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

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.

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.

The WACC2016 aim is for gender parity in cycling by 2020 - and that's an ambitious target. I was curious to hear about what was happening so I signed up and jetted off to sunny Hereford.

It was a follow up to a previous conference held in York, and this time round I'm told the slant was more cycling activists and less council and public sector staff. It was a great opportunity to hear about projects involving women and girls from all over the country. Plus a brilliant meet up for those of us who had only ever met on Twitter.

Discussion on policy was mixed with practical projects and workshops. We heard from the Breeze champions - unapologetically for recreational cycling and with a huge national impact.  And at the other end of the scale, very small but intense projects such as an analysis of older women who have given up riding bikes - fascinating work. This included interviews, life stories mapped on a timeline, and  bespoke feedback to find a cycling solution. Some of the stories were very moving- someone who had been doored didn't ride a bike again for 10 years.

The project that gained a standing ovation was a youth worker from Bradford and young women from the BME community. Four of the women proudly told us how they learned to ride bikes and finally cycled 10k. Brilliant and a fantastic video recorded their achievement.

We made friends and shared stories, got inspiration and came home determined to make a difference for women. Who wants to come with me in 2017?

LB Tower Hamlets are consulting on a filtered permeability scheme in the Cable Street area that aims to improve the pedestrian and cycle environment - see the consultation announcement and flyer distributed to residents.

The area is blighted by rat-running with 76% of the motor vehicle traffic travelling along Cable Street passing through. This scheme is taking first steps to reduce this by introducing filtering at several junctions.

With a reduction in motor traffic volume, steps can also be taken to address the lack of capacity of the CS3 two-way cycle tracks. This would be achieved by converting the two-way lanes into one direction of travel for cycling and using the much quieter carriageway for the other direction.

You can read why we support this scheme and also send your support to the council via our web form.

You can submit your own responses directly to cycling@towerhamlets.gov.uk. The closing date for submissions is 14 March 2016.