Otto2

Brilliant initiative - well done Southwark!

Rockets Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > rheller Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > I cycled from East Dulwich to Dulwich Village > > Infants School then back to East Dulwich > Charter > > School this morning to drop off both my > children. > > I was cycling between 8.30 and 9.30 and the > > traffic was fine - it wasn?t backed up or > > congested. Townley Road didn?t have much > queuing > > traffic and neither did Dulwich Village. It was > a > > pleasant experience and it certainly felt safer > as > > a cyclist. > > > > I cycled back home along Melbourne Grove - > again > > this seems to have settled down and it was an > > enjoyable and calm cycle along the road. > > May I ask - in the depths of winter when the days > are cold, wet and short would this be your > preferred way to get to the school? If you were to > drive which route would you take? Everyone who can > is doing more cycling now as the days are warm, > dry and long and many are working from home > allowing more flexibility to drop and pick > children up from school. When many return to work > and days draw in many may not have the option to > cycle. Having the experience of both driving and cycling on school runs in the past down to the village (along Calton), I can say that it is actually faster to do the run when it rains on a bicycle as more people take to their cars when the weather is bad and there is more traffic congestion. Sensible clothing does the trick. If you drive, you not only spend time stuck in traffic, you have to drive about a bit looking for a spot to park. Cycling wins on the time it takes argument even when cycling slowly with kids in tow.

Tbh the great majority of Charter kids do walk or cycle - admission is based on distance to the door.

Had a lovely cycle to the village via Melbourne/Townley/Calton. I am in the category of "some people can't cycle" in that I am severely asthmatic and have a knee issue. A larger number of people that you think can cycle - I learned from listening to Wheels for Wellbeing at a City Hall meeting that many people with mobility issues find cycling easier than driving. I ride an electric bike for the hills as I can't manage them on a regular bike, but, ride a normal bike when I'm taking a shorter ride on relatively flat ground. Cyclists and walkers should have equal enjoyment of roads and it makes sense to add some routes where the air is better to breathe and the traffic less frenzied. There is room for everyone -- adding some quiet streets is also great for the kids. I saw a large amount of families en route today, enjoying the easier-to-cycle-now roads. My road now has increased traffic (huge actually) due to the change, but, I think that will change over time when people get used to the changes and reroute.

Had a chat with our postman today. He said the volume is sky-high as everyone is ordering things for delivery, and, he thought that about 30% of staff is out either with Covid or isolating. He was told to grab as many parcels as he could today to get them out -- there is a massive stack of backlog.

It is back for me - perhaps reset your router by unplugging and plugging back in if you've not tried that yet....

Just to say, e-bikes ARE a good fit for those that might have fitness or health issues that keep them from cycling or cycling as much as they'd like. I'm on the older side and have severe asthma which means I can't get up hills as I don't have the lung capacity. I have an e-bike and it solves that problem. It also give me confidence I can go on longer journeys and not feel sweaty or overtired. You can also put the e-bike in resistance mode to charge up the battery - useful for downhill, and, you get more exercise that way as well. I have a regular bike that is more of a pleasure ride (on flats) and I use them both, according to where I am going...

Chener Books - most any book - send an email to [email protected] and you will receive the book in the post!

Chener Books is still open atm, and, can also do limited deliveries locally this week if you are stuck inside. Email or call them - they do not have online ordering but contact details are at chenerbooks dot com and they can take card numbers for purchases via phone if you are self-isolating and they will drop books. If you are able to go in in person - all the better!

Gone. Also -- coop was almost empty today. I'm sure they will all restock soon...

Two on Jan 25 and one the other day on Tell Grove since we are adding.

And one yesterday from another Lordship Lane shop but it was not those two guys. I had the pleasure of watching a man steal my phone but could not give chase as I was working solo. The police closed my case within two hours and said they could not do anything - I guess there are other crimes that take precedence. My bad for leaving the phone on the desk but it was a really busy hectic day and I was knackered and it was literally the one and only time I have done that. Note to fashion designers - please oh please give women pockets!

Yes.

I'll be out on my bicycle at school let-out time today looking out for my children and others as my heart is in my throat. They need the freedom to walk and not have annoying mums by their sides so I'll be in stealth mode (I promise my stealth mode will be more attractive than the fellow above 😂). I'm freelance so I can do this today, but, not every day. If any other mums-or-dads-on-bikes with kids too old for parents to walk with them want to make this a more formal thing, pm me. Call it a cycle club of sorts. I realise there needs to be other solutions but this is one I can think of that might be of use and it is better than feeling helpless. I'm not proposing confronting anyone - just having a presence, and, the ability to call 999 if needed.

I think it is perfectly natural for a mugging to have repercussions. It is not "taking it personally" - it is a potentially traumatic experience and different people will take different amounts of time to recover. I think it is important to listen and let them talk about how they feel without putting words in their mouths, or, telling them how they should feel. This was my son's second mugging, and, he had escaped a potential third just the week before by fast cycling. All were by groups of teens, some with older people involved. His feelings? He does not want a phone, does not want the bike that was returned, and, does not want to go anywhere solo atm. He says "London sucks". I am listening and trying not to act any different than the day before it happened though that is hard. He was 30 minutes late today coming home and it worried me much much more than usual but he had an exam that ran late. You can register bikes and phones at www.immobilise.com. You'll need your IMEI number for a phone (accessed by pressing *#06#) and your frame number for a bike.

Thanks to the big-hearted theron2, I now have the bike back! So heartwarming that there are generous good people in the world. He took a great deal of time out to return the bike, and, I am very grateful. Three cheers for the forum and amazing goodwill!

Thanks theron2 -

Thanks Dimples.

Green Trex mountain bike 26? wheels if anyone sees it abandoned.

This post will be deleted if it descends into a racism discussion. It is just an FYI re crime in the area.

Hi - My 14 year old son was met on East Dulwich Grove by a group and taken to a little alley near Glengarry. His bike and phone were taken this eve around 7pm. He was escorted by four youths...just a heads up for parents. It was about 7:15 this eve. All the little muggers were about 15ish but one fellow was older - probs 19ish he thought. This is his second mugging. No really useful descriptions to offer.

I am getting an error trying to add feedback to the map. I've registered.

Thanks for posting - 3pm on Lordship Lane is really bold. Sending best wishes...

No idea tbh - sorry. But yes, indescribable.