Tower Hamlets Cycling News

Please respond to the consultation on Cable Street and Cycle Superhighway 3
Submitted by alex on 16 January 2018

A new consultation is out on changes to Cable St, including some improvements to Cycle Superhighway 3. Whilst we would like to see the scheme go further, there are some good proposals here, in particular a major improvement to the confusing junction with Sutton St and a new parallel pedestrian/cyclist zebra crossing and contraflow cycle lane at King David Lane.

We would like to see as many users of CS3 as possible reply to this, supporting the good stuff but asking the borough to go further in creating a low-traffic neighbourhood around Cable St. We have put together a suggested response below. Your response is likely to have the most impact you go to the consultation page and scroll down to the bottom to fill in the webform (and it’ll have even more impact if you put the text sections into your own words), but if you are in a hurry you could just email the suggested response to towerhamlets.consultation@projectcentre.co.uk as that should still count (just make sure you include your name and address).

The consultation closes this Sunday (21 January).

SUGGESTED RESPONSE:

Question 1
Not sure.

Question 2
It is not clear that banning vehicles from entering Martha St from Watney St will necessarily reduce traffic in this area, as under these plans Tarling St will remain open for eastbound vehicles. Watney St has very high pedestrian flows and would benefit enormously from a significant decrease in motor vehicle movements. I therefore ask for a more ambitious approach here to reduce traffic on Watney St: the streets around Watney St could be made no-through roads to motor vehicles with the aim of keeping through traffic on Commercial Rd, and Watney St itself could be made walking and cycling only (with out-of-hours access for deliveries).

If this banned turn does go ahead, I ask that there is an exemption for cyclists.

Question 3
Agree.

Question 4
I broadly support the pedestrian improvements here. However, I ask that the pedestrian-only zebra crossing outside Shadwell station is changed to a parallel pedestrian/cyclist zebra crossing to allow convenient cycling access between CS3 and Dellow St. I am also concerned that, assuming the newly one-way Dellow St permits contraflow cycling, the widened footway at the junction with Cable St will increase the risk of head on cyclist/motor vehicle conflict. A pedestrian refuge set into Dellow St with a contraflow cycle lane running behind it would offer similar benefits to pedestrians whilst avoiding this problem.

Question 5
Not sure.

Question 6
Agree.

Question 7
Given that the Dellow St – Lowood St – Bewley St loop is already access-only, it is not clear how making these streets one-way would necessarily achieve the objective of reducing traffic. If this one-way scheme is to go ahead, these streets should permit contraflow cycling.

I strongly support the replacement of gates with bollards at the end of Dellow St to improve walking and cycling permeability. This also underlines the need for Dellow St in particular to permit two-way cycling, in order that the full benefits of this improved cycling link are realised. I ask that other similar gates on estate roads in the vicinity are considered for replacement by bollards, to improve cycling permeability across the area. I also ask that the link from the end of Dellow St to Wapping is considered for improvement for cycling, including the possible conversion of the crossing on The Highway to a toucan crossing.

Question 8
Not sure.

Question 9
It is not clear how this proposal will necessarily reduce motor traffic in the area, as Martha St will remain open for westbound vehicles. Similarly to question 2, I ask for more ambitious measures to reduce traffic in and around Watney St.

If this banned turn does go ahead, I ask that there is an exemption for cyclists.

Question 10
Agree.

Question 11
–

Question 12
Agree.

Question 13
Agree.

Question 14
I strongly support the proposed pedestrian and cyclist priority over Sutton St, as the priorities at this junction are currently confusing and counter-intuitive.

I strongly support the proposed parallel zebra crossing of Cable St and a contraflow cycle lane on King David Lane. I suggest that to minimise cyclist/pedestrian conflict on King David Lane, demarcation blocks should be installed to separate the contraflow cycle lane from pedestrian space, and the cycle lane should be painted a different colour from the pavement. I also suggest that King David Lane should be subject to some form of traffic management scheme (perhaps a bus gate, or a banned turn from The Highway) to reduce motor vehicle movements in King David Lane itself and also on Cable St.

Question 15
Cable St and its environs are currently dominated by motor vehicles, with a great deal of antisocial and dangerous driving. Given that only 38% of households in the local area have a car, it seems likely that many of these vehicles constitute through traffic. To build on these proposals, I would support the introduction of a more extensive traffic management scheme in order to make the entire area between The Highway and Commercial Rd access-only to motor vehicles. This approach would be hugely beneficial to local residents, pedestrians, and cyclists using CS3.

