Free led rides through Ealing’s most beautiful spots this Sunday

Ealing Council is hosting two days of free guided bike rides from Hanwell on Sunday, 25 June and from Northolt on Sunday, 2 July.

Called Ticket to Ride, the events are an opportunity to explore Hanwell, Northolt, Greenford and Southall as part of a group, led by experienced, qualified cycling instructors. Cyclists of all levels are welcome, but the rides are likely to be of particular interest to family groups, nervous riders, or people who want to return to cycling.

Rides set out every hour, on the hour, between 10am and 3pm. On Sunday, 25 June, they will start from Churchfields Recreation Ground near the band stand. And on Sunday 2, July they will set out from the café at Northala Fields.

Each ride is less than 10 miles long and takes between two to three hours to complete. The route will take in canal towpaths and green spaces. Cyclists can choose to ride only part of the route if they prefer.

There will be free ‘Doctor Bike’ maintenance checks throughout the day, as well as free bike security marking. There will also be refreshment breaks along the way.

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, said: “I love cycling and Ticket to Ride is one of my favourite events of the summer. It’s a wonderful way to take a closer look at the greener parts of the borough and to explore some of our beautiful cycling routes.

“It is a fun event for all the family and last year more than 300 cyclists of all ages took part. So if you haven’t been on a bike for a while, or you just fancy a lovely day of cycling with friends and family, come along and join in. We’d love to see you there.”

Residents can register their interest for the event online at www.ealing.gov.uk/cycleride.

Alternatively, just turn up on the day and join in with the next available ride.

More information about cycling in Ealing is available at www.ealing.gov.uk/cycling.

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Further investment for Ealing’s roads and footways

Cllr Bassam Mahfouz takes a closer look at a road in Ealing

Almost £4.3million is to be spent on improving roads and footpaths across the borough, Ealing Council has announced. 

The programme, which was approved by the council’s cabinet this week (25 April), will see the council investing £3.5 million into improving roads and footways across Ealing. Of this, £3million will be invested in roads, with £0.5 million to be spent on footways. 

In addition, Transport for London has contributed £771,000 for the repair of major roads in the borough. 

Each year independent, accredited surveyors walk the entire length of all of the borough’s roads checking them for defects such as potholes, cracking, and other signs of deterioration and damage.  Each road is then given a condition rating on a scale of 1-100 and those with a high rating, which are in the poorest condition, are targeted for resurfacing. 

The council works hard to co-ordinate resurfacing works with other work carried out by utilities companies, but on the rare occasions where there is a clash with major works, resurfacing works will be postponed until the first subsequent opportunity. 

Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport, leisure and environment said: “Resurfacing our roads and pavements continues to be an important priority for this council and for our residents. 

“That is why year after year we continue to invest significantly to ensure that local people benefit, whether they are pedestrians, cyclists or motorists.”

Find out which roads are in line for resurfacing over 2017-18 by clicking on the images below:

List of Roads to be resurfaced in 2017-18 part 1

List of Roads to be resurfaced in 2017-18 part 2

List of roads to be resurfaced in 2017-18 part 3

and pavements:

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Ealing Council gears up for Cycle to Work Day

Ealing Council is backing national Cycle to Work Day on Wednesday, 14 September and is encouraging local residents, businesses and employers to get involved at www.cycletoworkday.org.

The council has pledged to support the event by encouraging its staff to sign up and use two wheels to get to work that day.

Cycle to Work Day is open to everyone and those that pledge to take part will be automatically entered into a competition to win amazing prizes such as a Boardman Hybrid Pro bike worth £999, a Refuge jacket from Showers Pass worth £220 and lots more. People who pledge will also be able to claim a free bike MOT at a local retailer. Pledges can be made at www.cycletoworkday.org.

Cyclists who share photos of themselves cycling to work on 14 September with the Cycle to Work team will be entered into a separate prize draw to win a Verenti Substance Sora bike worth £550. All they have to do to enter is Tweet their photo using #cycletoworkday and tag @cycletoworkday, or share it on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cycletoworkday or email it to info@cycletoworkday.org.

