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Autumn 2009 London the hub , Sustrans© Bike It: U Can 2

Sustrans has built on its cycling to school project, Bike It, by developing Bike It U Can 2, which is helping parents get involved in cycling.

In a new angle for Sustrans’ Bike It project, cycle training and support has been offered to mums as well as the children at Cubitt Town Primary, one of the Bike It schools in Tower Hamlets.

Sustrans’ Bike It officer, James Scott, whose post is funded by Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust, has been working with 3,000 pupils across the borough this year. He found increasingly that parents wanted to get involved and start cycling again but often did not have the confidence.

James said, “In response to that, myself and Sam Margolis, the Active Travel Officer at Tower Hamlets Council, started a cycle time or after a break, should be a priority. better, the safer it will be. I was never project for mums. In May and June, 16 In London, approximately twice as many interested in cycling, but now I want to do women attended a six week training cycle journeys are made by men than it; I felt I was missing something.” course that has given them the confidence women, and 82% of women never cycle at and skills they need to get cycling again. It all. Women in the capital are missing out The project is also part of a bigger was so successful that two of the mums on the health benefits, convenience and campaign being spearheaded by Sustrans are going on to become cycling fun of cycling. to get more women cycling, which instructors.” includes the website bikebelles.org.uk One of the mums who took part in offering advice and support to encourage Sustrans believes that helping more Sustrans’ Bike It U Can 2, Amina Saadani, women onto their bikes. women take up cycling, either for the first said, “The more people who ride the

Want to see a safer cycling what they believed would most women to travel by bike. If you agree, environment? pursuade them, and other women, sign the petition online at Sign our Motion for Women petition. to cycle more. www.bikebelles.org.uk by 29 November Overwhelmingly women wanted more 2009. We will present the petition to Sustrans has launched the Motion for cycle lanes separated from traffic, so governments in December and ask Women petition to ask local and the petition calls on governments to them to extend the choice of cycling to national government to take action and prioritise the creation of environments millions of women by investing much make real changes so that cycling is that encourage and support cycling, more in making cycling safer. safer for everyone. Last year we including cycle paths separated from surveyed 1,000 women to find out traffic, as a way of enabling many more

What’s inside... Get up to date on the latest route news in your a makeover, what our schools team has been up area as well as reading the latest on Connect2 in to and get out and about on National Route 61. London. Plus, find out how to give your street sus662_London_print2 15/9/09 15:48 Page 4

Welcome Route News to the London regional hub

We were so proud earlier in the year when Sustrans was honoured ahead of some 150 health organisations at the inaugural Chief Medical Officer’s Public Health Awards for its success in helping people to lead more active lives.

This was recognition that when it comes to public health, it’s the simple solutions that work best. Inspire mark awarded to GOAL Some key route developments have been Creating the environment and programme completed since the last issue. Signage on providing the skills and the Wandle Trail, National Route 20, in Sustrans’ GOAL has recently been encouragement for people to walk southwest London, has been replaced. This acknowledged for its contribution to or cycle for more of their regular major project in the boroughs of London’s Olympic legacy by being awarded journeys is the key. Wandsworth, Merton and Sutton not only the London 2012 Inspire mark. Inspire is a way-marks the route, but also signs links to new programme for the Olympic and That’s why it’s great that, with the and from nearby destinations, which is Paralympic Games which recognises a small help of our Supporters and partners, intended to increase usage of the route for number of outstanding projects and events Sustrans’ programmes are now practical as well as recreational trips. which support the Games’ lasting legacy or reaching more Londoners than ever Cultural Olympiad. before. This term, Bike It is in seven Elsewhere on London’s greenways network, additional London boroughs, helping new sections of route have been delivered, GOAL is one of the only environmental thousands of children to get an including three new park routes in the Inspire projects, whilst it also contributes to active start to their day. borough of Barking and Dagenham, and the intention to make 2012 the most an upgraded section of path alongside the inclusive Games ever. The year will also see lots of changes River Crane in the borough of Hounslow. on the ground, with our pilot DIY Further expansion for London’s greenway Streets projects being completed network and key elements of Sustrans’ GOAL vision coming to fruition; new paths As part of our role coordinating the delivery and bridges are being built which of greenways across London, we have been give people routes to the places that hard at work identifying routes in the few they want to go and a chance to be areas of London not already covered by active and healthy at the same time. greenways networks.

