People have always cycled in Wanstead, but now there are more of us, says Jeremy Cross, treasurer of the Redbridge Cycling Campaign, which will be leading two bike rides from Wanstead this month
We cycle to the shops, work, school and Central and Elizabeth line stations. The elite cycle far into Essex, the antisocial and nervous on the pavements, the liberated into central London. As a result, we are fitter, emit less carbon dioxide and pollution and require no major road-building schemes, just safe cycle lanes and crossings.
I cycled as a child, then joined the car drivers for most of my adult life. I rediscovered the joy of cycling with the support of friendly cyclists in Redbridge. When I had bleeding in my visual cortex – a minor stroke – I was forced to give up driving, became more committed to the bike and a volunteer for the local cycling campaign.
London Cycling Campaign have groups in every borough. We are very active in Redbridge, not only lobbying the council for better cycling infrastructure but also organising many rides and running a cycle buddy scheme for those wanting help to find safe routes.
If you are out and about on Sundays, you may have encountered one of our rides. Up to 30 cyclists, occasionally more, would have passed you on the road, a cycle lane, in a park or by a riverbank, with a leader and marshals in pink tabards. You may have paused to look, to cheer, resented a slight delay to your own journey or even shouted abuse, but we know that is because you envied our joy!
We are proud of our annual programme of rides. Family rides of up to 15 miles, along quiet routes, are suitable for nervous cyclists and families with children. We typically go along the Roding Valley Way, the C16 cycle route to Fairlop Waters or the Olympic Park. We do rides of about 30 miles to central London, the Docks, or south of the river, and longer rides to Richmond or far into Essex. The shortest is the children’s ride around the Ornamental Water in Wanstead Park. The best attended is the Ride London Freecycle, when we lead 100-plus riders and join thousands more cycling around a circuit of iconic central London streets closed to motor traffic for the day.
On 8 September, we have the Redbridge parks circular ride, which departs from the Wanstead Park tea hut at 10am, visiting Claybury Park and Fairlop Waters before returning via Valentines Park, a total round distance of 17 miles. You can even join the ride at any of the parks along the way.
We will also be at the Wanstead Festival on 15 September. Our taster ride will leave at 2pm from the High Street, at the junction with Grove Park (outside the Co-op) and will go along quiet roads and the Roding Valley Way to Ray Park, pause for a tea break, and come back the same way. We will be accompanied by marshals to keep everyone safe when we have to cross main roads and will go slowly so no-one will feel under pressure to keep up. If you think you would like to get more into cycling, we hope to see you there, and if you enjoy it, to see you again on future rides.
We hope to see you on your bike soon, on one of our rides or out and about in Wanstead, cycling safely!
For more information and to take part in any of the rides (free; booking required), visit wnstd.com/rcc
