Cycle Protest

Assemble 9.30 am
for departure 9.50 am latest
Greenwich 10.30am
London Bridge 11.30am

Combine promotion of cycling with urging the US to join international action on Climate Change by being part of the bike ride from Thames Barrier to Lincoln’s Inn Fields (linking up with the march to the American Embassy). More than 120 groups have been contacted about this ride (and thousands of leaflets distributed) and we hope for a good turnout. Hope to see you on the day!

The Thames Barrier was constructed to defend London from tidal surge flooding. Each year it has to be used more and more. It is thought that Global Warming - with rising sea levels and more severe storms and winds - may mean it has to be rebuilt bigger - at immense cost - by the 2030s. It symbolises the threat that the destabilisation of global climate (and the sabotage of international action to deal with it by the Bush administration) poses to all of us who live in London.

The Start: the Thames Barrier (left of Southgate House, Thames Barrier). 

Please get to the start on time as on this ride we have a schedule to keep to.

We need to leave soon after 9.30am so try to arrive by 9am to allow time to affix placards, etc.

To get to the Thames Barrier from Charlton Rail: turn left down Charlton Church Road, and cross the dual carriageway to carry on down Anchor and Hope Lane, past the small roundabout right down to the river at the bottom. Turn right along the riverside path to the Barrier (Thames Barrier Trail Stop Number 6). Trains to Charlton run from London Bridge and Charing Cross. The 8.30am from London Bridge (8.22am from Charing Cross) reaches Charlton at 8.44am.
The Barrier is also 20 mins ride from North Woolwich Rail station (north of the river on the North London Line) via the Woolwich Foot Tunnel (which states no cycling). It’s probably best to then go by road. Woolwich Church St, Woolwich Rd and turn right down Eastmoor St, then bear to the left of Southgate House, Thames Barrier onto the Thames Path overlooking the Barrier by Thames Barrier Trail Stop Number 6.[The Thames Path from North Woolwich is a temporary path, fairly unrideable at the present time]

Please note for cyclists coming from north of the river, the Woolwich Foot Tunnel and Greenwich Foot Tunnel are really the only ways over the Thames at this point. Both Foot Tunnels have lifts and both state no cycling. If taking the longer route via Greenwich Foot Tunnel, go to Island Gardens for the tunnel. Once in Greenwich take College Place, King William Walk and left into Romney Road, Trafalgar Road, Woolwich Road, turning left into Anchor and Hope Lane (instructions as from Charlton). Allow 30mins approx from Island Gardens to the Barrier.Remember, no cycles on DLR.

The Route

From the Barrier along the river path to Anchor and Hope Lane, turn left to roundabout, along Bugsby Way into Gallions Road, turn right into Woolwich Road, then Trafalgar Road, Romney Road, Nelson Road, to Greenwich Church Street. If joining the ride at Greenwich, be by the phone boxes by the Church of St Alphege in Greenwich Church Street at 10.30am. Turn left into Creek Road, Evelyn Street, Bestwood Street, Bush Road, Rotherhithe New Road, bear right into Rotherhithe Old Road, Lower Road, Jamaica Road, Tooley Street, Duke Street Hill, right onto London Bridge. If joining the ride at London Bridge, ‘Number 2’ London Bridge (south side of the bridge) might be a good place to join. The ride should arrive at 11.30am approx. Then King William St, Cannon Street, Queen Victoria Street, Friday Street, St Paul’s Churchyard, Ludgate Hill, Fleet Street, Chancery Lane, Carey Street and Serle Street to Lincoln’s Inn Fields, 12.15 approx.

The nature of the ride

The bike ride is approximately 8½ miles long and will take about 2½ hours. It is flat (there are slight inclines on Creek Road, Greenwich, Fleet St and Chancery Lane, and a slight decline on Ludgate Hill). The first section from the Barrier to Greenwich will probably be pedalled at no more than 6mph and thereafter slower all the way. There are no steps on the chosen route. Cycle maintenance is up to each rider, but there are four bike shops on the route:

• Discount Cycles, Trafalgar Road, Greenwich
• Robinsons, Jamaica Road
• On Your Bike, Tooley St  (the above three are on the same side of the road as the ride)
• Evans Cycles, Duke St Hill (opposite side of road)

Parking at US Embassy

Update Dec 1 -  The police say that there will be barriers in place along the northern side of Grosvenor Square that can be used for padlocking cycles to.  (Police - thinking about cycle parking - what ever next?)

Information

For information about the ride, call Simon (who is navigating) on 07986 904748
For information on Campaign Against Climate Change call 0207 549 0395 or 07903 316331

>>>>> Help promote the Cycle Protest : to download the flyer click here