Cycling in Hackney News
December 1998/January 1999

Contents

The leisure principle

Resist compulsory helmet law

Bike boom - more of us, doing more?

Report that pothole - dial 999

Welcome to the programme - two new members take up volunteer jobs

Tattie time again - Burns Night fundraiser's fabulous fourth year

No more heroes any more? - future of our workshop in doubt

The leisure principle

SALSA - a hot sauce, and an even hotter idea. Turn to the news pages of this month's London Cyclist, and you can read all about Sustainable Access to Leisure Sites and Amenities, Ealing's innovative project to encourage access by foot and cycle.

In Hackney we have much the same problems and challenges around the issue of access to leisure, but to date no strategy to address them. Our leisure centres generate hundreds of thousands of miles of damaging car journeys each year, yet a significant number of people rarely get to use these important facilities because of poor access by the other, more benign, travel modes.

An exercise in joined-up thinking

"The case for sustainable access is strong, but it's up to us to explain it," says Douglas. "Driving to take exercise seems to me to symbolise all that is wrong with transport in this country. The Council's recent record in this area is poor-they have closed libraries so people now have to travel further, and they are still building car parks at new leisure facilities."

Mindful of the need to use the latest political jargon, Douglas asked L&L Director Kevin Hopton what he was doing to ensure that we would see some 'joined-up thinking' on access and travel. Mr Hopton gave a fairly standard motor-apologist defence, but he also challenged us to list ten actions points that he could go to work on in his directorate.

LCC: dix points

Resist compulsory helmet law

Compulsion for people to wear protective headgear while cycling has come one step nearer with an Early Day Motion which is presently going the rounds of MPs in parliament. The motion, thankfully signed by only a relatively small number of MPs so far, calls for helmet-wearing to become compulsory for cyclists up to the age of 16. Ken Livingstone is amongst those who have signed, showing a regrettable misunderstanding of the issues.

The motion has no chance of becoming law at the moment, but it indicates the growing strength of the anti-choice lobby, and is symptomatic of a culture which penalises the more vulnerable road user instead of tackling road danger at source.

The debate about the effectiveness of helmets will go on for many years, but cycling organisations such as the LCC are all agreed that what you wear to ride a bike is a matter of personal choice, and that compulsion must be resisted. (Some jest that MPs should instead consider legislating for all steering wheels to be fitted with a spike). Apart from any other arguments, the evidence from the Australian experience is that compulsory helmet laws massively reduce cyclist numbers while not improving the safety record.

We must make sure that our MPs understand the strength of feeling about this issue and don't sign. Tell Diane Abbot and Brian Sedgemore what you think about compulsion.

Point out that making helmets compulsory will not make a serious difference. It will not stop cars and lorries running over cyclists. We should say that if politicians want to be serious about road safety they will simply have to make roads safer. Making crash helmets compulsory is a safety measure, but it is one of the least effective safety measures. Other countries have casualty rates 90% lower than ours, without having many helmet wearers.

Bike boom - more of us, doing more?

Our numbers are growing. Total LCC membership as of 13th November is 8748, and we're proud to announce that Hackney is now the second biggest borough group, with 643 members. Not that we're competitive or anything.

So what does this mass of people achieve? We do get a lot done, and we act as an important local voice for sustainable travel. But there's plenty more important work that we haven't been able to touch yet, for sheer lack of people power. Although a mass membership is essential to give the campaign financial stability and political credibility, things only happen when people like you give up some of your time to make it so.

When you next see something that bugs you, don't leave it up to someone else to sort out, because the chances are they never will. Take a deep breath, smile and dial, talk to someone, write a letter, do what it takes...but do it! Even if all you can spare is 20 minutes a year, that 20 minutes could really make the difference.

It's not all 'sacrifice' either. The benefits of getting more actively involved in a community organisation like ours can include personal and career development, meeting new people, understanding local politics and acquiring new skills. Maybe you'll get out more than you put in.

Report that pothole-dial 999

Your mild-mannered editor nearly blew a gasket today. He just found out that a cyclist had come off due to a rough patch of road surface that he'd reported to Hackney Council's Highway Defects line (0800 435844) two weeks before.

Calling up again to see why it hadn't been sorted out, it turned out that the hazardous defect was actually just over the borough boundary in Islington's jurisdiction.

So, a call to the Islington equivalent was in order (0171 477 2674). The Islington operator was unhelpful and unfriendly, and delivered the coup de grāce by saying that they had just heard about the defect because a cyclist had had an 'accident' there earlier that day.

This is 1998. I'm not pointing the finger, but in the midst of an unfolding technological revolution, bureaucrats in offices two miles apart can't manage to share a simple but potentially life-saving item of information.

What's going on?

Welcome to the programme - two new members take up volunteer jobs

Hackney LCC goes from strength to strength with the recruitment of two new volunteers to fill the roles of treasurer and leisure rides co-ordinator.

After a period of induction Clare Groom will be taking over from Matt Harrison as borough treasurer. Thanks to Matt for all his hard work for the campaign over the last few years, and thanks and a warm welcome to Clare.

New member Cliff Gully is keen to arrange a programme of 'doorstep tourism' rides. Give him a call on 0171-249 6323 and help plan a ride around this fascinating city.

Tattie time again

The fourth edition of our ever-popular Burns Night party is planned for the 23rd January, promising to brighten up the dark winter's night with live music, Scottish country dancing, and an appreciation of the life and works of Rabbie Burns.

The Burns Night is now established as an important source of extra funds for Hackney LCC, effectively doubling our budget.

The damage is around a tenner in advance, which includes traditional Hackney supper of haggis, neeps, tatties and whisky. Call Douglas Carnall (0171-241 1255) or email him to put your name down for tickets. It's sure to be a notorious riot yet again.

No more heroes any more?

The future of our self-help cycle maintenance workshop is in doubt. Martin, who has run it for donkeys years and generally been a brick, wants to jack it in so he can concentrate on his morris dancing (I kid you not!).

Fair enough Martin. We can't thank you enough for all your hard work over the years. The trouble is, if we can't find somebody else with some mechanical know-how and a lot of enthusiasm to take over the running of the workshop one evening a week, then we'll simply have to sell the tools and give it up.

People definitely need this service. Perhaps it won't always be provided in this form, but can we stand the wait until all these planned cycle centres start springing up?