Tower Hamlets Wheelers and Better Streets for Tower Hamlets Joint Meeting Minutes – April 2021
These monthly meetings are held jointly between Tower Hamlets Wheelers and Better Streets for Tower Hamlets
Held online via Zoom
Wednesday 14th April 2021 at 19:30
Attendees –David, John, Keith, Stephen, Dan, Julie, Oliver, Sean, Emannuel, Iain
Guests – Ray Hopkinson (HubBub)
Apologises – Owen
HubBub Update
- They have funding which they are looking to start a community project with. They are currently working with the charity Cycle Sisters in helping them establish a group within Tower Hamlets.
- They have been able to purchase 6 cycles which are being stored on St Stephen’s Road
- They are exploring the idea of a bike library. Poplar HARCA seem interested in the proposal and are looking for a potential location in around Chrisp Street.
- The bike library could be not only a place where people could hire/store their cycles but also provide maintenance. This is at the very early stages so all ideas are welcome
- ACTION Ray will email across initial ideas & potential locations which Iain will circulate for feedback.
Liveable Streets Update
Brick Lane
- The Brick Lane consultation closed on 14th April.
- A number of volunteers in the group had been regularly leafleting and speaking to businesses, residents and visitors within the scheme’s area to encourage a high response rate to the consultation.
- It was noted that we had provided a Bengali translation on both our leaflets and posters.
Old Ford West
- We are still waiting to hear the results from the public consultation that took place over November 2020.
Rides & Events
- We will look to start up evening rides again by mid-May.
- ACTION Keith to provide update once confirmation of start date.
- We post any planned rides on our website here https://www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk/diary
Workshop
- We will ask the Limehouse Town Hall if we can start up the workshop in June with appropriate social distancing measures in place.
Poplar HARCA Meeting
- Keith had a meeting with Poplar HARCA as they are looking at starting a cycle hub, possibly around Chrisp Street. This seems to link in with the community project that HubBub are looking to launch.
- Informed them about our Cycle Buddies which they seemed interested in.
Cycle Buddies
- We will be relaunching our Cycle Buddies scheme at the start of April as per LCC central guidance.
- We have a number of posters to put up so suggestions of locations across Tower Hamlets are welcome.
- ACTION – Iain to prepare social media content for relaunch
- Julie attended virtual Cycle Buddies meeting where experiences from both experienced and new riders was shared.
- See more about Cycle Buddies here https://www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk/tower-hamlets-cycle-buddies
Chisenhale Dr Bike
- We have been approached to see if we could offer a Dr Bike at the new community space that has popped up outside Chisenhale Primary School.
- We agreed that we can look at running a Dr Bike on a day in May. Possible dates are either 8th, 15th or 22nd of May.
- ACTION – Iain to liaise with Chisenhale to confirm the date.
- ACTION – Make new print material for Dr Bike event
Newsletter
- The idea of a bi-monthly email newsletter using MailChimp was proposed.
- We don’t currently produce any form of monthly newsletter and it was noted that this could be a good opportunity to reach out to our members to inform them of what we are doing and potentially encourage more to become involved.
- It was suggested that a monthly email newsletter could be produced containing items such as; upcoming consultations, calls to action, Cycle Buddies updates, workshop dates, upcoming rides, what we have been working on and a link to the previous months minutes.
Living Streets
- Dan has reached out to Living Streets & they have asked us if we would like to set up a Living Streets group as there isn’t currently an active group in Tower Hamlets.
- It was agreed to proceed with looking to set up a formal Living Streets group within the borough as issues around walking routes and accessibility are areas that many people at the meeting feel passionately about.
AOB
- Our article on the lack of sufficient cycle storage on estates within the borough was published on Tower Hamlets News website (https://www.thnews.co.uk/the-simple-way-to-stop-bike-theft/) and received a good response across social media as well.
- We haven’t heard of any update on Burdett Road
Next Meeting – Wednesday 12th May 2021, 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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