The Council Loves My Balls

The Council has finally admintted that the roads are dangerous for my testicular health.

They promised to fill in the worst of the holes

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/council-promises-pothole-repairs-across-4188931

And eventually they did..

My balls are much happier

Council promise to stop trying to break my balls

At last the Council has following me jumping up and down decided to do something about the dreadful state of the roads around the town.

My balls are safe from the roads, all I have to do now is make sure I don't ride in to anything.

Read the whole story here

Vive le Velo Boris.......

Just got back from my summer holidays.....ok I know that its October, but as I say just got back from my hols in Northern France.

We stayed near Calais and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the town has just launched its own version of the Boris Bike.

Cheap, easy, and being French, very stylish. They got me thinking. Calais is a bit smaller than Reading and if they can do it, can we.

Looking around Calais they are all over the town, in the West, East, South, but not in the North. Obvs can't be in the North as the North of the city is sea. For a couple of Euros you can bike anywhere in the city.

I love the Boris Bikes in London, when I worked in London I regularly cycled from Paddington to Canary Wharf on one. Its a l killer journey but so so so much fun. Also cheap fun since it only cost me a quid or so to get from one side of the city to the other.

So if French can do it.....why can't Reading?

OK I admit it- I like riding my bike

Ok I admit it I love riding my bike places. I am not a complete bike nut,. I still drive my car, but I love the sense of freedom it gives me.

I ride alot around Reading and alot around NW Surrey....Its a long story as to why, but I am surprised at how dangerous riding around Surrey feels. This is especially worrying because Surrey will host the Olympic cycle race.

My morning ride around Surrey takes me from my parents in Chertsey, through Addlestone, beyond Weybridge and on in to Hersham. A tidy 7 or 8 miles. Not too far, not too short.

Last week a woman in a black Audi, tried to run me over as she reversed out of her drive. She really did try and squash me, it was like she had radar and every time I tried to get out of her way she turned her car in my direction again. Then on the same journey a cab driver drove so close to me I could see his filings, well almost. Then there was the usual Weybridge set with their 4 x 4's who haven't seen abike before, apparently.

Its a nightmare add that to the fact that the roads are narrow, and drivers insist on driving in to the area reserved for cyclists at junctions I imagine I am now 10 years older with the worry.

But there is now an answer. The Times is running a new interactive map where all road users, including cyclists can highlight dangerous roads. It seems easy to use and a good way to gently release the mental energy built up after grappling with Surrey's cycle unfriendly roads.....

You can get to it here . Its not behind the paywall so everyone can contribute. Go on you know you want to.

Can You Spot the Deliberate Mistake?

So can you? I suspect not....the problem with this scene is that the lamp post show, which is outside my house hasn't worked for ages.

We have a Councillor in our road, Hamilton Road, who promised to work for the neighbourhood. But strangely we have received no communication from her about this faulty lamp post, when it will  be fixed and when the street safety will be back to normal.

Because of the thundering silence I rang the Council and was told that the post was being replaced with a new one, because the current one is defective. I hope that the fact that I walked in to it face first last year didn't do it any damage.

So look forward to a shiny new lampost - I promise I won't walk in to this one. It will be great to feel safe in the road again.

But from our local champion....nothing.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, I hope that 2010 brings you everything you need and many blessings.

Had a relaxing Christmas, it was great to unwind after a tumultous year. I hope you did too.

With the New Year starts a new campaigning season. Went out on Sunday to check the state of the roads. I saw some huge potholes in the local roads. Not just the Reading ones, but my cycle travels took me to Wokingham and South Oxfordshires roads over Christmas and there were some real cyclist exterminators in each boroughs' roads.

I found this cyclist destroying pot hole on the London Road in Park Ward. I called the Council this morning to get it filled in. I expected a small pause in proceedings and was composing my "cross cyclist of Park Ward" letter in my head. The Highways dept called me back about an hour later to advise that they were sending a team out today to get it filled. How's that for service. They even thanked me for pointing the hole out saying how busy they had been. I was really pleased. It is not often that you can see such direct action. So first campaign of 2010 ends in a success, roll on the rest of the year.

Talking of my bike; I am pleased to say that I have only got another 60 miles or so to go before I have topped off 2,000 bike miles since April when I got this bike. Its predessesor was stolen. Its amazing what you can do with a bike, although cycling back from my sister's house in Woking, Surrey, with a family's worth of Christmas Presents on Boxing Day was rather exciting.

Richard McKenzie thinks living in Park is great

A reflective piece today. I was out on my bike yesterday and it struck me what a great place Park is to live. From my house, I can walk to the river and go Kayaking. Infact the best and most environmentally friendly I ever spent was a Kayaking Course at the Waterside Centre at Kennetmouth. We can cycle up to campus and enjoy the parkland and woodland there. Or we can cycle in to the countryside. I have a great 10 miler which will take you in to the countryside in about 10 mins. Up the London Road to Shepherds Hill, Sonning, Sonning Bridge, Henley Rd. Up Dundsen Hill. At the top of the Hill towards Emmer Green, past the Lodon Brewery, which isn't anywhere near the Loddon. Emmer Green down the hill to Caversham and then Home. Ten miles and lots of countryside.

So I was riding my bike feeling relaxed and cool, thinking, well if I want to go to town, I can push off there in 5 mins, then I fell off my bike, AGAIN. I managed to do this in front of a load of Undergraduates and they were kind enough not to laugh, but I felt foolish.

But if you ride a bike eventually you will, as I did, get to test the ground hugging qualities of your clothes as you bump gently against the ground.

What does this have to do with living in Park? Not much but since I first moved in to Park in 1986 I have always loved the way everything is near and within cycling distance.

Little Things to Make Things Better

Cycling with my daughter through Newtown the other evening I noticed how dark the evenings have become, well it was 9pm.

We were on the way to Tescos and the Kennetside was especially dark, good thing we have lights. Noticed that a couple of street lights were out so have rung the Council so they can get the lights fixed. Hopefully shouldn't take too long but they say it might take upto 10 days.