Ealing is a bike-friendly borough and offers its residents a number of ways to get cycling. People that live, work or study in Ealing can improve their skills and build their confidence by signing up for free cycle training. In addition, free Dr Bike maintenance sessions are available across the borough on a ‘turn-up’ basis.

Residents can also buy discounted bike locks and wall brackets as well as hire cargo bikes for free. The council is also investing millions of pounds in improving cycle routes and cycle parking to make it safer and more convenient to travel by bike.

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, said: “I am delighted to support Cycle to Work Day and I will be making my pledge and travelling by bike on the 14 September. Cycling is a convenient, free, healthy and environmentally-friendly way to get around and in Ealing we are doing everything we can to encourage people to swap four wheels for two by offering free training, social bikes rides, improved cycle parking and bike routes, as well as help with maintenance.

“The average speeds on London roads are getting slower all the time and I’d encourage everyone who is fed up with sitting in a queue of traffic every day to make a pledge and give cycling a go next week.”

To find out more about all of the discounts and benefits available to cyclists in Ealing, and to read more about how the council is making it safer and more convenient to travel by bike, go to www.ealing.gov.uk/cycling.

Ealing Council also has a special programme called Ealing Women on Wheels to encourage more women to take up cycling. Go to www.ealing.gov.uk/wow for more information.

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Acton becomes a 20mph zone

Following a public consultation carried out last year, Ealing Council is today rolling out a trial 20mph speed zone across Acton.

The trial in Acton starts today (Monday, 5 September 2016) and will run for approximately a year. If successful, then a further public consultation will be carried out to extend the new 20mph zone across the borough, enabling the council to build upon its strong track record of improving road safety and creating a better environment across the borough.

On average, 200 people are injured in collisions in the Acton area each year. With the  implementation of the new 20mph speed limit, the council estimates that at least 14 incidents could be prevented each year.

The proposed 20mph trial applies only to the Acton area east of the A406 Hanger Lane/Gunnersbury Avenue and will encompass the following wards:

• Southfield

• South Acton

• Acton Central

• East Acton

• Ealing Common (part)

The 20mph speed limit won’t apply on Transport for London red route roads such as the A40 Western Avenue and A406 Hanger Lane/North Circular Road.

This new speed limit is being introduced in co-ordination with a similar scheme being implemented by Hammersmith and Fulham Council.  The benefits of this scheme include making roads easier to cross and less noise from road traffic.

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, said: “I’m proud that we have a strong track record of road safety across the borough.  We want our roads to be among the safest in London and already have 20mph zones or limits on more than a third of the roads in Ealing. Expanding the scheme and reducing speeds across the borough will bring many benefits.  Our streets will not only become safer, but it will also improve the local environment.”

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Ealing gears up for National Bike Week

Ealing Council will be celebrating National Bike Week by encouraging residents and its staff to cycle more.

During Bike Week from Saturday, 11 to Sunday, 19 June, the council will be offering free cycle maintenance checks with Dr Bike, holding guided social bike rides and reminding people about the free cycle training provided by the council.

Dr Bike cycle checks will be held at various locations from 4-7pm:
• 13 June at Greenford Town Centre on the corner of Oldfield Lane and Ruislip Road.
• 14 June at Melbourne Avenue, West Ealing,
• Wednesday 15 June at Hanwell Clock Tower,
• Thursday 16 June at Acton Market, outside Morrisons,
• Friday 17 June at Southall Square, outside Lidl
• Sunday June 19 at Haven Green, by the cycle hub from 2-5pm.

Our monthly Dr Bike outside the library at West Ealing will take place as normal from 2-5pm on Saturday, 18 June.

On Wednesday, 15 June Ealing Cycling Campaign will lead cyclists on its Sunset Ride to Richmond Hill. They will take a quiet route on back streets and will stop outside the Roebuck pub in Richmond. To join the ride, meet in front of the Town Hall at 7pm.

