Press Release
16th December 2001
New Croydon parks policy is Christmas gift to cyclists
Are you going to buy your child a bike for Christmas? Are you getting a bike yourself? Are you wondering where would be a safe place to learn to ride, seeing how Croydon's roads are so busy? Croydon Cycling Campaign think they have the answer - the local park. Their Treasurer, Liz Mincer, is a mother of three budding cyclists and the brains behind Croydon's first ever Car Free Day festival earlier this year. When surfing Croydon Council's website recently, she found out that the "No Cycling" signs at the park gates no longer mean that cyclists have to turn back. Instead, Council Enforcement Officers and Park Rangers will now use their discretion in enforcing the "no cycling" bylaw as long as cyclists are not endangering other park users or damaging the park.
Children's cycle teaching areas can be found at Hares Bank in Addington Vale and at Sanderstead Recreation Ground in Limpsfield Road. BMX bikers can have fun on the ramps at Rotary Field in Purley, Canterbury Road Recreation Ground in Broad Green and Wandle Park in Waddon. The only parks and open spaces where cycling remains forbidden are ornamental gardens like Heathfield, Coombe Wood and Waddon Ponds and the wildlife rich Addington Hills.
To help cyclists young and old to get the skills to cycle on the borough's roads, the Council's Road Safety unit (telephone 020 8760 5484) offer cycling courses to children and adults. Liz says "Croydon Cycling Campaign are glad to see the Council supporting cycling in this way. We can also help anyone take their first pedal-powered journeys away from the parks and on to the roads by finding quiet routes and accompanying new riders to help them gain confidence."For more information, e-mail info@croydon-lcc.org.uk or visit the Campaign's website at www.croydon-lcc.org.uk
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