Mice
goes to Greenwich! 15.5 miles, top speed 16.1 on the Brommie
An
appointment with Sustrans in Greenwich with the best Bike It Officer I have
ever known (otherwise known as Georgie). Sustrans (Sustainable Transport) is a UK based charity focussing on cycling, scooting and walking. I hate the name Sustrans as it sounds like an underground pipeway system. Dull. Dull. Dull. The complete opposite of riding a bike. However what they do is very positive and today was a day with Sustrans!
On the way to Greenwich I was a bit startled to see how much traffic moves into the
cycling lane. Not just this chap:
I
was also absolutely horrified by the number of drain covers there were in CS8
it should be renamed CD8 (Cycling Drainway 8).
Are we supposed to cycle over them? Do drivers know that cyclists don't
cycle over them, I wonder?
The
air was cold but the sky was bright. The
view from Lambeth Bridge was lovely.
I
met up with Georgie, Roxanne and Chris (another volunteer who I have had the
pleasure of doing some bicycle rides to the coast with)
and we started our
cycling lesson for Year 4 and 5. Georgie (on the right) set up the bicycles and soon we had
five of six children who didn't even have their own bikes, cycling round a
course of cones! Brillo Pads! Georgie
tested they all worked first though:
I
met Georgie nearly two years ago when she was looking for a volunteer to help
her run the Sustrans Active Travel Champion programme in Greenwich.
Her main mandate is to bring cycling and
walking to school at 12 of the primary schools in the borough. This means anything from Dr Bike days,
Stabilisers Off days, Games on Wheels days, Bring your Scooter to School days -
and in the winter we'd make smoothies by pedal-power and hold assemblies
demonstrating the importance of being seen on a bicycle.
The
Oooos and Ahhhhs filled the assembly hall as windows were blacked out by kind
caretakers so that we could stand on stage, turn the lights out and use bicycle
lights, reflective strips and clothes to show how reflective things work was hilarious.
Occasionally
we had a few minutes left over at which point Georgie would stand there and say
"Now hands up who'd like to see Mice give a demonstration of folding her
very special bicycle?"! What? Me?
Ooo! So with a splutter I would run a Q/A session running through the names of
the basic parts of the bike and of course caused more Ooos and Ahhs once the
folding a la Brompton started!
Working
as one of Georgies volunteers, I have taught non-riders to ride for the very
first time, fixed punctures, replaced brake systems, led bicycle games and set up mini bicycle assault courses. In fact last year I was elevated to Sustrans Gold
Star Volunteer status as my hours totalled more than 140! All this is entirely down to Georgie.
The
enthusiasm and sensitivity she shows to pupils, teachers,
parents - everybody, her never-ending and bounding energy to bring cycling, scooting and
walking to all her schools has been an absolute privilege to see.
Sadly
for Sustrans, Georgie leaves this week to take some time out, cycle from Lands
End to John O'Groats (again!) and move into pastures new. She has many strings to her bow and whatever
avenue she follows she will without doubt be a roaring success. I am very happy to say that she is a good
friend and will remain so even after Sustrans. If you look up Georgie in the Dictionary it will say: One of life's gems.
On my way home I cycled down roads I don't know and caught sight of The Shard.
On
to the South Bank where I saw this. I'd
say this was progress - rubbish collecting by bicycle.
The South Bank is an ever changing art environment.
I reached Westminster Bridge as the sun was
going down - wondering what on earth was going on in this building.
A great day in the City! And a big thank you to Georgie - you have been a star!
