News on Railton Neighbourhood

Community Parklets

January and February saw the installation of 5 Community Parklets!

Meristem’s team braved the winter weather and installed the first batch of parklets. The parklets will serve as community hubs for residents, who have reached out to let us know how they have brightened the street. The parklets provide spaces for socialising and rest where previously there has been none.

The individual parklets have taken different shapes depending on how the residents want to use them. One group of residents wanted there to be plenty of space so they can bring out their own chairs to socialise in the evenings as they started doing during lockdown.

Another group of residents chose to have their parklet serve as a memorial to a neighbour who had contributed a lot to their community. They chose to honour her memory by applying for the parklet and uniting their neighbours around this new space.

If you and your community would like a parklet on your street you can find out more information on the Big Shift Website.

Cycling support

As spring is just around the corner, why not try out something new and give cycling a go? The Big Shift has several projects to help both experienced and inexperienced cyclists get on their bikes.

Check out what support is available below.

Bike Markets

Bring along your outgrown, unwanted bikes to the market and put them to good use and donate them to a great project.

All donated bikes will be serviced by upCYCLE and checked by a qualified mechanic to ensure they are in good working order. The bikes will then be sold at bike markets run by Peddle My Wheels, with 100% of all sales proceeds going back to upcycle.

Check out the upcoming sessions here.

Dr Bike

Experienced mechanics will give your bike a FREE safety check.

Qualified mechanics check everything on your bike from wheels, brakes, gears, and tyre pressure, to lights, racks, pedals, saddles, and more.

For anything that can’t be fixed there and then, the mechanic will explain what needs doing and provide an estimated cost to fix at a bike shop.

Check out the upcoming sessions here.

Free cycle training is available for anyone who lives, works, or studies in Lambeth.

• Private 1-1 sessions, family sessions, or group sessions.

• From beginner sessions in an off-road environment, to advance sessions dealing with complex junctions.

• Assistance with planning routes to wherever you’d like to go, and then cycling them with an instructor.

Book your session at www.cycleconfident.com

Try Before You Bike

Try Before You Bike is a user-friendly scheme that is specifically designed to encourage people to cycle.

• Pay monthly for a bike (including hybrid, folding bikes, e-bikes, e-cargo bikes, and adaptive bikes).

• Free delivery to your door with accessories (helmet, lights, and lock), and bespoke training session.

• You have the option to purchase the bike, or it can be collected for free if you decide the bike is not for you.

Find out more at www.peddlemywheels.com

Ourbike

OurBike is a community cargo bike share scheme where you can hire an electric cargo bike by the hour.

• Costs just £3 per hour to rent and can travel up to 50km on a full charge.

• The cargo bikes can carry up to two kids, or all kinds of cargo from furniture to food deliveries.

• Seven bikes located across the borough.

Find your nearest OurBike and sign up at www.ourbike.co.uk