CTUK News - November 2004

Havana Bike Ride

Date: 29th October 2004
Press contact: Andrea Lake
Tel: 020 7926 2739
Email: alake@lambeth.gov.uk

Press Release - Havana bike ride

Lambeth's One-To-One Cycling Confidence training scheme changed my life and I am using my newly learned skills to change the life of others. This is the experience of Lavinia Osbourne who completed the course last summer. Designed to encourage and teach safe and confident cycling techniques, lessons - which run throughout the year, have already produced more than 400 riders trained to a nationally accredited standard. All tuition is one-to-one, and is personally tailored to the clients needs. Male and female instructors meet trainees at any location in Lambeth.

The training course is open to anybody who lives, works or studies in the borough. People enrolling on the programme can expect to learn how to cycle assertively. It addresses the misconceptions about the 'inferiority' of cyclists and teaches them how to safely claim the space they need. They are taught the importance of positioning in order to maximise their ability to see all around and to be seen by others, and about looking before making a manoeuvre and scanning for areas of potential hazard.

Lavinia Osbourne, who lives in Clapham, took part on course this summer. She says; "At the tender age of 27 I learned how to ride a bike with the cycling scheme that Lambeth arranges for its residents and staff. It was a really fun and exhilarating day and by the end of it I was giggling like a schoolchild because I had finally learned how to cycle".

"Since then I have been cycling in Reykjavik and I will be taking part in a charity cycle challenge this Christmas, for and with the charity CLIC (Cancer and Leukaemia In Children)".

If you would like to take part in the One-to-One Cycling confidence training scheme call 020 7582 3535. There is a £5 booking charge - this fee is waived for those on benefit.

Click Here to sponsor Lavinia Osbourne

London Cycling Campaign: London Cycling Awards 2004

London Borough of Ealing was given a Special Commendation Award at the annual awards of the London Cycling Campaign on 13th October.

LCC, the 8,000 strong body representing London's cyclists, said:

"Again and again over the years Ealing Council's Bicycle Support Team led by the indefatigable Dr. Robert Davis came close to winning not one but several awards. This year the judges decided they wanted a special commendation to go to Bob and his team for their continued hard work marketing and promoting cycling in Ealing via a wide range of joined up initiatives across the community".

Professor David Begg, Chair of the Commission for Integrated Transport, presented the award to Dr. Robert Davis, Cycling Officer at LB Ealing, who paid tribute to the work of Cycle Training UK, the agency employed by Ealing to staff the Bicycle Support Team projects. These included the Drayton Bridge Summer Bike Project, which was one of the two finalists in the Best Community Cycling Award.