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Londoners know all about traffic

 LONDONERS know all about traffic    
 and the problems involved. One way to 
 beat it is to get on your bike, but that, 
 in itself, poses problems: “Some 
5 people are worried about cycling on 
 London’s busy streets,” says Simeon 
 Bamford, 27, who set up Cycle 
 Training in July 2000. “But we can 
 teach them how to use the roads 
10 safely and confidently. We can teach a 
 riding style which enables people to 
 make lots of space around themselves junctions and practise manoeuvres and
 and communicate assertively with then ride on to another junction. They
 other road users to get to where they65 really enjoy it because it’s different to
15 are going swiftly.” normal lessons.” But what about very
    Bamford has always loved cycling busy crossroads? “People tend to
 and, although he learned to drive as a prefer cycling in side streets,” he
 teenager, he has never owned a car. admits. “But when you learn to cycle
 “I always cycled to school, at university70 confidently you use all the main
20 and I have always cycled to work in roads.”
 London.”    Surprisingly, he is not a supporter
    At work he checks his e-mails and of cycle networks. “A lot of money in
 phones his instructors with bookings. London is being spent on creating
 His job is split between running the75 cycle lanes but it’s unnecessary and
25 office and acting as an instructor. they sometimes cause more problems
 Cycle Training has 35 freelance than they solve. Cycle lanes give a
 instructors, male and female. Most are false impression that cyclists shouldn’t
 former couriers, students, actors or be on the road.”
 retired teachers and all are trained to80    He also rejects the use of safety
30 do bike repair and maintenance gear. “Some people see cycling as a
 checks, covering things such as gears, dangerous sport. It’s not,” he claims.
 brakes and wheels. Cycle Training “It’s a simple, inexpensive way to get
 runs individual and group courses (the around. AII you need is a bike. We say
 latter usually in schools) covering85 you don’t need a helmet or anything
35 complete beginners to journey else. If you wear a suit, cycle to work
 accompaniment (helping cyclists plan in a suit.”
 their best route to and from work).    Bamford works long hours and will
    With an estimated 160,000 regular often stay late at the office. He doesn’t
 cyclists in London and growing90 mind doing it, because he believes in
40 concerns about traffic jams and the promotion of cycling. He says more
 pollution, he is increasingly kept busy of us should abandon the car and
 running courses for local authorities, public transport. “Companies are going
 who have provided funding for training to have to produce a green transport
 youngsters and staff, and running95 plan and there are likely to be
45 courses at summer universities. discouragements for workplace parking
    In the afternoons you will often find and tax reductions for employees
 him pedalling off to supervise training cycling to work.
 in schools, mainly primary schools.    “Employees who cycle regularly
 “Once we’ve arranged things with the100 are known to be more punctual and
50 head we’ll go into the school to give a take less time off sick. It is in an
 talk to all the children in order to get employer’s interest to promote cycling
 them interested. We usually find that among staff.” More Londoners, he
 the kids know the reasons why it’s hopes, will take a lead from the Dutch.
 good to cycle. Most of them are really105 “In Holland everyone cycles. It’s the
55 into it.  10  , a lot of kids end up not sheer number of cyclists that make
 cycling because parents or teachers cycling safe and pleasant for everyone.
 don’t let them. We can turn that If more people cycled, London would
 around.” be more pleasant, safer, cleaner and
    In a period of four weeks children110 less stressful.”
60 are taught to cycle safely and the 
 training is made fun. “The kids often 
Evening Standard
 cycle for a mile. We will stop at