Ealing Cycling gets Wheels in Motion...

Of its Cycle into Summer campaign

Derwentwater Primary School kids have got their bikes back on the road thanks to the Ealing Cycling Campaign.

The Acton school event marked the end the first phase of the Cycle into Summer project.

With the help of a Transport for London Community Cycling Fund grant, the Ealing Cycling Campaign (ECC) has purchased tools and spare parts and is visiting schools and youth groups to show people how to perform basic maintenance on their bicycles.

“So far we’ve visited four schools around the borough and looked at nearly 100 bikes," said project co-ordinator David Eales. “Some are in a terrible condition with badly inflated tyres and worn or missing brakes."

The project is continuing into summer with a fun day at the Copley Estate E.A.S.E. Project and a stall at the Brentford Festival on the 2nd September.

“The response has been amazing and we plan to continue the project further with youth clubs before turning our attention to more formal adult drop-in classes later in the year.”

The project coincides with a rise in cycling - up 83 per cent since 2000 and six per cent alone since last year throughout the capital. People see it as a convenient, cheap and environmentally friendly form of transport. Ealing is spoilt for choice on where to take your bike with miles of canals and a wealth of quiet back roads.

“We recently led an organised ride into London for the Tour de France with over 80 riders in early July and we plan a similar event on the 23rd September for the Hovis FreeWheel event where many roads in London will become traffic free," said David.

So drag your bike out of the shed where it’s been rusting all year and get some skills with Ealing Cycling Campaign!

July 24, 2007