Council staff are encouraged to cycle to work and there is an interest free cycle loan scheme for employees. Folding bikes are also available to borrow by staff who need to travel on business. During Bike Week there will be guided cycle rides for staff in their lunch breaks.

Ealing has also launched a campaign to encourage more women to cycle as part of its new Women on Wheels campaign or Ealing WOW as it is also known.
Activities over the summer will include women-only cycle rides, cycle maintenance classes and cycle training. The campaign features women who live and work in the borough who love to cycle.

Among them is Erika Severini who works in Ealing who has cycled for more than 20 years and even rode her bike to hospital to have her first baby. Now a mother of two, Erika and her husband take the children on family cycle rides. She said: “The perception around cycling is that it’s unsafe especially for children to be on the roads and this is stopping families from getting out and about on their bikes. However with all the support available including, free cycle training sessions including ones specifically for families, social rides, it makes it much easier. Give it a try.”

On Sunday, 26 June Ealing will be holding its annual Ticket to Ride event from 10am to 3pm. This will be a series of two-hour guided bike rides led at a leisurely pace by cycle marshals along towpaths and quieter streets through Greenford, Hanwell and Southall. Families, groups and nervous cyclists are particularly welcome. Rides are less than 10 miles and set off from either Northala Fields or the bandstand in Churchfield Recreation Ground every hour, on the hour, sign up for a ride at www.ealing.gov.uk/cycleride or just turn up on the day.

Cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, Councillor Bassam Mahfouz said: “I cycle to work most days and as a council we are committed to supporting more people to cycle. That’s why we are taking part in Bike Week but we have activities and training throughout the year so I would encourage people to look at our website to find out more.

“I would also like to thank our Ealing Women on Wheels role models who are sharing their experiences of cycling to encourage other women get on their bikes. We know that a lot of women are reluctant to cycle because they worry about safety or feel they don’t have the time. That’s why we are reminding everyone about our free cycle training whether a woman wants to feel more confident commuting or wants to cycle more for pleasure.”

For more information on cycle training and Dr Bike checks, please visit www.ealing.gov.uk/cycling and www.ealing.gov.uk/wow

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All aboard the Bike Bus

Children in Northfields have been showing off cycling skills and joined in with a ‘bike bus’ to get them to school.

A bike bus is when lead cyclists pick up children along the way and the group cycles together.

Ealing Council’s cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, joined 17 pupils from Fielding Primary School bus last week.

He said: “Bike buses are a brilliant way for children and adults to cycle safely to school while having fun, getting exercise and improving their confidence on the road. We are very keen to encourage families to avoid driving to school where possible and instead cycle, walk or scoot.”

As well as organising the bike bus, the council’s school travel team arranged for 36 pupils at Fielding to complete levels one and two of ‘Bikeability’ cycle training. The cycle tuition, delivered by Cycle Training UK instructors covers safe, responsible on-road cycling and basic bike checks.

Other schools with bike buses include Hambrough and Three Bridges Primary Schools in Southall, Christ the Saviour and Drayton Green Primary Schools in Ealing.

For more information on cycle training visit www.ealing.gov.uk/cycling
If you would like to find out more about arranging cycling tuition or a bike bus at your school please email: travelgreen@ealing.gov.uk

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Looking for a safe way to secure your bike ?

Do you own bikes which would benefit from a secure, dry and tidy place to be stored outside? Ealing Council has secured funding to subsidise a small number of home ‘bike bunkers’ for Ealing residents which can comfortably hold two adult bikes and one folding or child’s bike.

The bunker needs to be sited to the rear or to the side of your property and would be bolted to the floor. It measures approximately 2m by 0.9m (6ft x3ft) and is painted in a garden friendly colour.

All you have to pay is £120 inclusive of VAT and then our supplier will arrange with you a suitable date for installation.

In order to be considered for a bike bunker, please complete and submit your application using the following link https://www.research.net/r/HPGB89Z by the 22 May 2016.

We will be in touch if you have been successful to arrange an initial site visit to make sure it will be possible to install at your property 

For more information, please contact:travelgreen@ealing.gov.uk.

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