Carl Pittam, Regional Director, Two greenways area studies are currently The Crane River route in Hounslow London being undertaken by the Sustrans London team – in southeast and central London – as well as an expansion of the network in What is GOAL? southwest London. This builds on work Greenways for the Olympics And London Editorial previously carried out by Sustrans to scope (GOAL) is Sustrans’ vision for a If you have any comments, queries or suggestions and deliver a comprehensive pan-London coordinated city-wide network of good please email [email protected] greenways network. quality walking and cycling routes. We Design originally put forward the GOAL proposal www.trmvs.co.uk Hundreds of local groups and individuals are in 2005, shortly following the Sustrans, 2 Cathedral Square, Bristol BS1 5DD being consulted on proposed routes which announcement that London had been will link to parks and green spaces, schools, selected to host the 2012 Olympic Information Line: 0845 113 00 65 shops, local amenities and leisure facilities. Games, with the intention of tapping into Online: www.sustrans.org.uk the opportunities and energy that the ISSN 1755-408X The central London area study, which covers Olympics would bring. We still use GOAL the City, Westminster, Kensington and as an umbrella term and guiding © Sustrans September 2009 Registered Charity No. 326550 (England and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, principles for all of our route development Wales) SCO39263 (Scotland) Camden, Islington, Hackney and Tower work in London, which is delivered VAT Registration No. 416740656 Hamlets, includes proposed routes which through a range of programmes and in connect between popular traffic-free paths in partnership with many stakeholders, the central London Royal Parks. partners and funders. sus662_London_print2 15/9/09 15:48 Page 5

News On the ground

approach, please contact either Katherine Rooney on 0117 915 0244 or email [email protected] or Alexandra Allen on 0117 915 0320 or email [email protected]. School news Analysis of Bike It – Sustrans’ groundbreaking cycling to school project Connect2 – shows that it is helping thousands of Makeovers for three London streets – children to get on their bikes in London. Major progress is being made on London’s and maybe yours too? In 2008-09, the programme achieved a Connect2 schemes this year. In August a DIY Streets is a project helping residents doubling in the number of children new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the to redesign their own streets affordably, cycling daily to participating schools. The Regent’s Canal was lifted into place, putting people at their heart, making them number cycling regularly (once or twice a improving healthy travel options for people in safer and more attractive places to live. week or more) increased from 13% of this area of Tower Hamlets. The project aims to replicate the positive pupils to 22%. successes of home zones, creating more The bridge is a key central element of a peaceful spaces where kids can play and It’s because of results like these that Bike Connect2 network that will improve access neighbours can chat, at a lower cost and It is continuing to grow apace in London. to two schools, a new housing development with communities driving the process. We are currently working intensively in and Mile End Park. It will also create a new over 70 schools across 11 London link to National Route 1 and form part of a The three projects in London taking part boroughs. This will see Bike It actively route to the Olympic Park. in the three year DIY Streets pilot (Monsell engaging with over 20,000 pupils, parents Road in Islington, Clapton Terrace and and teachers during the year ahead, The Connect2 scheme in the London Brooke Road and Evering Road junction, whilst our ever expanding and dedicated borough of Havering will see completion of both in Hackney), are all progressing team of Bike It officers continue to the first phase this year. This includes the nicely. Construction started in September support the programme in an additional construction of a new path on Ivy Lane and a and schemes are due to be completed by eight boroughs carried over from the last new crossing of Shepherds Hill, which will Christmas 2009. school year. Read on for some recent greatly improve the connection between the Bike It highlights: Outer London town centres of Upminster After this, celebration and evaluation and Harold Hill. events will be organised in all DIY Streets Wheel stories to celebrate and enjoy the newly traffic Sustrans Bike It officer Owen Powell has Connect2 is Sustrans’ nationwide Big Lottery calmed and more attractive streets and to developed Wheel Stories, a spin-off from Fund-supported route development use them (perhaps for the first time) as a the popular Bling Your Bike day. In the programme, which is transforming local social space. We will be asking residents summer term pupils from four different communities across the UK. People in to get involved in this by carrying out door primary schools were encouraged to Connect2 communities will be able to take to door surveys and helping with the decorate their bikes as though they were pride in places that are benefiting from better organisation of the final events. ridden by a character from a favourite walking and cycling links. Connect2 includes story, and then ride them to school. six schemes in London, which are all due to In addition to this we’ll be holding a be completed by 2013. final UK-wide conference for all our The events saw some great invention and partners (both professionals and creativity, with a bike covered in sweets residents) to review the successes and and sporting a golden ticket to represent challenges in each project, as well as to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a gather final evaluation of their tinsel-covered Rudolph the Red-Nosed involvement in the project. Reindeer bike, and a papier-mache Donald Duck’s head that was almost as As these pilot projects are in their last six big as the year two pupil whose bike it months, the Sustrans DIY Streets team is was attached to. looking towards the future and are presently seeking future partners to roll Obviously this was a lot of fun, but it was out the project on a wide-scale basis, also a very effective way of popularising ensuring this best value approach can cycling. In one school of 205 pupils, help address the many traffic issues Weston Park in Haringey, 25% of the facing local communities across the UK. pupils cycled in for Wheel Stories. The events were popular with parents and If you are interested in finding out more teachers, and cycling themed lessons about the benefits of the DIY Streets added to the fun.

