Cyclists can find out what may be wrong with their bikes and how to fix them.  Advice will be offered on a range of issues such as adjusting brake and gears, finding the correct riding position on the bike, the best way to pump up tyres, through to diagnosing serious mechanical problems.  Cyclists who discover more complex mechanical problems will be directed to local bike shops.

Cyclists can also sign up to on-road cycle training to build up their confidence (£5 to book the course, concessions available), get general advice on cycling in Ealing from cycle trainers with local knowledge and benefit from maintenance skills training at one of the one-day maintenance classes run by the council’s bicycle support team.

Dr Bike sessions are held from 2 to 5pm at:

Hanwell – Hanwell Clock Tower (Station Rd/Cherington Rd) on the first Saturday of every month.

Acton – Acton Market (outside Morrisons on pedestrianised area), The Mount/King St Acton W3 9NW on the second Saturday of every month.

West Ealing – Melbourne Avenue  (next to West Ealing Library) on the third Saturday of every month.

Southall – Southall Park (next to tennis courts nr Boyd Avenue entrance) on the fourth Saturday of every month.

Greenford Town Centre  (Corner of Oldfield Lane and Ruislip Rd) on the last Saturday of the month.

Haven Green, Ealing, 4-7 pm at Haven Green on the last Thursday of the month.

Keep checking on www.ealing.gov.uk/cycling for more information, including extra Dr. Bikes during National Bike Week 16-23 June.

Cllr Julian Bell, Leader of the Council

As an administration we do not find the current situation acceptable.  Ahead of implementation of the new contract I made it clear and unequivocal to our new contractors that the expectation of both ourselves and our residents is that there should be “service as usual”.

The council is holding daily meetings with Enterprise to ensure that these teething problems are ironed out and in the meantime all rubbish and recycling must be collected.

We now have 16 extra crews to seek to ensure this happens, working into the evenings on collections and street cleaning.  The teams will also be working Friday and Saturday to get back to speed with the job at hand.  We have also placed additional staff onto the phones to ensure we have accurate information for the streets that have not had the level of service expected.  All recyclables collected are also being sorted to ensure that they are recycled.

I appreciate the time and effort each individual has made to inform us of which streets have not had refuse and recycling collected.  We are grateful for the patience and understanding that you have shown during these initial days.  I have cycled around many parts of the borough to check roads and officers have been out to monitor the situation too.  Whilst many areas have had their rubbish and recycling collected, I appreciate the frustration that anyone who has not had their items collected will feel.  It is the not knowing when it will be collected that is perhaps most frustrating and we are working hard with Enterprise to ensure that this is put right as quickly as possible.

I have made it clear to our new contractors that one of this council’s top priorities is to Make Ealing Cleaner.  This is in the context of record breaking scores for street cleanliness showing 2011-12 as the best on record for clean streets in Ealing.  I am fully aware that it is no good having a record if this is not maintained and indeed improved upon and it is therefore an absolute priority that this contract is successful.

Please do continue to call on 020 8825 6000 or let us know online via http://www.ealing.gov.uk/recycling of any missed collections so that we can seek to ensure this is rectified as soon as possible.

Cllr Bassam Mahfouz Labour’s Cabinet member for Transport and Environment, who was there to pick up the award with the team welcomed the news saying,

“This award shows the fantastic improvement in transport we have seen over the last two years.  We have been pushing at the boundaries of what is possible, focussing on road safety at accident hotspots, tackling traffic pinch points, pushing for step-free access at our stations and along bus routes as well as plenty of improvements for cycling, including our very first Cycle Hub on course to be delivered in the next couple of months. Over the last two years we have won three transport awards and to win best borough shows how committed we are to getting Ealing moving. I am really proud of the team this award reflects their hard work and commitment and I thank them for all they have done.”

Sessions are suitable for all levels and ages up to 16 years old. Fully qualified staff are on hand to supervise and run all activities.

Take a look at the programme of activities on offer

Participating centres can be found across the borough. You can find a full list and contact details here. Get in touch for more information and to book your child a place. Places are limited and allocated on a first come first served basis.

A fun Easter is just around the corner!

Cllr Bassam Mahfouz said, “The condition of Yeading Lane has been a long-standing issue of concern for local residents, almost all of whom use this road.  It’s great to see the many improvements along the shopping parade but the icing on the cake will be the resurfacing of the main road itself, which will be welcomed by everyone in this part of Northolt.”

