CYCLING
Stay in the
Riding a Mobike
saddle
It may be autumn; the summer may be over;
but falling leaves are no excuse to stop cycling.
Lacking confidence? Free training is available. No
ride? There are now new, ‘dockless’ bikes for hire.
T
he new bikes were made
available in Acton in September
and 750 of them have been
placed in the borough for hire
so far, with more to follow. Ealing Council
has teamed up with operator Mobike
to make it possible.
These dockless bikes do not need to
be chained up or put on a cycle stand.
They are easy to use and affordable to
hire and can be found whenever you
want to pick one up. All you have to do
is download an app on to your phone
or device, and use it to find one of
the bikes and digitally unlock it. Once
you are finished, you park the bike in
a designated area and lock it so it is
ready for the next person to hire.
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, the
council’s cabinet member for transport,
environment and leisure, said: “These
Quietway road narrowing
in Ruislip Road
new bikes are perfect for
short journeys and I hope
people will make use of them
to get around. They will also help
anyone who would like to cycle but
are put off by the up-front expense of
buying a bike, or by a lack of storage.”
KEEP PEDALLING
Here are simple tips for making your
winter cycling as enjoyable as it is in
the warmer months:
n Check your tyres and brakes
regularly (and use the free Dr Bike
maintenance sessions around
the borough – see more at
www.ealing.gov.uk/cycling)
n Wear brightly coloured, reflective
clothing, use lights on your bike and
position yourself on the road to be
visible to traffic
n If you buy waterproof trousers
and jacket you can keep pedalling,
regardless of the weather.
NEED A LITTLE MORE
ENCOURAGEMENT?
If you want to feel more confident
cycling in winter conditions, have
not cycled for years, or are a total
novice, the council runs cycle
training all year round through Cycle
Training UK for people of all ages.
It offers tailored help to cyclists
of all abilities – from beginners
upwards. Call 0800 093 6454 or visit
www.cycletraining.co.uk
GO THE ‘QUIETWAY’
The first section of a new ‘quietway’ has been opened for cyclists between
Greenford and Ealing. Rather than following busy road routes, it will take you
on a more picturesque, gentler journey through the west of the borough
and is designed to encourage more cycling.
The Ruislip Road East Quietway runs from Clifton Road to Argyle Road. An
extension to Ealing Broadway should follow next year.
Read the full story at ealingnewsextra.co.uk/features/quietway
and watch a video of the route.
around ealing October 2017
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