Notes from Wheelers Meeting held on 20 October 2004
at the Cummins residence, Bellevue Place E1
Present:
Owen Pearson (chair), Gary Cummins (minutes), Kerry Noble, Buzz, Steve Collins, Keith Jones, Carol Gray, Caroline Fenton
Apologies: Dave Allison, Mark Butland, Colin Waters
1. Introductions
Everyone said hello with a welcome to first-timer Buzz.
2. Matters arising from last meeting, 8 September 2004
10. AOB:
LCC Awards - Pleased to report that the LBTH/Youth Action UK Youth Bike Skills Scheme won the "Best Cycling Initiative for Young People" award.
T-shirts - Only two t-shirts bought after recent "sale" announcement so still plenty left.
All other outstanding matters to be covered in following items.
3. Finances
Nothing new to report, bank balance still healthy with Bike Buddy scheme training funds gradually being spent.
4. Bike Buddy & Cycle Training Scheme
Cycle Training are proving to be the more expensive option over London School of Cycling. Cycle Training charge £35 per hour, and insist on a minimum of 2 hrs training. Gary suggested we use LSC more in future, he charges £25 per hour, and will offer 1 hr lessons.
Gary presented a copy of 'The Link', the Royal London Hospitals in house paper, and suggested we put an article in it advertising the BB scheme to hospital staff, we have good contact at the Hospital.
Jagonari Centre: Still no training dates decided. Lucy Davis (LCC) thinks will probably be able to make use of bikes donated to 'good going' scheme for the training. Will be meeting with LBTH to discuss.
ACTIONS:
• Kerry will produce a presser for 'The Link' advertising the scheme, and get in touch with the Transport Liaison co-ordinator at The Royal (Owen to provide contact details).
• Owen _still_ to make a start on follow-up questionnaire to assess usefulness of scheme, progress of scheme members etc.
5. Workshop & Bike Re-Cycling
Workshop:
September workshop went well, about 10 turned up as well as 2 new helpers.
The next workshop is on 30 October 2004. Keith will hold a puncture repair class during November session.
6. Campaigns
Trading of stolen bikes at Brick Lane:
Colin has produced a letter to councillors and market traders/officials who have been concerned about the stolen bike trade thanking them for their actions so far.
Colin has had thoughts on an awareness campaign. Keith showed a flyer, produced by the Corporation of London for recording bike details etc.
Owen reported the Jenny Jones AM met Karen at Brick Lane market.
ACTIONS: Colin to continue the good work.
Canary Riverside:
Turns out the collision resulting in a temporary police presence at Canary Riverside wasn't on land under the control of Canarf Wharf Management. Assume it belongs to Dunbar Wharf.
Limehouse Basin footbridge:
Owen was contacted by British Waterways saying that they are making plans with their engineering consultants to move the footbridge and re-design the steps/ramp arrangement to improve accessibility. However, no timescale was able to be given.
Cable Street:
Owen contacted Met Traffic police contact provided by LBTH. As expected, Met said that they would only comment on schemes they are asked to consult on i.e. up to LBTH to take the initiative and put forward a scheme that reversed the priority along the Cable Street two-way track junctions. Gary argued that LBTH are putting up a smokescreen on this point, to avoid amending the junctions.
7. Borough Traffic Schemes
Wapping 20mph Zone:
Plans were viewed by all. Agreed to support the project.
CRISP LCN+ links 197 & 198
Carol and Owen showed the current LCN+ plans and report for links 197 (Lamb Street-Vallance Road) and 198 (Columbia Road-Spitalfields). They had attended a CRIM for both of these routes on 5 October. Discussions with Hackney and City Cyclists have also taken place regarding preferred route alignments to support.
Link 197: It is proposed for that travelling east-west you would go Hanbury St-Princelet St-Wilkes St-Hanbury St. The one way in Princelet St to the west of Brick Lane would be removed. This will avoid the narrow contra-flow stretch along Hanbury St. At the eastern end of Hanbury St the path will be widened to enable it to become shared-use (currently cyclists must dismount). There is much still to work on with regard to the junction arrangement with Vallance Road.
Link 198: There are problems with this route due to the closure of Wheeler Street. Alternative routes are being considered, namely cutting into the City earlier via Virginia Rd-Calvert Ave-Rivington St or Boundary St-Boundary Passage. There is also the issue that most cyclists coming from Goldsmith's Row head along Hackney Road and not along the marked route via Columbia Road - an argument for improving conditions for cyclists along this busy road. Agreed to support Virginia Rd-Calvert Ave-Rivington St alignment but also request that Hackney Road is 'upgraded'.
The consultants (Colin Buchanan and Partners) will produce a report taking account of all the stakeholder comments submitted and a meeting will follow.
ACTIONS:
• Carol to submit comments on the CRIM report to consultants.
• Carol and Owen to attend next CRISP meeting.
* CRISP : Cycle Route Implementation Stakeholder Plan
CRIM : Cycle Route Inspection Meeting (the ride along the route)
Whitechapel Road/Vallance Road/New Road junction: Gary submitted response to Faber Maunsell 'Accident Investigation and Prevention Study'.
8. Newsletter, Media & Website
Newsletter:
Next newsletter due by 17 November for inclusion in London Cyclist. Carol is currently producing the Oct/Nov issue that will be distributed by hand. Gary has got together some stories for the Dec/Jan issue.
ACTIONS:
• Carol and Gary to produce newsletter(s).
9. Rides, Events & Socials
The Borough Traffic Scheme items had taken up alot of time so this item was skipped. Ideas for the New Year social event were discussed in the pub later.
10. AOB
• Gary suggested attending a Christmas service and was roundly condemned and threatened with burning at the stake. He will contact Rev Alan Green to see if he is having any sort of carol service this year.
The meeting closed at 9:10pm and most headed to the Half Moon on Mile End Road.
Next meeting: 10 November, 7.30pm at venue tba.
| 
