East London Cycling Archives
The newsletter of Tower Hamlets London Cycling Campaign Group
December 2002
Media Madness!
It's been a year since we revived the newsletter, and we've certainly not
had time to stand still. We thought it was a good time to reflect on the
local paper coverage we've achieved, so here's a brief snapshot.
Every single news release we've issued since our media strategy kicked off
in the summer has gained coverage in some local 'rag' or other!
The most recent event to gain a mention was our Family Fun Day on 26th October when we teamed up with the Family Welfare Association for fun on
bikes in Victoria Park.
Getting all this exposure is fun but on a serious note, there are plenty
of actions to take to campaign for better cycling facilities and to help get
more people on bikes in Tower Hamlets, so please take a look inside and see
where you can help us out....
Take a look at the Wheelers News & Media pages.
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Campaigns
Take ACTION! STOP the one-way madness
One way streets are more dangerous for cyclists because drivers put their
foot down knowing there will be no-one coming the other way. Transport
policy is moving away from this kind of system, but Tower Hamlets council is
proposing that some streets in Whitechapel should be made one way, west to
east, to stop 'rat-running' by drivers trying to avoid the start of the
congestion charging zone. Stepney Way, an important cycling route, will be
affected.
The deadline for responses is Dec 2nd so get writing now. It's better to
get your response in a bit late than not at all. Here are the main points in
the letter Wheelers co-ordinator Owen Pearson wrote:
Traffic calming proposals for Zone 11, Whitechapel (east)
I would like to raise my concern over some aspects of the traffic proposals
in Zone 11 - Whitechapel (east) as publicised in the 11-17 November issue of
East End Life.
In general I fully support the traffic calming measures proposed but any
system implemented must be retain permeability for cyclists. This is far
from the case with the proposal to introduce a solely west-east one-way
system within Zone 11.
This scheme will completely prevent cyclists travelling in an east-west
direction from using the quieter roads as an alternative to Whitechapel Road
and Commercial Road.
Stepney way is an important cycle route. It is currently highlighted on
Transport for London's cycle guides as an LCC advisory route, and is also
highlighted on the council's own Tower Hamlets cycle map published in 2000
as a 'proposed cycle route'.
I would also dispute the claim that "These measures will (reduce) the
speed and volume of traffic as well as improving road safety and driver
behaviour". Making the roads one-way will not reduce vehicle speed. Drivers
will now face a clear road ahead of them and not have to worry about slowing
down for oncoming traffic.
Currently Stepney Way, with its parked cars on either side, is
sufficiently narrow to ensure that drivers must slow down when passing other
traffic and overtaking cyclists.
Any calming scheme implemented in Zone 11 must remain permeable to
cyclists travelling in all directions.
Yours faithfully......
Copy in lyndal.peters@towerhamlets.gov.uk; if you state that you have not
written directly (to Traffic Section, Room 108, Council Offices, Southern
Grove, London E3 4PN), she will pass it on. Please also also copy it to Owen
owen@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk, plus John Biggs, our GLA rep and chair of
GLA transport committee john.biggs@london.gov.uk and councillors Abdul Asad,
Fanu Miah, and Doros Ullah (see www.towerhamlets.gov.uk). MANY THANKS!
 Tube strike? get on your bike!
The media attention reported in the October East London Cycling, when we
provided the first 'bicycling bus', really took off when we held the second
one, as tube drivers walked out and London ground to a halt. BBC Essex radio
interviewed us LIVE at Bethnal Green tube station, going out to 300,000
people. Then word got round and BBC London radio did a pre-recorded
interview for the second strike, going out to a further 300,000 people. BBC
London TV news filmed us in action and we were on TV to 3 million viewers!
In the future we hope City of London cycling police will assist our
'escort', raising the profile even further. Newham LCC took up our
suggestion and have contacted Redbridge LCC; they have both organised an
extended 'bus' to their areas. We can now use the bus route when the
congestion charge starts (Feb 17th 2003), to highlight the cycling
alternative.
This will be more than TfL's efforts - despite pouring money and publicity
into the new London cycle maps, and crowing about how pro-cycling they are,
www.tfl.gov.uk failed to mention cycling as an alternative to gridlock chaos
during the first strike. Owen pointed this out and they replied that this
was "a perfectly valid point" and "hopefully we can include some cycling
detail during the next strike". Neither is cycling metioned in their radio
ads, but it is included on tube posters...
I've saved a fiver
We are hoping to start two projects in the new year that will get people on
bikes. The first project will involve publicity to get the attention of
disgruntled motorists who wish to avoid paying the congestion charge by
cycling instead, but would like us to 'hold their hand'. The second project
will involve community centre clients who can't afford to drive but would
like to increase their mobility. We may apply to the National Lottery's
'Awards for All' scheme to help the second one go ahead, as we recently
attended an excellent workshop led by the LCC's Ben Tansley and Paula Smith
on how to apply successfully. Both projects will need the kind help of cycle
'buddies' which is where you come in. If you can spare a few hours each
month please get in touch with Alix (see back page). Also, look out in the
next newsletter for our congestion charging T-shirt!