Several of the proposed interventions would increase car parking spaces. This would make it easier to drive to and from the area and thus contradicts the overall aim of reducing motor traffic. I ask that, where proposed changes lead to additional kerbside space being made available, this space should be used to install bike hangars, as there is currently very little secure residents’ bike parking in the area.

cable street, consultations, CS3, cycle superhighway, LBTH
LCC HQ moves to Tower Hamlets
Submitted by owen on 13 November 2017

We're pleased to welcome London Cycling Campaign's staff to Tower Hamlets as the LCC's HQ moves to Wapping today.

The new address is:

London Cycling Campaign
Unit 201
Metropolitan Wharf Building
70 Wapping Wall
Wapping
London
E1W 3SS

LCC article: LCC HQ is moving to Wapping!

LCC, wapping
Please respond to the Weavers Neighbourhood Refresh consultation
Submitted by alex on 18 September 2017
A picture of a modal filter

The Borough is currently consulting on a “Neighbourhood Refresh” for the Weavers ward (the north-west corner of Tower Hamlets, around Columbia Road). A major aim of the Neighbourhood Refresh programme is to make roads safer, particularly for people cycling and walking. We think these proposals could be made a lot better, so we urge you to respond to the consultation by its closing date of 30 September. A suggested text is provided below.

The Weavers area is of particular importance to people who cycle in the area, as it includes part of the Quietway 13 route, which will eventually run from London Fields to Farringdon. Although there are some good bits and pieces proposed, overall the proposals do not go nearly far enough. We think that this would be an ideal area for the installation an ambitious series of modal filters similar to the example pictured above, making the streets local-access only for motor vehicles and much more hospitable places for both local residents and people cycling or walking through the area. We urge you to ask for modal filtering in your response.

How to respond

There are several ways to respond: the consultation website includes a map where you can drop a pin to request an intervention in a particular spot, and a webform right at the bottom of the page where you can respond section-by-section. Alternatively, you can email your responses to towerhamlets.consultation@projectcentre.co.uk. A suggested text which you can email in is provided below, but don’t forget to sign off with your name and address! If you put these thoughts into your own words – and add some colour about your personal experience of the area – they may have more impact, but if you don’t have time don’t worry: the most important thing is that a decent number of people reply.

If you live within the Weavers ward, for additional impact you might want to email the ward councillors explaining why you would like a more ambitious scheme.

Suggested response

Email to: towerhamlets.consultation@projectcentre.co.uk

Dear Consultation team

I am writing in response to the Weavers Area Traffic Improvements consultation.

Overall comment:
I welcome the scheme’s objectives of improving the streets for people who walk and cycle. It is particularly important to get such improvements right in this area as it will form part of the Quietway 13 cycle route, and as none of the local main roads currently have any protected space for cycling it is essential that this area provides safe and comfortable alternative routes for all-age, all-experience cycling. However, this area is blighted by rat running, anti-social driving, and vehicle-borne criminality (in particular, drug dealing), and whilst the planned improvements are a step in the right direction it is my view that they should go much further.

This area is bound by several A-roads (Hackney Rd, Shoreditch High St, and Bethnal Green Rd). These roads are much more suitable for carrying large amounts of motor traffic than the backstreets through which it is currently allowed to permeate. I therefore urge the Borough to build on these proposals to create a much more ambitious scheme, centred on extensive area-wide modal filtering, with the aim of making the whole area accessible to local traffic only. This would have huge benefits both to local residents and to people walking or cycling through. In addition, the two B-roads in the area both run on residential streets unsuitable for through motor traffic, and essentially duplicate routes provided by local A-roads. I ask that the Borough investigate the possibility of declassifying these B-roads, which would then allow them to be filtered too.

Section 1:
I ask that the yorkstone paving and raised sections are executed with a bicycle-friendly smooth surface and gentle inclines.

Section 2:
I strongly support the principle of narrowing the entrance to Boundary St to discourage fast driving. I strongly support the principle of providing a contra-flow cycle lane here, but ask that the parking spaces proposed for the west side of Boundary St are moved or removed to avoid dangerous vehicle movements across the cycle lane, and that the cycle lane be made wider and benefit from some form of protection.

Section 3:
I strongly support an additional modal filter here, and hope that it will represent a first step in a much more ambitious area-wide modal filtering scheme. I prefer Option A, as the existing Elwin St/Quilter St filter would then continue to prevent antisocial drivers doing laps of Jesus Green. I ask that the existing filter be modified to make it permeable to cyclists.

Section 4:
I strongly support making the southern end of Durant St walking and cycling only. I ask it is designed such that the usable width meets the relevant London Cycling Design Standards for a shared use path and I suggest that bike hangars for residents’ bike parking could be included in the design.

