campaign and the positives of working with strong partners

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ost of you, dear readers, do not support the London Cycling Campaign (LCC).

Given that the majority of people who receive London Cyclist are members of LCC — thereby paying good money to fund our advocacy — I can almost hear your indignant cries of ‘what rot’!

So let me temper my provocation by saying that, if judged by the number of members who routinely participate in our campaign actions, then not every member gets actively behind us. That’s fair enough: you pays your money and you takes your choice. Happily the enthusiastic actions that are taken by members — alongside the backing that we get from tens of thousands of others who also support LCC — mean we collectively punch above our weight. As a result we have created and won landmark campaigns that have reorientated City Hall and TfL’s thinking about cycling in line with a more Dutch-style approach; ditto a number of London councils. And that certainly would not have been achieved without your membership fees, for which we remain grateful.

So what’s the problem? As Darwin said, it is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.

Well, change is all around us and it’s fast-paced; there’s a lot to manage and it’s increasingly hard.

Inspiring people to action We ran Love London, Go Dutch at the 2012 mayoral election precisely because we recognised that cycling safety was in the media spotlight and calculated that, if we threw everything at it in the right sort of way, we would grab standout public

and political attention. As expected that publicpolitical space has now been colonised by a welter of other NGOs who are filling peoples’ inboxes with exhortations to sign petitions and send tweets on a smorgasbord of topics. On the political front, it has taken longer than I predicted at the time but London’s housing crisis, air pollution and its fast rate of population growth have finally topped the agenda. That means that while cycling is rightly seen as a tool for addressing multiple challenges, it’s no longer a signature, standalone political issue for aspirant mayors.

So LCC needs to rise to Darwin’s dictum. We need to innovate and find new ways to get your attention and inspire you to action. We have to think of new techniques for achieving change.

For example, the mass email campaign isn’t at the end of its shelf life yet, but its consumer appeal has arguably been going down as fast as the threshold at which politicians begin to take notice has been going up.

One of the ways in which we are trying to adapt is through partnerships. As the dust settles on the recent local elections we can take heart that My Liveable London, the local elections campaign that we ran in equal partnership with walking charity Living Streets, resonated so well with

We won pledges from 55% of those elected as council leaders or mayors

politicians (see page 8). I freely confess that at previous elections I have been quite resolute that LCC should stake out its own turf but, for all sorts of reasons that I won’t go into now, it made sense for LCC and Living Streets to tag-team this time around.

Moving forward together The feedback we are getting from newly-elected councillors is that they are very pleased to see LCC and Living Streets working together on the joint walking and cycling agenda which is currently (and rightly) à la mode. Of course the far more important optic is how many of them signed up to the campaign’s main ask: gratifyingly, we won positive pledges from 55% of those elected as Borough Council leaders or mayors.

As ever, the challenge is now to hold those politicians to account, and we’ll need you to help us with this task in the not-too-distant future. But now is the time to simply say thank you to everyone who took action, to our local activists for running hustings, and to Living Streets for being such excellent collaborators.

While we’re on the subject of thank-yous, I’d like to conclude by personally thanking Val Shawcross, who is stepping down from her post as Deputy Mayor for Transport, for all she has done over the years to make cycling a genuinely safer, more attractive choice for everyone (page 6). You have been a good friend to LCC, Val, and we wish you well for the future.

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