Yeading Lane was also recently reduced to 30mph and currently has signs designed by a local pupil to encourage drivers to slow down.  This means that all of the council’s controlled roads in the boroughs are 30 or below.

Pupils from St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, Perivale supporting the zig-zag road safety campaign with Councillor Bassam Mahfouz

The council will be taking enforcement action against people parked in the zig-zag area at 17 schools from 20 February.

The yellow zig-zag road markings provide a clear space for children to cross where they can see traffic and traffic can see them when going to and from school.

Banners will be displayed outside schools and leaflets given to parents and carers to remind them that it is illegal and dangerous to block the ‘school keep clear’ area marked with zig-zag lines.

As part of the campaign the council’s civil enforcement officers will patrol the 17 schools and issue fixed penalty charge notices of £110 (reduced to £55 if paid within 14 days from issue) to anyone parking on the zig-zag lines.  Local police safer neighbourhood teams will also visit the schools to move on vehicles blocking the area.

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for Transport and Environment said: “Parking on zig-zag lines outside schools puts children in danger by reducing their view of the road and forces them to cross between parked cars. It also makes it harder for drivers to see them.

“Inconsiderate and dangerous parking near schools is one of the biggest complaints I get in my mailbag from parents and neighbours. This campaign is about reminding parents why they shouldn’t park dangerously outside schools. Keeping children safe on the road is our priority and if parents continue to ignore those warnings then we won’t hesitate to issue penalty charge notices.”

Schools taking part are as follows:

The zig-zag campaign will be at the following schools from Monday, 20
February to Friday, 2 March
1 St Augustine’s Priory, Ealing
2 Perivale Primary
3 North Ealing Primary
4 St Saviours Primary, Ealing
5 St Josephs Primary, Hanwell
6 St John Fisher Primary, Perivale
7 Little Ealing Primary, Ealing
8 Petts Hill Primary, Northolt

The campaign then moves to the following schools from 12-23 March
1 Hambrough Primary, Southall
2 Dormers Wells Infant School, Southall
3 Featherstone Primary, Southall
4 Dormers Wells Junior School, Southall
5 North Primary School, Southall
6 Wolf Fields Primary, Southall
7 Mayfield Primary, Hanwell
8 St Raphael’s Catholic Primary, Northolt
9 Downe Manor Primary School, Northolt

Seven schools have already taken part in the first phase of the
campaign in January
1 Southfield Primary School, Bedford Park
2 West Acton Primary School
3 Berrymede Infant & Nursery, Acton
4 Derwentwater Primary School, Acton
5 East Acton Primary
6 St Vincent’s Catholic Primary, Acton
7 Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls, Acton

Current bike stands at Haven Green, Ealing Broadway are set to be replaced with a new Bike Hub including Ealing's very own bike hire scheme

The new cycle stand will be covered by CCTV and will increase the existing amount of cycle parking places available to approximately 130. It will also include a separate folding cycle hire facility.

Construction of the hub at Haven Green will begin on Monday 20 February and is due to be completed in May.

The creation of the cycle hub is part of Ealing Council’s Cycling Strategy which aims to encourage more people to take to two wheels as their regular mode of transport. Ealing Council has secured £286,500 Transport for London (TfL) funding towards delivering the hub.

Temporary cycle stands will be available at Haven Green during construction work. As one of TfL’s “Biking Boroughs”, Ealing Council is focused on creating a local culture of cycling.

North Acton and Greenford stations have also been identified as potential locations for other bicycle stands in future.  The cycling strategy includes other investment by the council such as:
*       Building on existing award-winning cycle training schemes and continuing to provide advice to new or existing cyclists
*       Continuing highway engineering schemes to remove barriers which inconvenience or endanger cyclists
*       Extending off-road routes.

Work will also begin this week on building a new taxi shelter at Haven Green. It will have improved rest and toilet facilities for drivers but the stand will have a traditional design.

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for Transport and Environment, said: “Cycling is a healthy, quick and affordable way to
travel, and we are committed to supporting people who want to take it up in Ealing. Residents have told us that they would be more likely to cycle if they had somewhere secure to leave their bike at Ealing Broadway. The cycle stand will give more cyclists that reassurance, whether they’re in the area shopping or commuting into central London.

“We’re also very excited to have a cycle hire scheme which will encourage more people to discover the pleasures of cycling.”