Section 5:
I do not believe that making Ropley St one-way will have a significant impact in reducing traffic in this area. It will clearly not have any effect in limiting southbound traffic, and may even induce some additional traffic in this direction as it will become easier to drive down. For northbound traffic, other options (e.g. Ravenscroft St and Horatio St) will remain open.

I urge the Borough instead to install a modal filter on Ropley St, as this would be a much more effective way of reducing traffic in this area, and to bring forward proposals for filtering other nearby streets as part of an area-wide scheme.

Section 6:
I strongly support the principle of introducing design features to help embed the 20mph speed limit, but oppose the retention of speed cushions as these dangerously narrow the usable road width for people cycling; they should be replaced with sinusoidal humps. I note, however, that a more effective way of embedding a 20mph speed limit would be to introduce an area-wide filtering scheme.

consultations, LBTH, weavers
Remembering Maris Ozols
Submitted by heike on 3 August 2017

Maris OzolsIt is with great sadness that we announce the death of Maris Ozols, a fellow Wheeler, who suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday, 31 July 2017 whilst taking part in the RideLondon-Surrey 46 sportive.

Maris was 67 years young, very active, curious about everything and everyone. An avid cyclist, swimmer, skier and yogi with many diverse interests and passions, among them local history and culture, music, architecture and alternative technologies.

He leaves behind his wife Nina, four children and grandchildren. His daughter Katya has set up a fundraising page for contributions to the British Heart Foundation. Please feel free to give as much or as little as you can.

In due course, we will be organising a memorial ride in his honour along his favourite East London routes. Please keep an eye out for this on our events page.

maris ozols
Ask for cycling in the Local Infrastructure Fund consultation
Submitted by alex on 27 July 2017

The consultation on how Tower Hamlets spends its Local Infrastructure Fund is currently open, closing on 8 August.

The Fund is made up of payments received from developers and the aim is to spend it on infrastructure which helps Tower Hamlets cope with increases in population and employment. Cycling facilities fit the bill perfectly: bicycles are a space-efficient, healthy, zero-pollution mode of transport -- ideal for a growing borough, being relatively cheap to enable and with plenty of potential for growth in use.

We therefore suggest that you pick “Cycling and walking routes” as one of your top three priorities in answer to Question 3, and then consider suggesting some cycling schemes as your infrastructure project nominations (you are allowed to nominate up to three projects). Examples might include:

  • Making your area’s residential streets local access only for motor vehicles (sometimes known as "modal filtering"), thus enabling safe cycling. You could suggest that some money from the Fund is offered as part of a bid for Transport for London funding for such schemes, which is likely to become available via its upcoming “Liveable Neighbourhoods” programme.
  • Creating new, high-quality cycleways in your area, or upgrading existing ones.
  • Providing secure residents’ bicycle parking in your area (for example, replacing a single parking space with two Bikehangars -- which would hold 12 bikes).

As this is a fund in relation to development, you will have to include some explanation of how your suggestions address the demands placed on the area by development. This should be easy to do with cycling, as it’s a highly space-efficient form of transport which is ideal for an increasingly-dense urban area, and recent Transport for London analysis has shown that it has huge potential for growth in Tower Hamlets. Don’t worry, however, if you can’t answer the questions about how much the project might cost – your suggestion will still count without this.

Click here to get straight to the consultation response page. Remember to reply by Tuesday 8 August.

consultations, LBTH
TfL analysis shows big potential for cycling in Tower Hamlets
Submitted by alex on 18 June 2017
Strategic cycle connections identified in Tower Hamlets

Transport for London has now published its Strategic Cycling Analysis, which identifies routes where there is a high potential for cycling. The analysis brings together an impressively wide range of data. It includes information about the trips Londoners currently make and what proportion of them could, in reality, easily be made by bicycle. It then combines this with other factors, including demographic data and likely areas of future increase in population or employment.

This analysis does not identify specific roads or propose any actual schemes. However, the corridors it highlights are very likely to be where Transport for London's funding for cycling infrastructure is aimed over the next few years. The good news for us in Tower Hamlets is that two of London's Top 25 potential connections are primarily in our borough: one from Shadwell to Hackney Mare St, and another from the Greenwich Foot Tunnel to Hackney (numbers 4 and 5 respectively on the map above).

There is also a high potential route identified up the eastern side of the Isle of Dogs to west of Bow Roundabout, and medium potential routes along the western side of the Isle of Dogs and roughly along the route of Bethnal Green Road.

