• Liffe development This is the new building site which will soon cover half of Spitalfields market and Lamb Street. Well, the good news is that when the construction is finished we will still have a 24 hour route through the new development.
• Hanbury Street Our east-west snicket via Princelet Street disappeared a couple of years ago when this street was made one-way. I've nagged continuously and the good news is that Hanbury Street (one street further north) will become two-way for cyclists and from there we can cross into Lamb Street.
• A11 Mile End Road Tower Hamlets have commissioned a study into a bus /cycle lane along this route, the findings will be revealed to me in August. Helen the Newham co-ordinator is nagging Newham to do the same with a view to continuing this route along the Romford Road.
• Cable Street Comments vary on this route: some of you like it, others find it dangerous and useless. As with all the LCN routes it's only really useful if it heads where you want to go. Anyway the LCN funding has found another £70,00 to spend on my suggested improvements. These include rebuilding the very dangerous islands which currently protrude into the cycle lane and tend to catch on bicycle pedals.
• Cycle map Like many other boroughs Tower Hams are producing a cycle map. I have asked that, unlike many other boroughs', it does not end rigidly at the borough boundaries but continues at least some of the way into our neighbouring boroughs

Questionnaire findings

1. Newham cyclists tend to work full time (although some work part time or are students). One or two cyclists have retired. The commonest age of a cyclist was in the 31D45 range. This proves that, contrary to popular belief, we are not cranks and are normal tax-paying citizens!
2. Just under half the respondents had no access to a car so they have to cycle or use public transport to get around.
3. An overwhelming majority said that cycling was primarily a form of transport and not a leisure activity (not surprising, considering just under half can't use a car). The main reason people chose to cycle was because it was convenient. Several cycled because it is healthy, helps the environment, and is fast and pleasant. A few chose to cycle because it is cheap.
4. The commonest destination of a cycling trip by far was the workplace. Cycling to the shops and for exercise were the second commonest motives. Routes used were mostly chosen for their directness. Pleasantness and safety were felt to be less important.
5. Weekly mileage: Over 80% of cyclists cycled at least 10 miles each week. Most journeys were over 2 miles long.
6. Around half said they didn't know where the cycle network routes were in Newham (one person asked "Are there any?" !). More still said that the network had made no difference to the routes they cycle.
7. We have some very useful information on black spots. Stratford Gyratory and Romford Road, the Bow Flyover, and Canning Town roundabout were particularly disliked. Other areas singled out included the gates of the Greenway "because it's so frustrating!", Barking Road, Katharine Road and Green Street (congestion, parked cars, potholes).
8. When asked if any roads needed cycling facilities, Stratford Gyratory, Romford Road and Barking Road/Canning Town roundabout were suggested. This was hardly surprising, since these are main roads which cyclists have highlighted as dangerous or difficult.
9. Cyclists were asked what they would most like to see money spent on (blue signs, toucan crossings, etc). The strongest demand was for routes on roads which were separated from traffic-designated cycle routes). White lines painted on roads were less popular, presumably because these were less protected from traffic, parked cars, etc. All of these findings will be passed on and we will let you know what happens.