Author: Gus MacDonald

Events, News

Sun 12 March: Join Haringey feeder to Kidical Mass

Gus MacDonald
Register here for the feeder ride

We are planning a marshalled feeder ride from Haringey Sun 12 March at 9:30am from Finsbury Park cafe (by the lake) and then ride to join the main Kidical Mass at 11am at Granary Square.

We will also arrange a meeting point for those who would like to join a marshalled ride back to Haringey from Blackfriars after the mass ride.

Please note that the feeder rides from Haringey and back are suitable for more confident riders, able to ride a total distance of around 15 miles.  Register here to join the feeder ride.

For families with younger children, there is the option of joining the main Kidical Mass ride at Granary Square by taking the train to Kings Cross and afterwards from Blackfriars.

Register here for the feeder ride
Register here for the feeder ride
Events

Bounds Green + Bowes Community Bike Ride report

Gus MacDonald

On the Tuesday after Christmas eighty plus people, young and not so young, responded to an invitation to “work off the Christmas pud” by taking part in a community bike ride around traffic calmed streets in Bounds Green and Bowes.

The quiet streets in the Bowes and Bounds Green LTNs make it safe for kids to take to their bikes.

    The festive bike ride criss-crossed the boundary between Haringey and Enfield, two boroughs that have been taking measures to encourage their residents to adopt healthier ways of getting around – walking and cycling – by preventing cars, vans and lorries from cutting through residential side streets.

    A vision of safe, healthy and people friendly streets

    The community groups that organised the ride also straddle the borough boundary: Haringey Cycling Campaign and its sister organisation Enfield Cycling Campaign were joined by the Haringey branch of Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, and by Better Streets for Enfield, whose vision is for the borough’s streets to be safe, healthy and people-friendly.

    The ride was also a great success for two local bike-friendly businesses. The Prince in Trinity Road opened early for pre-ride coffees and post-ride lunch, and Hot Milk Café, near Bounds Green station, opened specially for the half-way break – both did a roaring trade.

    Diversity

    Adrian Day, co-ordinator of the two Enfield groups, was struck by the diversity of the people who turned out for the ride:

    “There was a good mix of ages, including many young people and a couple of people in their seventies, and we had Turkish-speakers from Edmonton-based Londra Bisiklet Kulübü, members of women’s bike group JoyRiders, and a cute dachsund. We had a good reception too from people along the route, who smiled and waved as we rode past.”

    “I can see why you like cycling now!”

    Film-maker Carla Francome’s young son thoroughly enjoyed his first group ride (on a balance bike):

    “It was so nice being part of a big gang, I felt like people cared about me. And it was fun. I see why you like cycling now.”

    Community bike ride film from Carla Francome on Vimeo.

    Thanks to Basil Clarke from the Palmers Green Community webpage for the ride report.

    Bounds Green LTN man and child on cargo bike
    Consultations

    Have your say on the Bounds Green low traffic neighbourhood trial

    Gus MacDonald

    Help shape the future of the Bounds Green low traffic neighbourhood area by completing Haringey Council’s survey and by adding your feedback to the consultation’s interactive map which closes on Tuesday 31st January 2023.

    Haringey Cycling Campaign has provided feedback supporting the proposed LTN measures and school streets with key points listed below and would encourage local residents and cyclists to do the same:

    1) Myddleton Rd should be made 2-way for cycles to facilitate access to the local shops and the station

    2) The one-way streets at the North of area B (LB Enfield) should all revert to 2-way. If keeping them one way is essential to avoid a mini rat run, cycle contra-flow should be permitted. (n.b. The LTN “exit” arrow is pointing the wrong way at Melbourne Avenue). Cycles should be exempted from the existing right turn ban in to Kelvin Avenue.

    3) TfL should change the lane designations at the Bounds Green Rd junction to the A406. The two left turn traffic lanes on the N bound approach are extremely dangerous, as cycles have to cross two lanes of traffic to go straight ahead. Many drivers in fact use the second lane to go ahead, so on a bike you risk being overtaken by fast moving traffic on both sides. The Toucan crossings do not have cycle entries to shared use pavement and
    do not work.

    4) There should be protected cycle lanes on Bounds Green Rd, with priority maintained at all junctions.

    5) HCC would support a bus gate on Brownlow Rd (LB Enfield).

    6) There should be a protected cycle route on Durnsford Rd, at least from the Library up to Bounds Green Station, possibly a 2-way track to replace parking on the N side of the road.

    Haringey Cycling Campaign’s submission on the consultation