A huge thank you for the massive response, comments and media we've received from readers about the Ealing Sky Ride. Some were extremely happy with the experience, others who didn't take part but are very green-minded felt the event did more harm than good. There are no wrong opinions - everything you think, is true.
It was an experience and we appreciate everyone who participated, watched and have contacted us about the event. Ealing - congratulations on your Sky Ride event.
Here are some images sent in from one of our readers.
23 comments:
Why are comments not appearing on the site????!
They seem to be now, Marsha :)
Although you're right, I couldn't comment previously.. what's going on??
Great the comments are back!
Skyride:
The good: Well organised and a fun day out for cyclists.
The bad: Hell on the roads for drivers, pedestrians and anyone else. Terrible planning.
Bottom line: This definitely created more anti-cyclists than cyclists.
I loved it. I came with my whole family and we're keen cyclists. I really enjoyed giving two fingers to the queue of traffic that was lining up, honking and so on!
I participated too after finding out about it here and via your twitter feed, it was excellent. Thanks for promoting something local to Harrow but not in it. It's really appreciated. I live in Brent and always check this site as it gives me more information than I get in my borough.
The Sky ride was a joke. The queuing cars were really annoyed and rightfully so. There was no way enough notice of delays, no clear communication of the routes that would be out, only notification of the biking event, which is not good enough. If you heard what motorists (yes, even those who walk, cycle but had to use the car that day) it was not complimentary and very angry. Churchgoers were put out terribly and the event ruined a family day out for many people who were passing through Ealing.
Good idea but terrible execution and planning. Even worse, you won't ever see this coming back in Ealing given the chaos it caused. You have done more harm than good. Have you even read the Ealing Gazette lately?
The comments were disabled for a while as there were too many incoming, but it seems they're back now. Hope it stays like this. The feedback on this event alone is invaluable.
Very well organised event for cyclists. Great accomodation and a fun day out for cyclists. Superb routes and scenery available to.. Cyclists.
To hell with the others.
Does that sum it up?
I'm a hardcore cyclist and came to this event and am pleased to see it branch out to an outer borough. I enjoyed it and think cars should really understand they're not the only road users.
I'm not an experienced or keen cyclist but someone who came to try cycling on the road whereas I wouldn't do it otherwise. Would I cycle more now - no.
The event was good but the positive comments are mostly from people who are already cycling or keen cyclists. I am a new person at this who tried it and enjoyed it but the angry mob of drivers, the disruption caused and what they had to do to make it safe to ride on the road (shut down traffic) sends me the message that it really isn't safe on the roads unless there aren't vehicles on it.
I wouldn't let my children cycle after Sunday and we'll stick to cycling in our local park.
I was a little intimidated by the comments directed at the cyclists by those queuing up and think I definitely would not want to be on the receiving end of that. The car's safer for me, but good luck to all the cyclists and well done.
Please don't attack me, it's just my opinion.
Ashwini, thanks for your comment. I can see what you're saying. I'm more confident on the road since I took up Harrow's excellent cycle training. It's free and can help you learn how to ride on the road with traffic and avoid danger spots. I strongly recommend it. The Under One Sky event is also excellent to try a bike in a safe environment. I hope you overcome your fear and assure you the Ealing event was not representative of how most cyclists are treated on the road.
You will never be attacked for your opinions here, this is a really positive community, which is why we all keep coming back to it and contributing! Thanks for your comment!
Some great pictures that represent how amazing this event was. The naysayers are jealous.
Anonymous, it was a good event but there's a lot to learn. It's fine in central London where driving is deterred by other means too, but in Ealing where this was not planned out well at all, caused chaos. I do think it can work in an outer borough like Hounslow which was ace, and the mass bike ride in Harrow which was phenomenal (see video footage on this blog).
This was more a failure in organising it than anything else and unfortunately I agree, it wouldn't happen in Ealing again given the backlash, due to poor planning.
I love cycling and the central london skyride. Went to the Hounslow one - quite good. Ealing - not so good. Fab area, terrible planning. I agree. Never seen so many irate drivers which you don't get in central or hounslow, so it must have been exactly what it says here - not enough notice, planning etc.
I wouldn't attend another one outside of central london now after the bad experience of this one and the abuse my children heard from drivers. Not against drivers, I'm one myself but the council, the mayor got it wrong in terms of providing.
To add a bit more from the positive side. I was there and enjoyed it a lot. Yes I could see the drivers who were stuck and angry but wasn't as affected by them as some of you. I don't know why it happened but can say I had a great time and a very enjoyable day out. Thank you for the EalingSkyride.
I didn't go but it looks like it was fun. Thanks for the updates.
The roads are not the Utopia the Sky Ride makes them out to be. You create your own enemies this way. I appreciate the sentiment, the idea but it has backfired massively. Believe it.
The Sky Ride was brilliant and there are always two sides to any story. It was excellent for us cyclists who know we are equal road users, deserve our road space and have more right to it than gas guzzling, anti-planetary soldiers.
Tom, I rest my case.
The sky ride in Ealing was definitely a nice day out but would I cycle more cos of it? No. Could the cars lined up be better handled? Yes. Should there have been so much annoyance? No. There were many problems and I agree it was a great event, but hardcore cyclists got the best out of it. Poor drivers who may have wanted to cycle will probably never consider it again. I'm not on the fence with this one: it was great but pointless.
Thank you for these lovely pictures!
Ealing is a very beautiful area and I really enjoyed my cycle ride. It was nice to see Mr Ranger there too and meet some very nice people. I found many like-minded friends on the day and only had the experience soured by those who were really angry about it. I think the planning could have been better but thank you for allowing me to explore Ealing like never before, on bike and probably like it never will be able to again.
Superevent. Cheers Bozza.
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