TOWER HAMLETS WHEELERS
Monthly Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, 8 May 2013 7.30pm
Held at St Margaret's House, 21 Old Ford Road.

PRESENT: David T (Chair), Owen (Secretary), Dave A (Treasurer), Alex (Rides), Rob (Newsletter), Gerry
         Robert Morton (LBTH), Caroline, Olawale, Guy

APOLOGIES: Keith (Events)

CHAIR: David T
MINUTES: Owen


1. LBTH update

Rob Morton, Active Travel Officer in the council's Transport & Highways department gave an update of completed and future cycle parking and permeability schemes.  These are mainly small measures that have been suggested via the Cycling Rangers project.

LBTH has funding for the some of the pending Rangers suggestions as well some extra for further cycle parking and permeability schemes.

Cycle parking has been increased around the Brick Lane area.  Also Approach Tavern, Buddhist Centre, Marsh Wall, Manchester Road, Bow Road, Old Spitalfields Market, Brushfield Street.

Permeability measures
- often bogged down with residents opposition and landownership issues

Completed schemes:
Arbour Square
Shandwell Street (Columbia Road area)
Bromley High Street now two-way cycling
Allen Gardens, Buxton Street drop kerbs
Head Street, drop kerbs (not Rangers suggestion)

In progress/future schemes:
Rangers suggestions:

Hanbury Street - two-way cycling being investigated
Driffield Road - drop kerbs needed (hire bike docking station)
Hartsfield Road links CS3 - land ownership issues to overcome
Archibold Street - 
Penny Fields CS3 - widen for cyclists
Lichfield Road-Grove Road - east-west route possibility
Glengall Grove-East Ferry Road - cut through.  High pedestrian flows due to DLR.

TfL looking at capacity along Cable Street for CS3.

Hamlets Way - signage and drop kerbs

Others (not Rangers)
Limehouse Cut - drop kerb Bartlet Park

NCN13 - 

Victoria Park, Bonner Gate - drop kerbs.  Any reason not to leave the main gates open?

General comment - increased funding this financial year but unfortunately less staff capacity because of departmental changes.  Continues to welcome new suggestions via the Rangers project.

Suggestions
Gerry suggests renewing cycle logos to reinforce cycle/pedestrian paths in Mile End Park.

Gerry asks who we should contact about cycle superhighway maintenance especially CS3 which is on LBTH roads (CS2 on TRLN so TfL managed).  Rob will find out the LBTH officer responsible.

Aldgate - Gerry suggests asking Rangers for their routes around the Aldgate area.

David T asks about the general cost of drop kerb projects.

Dave A raises the permeability issues that are ongoing at Canary Riverside/Westferry Circus.


Other updates
Robert also announces that public bike pumps will be distributed and welcomes suggestions for locations.

Bike Week - if we pass on our list of events and Robert will advertise.

Barclays are funding on-street weekly bike maintenance sessions across London.  Cable Street/Cannon Street Road junction will host sessions on Wednesdays until sometime in July.

LBTH are involved with Sustrans Connect 2 event at Ecology Pavillion on Thursday, 30 May (half term).  Family fun day type event.  Offers for us to have a prescence there, distribute newsletters etc.

Robert confirmed that LBTH wants to increase and improve liaison with THW over scheme planning.



2. Matters Arising from 10 April 2013

Safer Lorries, Safer Cycling
ACTION: Gerry to follow up.

Brompton
The Brompton bought for the Movers & Shakers Project was stolen at beginning of March but insurance had run out.
- Do we need a brompton?
- Acknowledged that the management committee utlimately responsible for the insurance lapsing and the continued loan of the bike. 
- Agreed 

Suggestions that if we need a group bike we approach Bikeworks about occasional hire.


Group strategy review (as suggested at the AGM)
Suggestion to hold this before the next workshop at 9.00am, 18 May at Limehouse Town Hall.

ACTION: David T to collate suggestions for discussion.



3. Workshop

10th birthday event was very successful.  Many attendees including John Biggs AM who opened the first workshop held at Limehouse Town Hall.

Rob says we need to make a payment to the Boxing Club for hire of the projector.

Next workshop is on 18 May.

ACTION: Rob to sort out projector invoice from Boxing Club.
ACTION: Regulars to organise workshop.



4. LBTH park byelaws

Byelaw revisions 

Currently "Prohibition of cycling except on designated routes".

Change to limit cycling in the borough's parks which THW objected to.

Gerry reports no evidence so far from LBTH for reasoning behind the proposed byelaw.

Suggests involve a specialist lawyer.

ACTION: 



5. London Cyclist magazine & Newsletter

LC magazine changing to being published quarterly.  Agreed to switch the newsletter to quarterly.

Ask LCC if links to local news pages will appear in the new monthly e-newsletter.

ACTION: All to post news items on website, Rob to compile newsletter.



6. Bike Week

Bike Week, 15-23 June 2012

Sat 15: Workshop
Sun 16: Family event/ride
Mon 17: 
Tue 18: Breakfast (St James Gardens)
Wed 19: Keith afterworker
Thu 20: 
Fri 21: Midsummer Madness ride
Sat 22: Glamour Ride
Sun 23: 

Family event - Alex is proposing an inner city randonee around Victoria/Mile End Parks.   All agreed his plans are a good idea and we should go ahead.

ACTION: Alex to organise family event, Owen to contact LBTH events for permission.



7. Towpath alternative routes

Canal & Rivers Trust (CRT) looking to develop alternative routes to the canal towpath to relieve congestion.

Gerry has suggested a modal filtering workshop is organised with help from Hackney Cyclists and involved Queen Mary cyclists.  Rosie Tharp, CRT suggested within European Mobility Week http://www.mobilityweek.eu/, 16th-22nd September.



8. AOB

Gerry proposes THW joins Living Streets and 20s plenty.
ACTION: Owen to investigate.

Darren who was awarded £500 for his Isle of Dogs mapping projects has requested the remaining award money to finish off the work.  THW obtained the award and held the money on his behalf as a recognised group.
ACTION: Dave A to transfer the money to Darren.


Meeting ended at 9.27pm