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News

Officer at the London borough of Tower dropped and for alternatives to air travel to Hamlets and NHS Tower Hamlets recently be pursued instead. said, “I am now seeing real evidence of children regularly cycling to school on the We also criticised the priority being given Isle of Dogs - at a recent assembly that I to electric cars in the capital, since more attended, the deputy head asked how electric cars will do little or nothing to many children cycle every day and a host tackle congestion, improve road safety or of hands shot up... our aim of more improve Londoners health or quality of life. children regularly cycling to school in order These crossover benefits are best to boost their health is well on the way to achieved through active travel. being met.” Smoothing traffic flow Bike maintenance training for Bike It One of Mayor Boris Johnson’s priorities for school Bike Against James transport in London is ‘smoothing’ the flow In June, youngsters from five Tower In June, staff and parents from three of traffic. This means improving the Hamlets schools (Arnham Wharf, Seven former Bike It schools were given a day of performance of the road network to create Mills, Cubitt Town, Harbinger and St Lukes) bike maintenance training. This taught more predictable and less stop-start were invited to compete in the summer basic skills in bike fixing and how to journeys. Sustrans has participated in a term Bike Against James challenge. ensure that children’s bikes are set up process of scoping how the Smoothing properly and are roadworthy. Traffic Flow programme should work. Over one week, pupils were encouraged to cycle to school, and at the end the total This was provided as part of the Bike It We made the point that reducing mileage of all these cycle journeys was School Mark scheme, which is a range of congestion and smoothing the movement added up. Local Bike It officer, James measures to sustain levels of cycling and a of people are laudable aims. Indeed, with Scott, then had to cycle the combined cycling culture after a school’s Bike It officer London’s projected population growth over distance of all the winning schools’ journeys has moved on. coming decades, serious policies are in one go! needed to keep people and goods moving Policy Engagement on London’s streets efficiently. Sustrans believes that the most effective (and most There was a great deal of excitement Mayoral Strategies around the event and a real challenge was cost effective) means of increasing set for James, with over 200 miles of We are continuing input into the London’s overall transport capacity is to school cycling trips being generated at development of key Mayoral Strategies in strongly prioritise the modes that are the Arnham Wharf school. This meant that London. The Mayor’s Transport Strategy most efficient use of road space – walking, James had to complete a ride from and the London Plan are currently being cycling and buses. Skegness back to London. He cycled rewritten and through the summer we through the night to be at the school in the advised the Mayor’s office and the London A large proportion of shorter journeys are morning in time for a celebration event. Assembly on how to ensure that the plans still done by car in London; about half of work for London. journeys in the 1 to 2km range are by car, Following the intensive Bike It work in the as are about 10% of journeys under borough, Sam Margolis, Joint Active Travel We praised the Mayor for his stated 0.5km! More of these journeys being done commitments to cycling and walking in on foot or by bike could make a major London, including the development of contribution to smoothing traffic flow. major schemes like the cycling superhighways and central London cycle London Car Free hire. However, we are continuing to push Sustrans is supporting an initiative to for more priority to be given to supporting develop car-free neighbourhoods in new and vulnerable cyclists and improving London. London Car Free is a new local environments. organisation which is asking people to imagine how life would improve if cars For example, we are calling on the Mayor were removed from parts of the city, to set targets for equitable access to where people could live free from traffic cycling to address the fact that roughly and where children could play around their half as many cycle trips are made by homes in fresher cleaner air. women and girls than by men and boys. Successful car free neighbourhoods Sustrans is also critical of some of the already exist in several German cities and Mayor’s emerging policies. We called for London Car Free draws inspiration from the plans for additional airport runway them. To find out more about traffic free capacity in the London area (potentially via developments and to support the idea for a new airport in the Thames Estuary) to be End of term ride for pupils of London, visit: London.carfree.org.uk Ravenstone Primary in Wandsworth

