Representatives from Tower Hamlets Wheelers and the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) today urged LB Tower Hamlets to publicly engage and lead on reducing the danger from lorries in the borough.
Meeting outside the Town Hall, a letter was handed to Councillor Shahid Ali, Cabinet Member for Environment and Jamie Blake, Director Public Realm asking for the council's support of the LCC's Safer Lorries, Safer Cycling pledge.
At the end of 2012, THW was consulted by LB Tower Hamlets on a scheme for the western end of Bethnal Green (between St Matthew's Row and Shacklewell Street). It involves the road being narrowed and cycle tracks built either side of the road in between the parking bays and pavement.
Some good news from LBTH for cycling permeability in the borough. Bromley High Street, currently one-way for traffic is to be made two-way for cyclists. The traffic management orders required for this change are currently being processed. There will also be some on-street work required e.g. appropriate signage and a short contra-flow cycle track at the northern end approaching the A11.
We look forward to similar such schemes opening up more direct routes for cyclists around the borough.
The London Cycling Campaign has released a progress report on its Safer Lorries, Safer Cycling campaign and it's not good reading for those cycling in Tower Hamlets. Our council has been given the lowest possible mark for their inaction on committing to use the safest lorries and best-trained drivers.
A planning permission application has been submitted by LBTH to provide much needed cycle parking at Bethnal Green tube station. The scheme involves demolishing the disused toilet block in Bethnal Green Gardens and providing parking for 78 bicycles.
The draft of Tower Hamlets' LIP (Local Improvement Plan) was published recently. This document describes improvements that are to be made to the transport infrastructure in the borough for the period 2011-2014. Wheelers reviewed the document, and our response can be seen here.
