www.whatshouldiputonthefence.co.uk

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The fence
The fence in question is in front of a brick wall in London (that's the UK - not Ontario). Behind the brick wall are three or four flats. We are talking London W1, right in the center of town, so when on the market they are no doubt expensive. There are rubbish bins behind the fence.

The area
Although it's a conservation area, there's no smart Georgian facade beyond the fence, just an ugly wall and those rubbish bins. Go on, have a look. Pretty ugly eh? The address is: Bentinck Mews, London W1.

I work nearby.

The story
In the summer last year (2000) I gave up on the poor rail service from where I live, and decided to try cycling the 12 or 14 miles to work (depending which route I take), and the 12 or 14 miles home. This is quite hard at my age, but I do get to go through Richmond Park. The journey takes around an hour, give or take 10 minutes.

I have fallen off my bike once (in Richmond Park).

Come back later to learn more about my bike and something exciting about the Albert Memorial.

I was feeling particularly pleased with myself on February 5th this year (2001). It was the day of the first tube strike, but I got to work on my bicycle as normal.

Whence came the problem:

What, on the day of a tube strike, has appeared on the fence that I have been locking my bike to for six months?

This notice:

HOWARD DE WALDEN ESTATES

Bicycles found parked against or chained to these railings will be removed without further notice

I don't believe it! I bet you were rather cross.

I didn't believe it - I was rather cross

• The fence is in a mews street, a bike attached to it does not cause an obstruction, pose a security risk, nor even obscure a pleasant view.
  
  
• There is no window on the property with a direct view of a bike attached to the fence.
  
  
• Only one bike was usually attached, always in office hours only.
  
  
• The Landlord had chosen a day when cycling was the most efficient means of transport to persecute - well me - for no reason at all, except that he could.

To cap it all, the day the notice went up this statement was released by the Conservative party:

Tories put their weight behind pedal power

The Conservative Party has launched a new cycling initiative as London's Underground system was crippled by industrial action.

Bernard Jenkin, the Shadow Transport Minister, donned fluorescent bicycle clips and a helmet to promote the new policy.

Mr Jenkin says that only 1% of all journeys in Britain are made by push-bike, compared with 6.6% in the Netherlands and 5.8% in Denmark.

He says: "Here is a day when the Tube is on strike and everybody is saying I wish I had a bike.

"We want people to see cycling as a choice. Many people will choose to use their bike more often if cycling was made safer and more convenient."

Monday 5th February 2001

Later you can look in the Cycling in London menu (on the left of this screen) for more information about cycling and the issues surrounding it.

Ok, now you can make a choice:

Hmm, you have a point, but I want to learn more about the Howard De Walden Estate area. OK, let's go back in time almost 1000 years
(don't worry, it's only about 400 words and there are pictures).