Monthly Archives: January 2014

DLR welcomes cyclists aboard following successful trial

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Transport for London (TfL) has today announced that, following a successful trial, non-folding bicycles are now permitted on off-peak Docklands Light Railway (DLR) trains on a permanent basis.  More than 5,000 cyclists travelled with their bikes on the DLR during a successful trial period that started in July 2013.

The bike trial on the DLR is part of the Mayor’s Vision for Cycling in London, the £913m plan to transform the Capital into a city where cycling is a key part of everyday life. Welcomed by cyclists and cycling campaign groups, allowing bikes on the DLR has opened up many new areas of London to cyclists.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “Opening up the Docklands Light Railway to cyclists will be a great boost to the cycling community and make it much more convenient for cyclists to cross the river. This is another important step forward in our mission to make it easier for more people to get cycling in the capital.”

DLR Director Rory O’Neill, said: “All cyclists are now welcome to use DLR services during off-peak hours and at all time on weekends and Bank Holidays. This follows our successful six-month trial during which the London Cycling Campaign provided advice and assistance. I’d like to thank them for their co-operation and input during the trial.”

Serco Docklands Managing Director Kevin Thomas, said: “As DLR’s operator we are delighted to have successfully introduced bicycles onto the railway as another improvement for DLR customers”.

London CC Chief Executive Ashok Sinha said: “We’re delighted to have participated in the trial, and that Transport for London has agreed to allow off-peak cycles on the DLR permanently. This measure will open up new areas of the city to the many Londoners who ride bicycles and provide valuable cross-river links, encouraging more daily cycle journeys.”

Cycling on London’s main roads has risen by 173 per cent since 2001 and this plan will help double the level cycling over the next 10 years. To support this growth, the Mayor and TfL last year announced a range measures to achieve the many aspects of the Vision.

A Central London cycling grid is currently being consulted on; it is a network of 60 miles of quieter routes to encourage less confident cyclists onto their bikes. An additional 80,000 cycle parking spaces will also be installed in residential locations, stations, workplaces and other trip destinations by 2016.

Later this spring, innovative ideas by outer London boroughs will be rewarded when the Mayor announces the winner of his Mini-Holland fund to create cycling havens, delivering dramatic and transformational pro-cycling change.

For more information on the Mayors Cycling Vision, please visit www.tfl.gov.uk/cyclingvision

  • Folding bicycles are permitted on the DLR at all times, including during peak hours.
  • From 27 January 2014, non-folding bicycles will be allowed on DLR trains from Monday to Friday during off-peak hours (not between 07.30 and 09.30 or 16.00 and 19.00) and all day at weekends and bank holidays.
  • We are consulting on plans for a Central London Grid, a mixture of quietways and superhighways in Central London. For more information and to comment on these proposals, please visit http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/29172.aspx
  • For safety reasons, bicycles are not allowed on trains travelling between Shadwell and Bank stations

 

LONDON AQUATICS CENTRE Opens 1st March – Book sessions from Monday 20th January

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The London Aquatics Centre, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will be a vibrant and accessible facility open to the whole community. Following its transformation after the Games the facility will open on 1st March 2014.

The world class former Olympic venue will house two 50m pools, a 25m diving pool, a state-of-the-art gym and a creche. We are working with British Swimming / Amateur Swimming Association to develop performance programmes for all Aquatic disciplines based on the successful Beacon model. We are also working with British Swimming who are planning to use the centre regularly as an international training venue for elite athletes.

In addition we will be playing host to a number of National and International sporting events throughout the year. The venue also includes catering and meeting room facilities.View the timelapse build of the iconic venue.

Activities

Swimming

  • 01 Mar 2014 – 20 Mar 2019

The Aquatics Centre will have a 50m x 10-lane Olympic competition pool and a 50m x 8-lane training pool. Both pools have moveable floors and booms for greater flexibility.

Diving

  • 01 Mar 2014 – 31 Mar 2019

A separate 25m diving pool with 1m, 3m, 5m, 7.5m and 10m platforms, along with 1m and 3m springboards. There will also be also a separate dry land training facility with trampoline, springboards, foam pits and harness.

Gym

  • 01 Mar 2014 – 31 Mar 2019

A 50 station gym with state-of-the-art Technogym kit with stretch and free weights area will be installed for public use with a fantastic view of the competition pool. Affordable memberships will be available to purchase in advance from 20th January. Keep an eye on the website for further updates.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – EXPLORE MORE OF THE PARK FROM 5 APRIL

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Explore the south of the Park for the first time since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Enjoy the newly landscaped parklands, fountains and waterways, Aquatics Centre, ArcelorMittal Orbit, walking trails, arts and events and children’s play areas.

From 5 April 2014, there will be lots more to explore at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Experience London’s newest open space as the Park and its venues continue to open.

This spring, one of the Park’s most exciting areas will open to the public – the new parklands in the south of the Park.  From 5 April, you can:

  • Relax among the beautiful parklands, fountains and waterways designed by internationally renowned landscape architects
  • Take advantage of world-class sporting venues made famous during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including the Aquatics Centre and Lee Valley VeloPark
  • Experience 25 public artworks across the Park and cultural events in new and exciting spaces
  • Get a new perspective on London from the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the UK’s tallest sculpture at 114.5 metres
  • Walk four new interactive trails covering the London 2012 Games, nature and biodiversity, education and art and culture
  • Let your kids run free in new play areas offering everything from climbing walls to sandpits and giant fountains
  • Eat and drink at the Podium or one of a number of kiosks along the Park’s new promenade, lined with 100 mature trees

 What’s open now?

You don’t need to wait until 5 April to visit.

The northern part of the Park and the Copper Box Arena have been open since July 2013, and we’ve seen more than a million visitors since then to these and to the series of concerts, festivals and sporting events we held over the summer.

If you visit the park today, you will be able to:

 What is open when?

Opening dates for venues across the Park this spring are as follows:

If you’re planning to visit these venues when they open, we suggest booking online where possible – see individual pages for more information.

Please be aware that while we complete the building and landscaping work across the Park some access has to be restricted.

For information on how to find us, see travelling to the Park.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in numbers

 

 

Girl Chewing Gum – John Smith – 1976

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The Girl Chewing Gum is a 1976 British short film directed by John Smith. The film is widely acknowledged as one of the most important avant-garde films of the 20th century.[1]

The film was inspired by a scene in François Truffaut‘s 1973 film Day for Night in which the director gives instructions to the actors, and even tells a dog to urinate on a lamppost.[2]