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5 things to know as the Tour de France hits London

By WTOP Staff

JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — It may be as French as camembert, but the Tour de France is coming to London. Almost 200 speeding cyclists are set to race past the city’s greatest landmarks, from the Tower of London to the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace.

The world’s greatest cycling race spends most of its three weeks and 3,664 kilometers (2,277 miles) in France, but occasionally holds a few of its 21 stages outside the country. This year’s event kicked off Saturday with two days in the hills and dales of Yorkshire in northern England. On Monday, competitors race from Cambridge to London, where they are guaranteed a warm welcome.

Here are five things to know before the peloton sweeps through the British capital.

‘VIVE LA FRANCE’ A LONDRES

London is home to as many as 300,000 French people and Mayor Boris Johnson has claimed it is the sixth-biggest French city.

London’s French residents range from students and artists to Internet entrepreneurs and bankers fleeing France’s high tax rates on the wealthy. The city has French bakeries, bookshops and kindergartens, as well as French-speaking dentists and plumbers. In 2012, a Londoner was even elected to the French legislature — Axelle Lemaire.

LONDON LOVES LE TOUR

Londoners love a chance to get outside and cheer, whether it’s a marathon or a royal wedding. When the Tour’s kickoff, the “Grand Depart,” came to London in 2007, 1 million people lined the streets.

That event gave a big boost to British cycling and an infusion of national lottery cash has helped make the country a powerhouse in the sport. U.K. cycling heroes include sprint ace Mark Cavendish, six-time Olympic gold medalist Chris Hoy and two Tour de France champions — 2012 winner Bradley Wiggins and 2013 champ Chris Froome.

Froome, of Team Sky, is one of the favorites to win again this year.

LONDON IS A CYCLING CAPITAL

London is famous for black cabs, red buses — and blue bikes.

The city launched a cycle-sharing program in 2010 modeled on Paris’s Velib scheme. London’s 10,000 rental cycles are a common sight on the streets, used by commuters and tourists alike — and dubbed “Boris Bikes” after the cycle-loving mayor.

While London’s frenetic traffic can be daunting, thousands of people commute by bike each day. They include Prime Minister David Cameron, who before he moved to Downing Street was known to pedal to Parliament from his west London home.

Cameron is part of a growing social group — MAMILS, or middle-aged men in lycra.

BICYCLES ARE BRITISH

The origins of the bicycle are contested, but if Britain didn’t invent the bike, it was crucial to its development. The earliest versions of the two-wheeled vehicle required riders to propel it along the ground with their feet. In the 1830s, a Scottish blacksmith named Kirkpatrick MacMillan had a dash of inspiration and added pedals.

By the late 19th century, Britain was a major bike manufacturer, with companies such as Rover and Raleigh sending cycles around the world. The vast majority of bikes are now made overseas, but Britain is still home to successful cycle firms, including folding-bike manufacturer Brompton.

BRITAIN CHERISHES A CHARACTER

Competitive cycling abounds with the sort of dogged, even eccentric, individuals that Britons adore.

The sport’s popularity in Britain owes a lot to Wiggins — not just a champion but a character, with his sideburns, Mod fashions and love of a pint or two.

Publicity around the Tour is leading Britons to rediscover unsung cycling heroes such as Beryl Burton, the subject of a new play. An indomitable Yorkshire native who funded her sport by picking rhubarb, Burton was Britain’s greatest 1960s and ’70s cyclist, a five-time world pursuit champion and holder of numerous records — including, for two years, the men’s 12-hour time trial record.

Burton died of heart failure in 1996 while delivering invitations by bike for her 59th birthday party.

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Follow Jill Lawless at http://Twitter.com/JillLawless

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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