Raleigh Mustang e-Comp review

Mark continues our sporadic 'Best Loved Kit' series with a review of the Raleigh Mustang e-Comp. 

For some time, I had been considering going over to the “Dark Side,”....ie getting an e-bike. Much as I love cycling, I tend only to ride on flat routes, as climbing just makes me depressed about how unfit/weak I am. Way back in 2008, I had a cerebellar stroke, although I recovered, it knocked the stuffing out of me. My once powerful leg muscles are now soft and jelly like, the guy who used to ride 44x17 fixed on club rides, and push new riders up steep hills has long gone....going out on a beginners group ride a couple of years ago, I watched guys 10 years older than me, and beginner ladies pedal merrily away uphill chatting to each other, as I coughed wheezed and searched for my lowest crawler gear. 

Support Richard's fundraising for cycle parking at St Raphael's hospice

Long-standing MCC member Richard is fundraising to install high quality, covered and secure cycle parking for staff and visitors at St Raphael's Hospice in Sutton (SW London), following the death of his dear cycle campaign friend Ceri Davies recently died there. At his final visit they together lamented that there was nowhere for him to his bike!

Ceri’s RideLondon Team offer - £20 entry fee; raise £400 for a local hospice

MCC activist, former newsletter editor and author Ceridwen Davies, recently died of cancer, aged just 63, at St Raphael’s Hospice in Sutton.  She was one of our longest serving members, a regular attendee at MCC meetings since the early 90’s where her energetic sense of fun infected us all. 

Response to LB Merton’s LIP3 Consultation

Merton Council have been consulting on their Third Local Implementation Plan (LIP3). It is a statutory requirement for all London boroughs to develop a document setting out how it is going to deliver the Mayor's Transport Strategy, its priorities and objectives at a local level.

LIP3 is the Council's main transport strategy and sits alongside the Council's Local Plan and other future strategies. It should set out the borough transport objectives; a short and longer term delivery plan and a series of targets set by Transport for London that we are working towards achieving

In March 2018 the Mayor of London released his vision for the future of transport in the Capital called the Mayor's Transport Strategy. It sets out three priority areas for delivery; these are:-

• Healthy streets and healthy people
• A good public transport experience
• New homes and jobs

It also set an ambitious target for 80% of all trips in London to be made on foot, by cycle or/and using public transport by 2041.

Spring Equinox ride report

Sunday 24th March saw a small but hardy crew set out for our Spring Equinox ride around the Surrey hills, a more ambitious and longer route than we'd normally attempt. 

Thanks to Jim for the route planning, and Chris, Mark and Dominic for the report-back; possibly the most literary contribution we've had ever! 

MCC's response to Melrose Ave Consultation

Merton Council consulting on changes to the existing cycle lane layout on Melrose Avenue. We welcome this review of the Melrose Avenue contra-flow and we would welcome improvements to this cycling route, about which we have had concerns since 2004, but the current proposals will make things even worse for cyclists and that is not acceptable.

We believe the current proposals reduce the quality of cycling provision rather than improve it, prioritise car use over safe cycling provision, and do not address the issue of rat-running on the roads. We believe that a high-quality proposal that promotes safe cycling can be brought forward.

You can read our full submission here, or a summary below.

Melrose Avenue - Wimbledon Park Review of existing contra-flow cycle lane

Merton Council are proposing to change the existing cycle lane layout on Melrose Avenue. They are proposing:

• to remove the existing cycle lane except for the section of the cycle lane from Arthur Road for a distance of 27 metres. 
• With the removal of some of the physical features, the residents will be gaining additional parking spaces. It is important to note that although the cycle lane is being removed the actual cycle contra flow will be maintained on Melrose Avenue and the appropriate signage and road markings will be installed to inform motorists. 
• The Council is also proposing to introduce a speed table near its junction with Melrose Avenue/Ryfold Road. This will include a buildout to accommodate a ‘No Entry” sign and a tree. A further buildout is also proposed adjacent to 151/153 Arthur Road although this will have no impact on parking. The introduction of the speed table, the additional parking bays and the changes to the contra-flow cycle lane require a statutory consultation. 

You can read Merton's proposals and view a plan of the changes by reading the newsletter distributed to residents. Or you can review hard copies at the Merton Civic Centre or Wimbledon Library.

The consultation is open until 22nd March 2019, and can be submitted by emailing Traffic.AndHighways@merton.gov.uk quoting reference Melrose Avenue Cycle Lane.

MCC are considering the proposals and will submit a consultation response.