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Out and about Introducing… Events people with Sustrans’ work and help them discover (or rediscover) the joy of cycling on their local traffic-free routes, potentially building their Matt Winfield confidence to start cycling more of their daily journeys. We want to organise more sponsored rides all over the London area but we need volunteers to help us – whether or not you are already a Sustrans volunteer Ranger, if you’re interested in organising your own Fresh Air Miles fundraising ride then please get in touch! Email [email protected] or call 0117 9150135.

New entrance opens new route to The northern entrance of Gillespie Park was Sustrans participated in both of this year’s mass opened to the public in June. As part of participation bike ride events. The Mayor of Islington’s Connect2 scheme this simple As Greenways Manager, Matt London’s Skyride in Hounslow in mid August intervention has made a new, attractive route to oversees our route development attracted some 11,000 people and was and from Finsbury Park Station possible. in London. He leads a team of considered by all to be a huge success. Many three people that are working on thanks to the Rangers that ably manned the Volunteers a wide range of projects to Sustrans stand, particularly Peter Sandwell. As identify and deliver walking and we go to press, we’re also looking forward to cycling routes that are helping attending the central London Skyride on the 20th London become a better place to of September. get around on foot and bike.

Sustrans staff and Matt’s first professional experience volunteers also of sustainable transport was in made our first ever the USA, where he lived for appearance at the several years. He worked for the London Triathlon on League of American Bicyclists, 1-2 August at the campaigning for more cycle ExCel Centre. We facilities in US cities… a were cheering on challenging task if ever there was our competitors in We have recently developed a volunteer project one! the event and they with and the London all did fantastically Borough of Waltham Forest to maintain the route When Matt returned to the UK in well, raising over around Banbury Reservoir, which has links to the 2006, he chose Sustrans as the £2,000 in much Lee Valley Park and National Route 1. best place to continue his career. needed funds for He started as Area Manager for Sustrans as well as Monthly workdays, which started in September, North London, but quickly moved achieving involve litter and vegetation clearing, protecting on to have London-wide impressive times in 120 fruit trees which have recently been planted responsibility. all their races. A Thanks to Gemma and generally making the routes more attractive special thank you Slaven for raising over to get more people using them. If you would like In his time at Sustrans, Matt has £600 for Sustrans at goes to Gemma to get involved, please contact: taken London’s route the London Triathlon Slaven who raised [email protected] development forward significantly. the most money at He has consolidated Sustrans over £600 and won a World Cup Helmet kindly Other volunteer developments include: a position as a key player in London, donated by MaxGear. Well done Gemma! reinvigorated Ranger group on National Route 13 and has a central role in running in east London, a new partnership with British the capital’s greenways Get involved with Fresh Air Miles Waterways London to help look after routes along programme. This summer saw some of the first ever Fresh Air the canals, including opportunities to get involved Matt and his team work closely Miles sponsored rides in London, organised by and assist British Waterways Ranger, Joe Young, with Transport for London, volunteer Rangers. We’d like to thank everyone with towpath patrols and Two Tings campaign London’s local authorities and a who has organised or participated in any of the events, and new opportunities for office host of other key partners, rides so far and a special thank you goes to Dan volunteers, with volunteers now giving invaluable including British Waterways and Rootham who raised over £200 for Sustrans on help with greenways area studies, events, and the the Royal Parks. the Gatwick to Greenwich ride. Fresh Air Miles DIY Streets programme. rides have been a great way to engage more

