Brent Cyclists and cycling in Brent

David Arditticoordinator@brentcyclists.org.uk

Presentation to Brent Sustainability Forum 23 July 2012

Who are we?

The local group of the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) in Brent.

LCC is possibly the largest urban cycling organisation in the world with over 10,000 members

Brent Cyclists represents the ~300 LCC members who live in Brent, but we work for the interests of all who wish to cycle in this part of London

www.brentcyclists.org.uk

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Brent Cyclists’ Activities

• Proposing ideas to the council and TfL; meeting politicians and officers

• Lobbying through the press and online

• Organising meetings and socials

• Organising leisure rides

• Responding to consultations on traffic and roads issues from Brent Council

• Promoting cycling at community events

Showing Jenny Jones AM difficulties at Neasden junction

Meeting Sarah Teather MP at our stall at Gladstonbury Festival

“Scenic Brent” ride last month by the Welsh Harp, with Cllr. Butt

LCC’s “Go Dutch” Campaign

• 40,000 people signed the petition:

• “We want the mayoral candidates to pledge to make London more liveable for everyone by making our streets as safe and inviting for cycling as they are in Holland”

• 10,000 came on The Big Ride on 28 April 2012 to press these demands home

• Boris Johnson and all the other major candidates to be Mayor signed up to “Go Dutch”

The Big Ride before the mayoral elections, in Piccadilly

What are we talking about in Go Dutch?

Simple: conditions in which people of all ages can ride around without fear, like these children leaving school in

Assen, Netherlands

Proportion of children who cycle to school

•Assen: close to 100%

•Dutch average: around 50%

•Brent: 0.3%

Modal share of all journeys by bike

• Assen: 40%

• Dutch average: 30%

• Brent: 1%

In Assen the cycle paths in this new development were laid out before the development was built

It’s all about planning (or not) for the bike

School is still housed in prefabs but bike paths complete

In Brent a new school is built by a big, hostile road (Bridge Road, Wembley), fenced off from it, with no

attempt to create routes the children can use to cycle to school on

What happens in the Netherlands when a route cyclists need to use crosses a major road

What happens in Brent when a route cyclists need to use crosses a major road (North Circular)

Cyclists have to mix with fast traffic in a motorway-style system that is very unsafe for them...or....

...they are directed to an awkward facility shared with pedestrians that is completely inappropriate for cycling

Change is possible with political will

Assen town square in the 1970s: car dominated