Notes from Wheelers Meeting held on 14 May 2003
at Limehouse Town Hall, Commercial Road, E14
Present:
Owen Pearson (chair), Tom Brenan (secretary), Alex Brenan, Alix Stredwick, Mark Pearson, Colin Waters, Keith Jones, Saul Albert, Steve Collins, Stephen Bradley, Caroline Fenton, Dave Allison, Helen Waters, Kameel Mohammed, Mark Butland
1. Introduction
Everyone introduced themselves with welcomes to Kameel and Helen.
2. Actions from last meeting, 9 April 2003
Owen to ask Lyndal Peters (LBTH) for final version of cycle-related Borough Spending Plan 2004/05 that she outlined for us.
All other outstanding matters to be covered in following items.
3. Election of Treasurer
Alex Brenan had decided to stand down as treasurer following last month's AGM. Owen Pearson nominated and Alix Stredwick seconded Dave Allison to take over the post. No other nominations were received.
ACTION: Dave to liaise with Gary to takeover treasurer's documents.
Alex Brenan suggested we should join the Community Organisations Forum (COF) as they would be willing to work with us and could provide help for the treasurer. Allix said she would send off to join Voluntary Action Tower Hamlets as we can then also apply for voluntary help through that group.
ACTION:
• Owen to check whether THW is a member of COF and if not to join.
• Alix to join Voluntary Action Tower Hamlets
It was also reported that Gary Cummins wishes to stand down as Events Officer. Nominations for this post would now be sought. It was requested that a post duties description be circulated and suggested that the role could be split into events and rides.
ACTION: Owen to produce Events/Rides Officer duty list.
4. East London Cycling Newsletter & Media Update
Alix reported that there would be no May issue. The June issue would be complete by 16 May as it had to be at the LCC offices by that date to be included in the June/July London Cyclist mailout.
Deadline for articles for the July issue is 29 June and August issue is 13 July.
Next handout will be on 22 May. Owen discovered permission would be needed to leaflet the bike parking on the Canary Wharf estate.
Coverage of the workshop in East End Life and East London Advertiser.
ACTION:
• Alix to organise.
• Owen to ask permission to handout newsletter at Canary Wharf.
5. CC T-shirt
T-shirts were collected (by bike and trailers) on 8 May. Slight problems with the t-shirts supplied and the numbers that were actually ordered. Also, long-sleeved t-shirts used were cheaper than those asked for and so a refund is due. They look fantastic though!
ACTION:
• Tom to arrange for refund from t-shirt company P21.
• Alix to arrange distribution of t-shirts.
6. Training & Buddying Scheme
Alix proposed the following timetable which was agreed upon:
19 May: Press release
30 May: Postcards printed by this date
1 or 8 June: Postcard distribution session
4 June: Run a bicycle bus
Bicycle bus: Proposed to run every Wednesday to start with. Format would depend on whether new people are involved or not.
ACTION:
• Alix to draft a press release.
• Owen to do a web page for whole scheme.
• Gary to finish postcards.
• Steve to produce promotional poster.
• Alix to contact all buddy volunteers.
• Colin to organise a promotional material distribution list giving location and volunteer to deliver the postcards.
• Mark Butland to look into any insurance issues there may be with the buddy scheme.
7. Workshop & Bike Re-Cycling
Second workshop went well with about 20 people attending throughout the day. Quite a few looking to see if there were bikes for sale.
Caroline has written a list of items the workshop needs. Also suggests a roster is needed for each workshop. Three people is probably a sensible number to run the day.
Next workshop on 31 May, 11-3pm.
ACTION:
• Caroline to draft a list of things to do when "running" a workshop day.
• Alix to produce map of route from workshop to Bicycle Magic.
• Saul to ask Bicycle Magic if they would give a discount if people were sent to them from the workshop e.g. on production of the route map.
Bike Re-Cycling
Alix outlined her vision of this being integral part of the bike buddy scheme where we could offer bikes to new cyclists. Volunteer needed for this to scheme to grow. Would need to manage stock of bikes. Also need storage space for the bikes. Saul mentioned that he was thinking of having a storage area built behind the town hall for a limited number of bikes - Wheelers funding could contribute to the cost of this.
ACTION:: Find someone who is interested in taking on the running of this scheme.
8. Borough Cycle Schemes
Congestion Charge Zone boundary traffic calming schemes
Owen and Alix attended a second consultation meeting with LBTH and their scheme contractors Faber Maunsell. The latest schemes in three borough zones were discussed.
It was noted that the one-way street proposals in earlier consultations (e.g. Columbia Road) had met stiff opposition from local residents.
ACTION: Owen to circulate notes from this and March's consultation meeting.
Aldgate Gyratory
Stats and analysis from March cycle count still to be presented. Colin requests details of contacts that we should distribute our count report to as well as those who may also support our aims to remove the gyratory.
Ideas for a media stunt to highlight the problems with the gyratory for cyclists were also welcomed.
ACTION: Colin to present stats.
9. Campaigns
Illegal Parking in Cycle Lanes
Colin proposed his idea for highlighting the problem of vehicles being parked in cycle lanes. Helen also gave her experiences of New Road/Vallance Road. The plan would be to travel around the borough from 8am on 21 May recording the illegal parking. An open letter would then be released to the press, LBTH, MPs etc. highlighting the lack of enforcement and the dangers that the illegal parking pose to cyclists.
ACTION: Colin to organise.
Amenity Cycling Parking in Tower Hamlets
Run a campaign finding out whether local amenities have cycle parking provision. After the action at the Tower of London highlighting the lack of cycle parking (or more precisely lack of signage to and awareness of it's existence), Jenny Jones, GLA member has voiced her support for this.
ACTION: Caroline & Alix to draft a template letter.
Bethnal Green Road Railings
No further update as no action taken yet. Alix highlighted problems she had encountered being "squeezed" by traffic approaching the railings section. Suggested that relevant street design manuals (produced by CTC?) are obtained for reference by those interested.
ACTION:: No agreement on how to take this matter forward.
10. Bike Week, 14-22 June 2003
Possible planning meeting in week starting 2 June.
ACTION: Owen to contact volunteers to check on progress.
11. Rides & Socials Programme
Two rides announced:
24 May - Tate Modern Trundle: all day ride visiting galleries and museums - Steve Collins
7 June - Ride to London Recumbents, Dulwich Park - Gary Cummins
All Wheelers are encouraged to lead a ride.
ACTION: Find a Events/Rides Officer.
At this point, unfortunately we had to vacate the hall therefore the meeting was closed at 8.50pm with only the AOB item not being completed. Discussions continued in The Grapes, Narrow Street.
12. AOB - post meeting note
• Radio Cycle: Owen to circulate information about this community sound project.
• Contacted by London Sustainability Week (1-7 June) organisers about taking part.
Next meeting: 7.00pm, 11 June, at Limehouse Town Hall.
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