To reiterate, these connections are a long way from being worked-up schemes, but they will be a very useful source of evidence for local politicians, council officers and campaigners when proposing and promoting potential cycling infrastructure.

routes, TfL
Bow Roundabout Vigil 5th Anniversary
Submitted by gerry on 16 November 2016

On Friday, 18th November Tower Hamlets Wheelers [1] will be commemorating the fifth anniversary of the vigil that we organised at Bow roundabout in 2011 [2] by meeting again at the roundabout at 18:00.

We are gathering again at the roundabout to: Commemorate the importance of the outcome of the 2011 event for campaigning (and campaigners), the need to keep lobbying for safe space for people cycling and, on the weekend of the World Remembrance Day, to remember all road traffic victims [3].

In 2011 we were angry that, within the space of three weeks, two people cycling had been killed at the roundabout and a third had suffered life-changing injuries at another junction in the borough despite promises from City Hall and TfL that roads would be made safer for those cycling [4].

Autumn that year was the start of the campaigning period for the 2012 London mayoral elections and Boris Johnson was standing for a second term. The vigil coincided with that opening week. Our publicising activity, taken up by the new power of tweeting campaigners, meant that media interest and coverage was high, strengthened by the news later in the week that the MP (Rushanara Ali) and mayoral candidates would be attending.

The political embarrassment for Boris Johnson was that one of those who died at Bow did so on the blue paint of one of his cycle superhighway (CS); Brian Dorling on CS2 on the morning of 24th October. And, as were all, whilst commuting. Brian long distance from Hounslow to the Olympic site, Lana Tereschenko (afternoon Friday 11th November) on her way home to Bow from Stratford [5] and Mary Bowers, nearly at the end of her journey from Stepney Green to the Sunday Times offices, hit at the junction of Dock Street and The Highway morning of Friday 4th November having turned off the CS3 track.

These were the users that the CS were designed by TfL to attract and cater for, confident cyclists who would lead the way in showing that commuting by bike was possible on London roads. They were all hit by left-turning HGVs and in two cases by drivers distracted by a conversation on a hands free device. Campaigners had been complaining that blue paint was not sufficient since the first brushstrokes had appeared and throughout 2011 a series of activities by cyclists had demonstrated that considerably more needed to be done City Hall politicians and TfL engineers. Over two thousand participants attended the third Blackfriars Bridge flashride [6] and the Bow vigil was planned returning from the 'tour of danger' ride; an east to west campaigning ride across central London of the junctions deemed by TfL as the 'ten most dangerous...' for cyclists [7]. (By the time we got to Trafalgar Sq the number was nearer 600.)

On afternoon of the 2011 vigil, having taken a battering all week in the press and with Johnson's ambition for a second term, TfL announced a review of major junctions on cycle superhighways ('built' and planned) as well as other major junctions [8]. This was the start of a process of broader recognition that infrastructure in London needed to be at the best international standards for those travelling by bike (or on foot).

Hence the importance for the later space for cycling and the safer lorry campaigns [9]; the successes of those and the 'still to be done' can be followed on the LCC blog posts.

Locally we still have much to do, although we recognise that introduction of 20mph signalled borough commitment to reducing road danger. Bow roundabout has not improved for people cycling, (death of Venera in 2013), and barely for pedestrians and we need a voice in the TfL future plans [10]. Construction lorries are still the major cause of cycling deaths and serious injuries in London, with fatalities and injuries yearly in Tower Hamlets from HGVs for all vulnerable road users. We need to see a local voice via borough politicians lobbying for earlier introduction of the better cab design and stronger enforcement of driving standards (of all vehicles) [11].

Meet Friday, 18th November at Bow roundabout 18.00 for 18.15

[1] London Cycling Campaign in Tower Hamlets www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
[2] www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk/news/tags/bow-roundabout
[3] www.roadpeace.org/remembering/world_day_of_remembrance
[4] www.londoncyclist.co.uk/question-boris-johnson-cycle-superhighway
[5] lcc.org.uk/articles/anniversary-of-bow-death-highlights-need-to-improve-driving-standards-and-lorry-safety
[6] lcc.org.uk/articles/victory-for-london-cycling-campaign-as-mayor-agrees-to-20mph-speed-limit-on-blackfriars-and-london-bridges
[7] www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk/rides/2011-11-12/tour-du-danger
[8] lcc.org.uk/articles/hundreds-of-junctions-to-be-reviewed-by-tfl-after-public-outcry-over-bow-roundabout-and-kings-cross
[9] lcc.org.uk/pages/space-for-cycling & lcc.org.uk/pages/what-are-we-calling-for
[10] tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/bow-vision
[11] lcc.org.uk/articles/win-most-dangerous-lorries-to-be-banned-from-londons-streets

bow roundabout, brian dorling, CS2, svitlana
Boroughwide 20mph limit made permanent
Submitted by owen on 7 September 2016

At the council cabinet meeting held on 6 September, after an 18 month trial period, the Mayor made the decision to make the boroughwide 20mph speed limit permanent.

