East London Cycling Archives
The newsletter of Tower Hamlets London Cycling Campaign Group
September 2002
Campaigns
Success: Cable Street cycling facility will be restored!
We've achieved a success regarding the 'give way' markings on the Cable
Street cycle track that were added to the scheme, currently meaning that
side road traffic has priority over cycles on the main-road facility. We
think these markings totally undermine all the work and money spent on
creating a first-class cycling facility that is meant, we presume, to
encourage cycling by providing a fast, convenient and safe route.
It's now down to Tower Hamlets council to restore the facility because
regulations about priorities at junctions are changing. We found this out
at a meeting arranged by Lyndal Peters, cycling officer at the council
(London Borough of Tower Hamlets - LBTH). More background is on our
website, & here's a summary of the meeting:
On 28th August Owen (co-ordinator) and Alix (newsletter ed.) met with
LBTH and representatives from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and
London's Cycling Centre of Excellence to discuss cyclist/vehicle priority
issues on Cable Street's two-way cycle track between Cannon Street Road and
Leman Street.
Firstly the DfT confirmed that the regulation regarding give-way
priorities has now been revised. This will mean that cycle track users will
have priority over vehicles at track/road junctions as long as the cycle
track is on a raised 'traffic table' so that motorised traffic is forced to
slow down when approaching the junction. The new law should be in force by
the end of the year.
This news means that our campaign immediately switches directly to LBTH
as it will be up to them whether they redesign the layout.
We made it clear that we want the side street give-way line to be moved
back to the side street/cycle track boundary and the give-way markings on
the track to be removed completely.
There were some fundamental differences on how the various people in the
meeting viewed cycle safety - should traffic engineers encourage motorists
to drive more responsibly or just accept that they won't and put the onus on
the cyclist?
Many useful ideas were put forward by all parties, but the main sticking
point is how to solve the problem of a motorist turning right out of Cable
Street into a side road and potentially not looking for cyclists travelling
on the track in the same direction as the motorist, i.e. coming up on the
outside .
We discussed the examples in Camden (see
www.greengas.u-net.com/RCSCaseStudy.html) but kept hearing ridiculous
comments that the schemes are different as they aren't raised...
LBTH is to investigate signage arrangements to ensure that motorists
entering or leaving Cable Street are fully aware they will be crossing a
two-way cycle track. (When cycling off after the meeting, Owen spotted a
potential solution at the end of Southern Grove, where the council's traffic
& transportation department is housed!)
Finally, we handed over our 200+ strong petition to cycling officer
Lyndal Peters. We are very grateful that she arranged this meeting and we
had the chance to put our views forward to some key people in the cycling
world, face to face. Even with disagreements on how to create a safe
cycling environment, the meeting was constructive and we're confident that
the Cable Street track will be improved - watch this space!
Sign our Cable Street petition!
We presented over 200 signatures from our petition to LBTH and it's fair to
say they were suitably impressed! We have acheived agreement from LBTH that
two out of the three changes we want will be made but we still have to
convince them to agree to the final change. PLEASE SIGN IT NOW to add your
voice to the campaign and show support for this change! You can
'virtually' sign it at or email Alix who will send you one to print out
alix@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
Thank-you!!!
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Events
Car Free Day 2002
Car Free Day is on Sunday 22nd
September and Tower Bridge is one of the roads in London that will be closed
to cars. Do join in with the series of 'bicycle bus' rides that we're
leading down to Tower Bridge, in conjunction with Rick Sure's Rickshaws, who
are giving free rides as part of the festivities. Full detailed routes - maps and timetable!
Other features on the bridge include a 'beach' with sand and plam trees,
festival stalls, themed activities and of course Mayor of London Ken
Livingstone opening the event which starts at 2pm. Wheelers will be holding
a Dr Bike where you can get an 'MOT' for your cycle, an obstacle course (try
to weave your way through without putting your feet on the ground!) and
security bike marking which deters theives.
Hopefully see you there!
If you can help please do get in contact with Owen or Alix (see back
page). THANKS!
Bicycle Day
We're teaming up with the Family Welfare Association to hopefully put on a
day of bicycle fun for kids in Mile End Park on Sat 26th Oct (end of the
half term break). Keep an eye on our website for details.
Bike fixing stars...
Wheelers Gary, Owen and Antonios fixed several abandoned bikes selling them
on to local people, raising £200. Half was donated to the Cyclists' Defence
Fund and half to the Wheelers. See the 'press coverage' section of our
website East End Life pictures.
...and fixing classes
Wheeler Mark Butland holds Tower Hamlets Adult Education Bicycle Maintenance
Classes, 5th October : Family workshop (free for children but they must be
supervised by an adult.) 9 November : Beginners Bicycle Maintenance Each
session: £2.55 per adult, or free if you can show unemployment proof. Call
020 7613 1135 quoting: TCA1010 Bethnal Green Centre, 229 Bethnal Green Road E2 6AB
Bike rides
We hold rides every month which often take us out into the countryside.
They aren't on muddy tracks so you won't need a mountain bike. We go 25-35
miles and the pace is very moderate with plenty of breaks. We stop at a
pub, cafe or tea shop for lunch but you can bring your own. Often we'll
take the train to and from the starting point. The next ride meets 10am on
the Green Bridge in Mile End Park on Sat 28 Sept, to Greenwich and beyond,
taking in local history and following routes on the London Cycle Network.
Contact Alex for further details.
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We're going monthly
There's so much great stuff going on I can't fit it all in the bi-monthy
newsletters that you get in London Cyclist if you are an LCC member. So
East London Cycling is now being produced every month. If you would like to
receive the 'in-between London Cyclist' ones in the post, please send a
cheque/PO for £5 (or more!) payable to 'Tower Hamlets LCC' to Alix
Stredwick, 109b Roman Rd, E2 0QN. This will cover printing and postage and
will also help print more copies to hand out to passing cyclists. To
receive it by email (PDF file) email Alix with 'newsletter' as the subject.
Please consider donating anyway! ** Many thanks **
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