Notes from Wheelers Meeting held on 14 August 2002
at Sundial Centre, Shipton Street E1
1. Introductions
Those present: Owen Pearson, Alix Stredwick, Tom Brenan, Colin Waters, Gary Cummins (later), Bharat Lad (later), Lyndal Peters, LBTH Cycling Officer
2. Actions from last meeting
These were incorporated into the rest of the meeting rather than gone through separately.
3. Car Free Day
Lyndal explained that the GLA wishes to take the theme of walking for this
year's Tower Bridge closure. Two 'beaches' will be created, mimicking the
Paris pedestrianised beaches scheme, and there will be a giant walker
similar to the giant cyclist last year. If they are granted a licence there
will be market stalls which would encourage more people to attend and stay.
Live music will be arranged and Lyndal is liaising with Mark Butland about
having a climbing wall and cycle confidence course. Owen agreed to do a Dr
Bike. Lyndal can arrange for a publicity postcard to be printed for the
Wheelers for use on Car Free Day and other future events and hand-outs. It
was noted that media coverage of Car Free day has centered on colourful
aspects (e.g. Manda Helal's 'be safe be seen' scheme) so we should think of
colourful activities to catch the eye of the media.
Lyndal has booked three of Rick Sure's Rickshaws from 2-6pm and we need to
get together with them to devise a 'bicycle bus' that Lyndal will publicise
in East End Life using an insert. (The newspaper may have two pages on Car
Free Day, one on cycling and one on walking, so we should prepare for some
publicity.) The group suggested one 'bus' starts at Victoria Park and the
other on the Isle of Dogs and they converge. It was also suggested that if
the 'stops' are positioned by schools, kids will be able to find them
easily. It was suggested that Greenwich LCC could join our bicycle bus for
part of the way, as they are riding round London that day anyway. Lyndal
will also contact the Brownies, Cubs, Scouts etc. when we know the route.
ACTION:
- Owen to send e to Wheelers e-group asking for people to help on the day,
ASAP.
- Alix to send photos of cycling in the borough to Gary;
- Gary to then do a postcard design and send to Lyndal for her to get printed
on recycled card if possible (many thanks in advance to Lyndal).
- Lyndal and Alix to both try asking the police to attend with bike-marking
kits.
- Owen to ask Keith if he would like to help with a Dr Bike stand.
- Owen to send insurance information to Lyndal.
- Lyndal to contact John Maillard at Rick Sure's and arrange a get-together in
the pub ASAP with Owen and any other wheelers to devise the bicycle bus
route.
- Owen to contact Barry Mason at Greenwich LCC about joining our ride to Tower
Bridge.
- Any Wheeler can contribute ideas to the bicycle bus route.
- Alix to prepare for Car Free Day publicity.
4. Cable Street Meeting
Lyndal has arranged a meeting on Wed 28th Aug between the Wheelers, herself
and Gwyn Owen (Transport Planning Officer) and the Cable Street designer at
the council, John Lee at TfL's Cycling Centre of Excellence, and Brian Lyas
at the DfT (he replied to Wheelers letters to Lyndsay Williams). We are
aiming to resolve the 'give way' issue of priorities, either by finding out
when the legislation will change and how it will affect Cable Street, or
finding out what else we can do to improve the situation. We will present
the DfT with our petition, and try to be fully up to speed on traffic
legislation.
ACTION:
- Tom to look up traffic legislation and send to Lyndal and Owen.
- All Wheelers who have not already signed the petition should consider doing
so either by contacting Alix alix@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk or 'signing'
on line at www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
- Alix to photocopy the final petition.
- Owen to print out all online 'signatures'.
5. Newsletter
Alix explained that East London Cycling is now going monthly so if Wheelers
would like to receive the ones in-between London Cyclist editions they
should contact her and donate £5 towards costs if possible. Tom offered to
proof-read final drafts. Gary suggested that Lyndal could write a piece for
the October newsletter. Publicity about Car Free Day route could go in Sept
newsletter if the route is devised in time. Offers of help distributing the
newsletter to places in TH were made by Lyndal, Bahrat, Gary and Colin.
Owen and Colin (and Alex later) offered to help with hand-out session on
morning of 15th August and Gary offered to make us breakfast!
- Key dates:
- Fri 30th August is copy deadline for Sept newsletter
- Thursday 5th September - Sept newsletter hand-out session
- Friday 27th Sept is copy deadline for Oct newsletter
ACTION:
- Alix to send email to Wheelers e-group asking for help for Sept hand-out.
session.
- Alix to send email to Wheelers e-group asking for help distributing
newsletters throughout the borough's Drs surgeries and cafes, etc.
- Lyndal to write piece for newsletter and send to Alix by 20th Sept (or Alix
to do interview with Lyndal before this date).
- Alix to give newsletters to Bharat for 3 locations in Whitechapel, to Colin
for Grove Road surgery and Jongleurs, to Lyndal for her to send to the 12
libraries in TH, and Gary for other locations.
6. Tube Strike 11th Sept
We decided to make plans now for publicity of 'escorted' rides we will put
on to encourage Tube users to switch to bikes on the next proposed strike
day (and hopefully regularly!). It was suggested that we target District
Line users, firstly by devising a back-street route picking people up at the
stations perhaps starting at 7:30am at Bow Road; then testing the route; and
leafleting Tube users a couple of days before (perhaps also with posters to
attach to railings outside the stations).
ACTION:
- Owen to send email to Wheelers e-group about suggesting a route, ASAP. Gary to organise a test-run.
- Produce a leaflet/poster advertising the route.
- Any Wheelers willing to help out should contact Owen or Gary.
Post meeting note: The date of the next proposed tube strike was incorrectly reported by the Evening Standard. The proposed date is not yet known.
7. AOB
- Bharat said that his company Creative Zones may get publicity in the Metro
newspaper because of work they have done for Pashley/Moulton bikes. He would try and get us a mention!
- Gary reminded the group about the off-road weekend Mark Butland is
organising.
The meeting closed at 8.40pm and most Wheelers retired to the Half Moon pub
on Mile End Road. Many thanks once again to Lyndal for taking the time to
come along and increase dialogue and involvement between the council and
Wheelers.
Next meeting: 7.00pm, 11 September, Sundial Centre, Shipton Street E2 7RU
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