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Get out there

Uxbridge to

The Route Family friendly ride Distance: 8 miles/13 km Terrain: flat towpath routes with one sharp incline in the Springwell area Getting there: rail/underground stations at Uxbridge, Denham and Rickmansworth Maps: Transport for London (TfL) Cycle Guide 3 – free from TfL / Colne Valley Trail map available from the local cycle group SPOKES - www.spokesgroup.com and also available at the Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre at Denham Country Park and from the canal information centre at Rickmansworth Lock OS maps: Explorer 172, Landranger 176 Tourist information: Uxbridge - 01895 250706

Between Uxbridge and Rickmansworth, places of interest along the way. For From Rickmansworth, you can continue Route 61 passes through the Colne Valley, refreshments, look out for Fran's Tea Room traffic-free on National Routes 61 and 6 to largely following the Grand Union Canal. The at Denham Lock, the Horse and Barge Pub Watford and from there the route is open and route provides excellent views of the River where Moorhall Road meets the Grand Union predominantly traffic-free as far as St Albans, Colne and numerous lakes. In its entirety the Canal and the Coy Carp Pub at Coppermill Hatfield, Welwyn and Hertford, with the Colne Valley Regional Park runs from Staines Lane. The Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre, exception of one gap south west of St to Rickmansworth and provides the first real Rickmansworth Aquadrome, and Ann's Cafe Albans. taste of countryside at the edge of north west and Canal Information Centre at London. Rickmansworth Lock all make great destinations for a car free family day out. Plus Date for your diary Unfortunately, Sustrans signing is not you can explore the nature reserves adjacent Join The Wave to Stop Climate Chaos scheduled to be completed until 2010, so it’s to the route at Springwell and Stocker’s important to take either the TfL or Colne Lakes (although cycling is not allowed in On 5 December, days ahead of the UN’s Valley Trail cycle maps mentioned above. these areas) and watch various watersports climate summit in Copenhagen, Also, look out for the Colne Valley Trail activities on some of the other lakes that the thousands of people from across the UK waymarkers which sign the route quite well route passes by. will flow through the streets of London north of Denham Lock. as part of The Wave. There can be quite heavy traffic where the To get on the right track at the south end of route crosses the canal at Moorhall Road so The Wave will be the UK’s biggest ever the route there is a half mile road section if you’re cycling with children or are not very demonstration in support of action on from Uxbridge Station via the High Street and confident on roads you may prefer to push climate change and will demand that the Oxford Road to the Grand Union Canal along the pavement for this short stretch. UK government quits using dirty coal, towpath. The towpath itself can be reached Also, be particularly careful at bridges and protects the world’s poorest, and acts via the car park of the Swan and Bottle Pub. locks and at sections of path around the fairly and quickly. The Wave is being If you’re cycling, it may be easier to push middle of the route where there are sections organised by Stop Climate Chaos, a your bike the 200 metres or so along the of quite narrow path. coalition including Sustrans and more pavement over the canal bridge after the than 100 organisations and their 11 Sanderson Road traffic lights to avoid is accessible from million supporters, who are working crossing the busy Oxford Road twice. London in only about 20 together for positive action against minutes and the goes to climate change. At eight miles long, the route is perfect for a both Rickmansworth and Uxbridge. Bikes can long walk or a comfortable bike ride. It’s flat, be taken on the Underground free of charge, Find out how you can take part in The comfortable and suitable for children and but only certain sections of lines and outside Wave at: there are plenty of stopping points and peak times. Check tfl.gov.uk for details. www.stopclimatechaos.org/the-wave 6 www.sustrans.org.uk