East London Cyclist Archives
The newsletter of Tower Hamlets London Cycling Campaign Group
December 2001 - January 2002
Hello Tower Hamlets cyclists!
After a bit of a break, welcome once again to our newsletter. There are some new faces at the Wheelers helm so this is just a short note of introduction from a few of us you may not know.
My name's Owen Pearson and I've taken over as borough co-ordinator from Gary Cummins. Thankfully for us Gary is only taking a back seat and will still be around to offer his experience and support.
I'm also pleased to introduce Alix Stredwick who will be editing and producing our newsletter and Alex Leighton-Goodall who will be looking after Wheelers events.
We hope to be able to meet some (perhaps all!) of you soon at one of our monthly meetings or "second Saturday of the month" rides. Please feel free to contact us
with anything to do with cycling in Tower Hamlets - we will do our best to help out.
Safe cycling!
Owen Pearson
owen@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
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Campaigning success: London Cycle Network
The threat to the budget for the London Cycle Network has now been averted as Transport for London (TfL) has decided to ear-mark £8 million for cycling initiatives that the boroughs can spend money on.
This is a welcome turn-around by TfL who were trying to save money by cutting the amount dedicated for cycling projects, because they had gone over-budget with their transport proposals.
Thankfully the LCC got right on the case and mobilised its local groups (like us!) and other supporters to persuade TfL otherwise. LCC 'central' provided the intellectual material for all the LCC groups to write to their GLA representatives.
The GLA member for East London and the City is John Biggs, and Wheelers members emailed and wrote to him (copying to TfL, LCC, and our MPs). We expressed our shock at this move and urged him to use his powers to convince TfL to change its mind.
What a fantastic relief that TfL did - imagine if completion of the LCN was held up by the very authority that was championing cycling in the Mayor's Transport Strategy?
With all its faults, the LCN has been proven to increase cycling, and in Tower Hamlets there are four schemes that the council is bidding for, totalling £415,000.
These are:
Hackney Road - Old Ford Road - proposed route
Grove Road - Burdett Road - route completion
Royal Mint Street - segregation
Vallance Road - Canon Street route - upgrading
You can get a very good cycle map of the Tower Hamlets area by contacting the Transportation Team at LB Tower Hamlets tel 020 7364 6991.
We wish the transportation team luck in their bids for these schemes, and we'll keep you posted.
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Bike Shop Project
If you know a friendly bike shop that might be interested in supporting the LCC by selling London Cyclist and/or LCC memberships, or just putting up posters, then please let us know! This a central LCC office initiative and they have asked for our help in our local area.
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Monthly Bike Ride
We're doing social rides on the second Saturday of every month. Please do come along and join in! They started at the end of this summer when a couple of us on the Tower Hamlets Wheelers email list decided that we wanted to get together to go out in the last of the warm summer air.
We've taken the train from Liverpool Street national rail station out to Chelmsford and other Essex towns and cycled about 25-30 miles in a big loop on the Herts/Essex border. The photos here are from a glorious day when the weather was amazing - just right for cycling. [Photos from the ride.] We've also cycled a more local route, from the Green Bridge at Mile End down to Greenwich and eastwards along the Thames Path's cycle route.
Normally our Events organiser Alex leads the rides but anyone can suggest a route
or lead a ride. Please get in touch with Alex if you would like to do this: email alex@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk (or phone Owen on 020 7515 9905).
The next ride is on Saturday, 12 January (work off that Christmas pud!) and Alix will be organising it. Phone 07712 471411 or email alix@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk for details.
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Monthly Meetings
At the moment we're meeting monthly at the Docklands Sailing Centre, Westferry Road E14 [map]. The next one is Monday 7 January at 7:30pm. It's another good chance for us to get to know each other and become a more effective force for change. We're a friendly bunch so do just turn up. [Notes from previous meetings.]
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Cycle Count
On Thursday, 10 January we will be carrying out a cycle count in the borough. Gathering such data is excellent way to illustrate cycle use at specific locations (mainly junctions/gyratories) and then can be used as a tool to campaign for improvements in cycling facilities.
The number of locations will can cover will depend on the number of volunteers so please let us know if you are available anytime during the morning and evening rush hours - even half an hour would be great. Contact Alex or Owen is you would like to help out.
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New Year's Meal
Also on Thursday, 10 January we're having our New Year's meal at a local Chinese restaurant. We want to banish those post-Christmas blues, so please do join in and come along. Contact Alex for details.
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Cycling Concerns in Tower Hamlets
"What are your top three cycle gripes in Tower Hamlets?"
The new committee is itching to get on the case and take some action! Please tell us problems that you encounter that are specific to the borough, like a particularly dangerous junction. Or, let us know an area in Tower Hamlets where you think there is a good opportunity to tackle a general problem like too much traffic. If you could suggest solutions as well, that would be even better!
Please use the online form which will send your concerns straight to Owen or email him at wheelers@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
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