It's Time For Ealing To Get Pedalling

Various activities taking place across the borough

A woman who cycled herself to hospital to give birth to her first child is urging everyone to take advantage of National Bike Week and give it a go.

Erika Severini who works in Ealing and has cycled for more than 20 years - got on her bike (literally) when she was in in labour and pedalled herself to hospital.

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.”

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.

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

14th June 2016