East London Cyclist Archives
The newsletter of Tower Hamlets London Cycling Campaign Group
December 2000 - January 2001
Green Bridge 1
You'll probably read about the London Cycle Network awards in London Cyclist. How the Green Bridge over Mile End Road didn't win this year I do not know! This is the second time that I have nominated a cycle/footbridge in Tower Hamlets for the "Best new cycling facility" category in the annual LCC awards, and the second time we failed to back a winner.
Two years ago we put forward the "butterfly bridge" in Limehouse, a rather beautiful and practical answer to crossing the Rotherhithe Tunnel approach road, for the same award. Well, sour grapes aside, the green bridge is still a wonderful project, and any minor problems with it (see below) are due to be rectified, and then it will be even better.
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Green Bridge 2
Only in a country, so antagonistic toward cycling as a mode of transport could one see a bicycle path forced to incorporate speed humps. It's happened here, in that wonderful green oasis, Mile End Park.
At the summer opening ceremony of the Green Bridge, carrying the segregated footpath/cycle path over the Mile End Road, Tower Hamlets borough co-ordinator Gary Cummins heard the first rumblings of discontent regarding speed humps for cyclists. The bumps are too big! Are we on the footpath! These could damage the bikes.
Although the cycle path is on a separate track to the footway, rows of cobblestones have been laid across the cycle path at intervals, supposedly to slow down cyclists. The effect they have had is to make cyclists use the footpath running parallel to the cycle way. The cobbles are reclaimed bricks, some having quite pronounced edges.
This was born out when Gary, local cycling officer Gwyn Owen and Tower Hamlets LCC member Mark Butland met with Mile End Park representative Lorraine Hart on the Green Bridge in September to discuss the problem.
The rumble strips are there to slow cyclists on the descent from the Green Bridge, Lorraine said. Gary pointed out that his group, despite being involved in discussions over the cycleway for some years had never been informed of any "rumble strips". He also asked for precedents for installation of these measures, citing Hyde Park as an example of shared pedestrian/cycle use, with no speed humps.
Clearly, those who argued for the speed humps to be put in place in Mile End Park were ignorant of any facts and research regarding mixed use tracks, and it appears that the installation had gone ahead to placate perceived fears of cyclists crashing into pedestrians, although for much of the time, the two paths are separated by greenery.
While we were in discussion on the bridge, several cyclists passed by, some clearly cycling across gaps in the greenery to use the footpath, (to avoid the cobbles?).
However, as Gwyn used a rule to measure the depth of the stones Lorraine agreed that some of the stones were too pronounced, and in some cases had not been set in the ground at the correct depth, variations of between 5-20mm were evident. Lorraine is now arranging for all the stones to be relaid to a depth of 10mm.
It is hoped that this will be low enough not to damage the wheel rims of our bikes, or to discourage cyclists from using the cycle path and resorting to the footway.
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Free Bike Training
As part of it's commitment to The Millennium Festival of Cycling, LBTH Transportation Department thoughtfully agreed to pay for ten people to be taught to ride a bicycle.
There are plenty of adults in the borough who would cycle, and we know the biggest deterrent to riding a bike in London is fear of motor traffic. While training will not remove that danger, it may give newcomers to cycling the confidence to at least try using a cycle. Some of these free lessons were given out at the Mile End Park festival, but surprisingly there are a few places still going begging. If you have a friend or partner living in the borough who has never had the nerve to get on a bike, ask them to give cycle training a call and mention the Tower Hamlets free lesson.
Cycle training 020 7564 5990
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Time to go
After only the smallest amount of thought, and a great sigh I have decided to throw in the towel as borough co-ordinator of the group.
It is short notice but I honestly feel that I am running out of steam, and frankly, enthusiasm for the task.
I took this role on about six or seven years ago jointly with Duncan, since then he has moved to Lambeth, I carried on, enjoying the solo experience.
In the past, some of you have e-mailed, phoned and chatted to me in the street saying how much you enjoy the newsletter, (despite the horrible spelling mistakes, incorrect dates etc) I think that this has been one of the more successful things I have managed to do. As well as that, I hope my letter writing and meeting with the borough burghers has provoked some thought on the part of our councillors and officers, and I know I have been successful in some road scheme modifications, the limited improvements to Cable Street being one example.
However I have not been successful in motivating THLCC as a group, and I hope if somebody volunteers to come forward to take on this role, they will do better than me. The most I managed to achieve was getting some of you to attend a few summer barbecues, which was fun, but hardly resulted in gelling together a hardcore bunch of activists.
I do want to continue campaigning for the group, although, in a more specific role, perhaps dealing directly with our borough officers on highway, traffic and engineering matters, and reporting back to a new borough co-ordinator. I'd also like to get out on my bicycle more!
