Forum Topic

Cycling for Women

There was an absolutely brilliant Woman's Hour last bank hol weekend about cycling for women.  You may be able to find it here:https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qlvbI'm not very good about finding my way around that website but I think the whole programme was on cycling.It was also mentioned that one of the best ways to gain confidence cycling was to join a women's cycling group.  I think unfortunately that the women's cycling groups are not up and running again in Hounslow and neither is the family cycling but some activities like Dr Bike are and so is the free online training.  Hopefully more will be back soon and pedestrians will get some more space on the pavements! :)https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/info/20053/transport/1985/cycling_in_hounslow/4 Dr Bike is scheduled for Chiswick Common 10-12am on Saturday

Philippa Bond ● 2001d9 Comments

Phillipa. Minet Park Ladies Cycling Club based at Hillingdon Circuit Cycling Track, Minet Park, Hillingdon.This opens up 21st May 2021 and all are welcome. Location just over the Ealing/Hillingdon boundary by side of Parkway.

Chris Vessey ● 2001d

Thanks Chris.  Good to hear.  That programme was on Bank Hol Mon if anyone wants to see if they can hear the whole thing (men probably won't).

Philippa Bond ● 2000d

Yes there's a very good set up at the Hillingdon Circuit.I used to do time trialing there with my club , Westerley Cycling Club .There is also a very good section the Slipstreamers which teaches youngsters riding and racing skills.Well done Phillipa for bringing the subject  up

David Burke ● 2000d

Hi Dave. Good to hear you are with the Westerley. I try andget over to Hillingdon Circuit on most Fridays for a few laps with my mates from the Willesden. Hopefully when the Minet Ladies resume on the 21 May we'll be able to catch a cup of tea and cake in their club room. And that would be great !

Chris Vessey ● 2000d

(men probably won't)??I think you'll find that 40% of listeners are men.We need to know what we're dealing with ;-)

Ben Gemmingen ● 2000d

And another nearby group:https://www.joyriderslondon.org/

Philippa Bond ● 1989d

And another Dr Bike in Hammersmith just outside our new premises in Lyric Square on Tuesday, 25th May from 8am-11am.FYI, Philippa, the Hammersmith BID approached us to see if we'd like to participate. We said yes.Two things came to mind.1.) LBH's idea for a Chiswick BID meant Hounslow being in complete control of BID funds and the BID comprised of Chiswick, Brentford and Feltham. So absolutely no guarantee funds would be put back into Chiswick.2.) When Hounslow did approach us years ago to work toward doing a silent cinema to bolster local businesses we said absolutely. Only to have it shot down by Friends of Turnham Green. Not the first time they impeded progress in that patch. Nice to see after a decade or more works finally moving at Essex House. No time like the present...

David Lesniak ● 1989d

David  Thanks for the Dr Bike heads up.  Good luck with your new venture. I've missed the Lyric - we watched an online children's show at Christmas - with bits of the family in different parts of the country - so we could all discuss it afterwards.You'll understand the types of BID approaches better than me - which was why I tried to discuss with you. To me it looks like something that could work for businesses if done the right way.

Philippa Bond ● 1989d

A BID done the right way. There's the rub, Philippa.As mentioned years ago the model was supposedly based on the American model. Only it was precisely the inverse which I pointed out. In the states, the government backs all of the costs and it includes reduced rates for both businesses and customers to entice uptake be it operating a business or availing oneself of what's on offer. What's going on in Brentford would be the perfect example of an American jurisdiction helping fund that scale of regeneration. Hammersmith is funded in part by large corporations which would not be the case in Chiswick. Acton's new bid was controversial in that those on the industrial estate off Bollo lane wanted no part because they knew their contributions wouldn't come back to their patch. Ed Saper knows far more than I do on that effort.If it were nothing more than Chiswick traders who elected a board that rotated very frequently to keep fresh blood and no particular agenda item the focus for too long, then maybe yes. Allocate resources across all areas annually to keep things fair. But I also think now is not the time as businesses don't need more costs right now which is what this would be. The more local BID initiative was to focus on TGT and Devonshire. Traders further afield always get lost in the mix and we get a bit exasperated to hear over and over and over again how TGT deserves all the attention and effort. I've always advocated all businesses across all of Chiswick should be the beneficiaries of any initiatives no matter what they might be.

David Lesniak ● 1988d