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 they | 65 | 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 university | 70 | 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 the | 75 | 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 to | 80 | 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) covering | 85 | 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 growing | 90 | 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 running | 95 | 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 the | 100 | 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 really | 105 | “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 children | 110 | 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 |