Barnet Council have offered free cycle skills training with a qualified instructor from February – but residents have complained about the borough’s road conditions.
The one-to-one cycle skill’s training is tailored to each individual’s ability, with basic, urban, advanced, and family lessons and it has been offered to people aged 16 or over who live, work or study in Barnet.
Although there is the 3.2km long A1000 cycle lane through Finchley and Golders Green, the rest of Barnet has not been catered for.
Barnet resident, Mark Warren, 60, said: “When you come to Barnet it’s like pothole city.”
Warren cycles an hour to work in central London on a Brompton bike and has had incidents with the poor road conditions.
Warren said: “It would benefit to cater for bicycles.
“Most central boroughs are catering for cyclists but barely over this side, there’s nothing at all.”
It is understood that it would not be easy to implement cycle lanes due to road congestion, according to Warren.
However, fixing potholes would make cycling and driving safer for all road users.
The potholes just before the Brent Cross flyer caused Warren to have hospital treatments around six years ago.
And last year Warren broke his wrist from a cycling accident due to the poor road conditions.
This resulted in a surgery and now he is waiting for the second round of surgery.
Warren said: “It’s not nice when you get taken to hospital.”
Although the cycle lessons aim to improve skills and confidence, Warren believes there should be a focus on improving safety.
Warren added: “To train cyclists, you’ve got to be able to give them safe conditions for cycling as well.”
Cycling benefits the mind and the environment because it is a great exercise to help reduce the use of vehicles which can cause pollution.
Warren said: “I really enjoy it and also just for fitness purposes as well.
“You don’t get too much fitness when your working in front of your computer.”
Barnet Council has been contacted for comment.
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