Staying safe on two wheels on the capital's dangerous streets (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Our reporter Joanna Kilvington gives her legs a workout learning cycle safety

10:00am Sunday 2nd August 2009 in News By Joanna Kilvington

I learned to ride a bike when I was four, determined to keep up with the other children who lived in my road.

After endless rides around the block with my parents running frantically behind as I cycled head-first into gates, walls and trees, I finally mastered the art. Ever since I’ve been a fan of hopping on my bike whenever I had any journeys to make in the area.

So far, for all my bike journeys I tended to stick to side roads and the peaceful paths of the River Thames.

But being about to move house from the quiet streets of Richmond for the hectic streets of Hackney, I got the chance to brush up on my cycling skills with a Transport for London cycle training session.

And TfL is keen to promote safe cycling as incidents involving bikers on the busy streets of the capital show no sign of slowing.

Last year, nine London cyclists lost their lives after being involved in accidents with lorries.

In Brentford, keen cyclist Michael Fletcher was killed after being knocked off his bike by a car near the Great West Trading Estate.

In a drive to bring the number of casualties down, TfL is urging people to sign up for free cycle training through their councils.

The sessions are individually tailored to each person’s needs and aim to teach cyclists how to deal with a wide range of traffic conditions.

Following a muddy cycle to Chiswick along the river in the rain, I met my instructor Andrea Eastwood at Chiswick Town Hall to begin our two-hour session.

She started off by giving my bike the ABC check – testing the air, brakes and chain.

While my brakes and chain passed the test, Andrea had to pump my tyres up and warned me it was time to get a new pair as they were way past their five-year life expectancy.

Andrea is one of a team of trainers who offer sessions available through Hounslow and Richmond councils.

The confident peddler got into cycling following a frightening experience on the underground in London.

She said: “I was evacuated from Bank [station] and had to go up three levels to get out. I thought ‘if there was a bomb there’s nothing to save me’.

“I thought ‘I don’t need to go down there, I can just cycle’. I don’t want to be a rat in the tube. That’s how it started.

“Cycling proved to be much quicker. You know how long it will take you to get to university or work. There’s no worrying about coming in late.”

As well as running school sessions with year five and six pupils, individual lessons are proving popular with adults who want to get back in the saddle.

Andrea said: “Lots of people are going back to cycling. I get a range or all ages, from complete beginners to people who want to save some money or be more active and get their fitness sorted out. Sometimes people just want a confirmation of what is allowed as a cyclist.”

Last year, nearly 6,000 adults and more than 39,000 children took TfL-funded cycle training. However, new research from TfL shows only three in 10 London cyclists have ever had cycle training.

I confessed that one of my main dislikes about cycling on roads was my lack of confidence when it comes to crossing busy junctions and attempting roundabouts. However Andrea assured there was no need to let cars bully me.

She said: “Cyclists have the same right to be on the road as the cars do and have the right to as much space.”

Once the check on my bike was over it was time to look at my skills as a cyclist.

Andrea pointed out the bad habits I had picked up over the years; habits that could put me at risk as a cyclist.

Firstly, she corrected the way I held on to the handles, making me tuck my thumb behind the handle, place two fingers on the brakes and leave the remaining two on the handles bars for maximum control.

As we took to the roads of Chiswick, Andrea quickly pulled me over to rectify my second bad habit – of cycling as close to the kerb and parked cars as possible.

She said cyclists should live by the rule “a width of a door and some more” to ensure they did not confuse drivers by weaving in and out of the road and would not be suddenly taken out by a driver opening their car door.

As we cycled around, Andrea pointed out the importance of observation and signalling and showed me how to safely turn into to busy roads and cross traffic.

Andrea said: “If you’re turning left into a road, look over your right shoulder, signal for three seconds and before you turn look over your left.

“You can often get other cyclists trying to overtake of pizza delivery boys whizzing past.

“We call it the lifesaver.”

The tips I received were all basic common sense but, as Andrea said, could prove to be lifesaving to cyclists on the road.

TfL is urging Londoners to sign up for the cycle training, which is available for free in Hounslow and for £15 in Richmond.

To find out how to take part in a cycle session in the Hounslow, visit citycycling.org, or urbanpedalpros.org.uk.

Richmond residents can find out training sessions by visiting smartertravel richmond.gov.uk or by calling 020 8487 5131.