Although the percentage of children under 14 involved in cycle accidents has fallen, total numbers of accidents have increased in the area and the London borough of Brent has recently built a new cycle centre on a pair of disused tennis courts incorporating all the common hazards of urban roads. Voluntary commitment by contractors and a grant by the greater London council have helped to implement the project. Normal street furniture, including a bus stop, give way signs, a mini roundabout and natural hazards such as a sunken gulley are included so that the course has to be negotiated at a realistically low speed. The local council believe that the new centre will reinforce their 20 year old `Brentinis' club for the under fives. Cycling throughout the borough has been suppressed by competition with cars on a congested road system. Brent therefore are currently evaluating three cycle routes - one to pass near shops and schools east to west across the borough, a second bypassing a very busy major route and the other following the route of the grand union canal.
Samenvatting