Movers: the influential Wandsworth people who took to their bikes
Lorinda Freint and Audrey Helps, Town Centre Managers for Clapham Junction and Tooting
Before receiving cycle training: Audrey Helps
I love the idea of cycling – green and free. Danger! Fear! I am nervous about urban cycling. Lorinda Freint Anything that reduces the use of cars is a good thing. I would like more cycle lanes. There should be greater awareness of cyclists on the part of motorists and a willingness to show more consideration. After receiving cycle training: Audrey Helps I notice cyclists on the road a lot more, now as I know what they feel like. I understand now that cyclists are a very broad range of people, with a common interest - just like drivers. I am now thinking about buying a bike, helmet etc, and looking at quieter routes through the borough to help me start cycling around. Lorinda Freint I've learned that cycling in the streets of London is easier than I thought. I will certainly consider a bicycle as a Town Centre Manager. I have to allow an hour and a half to get from Tooting to Wandsworth Town Hall by public transport, which would take 20 minutes by bike, even allowing for traffic jams.
Cllr Tony Belton, Wandsworth Labour Leader
Before receiving cycle training: I cycled a lot as a child, but after student days I stopped cycling regularly, and only took it up again a couple of years ago. I'm mainly a leisure cyclist but would like to learn more about cycling on some of the busy roads in the borough. My goal is to cycle to work (Battersea to Wandsworth Town Hall, using the A205 in part) and to get better cycle racks installed at the Town Hall. I would also be keen to see an overall change in the way roads are viewed by users; for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists to recognise each other and their rights to move around together. After receiving cycle training: It helped to be shown how to ride more assertively.
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Harvey Heath, Secretary of the Battersea Society
Before receiving cycle training: Traffic looks quite forbidding these days. A thing that frightens me is getting the bike stolen. After receiving cycle training: I enjoyed doing it. Give it a go!
Linea Ross, Head of Adult and Community Learning, South Thames College
Before receiving cycle training: In London too many cycle paths come to an end just when you need them. WCC should be fighting for more off-road cycle paths – that's far more likely to be better for cyclists than training. Cycling is extremely dangerous and secure bike parking is needed.
After receiving cycle training: I'm a lot more confident. Yes, I'm cycling more. I've got more confident through small, commonsense tips. I didn't imagine I would ever cycle to Wandsworth town centre! I'm saving time – it's quicker. I have already noticed improvements to my waistline now I'm doing more exercise. My colleagues have noticed I'm cycling and asked why. The training has helped me tremendously. I shall keep going.
Justine Greening, MP for Putney
Before receiving cycle training: Re-education of all road users about how to share the road is needed. I would like to feel more street smart. After receiving cycle training: Before I just used to take the bike for local trips, but I am now cycling regularly across the borough to my Tooting office - it would never have occurred to me to do that before. Cycling is less frustrating than driving or public transport. I have increased in confidence by knowing how to cycle safely, and recapping on basics. I'm already using my bike more.
Cllr Nick Bowes, Labour Speaker on Transport and Planning
Before receiving cycle training: Nowhere to store my bike. I am put off by traffic. After receiving cycle training:
The training has made me think more about how I could cycle, and also it's opened my eyes to how cyclists on the road – how we need to look after them a bit more and how we need to do things to make it safer and encourage more people to cycle. I may look into doing more training and getting more experience and really thinking about how I might be able to cycle more and really keep up this momentum.