Barriers moved

The saga of the barriers at the BMX track by Teddington Lock may be coming to an end, and with the correct solution.

The barriers were intended to protect the path but were erected next to the BMX track, and away from the path, which caused annoyance for the track users. The moved barriers are now alongside the path, where they should be.

The movement of the barriers has reinstated the long run-up to the jumps and hopefully the users of the tracks and of the path will be happy.

Barrier removed

There was some controversy when barriers were erected to segregate the BMX track by Teddington Lock from the main path through Ham Lands as their placement unnecessarily inhibited the run-up to the main jumps. Richmond Council recognised that this was an error and proposed to move some of the barriers but somebody did not wait and the offending barrier has been removed to reinstate the run-up.

Barriers at Ham Lands BMX Track

There had been concerns about how some users of the BMX track by Teddington Lock were taking extended run-ups which increased the risk of contact with walkers (and dogs) and also caused the path to spread into areas of rare plants. The end result is that Richmond Council have installed a line of barriers along the edge of the BMX track to try and stop this.

There is a long story here, and I do not know all of it, but I can at least record was has been done. I can also note that the barriers at the far end here are a long way from the path that they are meant to be protecting.

 

One positive is that they are a useful place to put your bike when not using it.

Alien landscape

I keep coming back to Lock Jumps Club by Teddington Lock because the shapes are dramatic and I love the concept of the club, all this has been built by local people. On the damp day I took this a group of boys were repairing some of the jumps that had been damaged by falling rain and bouncing bikes.

Bigger jumps

Every time that I go the Lock Jumps Club down by Teddington Lock it has grown bigger and more exciting. This jump on the North edge of is almost as tall as me.

The enthusiasm and effort that have gone in to building up the complex of jumps is obvious and is to be applauded. I just wish that I was young enough to have a go myself!

Lock Jumps Club

I've been a fan of the increasingly brutal BMX course by Teddington Lock for years (you can look up the earlier posts yourself) and have watched its growth with interest. The latest development is this bold sign proudly claiming the course for the Lock Jumps Club.

BMX

A closer look at the BMX track created by the locals down by Teddington Lock shows just how tall and steep some of the ramps are. They also make an architecturally interesting landscape.

Serious BMX jumps

Just over a year ago when I took a photograph of the home-made BMX circuit by Teddington Lock it was little more than a few small bumps but now it has developed into something really serious. There are more and bigger bumps and a curved bank at the far end.

BMX track

Just off Teddington Lock there used to be a superb place for children to play on their bikes with a big "U" shaped dip that they could easily whiz down one side and free-wheel up the other, going the other way was much harder! This was safe for the children (I went down it with a toddler on the back of my bike) and was far enough away from the path not to interfere with pedestrians but Richmond Council did not like the idea of children speeding on bikes and they cruelly filled the dip in. The kids have retreated back from the path just a few meters and have created this BMX track to play on instead.