Tower Hamlets Wheelers Meeting Minutes - May 2020
Held online via Zoom
Wednesday 13th May 2020 at 19:30
Attendees: Alex, Julie, Owen, Terry, Richard, David, Keith, Ross, Dan, Helen, Christy, Luuk, Megan, Iain
Guest: Cllr Bex White
Apologises:
COVID-19
- We are in the process of drafting a letter around what interventions we would like to see within the borough with regards to improving facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Once this letter is finalised, should we send a copy of the letter to our local media contacts?
- Camden group have mapped their proposed interventions on a Google Map, is this something we could do?
- ACTION – Ross to send photos of Old Ford Road closure to Julie to include in the letter
TfL – London Street Space
- TfL are going to be asking boroughs to bid for money in relation to their Street Space scheme.
- This money would be for widening of pavements, temporary cycle lane, school streets and similar interventions
Speeding by motor vehicles
- Extreme speeding of drivers on Derbyshire Street is a problem. This has been raised with ward councillors but where else can it be raised? Turn up to a neighbourhood meeting & raise it there?
- Is there any sort of community speed watch?
- Potentially reach out to Detective Superintendent Andy Cox (Lead for Vision Zero) on Twitter
- ACTION – Ross to send videos & issue to Cllr Bex White and she can flag it with cabinet member for community safety as part of her scrutiny role.
Victoria Park
- Cycling is to be reinstated from Monday 18th May and opening times are likely to be extended.
Workshop/Dr Bike
- The workshop has to stay closed until social distancing measures are relaxed. Keith is happy to do a Dr Bike on the street.
- Arranging a Dr Bike would be a good media opportunity.
- We could do one outside the Royal London Hospital for NHS staff & key workers.
Mentoring Scheme
- Could we set up a mentor ride, where a member of THW takes someone out on a ride around an area to improve the individual’s confidence?
- This could be shared on social media, in our newsletter and local media. Can we reach out to the wider Better Streets for Tower Hamlets coalition?
- The Bike Project has a mentor scheme that we could learn from.
Extinction Rebellion Action
- The Tower Hamlets group of Extinction Rebellion have an action planned for the weekend 16/17th May. This will involve creating their own pop-up cycle lanes within the borough. They have reached out for suggestions on where would be most appropriate for these.
- Suggestions included; Vallance Road, Burdett Road, Grove Road, Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green Road.
- ACTION – Iain to pass these suggestions onto Extinction Rebellion
Update fro Cllr Bex White
- Concerning pedestrian waiting times, has only received a verbal answer so far but is going back to get a written answer on this.
- An email has gone out to cllrs asking for ideas on potential closures.
- ACTION – email your ward cllrs with suggestions as they have somewhere to feed this back within the council. Copy in Cllr Dan Tomlinson into any emails to your ward cllrs.
Finance
- We need to decide upon whether we will take the central LCC grant this year for our borough group.
Next Meeting – Wednesday 10th June 2020, 7.30-9pm, The Cabin, St Margaret’s House, Old Ford Road, E2 9PL or via Zoom if lockdown is in place. Email or contact on Social Media to receive the invite link to the Zoom meeting.
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