Read the Review of boroughwide 20mph limit report that was presented to the cabinet.

The specific decision made was:

  1. To agree that the 20mph speed limit Experimental Order is made permanent subject to Leamouth Road and Leamouth Roundabout being omitted from the traffic order and reverting to 30mph.
  2. To agree that the roads listed in 5.10* be prioritised for additional traffic calming to reinforce the 20 mph speed limit.
  3. To note that further work will continue to review road safety throughout the borough in order to target ongoing traffic calming work to those areas most in need of improvements.
  4. To note that further awareness and education programmes will be delivered to build awareness and ownership of the 20 mph limit.

*see LBTH's Review of boroughwide 20mph limit cabinet report.

The main word missing from the decision was enforcement so we'll be following this up with the council and police.

20mph, 20splentyforus, LBTH, safe streets for all
Quietway 6 consultation
Submitted by gerry on 26 August 2016

The consultation for Quietway 6 is now open with a closing date of 30 September.

We'll be leading an assessment ride of the route and proposals on 24 September - see our Rides & Events page for details.

LBTH, quietways, TfL
Free Tower Hamlets adult cycle training
Submitted by david on 31 May 2016

Long standing Wheeler, Dave Tuckwell, recently attended a free cycle training session provided by Tower Hamlets. Dave tells us a little more about the training and his experience on the course:

"Despite having cycled all my life, and on the road for over 40 years, during the last few years I had toyed with the idea of doing the free cycle training provided by Tower Hamlets council so I booked the course through Bikeworks in Cambridge Heath Road, where Sara, the trainer, asked me about my experience, gave me an outline of the course and how it would run.

We began on the basketball courts in Bethnal Green Gardens and went through a safety check before I was let loose. Sara assessed my bike handling, including emergency stops. Having shown my competence we were ready to ride on the road.

Before each section of on-road training, Sara told me which manoeuvre she wanted me to carry out, we assessed the road layout, conditions, hazards and how I would approach it. Afterwards, we went through my actions, which was always interesting as the riding style I’ve developed over the years often took over so I sometimes departed from the instructions. It was very enlightening to have an expert question what I did.

I recommend highly that anyone who wants to learn how to cycle do this training, which was excellent. Even if you think you know, you will learn many things, and it will give you a different perspective on how to ride and challenge you to think about and articulate why you ride the way you do. You are given a certificate as well."

Information about signing up is on the council's cycle training page.

cycle training, LBTH
On-street bike hangars come to Tower Hamlets
Submitted by owen on 20 May 2016

Tower Hamlets council is starting to roll out on-street bike hangars across the Borough. The hangars cater for residents in side streets and provide 6 cycle parking spaces.

Hangars have already been installed at Canrobert Street and Vyner Street, with further bike hangars coming shortly to Chisenhale Road and Driffield Road.

The bike hangars are being installed as part of the council’s cycle parking programme, funded by TfL. The programme includes secure cycle parking for estates and residential side streets as well as on-street cycle parking serving shops and local amenities. If you would like to request cycle parking please contact cycling@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

bike hangars, cycle parking
Greenwich & Woolwich foot tunnels go smart
Submitted by owen on 18 May 2016

JMP Consultants are running a campaign on behalf of the Royal Borough of Greenwich council to raise awareness of the shared use changes to the foot tunnels. Below is their message:

Cyclists using the foot tunnels in Greenwich and Woolwich should check the overhead sign to see when they should walk their bikes. A new computer vision based system can now identify the numbers of walkers, and cyclists in the tunnel, and display messages to ask cyclists to dismount only when pedestrian levels are high.

An initial trial period is currently underway and messaging will be adjusted over the coming weeks. Please support this trial by walking your bike when the sign says to, and help demonstrate that the tunnels can permanently operate as a shared space.

Please also download and use the BetterPoints app to track your journeys through the tunnel. You will be rewarded with BetterPoints for all of your walking and cycling trips, with bonus points when you walk your bike through the tunnel. Points are redeemed for high street vouchers or charity donations. We will also be running a prize draw every month, and you will earn a prize entry for every recorded trip.

Visit techtunnel.betterpoints.uk for more information and look out for us at events we will be running at the tunnel throughout the summer.

foot tunnel, greenwich, shared use, woolwich
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