We are fortunate here in Tower Hamlets, having a decent bunch of traffic officers working for our council, Gwyn Owen is an excellent cycling officer, who does ride a bicycle, Tom McCourt and Margaret Cooper are also very decent officers who are doing difficult jobs, and naturally cannot magically create road space for cycles when the government wants more road capacity for cars created.
That is why I keep nagging all of you to write letters to these people. If more letters arrive on their desks demanding cycle facilities they will take notice.
So, it is now up to you all, if one of you feels like becoming borough co-ordinator, I will give all the help and advice I can. There is a junctions campaign due to start soon, so we need someone quickly - call me:
Gary Cummins 020 7265 9095
In the meantime, have a good yuletide season, and safe cycling to you all.
To misquote Matthew, cometh the hour...
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The new mayor
At the last borough co-ordinators forum held at the LCC offices, we had a briefing from Peter Lewis, who had just come from a meeting with Mayor Livingstone. At the risk of duplicating some info which may be mentioned in LC magazine, I'll repeat it here:
Ken is committed to increasing cycling, and hitting the 10% modal share on London roads, currently the national figure is 2%.
He promised to take the project management of the LCN (London Cycle Network, that list of stringy, weaving back street cycle routes) within TfL (Transport for London).
LCC will have a cyclist adviser to the TfL Board as part of a panel of experts.
TfL will set up a cycling project team within TfL.
TfL will become a "centre of cycling excellence"! Supporting and advising boroughs etc, cycle auditing all schemes, promoting, monitoring, marketing etc cycling.
TfL will take control of and fully resource what is now the London Cycling Forum
TfL will fund the rest of LCC's maps - to cover the whole of Greater London (details to be arranged).
TfL "should be working closely with LCC to work out who should be delivering what services in relation to cycling".
TfL will take over and implement facilities if boroughs are not delivering.
TfL will be setting up an extensive cycle training programme within TfL - to spread to boroughs in due course.
Well, that all looks great, frankly, I'll believe it when I see it. The first flaw I spotted was that Derek Turner - formerly 'Traffic Director for London' has been appointed by Ken to head TfL. Mr Turner is no friend of the bicycle, and, has, up to now been only concerned with creating more road capacity for motor cars, to the cost of all else - cyclists and pedestrians included.
Will TfL become a centre of cycling excellence?
Under Derek Turner - motorcycling excellence maybe.
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The cycle and its medical foes
There are many persons who fail to distinguish between use and abuse, and their erroneous reasoning becomes especially conspicuous when they criticise a fashion like bicycling. The experience of the last few years has sufficiently proved that the bicycle is an excellent instrument for exercise. It has once more made familiar our old roads and the grass-grown streets of sleepy country towns.
For the middle-aged it is less fatiguing than walking; in youth it is an admirable resource. In France the bicycle has done wonders, as those who remember Paris or Fontainebleau thirty years ago can bear witness, if they once more revisit that part of the world. The native has given up sugared water, dominoes, and gudgeon fishing for the bicycle.
Woman has profited greatly by this invention, and as the race of English women is manifestly improving in strength and beauty, cycling cannot be doing them much harm. On the contrary, when properly used, it is probably of great benefit to them.
The bicycle, however, as was to be expected, has found its detractors. D'Alessandro, in the Policlinico, declares that it is a dangerous exercise for women. He believes that the only ladies who should stride the wheel are such as are obese, apathetic, or past the climacteric. Should his advice be followed the aspect of a West End thoroughfare or a road in the Thames Valley would at once undergo a very manifest modification, for the most picturesque element would be entirely obliterated.
(British Medical Journal 1898)
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LCC East London Groups - events and rides
21 January 2001
Essex Sunday Ride
Pub or pack lunch meet Harold Wood Station
Bernadine 01708 453482
28 January 2001
Sunday Little Green Ride
30 miles approx Meet 9.30 am Walthamstow Central Library
Geoffrey 020 8531 6075
18 February 2001
Essex country ride - 20 miles
Meet Romford station 9.45 am
Keith Hudson 01708 766084
25 February 2001
Towpath ride to Waltham Abbey
Walthamstow Central Library 10.30 am
Geoffrey 020 8531 6075
4 March 2001
Central London ride to discover where the famous lived and died
Des 020 8923 9153
25 March 2001
Ride to Navestock Essex, meet Brentwood station 11.15 am
Geoffrey 020 8531 6075
3 June 2001
Beatles in London - A Magical Mystery Tour
Walthamstow Central Libray 10.00am
Tony 020 8558 3801
You are all welcome to these events, but let the organiser know you plan to attend, there may be limited numbers.
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