Cable Street
The email discussion group (see back page) has prompted us to make sure we
keep up the pressure to reinstate cycling priority. We are told that our
petition went to the council's Chief Executive's Directorate, Democratic
Operations, and was then referred to Eric Bohl, Corporate Director at
Customer Services for a response, which will be reported to the council's
Cabinet Office.
 Beware of HGVs
We've been handing out warning booklets as part of a joint campaign by
Transport for London, LCC and the Freight Haulage Association, in an effort
to reduce the number of collisions between lorries and cyclists. We handed
some out when we did a cycle count along Stepney Way, as part of
data-gathering to protest against one-way proposals (see above).
Aldgate update
Cycle parking is to be installed at Aldgate, with 6-10 stands at three
locations near the tube.
Thank you to Neil Pollock who analysed our Aldgate gyratory cycle count
data, producing superb charts and maps
TfL will receive a letter from the Wheelers asking it how it is going to
make life easier for cyclists using the gyratory who take the most popular
route according to our data. They are not served by the almost useless cycle
crossings installed with no consultation by TfL this year.
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Gwyn's gone
by Gary Cummins
Tower Hamlets transport planner Gwyn Owen, our cycling officer before Lyndal
Peters, has changed jobs and left London. This is sad news for London's
cyclists, but good news for the lucky folk of Leeds.
I have dealt with three cycling officers in my spell as co-ordinator.
Firstly, Mike Hickford, who always listened carefully, nodded a lot,
listened again and finally admitted that he would not dare ride a bike in
London as it's much too dangerous. Fortunately Mick moved on to work for the
Traffic Director for London (TDfL - now TfL), where he still works
tirelessly to promote motoring in London. Secondly, Matthew Hill, who
probably laid the groundwork for LBTH positive attitude to cycle engineering
but moved on before he had much chance to achieve a great deal.
Thirdly, Gwyn. Gwyn was the borough officer who did use a bicycle
regularly, who did get out onto the highway to look and talk about problems,
and most importantly did get things done. It was campaigning with Gwyn and
the borough that we managed to install advanced stop lines on the Mile End
Road. With Gwyn we began a dialogue of sorts with the TDfL, which laid the
foundations, and the green paint, for a dedicated cycle facility on the the
Mile End Road. (although there's still a long way to go on that one).
Gwyn was happy to attend early morning meetings at the LCC offices to
prepare plans for the Millenium Festival of Cycling, and even set up the
boroughs own 'cyclists breakfasts' during Bike Week.
That Gwyn was happy to trudge around Spitalfields with me on a winter's
morning, in the drizzle, deciding on the best direction a cycle route should
take, will give you all some idea of how seriously he took his job.
Fortunately for Gwyn, he is moving to Leeds, so he shouldn't be too
homesick, as there are plenty of streets soaked with drizzle up there
around.which he can trudge.
We wish him, his wife and his baby good luck and good cycling!
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 "Steady on"
by Tom Brenan
The stretch of the Regents Canal running through Tower Hamlets provides a
wonderful green corridor between Limehouse and Islington. It's widely used
by cyclists but you ought to check whether a permit is required from British
Waterways, as unconfirmed reports at the time of going to press indicate
that the system has been scrapped (update in next newsletter):
www.britishwaterways.co.uk
Not every canal path around the country allows cycling and the use of this
one is shared with pedestrians. Shared use paths work well as long as people
use them with respect for others. I am a regular cyclist along the canal
path and urge all cyclists to slow down when approaching other cyclists as
well as pedestrians. None of us have any more right to use the path than the
next person and it shouldn't require signs of the variety that have now
appeared at Bonner Gate in Victoria Park to encourage cyclists to slow down
when using shared paths. What's wrong with a bit of courteous cycling?
This is a delightfully calm and quiet route. Let's keep it that way.
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Rides & socials
'Magical mystery tour' bike ride
The Wheelers' 28th September ride saw the intrepid travellers meet up on
Mile End Park's Green Bridge and led up the Lea Valley, into the depths of
Hertfordshire. The pictures here show the River Lea Navigation in Hackney
(yes really, it's Hackney), a 3D map of Tottenham Marshes, and our pub stop
along the way. At our top-secret destination, Alix's parents generously fed
the ravenous bunch with tonnes of lasgane, crusty bread and wine. A
brilliant day, in the last of the summer sunshine.
Carol singing
Yes it's that time of year again! Come with us to The Space's Christmas
Concert, Monday 16 December, 8pm. Join-in carols, mulled wine, & mince pies.
£5/£4 conc; book: 7515 7799. At 269 Westferry Road, E14. Gary
Ceilidh
Saturday 14 Dec: Greenwich Cyclists' social bonanza. Fast, traditional
Celtic band and irresistable dancing, bar, internal bike park. 8-midnight,
tickets include mid-evening buffet and cost £12 (£8 unwaged) or £15 on door
but do book.
No hitch in Shoreditch
The long-awaited removal of the Shoreditch one-way system for cycles and
buses is due to be completed shortly. A celebratory cycle ('peleton')
departs on Sun 15th Dec from Shoreditch Town Hall at 2:30pm, cycling round
the triangle. Back at 3pm for tea & cakes! Hackney LCC are involved so
please join them. Check date and time etc. by emailing mail@trevorparsons.com www.lookbothways.org.uk www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk
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