Suami is a cycling instructor in Islington, and just like Ben, he’s one of a kind. I cycled behind him and his … 1/5
children at the Winter Wonder Ride, and he had his hand on his tiny daughter’s shoulder the whole way round. She was just 4 at the time, cycling completely independently. It was just like in this photo.
Every time I think of it, it gets me in the stomach. He … 2/5
was there for her, but also teaching her such independence.
Suami is so passionate about cycling and the planet, and I can just imagine he would be the most amazing teacher. Here are his kids, happily cycling away 💙
… 3/5
He also coached all the #ClimateSafeStreets champions during the last election …
Suami does a job he loves because he’s a great person. The idea that his job is now up in the air, and he doesn’t know how he’s going to provide for his family, chokes me up every time I … 4/5
think about it 😭😭😭
Cycle Instructors make a huge difference to people’s lives in a short space of time, and are some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. We need many more- not fewer!!!
Before I even met @suamirocha, he used to send me little DM’s of routes to try when he saw stuff I’d done on Twitter, just because he thought it might help. That’s the kind of guy he is 💔💔
Here was @suamirocha on a night out with some cycling folks, with @JoRigby_Balham, @Twigletcycles, @Suzie_AS and others. You will see if you look down the thread, that he has the BEST EYEBROWS OF ALL TIME. As I noted at the time, even better than Andy Burnham’s 👌🏻👌🏻
Also, what is this Silvertown Tunnel nonsense? £2.2 bn for MORE SPACE FOR CARS. Are you friggen kidding me? Have you SEEN London? All it is is space for cars! Nothing but roads! So they’re going underneath for more space …. Why not go on top too? More car bridges yeah? 🙄🙄🙄
@SadiqKhan@willnorman what is this debacle tunnel idea. Much more important that people like @suamirocha and @rustytrike keep there jobs. There is NO WAY we need even more space for cars!!!
Unfortunately we didn’t make it all the way to the proper #KiddicalMass ride from the London Eye, as we had to stop to climb this treehouse. But have an amazing ride everyone. Can’t wait to see the pics and videos!!!
Sound on for the bells!!! This bit was lush too on the way to the feeder ride …
This was the 5 year- old’s first ever time cycling on a protected cycle Lane. Totally emosh! 🥲🥲🥲
She loved it. More please London!!!
@crisortunity@RailtonLTN I nearly cried. I asked the 5 yo what she thought of having her own Lane, one especially for cyclists. She was enjoying herself so much she only said one word. “Good”. 🥲🥲🥲
Hi @CarolineRussell this was her first ever protected cycle Lane. Drayton park 💙 My all time favourite.
My 5yo daughter asked to cycle on the road today (as she always does), because it’s so wide and not full of lamp-posts etc.
I chose a quiet stretch on a Sat morning and we rode 2 X 2. But within 30 seconds a driver hooted us to get out of their way. It made her jump. I … 1/3
asked her to pull over.
She asked me why we have to move out of the way of cars (drivers). It’s a good question. Because they are faster? Because they are making a more important journey? Because they are the King/Queen of the road?
Imagine seeing a 5 year old cycling … 2/3
and rather than thinking “HOW GREAT”, thinking “I’ll hoot them to get out of my way”.
Bring on the Low Traffic Neighbourhood in August, so my daughter can fulfil her dream of safely cycling to the park … 3/3
The story of funding cuts for cycle instructors in London has made the news- great article here, with interviews from @mikehakata, Ben @rustytrike and me.
At 19:30 this evening, when I was home alone with my kids- who were in the bath, I got a call from the police.
It was a policewoman from Wood Green Police Station. She said that a councillor had been in touch, and is considering filing a report of harassment against me … 1/7
because of the photos that I put on Twitter the other day. The Cllr apparently thought it was an infringement of their privacy.
The photos that I put up were not taken by myself, but they did potentially show 2 Haringey Labour Cllrs, and one Haringey Labour candidate … 2/7
drinking with someone who has been twice suspended from the party, Noah Tucker.
It is of course, coming up to the May elections, and a time when a lot of Labour Cllrs are being selected. As public figures, I thought it highlighted an important political point- that … 3/7