Streetlife

What do you think about an annual 'Olympic' style bike race in Wandsworth

With many people in the area agreeing that the two Olympic road races  have been among the best highlights of the 2012 games so far, councillors are now asking the public what they think about staging an exciting annual event in the borough.

If people support the idea, then councillors could suggest it as an idea to neighbouring boroughs and Transport for London.

There was of course a degree of disruption so some people may not be in favour, but others may feel that the thrill and excitement of welcoming back the world's top riders to Putney and Richmond Park to compete in a brand new race, or even incorporate the route to Box Hill into the existing Tour of Britain or even the Tour de France, would be a worthwhile challenge, especially for the boost it could bring the local economy.

Please let us know what you think

Comments

Showing 26 - 50 of 57
ST_SW15
Sounds like a great idea - would need to attract a decent level of competitors though to make it worthwhile and high-profile enough. 

But a great idea to keep Wandsworth in the limelight!
rupert belfrage
Excellent anything that promotes exercise and not too much disruption is great idea Council.Better roads surfaces too?
Ron R
Sorry to be a killjoy but I don't agree we should support this idea. Cycling is a great sport but the degree of disruption outweighs what in effect is a one minute wonder.
Vivian B
Dreadful idea - disrupting the area for a few ... we have plenty of tracks etc., where they wouldn't be a nuisance and a danger.  Dreadful idea ;-)
Wilko
Tracks, Vivian B?!! I think that is displaying a lot of ignorance!
Giaga C
I think its a great idea - in principle.

Like some others have said I would not make it a priority for my council tax...
Vivian B
Wilko - any cycling arena where the roads and people will not be disrupted then the people who actually want it watch instead of having it foisted on them will be able to do so in peace and enjoyment.  We have plenty of areas which can be used I am sure.  Battersea Park would be ideal with the tracks around the perimeter.
Matthew G
Vivian I think you might be misunderstanding what this event is.  It's a 160 mile, 6 hour-long, road race, not a track event.

It would be ludicrous to hold it in a stadium or a park - the riders would not be interested in competing, and the opportunity for spectators to access it would be enormously reduced.

It would be like running the Paris-Dakar Rally at Silverstone.
Tim V
I totally agree with you Matthew.
Wilko
Or like holding the London marathon in your backyard, Vivian B! Thank you for taking the time to enlighten her, Matthew G.
Caroline S
Great idea but like Caroline W's suggestion
Sam D
Yep, thumbs up!
Jon I
Looks like the decision had already been made to go ahead:

http://www.ridelondon.co.uk/

Either way, good news that it will happen.
Ron R
Looks like I shall have to get a bike for ridelondon if nothing else ! 
  http://www.re-cycling.co.uk/ ?
rachel s
Great idea.  Love the idea of having a fun bike race for adults and children as well.  

Was also wondering if there was the potential to do a local food fair on one of the commons, using local businesses as well.
Sunny P
@Rachel s
Your idea on food fair for local shops is great. Just ask Wandsworth for Street Trading permits and the cost will be astronomical.Small Businesses will not be able to afford it.
Most Councils like to bend over backwards for Corporates at large events.
william h
I love the idea and would like to see it tied in with a 'mass participation' fun event too. As Rachel says.... 'Go Wandsworth!'
MissJ
Sunny P trading permit is £60 and most of the council's street licenses are around the same. Private markets are usually expensive. "World food market" who ran the one during the Olympics in Putney was £200 a stand!
Wandsworth Council
Many, many thanks to all the people who took part in this survey. The results were certainly very encouraging.

As some of  you have already noticed, the Mayor has now announced that he is arranging a two day cycle event in London next August.

The first day will feature a family fun ride for up to 70,000 cyclists on an eight mile loop of closed roads around London’s iconic landmarks. The following day a 100 mile road ride for up to 20,000 amateur, club and world class elite cyclists will take place that begins in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and will be based on much of the route of the 2012 Games cycle road race.

Women’s elite, junior cyclists and hand cycles will also take to the streets of the capital to compete in a city centre grand prix.

In essence, it looks very much like the kind of event that Streetlifers were advocating and so promises to be a great weekend across London.
Jon I
Forgot to mention that there is this public meeting happening next month:

http://cyclinginyourneighbourhood.eventbrite.com/

May well be of interest to a number of you who have posted in this thread.

Harriet
This is a fantastic idea, how about a kids race too?
Idavid
Why just bikes? Open a few streets - say around Putney High St - to bikers, walkers, rollerbladers, buggies, whatever, for a few Saturday mornings and let people experience a few hours without motor traffic. New York - of all places! - has been doing this for five years and local businesses report sales up 26%. See 30 sec video on Summer Streets here http://youtu.be/hLSw6RDV-pA
Ron R
I'd endorse a traffic free Putney High Street at least once in a while then we can all breath better and be free of all the other traffic inflicted problems
Sarah R
Great idea. Absolutely love it. Anything to carry on the astoundingly successful legacy of the London Olympics and to celebrate the Nation's third place in the Olympic league medal table. Actually scrap that. There is a better way for WBC to continue the Olympic legacy: stop the sell off of Elliot School's playing fields; restore this historic 'Listed' asset without rolling in the developers and their luxury flats; and have Wandsworth's 'Olympic style bike race' start and finish line at the Gates of the refurbished Eliott School.

Let's have a Council tax in line with the national average at the very least and while we're at it, our youths' adventure playgrounds AND our lollipop men and women back. That is what the £20million added to Reserves (by developers and their luxury flats) should be spent on. Not selling off more of the family silver.

Hands off OUR playing fields and Putney common.
Caroline A
I'll vote for it - even if I am a little later than everyone else....

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