Everyone knows I’m a mad, fundamentalist cyclist – and although more people are cycling in London, there are still many who don’t. As I peer down from the 8th floor of City Hall, I see all those people toiling away in their cars, inching slowly across Tower Bridge, when they could be on a bike.
Whether it’s Monday, Wednesday, or Sunday I tend to go by bike but, although it is safe and getting safer, I fully appreciate that some people find it a little daunting at first. I have succeeded in persuading many of my staff to take it up, and always watch in wonderment as they edge nervously onto Tooley Street absolutely convinced the end is nigh.
But, after a few times, they’re soon zooming past me.
In a bid to convert more Londoners to the cycling cause, today I launched Cycle Fridays. For the next few weeks, every Friday, there will be a series of bike convoys led by experienced riders who will be on hand to guide novice commuter cyclists into central London. For a full list of the routes, click here.
Those joining the rides will be greeted by ride marshals from the London Cycling Campaign and will be given a basic bike check and useful cycle maps before getting on the road. Additional drop-off points can be agreed so that riders can get as close to their destination as possible.
The first Cycle Friday will take place on Friday 14 August, and they will continue every Friday until 2 October.
So if you’ve always liked the idea of cycling to work, but never quite had the confidence to venture onto London’s roads on two wheels, then Cycle Fridays are the place to be. You’ll be part of a giant moving peloton of cyclists, and be carried along on a wave of pedal-powered paradise!
( 8 comments ) Tags: London
Comment by Jacqui on August 7, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Great work Boris, as a dedicated cyclist and someone who creates events in cycling I am really pleased with all that you are doing.
Come join us on the next Tweed Ride in May, it would be great to meet our first proper cycling mayor!
Comment by Simon Rose on August 7, 2009 at 8:22 pm
I’m someone who’s only recently taken up cycling in London and is most impressed with the free cycle guides produced by Transport for London which are invaluable.
However, I wish somebody could come up with some help for cyclists who have to venture into the area bounded by Oxford Street, Charing Cross Road, Regent Street and Trafalgar Square. It is INCREDIBLY difficult to cycle in that area and pretty dangerous too. It may be that there’s nothing that can be done to ease the problem but it’s so much worse than any other area I venture into that I thought I should point out how horrific I find it.
Comment by Ian on August 7, 2009 at 8:48 pm
If cyclists observed the highway code, stopped at red lights, did not ride the wrong way up one way streets and stopped riding on pavements, I would be mildly supportive.
At present they are pests!
Comment by innerhippy on August 8, 2009 at 9:41 am
It’s a nice idea and I hope it’s successful. However, I suspect one of the main reasons preventing people cycling in London is because London just doesn’t “do” cycling.
- They cannot use (north part) Hyde Park – for goodness sake, why??
- There’s never enough places to lock your bike when you do get there.
- Swarms of PCSOs target cyclists for every minor infringement.
- Cycle routes are still pathetic.
Until London gets serious about cycles, it’s going to be uphill struggle to get people out of their cars.
Comment by mrsroons on August 10, 2009 at 5:01 pm
I’m note innerhippy’s comment that ‘swarms of PCSOs target cyclists for every minor infringement’ – well as one who has been knocked down several times (in one case I was badly injured) by cyclists, all of whom were unrepentant and extremely abusive, either riding the wrong way down one way streets or cycling, at speed, on the pavement, I have very little sympathy. I fully support cycling in London, provided that cyclists obey the laws of the HIghway Code. Cyclists should be treated in the same way as any other road (and I stress road) user…
Comment by realist on January 27, 2010 at 5:46 pm
When are you finally going to abolish the “congestion charge”? People already pay extortionate amounts of road tax and fuel duty that doesn’t even get spent on the roads.
Comment by realist on January 27, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Why are cyclists not paying road tax?
Why are cyclists not even insured?
Why do cyclists totally ignore the Highway Code (jumping RED traffic lights is the most common) yet never get prosecuted’
Comment by Corporate photographer London on August 9, 2010 at 10:31 am
I read recently that there were plans to supply free bikes around The City. Where can I find details about this scheme? Grant