Damian Joins Tufnell Park Campaign Demanding Safe Cycling Routes – March 3, 2013

Homeland Star Damian Lewis Joins Tufnell Park Campaign Demanding Safe Cycling Routes

by Tom Marshall – Islington Gazette – March 3, 2013

TV star Damian Lewis turned out to support calls for a new cycle route in Tufnell Park this week.

Mr Lewis, the Golden Globe-winning star of acclaimed US series Homeland, who lives in Tufnell Park with actress wife Helen McCrory and their two young children, showed his backing by joining supporters outside the Tufnell Park Tavern, Tufnell Park Road, on Saturday.

Campaigners want to get more youngsters biking on a daily basis by creating a sign-posted route, linking six schools in the area.

They have proposed a three-mile circular route, which also takes in six parks and playgrounds, and plan to stage a family-friendly Tour de Tufnell Park ride next weekend to raise awareness.

Father-of-two David Lincoln, 45, of Huddleston Road, who is leading the Tufnell Park Cycles to School campaign, said: “The campaign was partly inspired by watching videos of Dutch children cycling to school on YouTube. They show what it could be like. The council’s own research has shown that 35 per cent of children would prefer to cycle to school, but less than three per cent actually do. We know the main reason is that our roads don’t look and feel safe. We are staging the Tour de Tufnell Park along the route to raise awareness, but also because there are upcoming by-elections in two Tufnell Park wards, and we’re trying to influence the local candidates.”

The tour takes place on Saturday, March 9, ahead of polls in Junction and St George’s wards on Thursday, March 21, triggered by the resignations of independent Arthur Graves and Labour’s Jessica Asato.

The proposed route would take in Tufnell Park Primary, Dalmeny Road; Yerbury Primary, Foxham Road; Holloway Secondary, Hilldrop Road; The Bridge School, Carleton Road and two schools in Camden, secondary Acland Burghley and primary Eleanor Palmer.

Read the rest of the original article at Islington Gazette