TfL Cycle Parking Strategy

This strategy has just been published. For some local flavour:

  • a map on page 10 shows that Newham’s on-street parking mirrors outer London rather than inner London;
  • a map on page 13 shows the routes in Newham with a top 5% potential for cycling (as first revealed in TfL’s Strategic Cycling Analysis of June 2017);
  • a map on p 14 shows a strong demand for additional on-street parking in the Beckton area;
  • a map on p 24 shows Forest Gate, Canning Town and East Ham as Town Centres with high demand for cycle parking;
  • page 30 ff provides evidence that cycle parking (over car parking) benefits Town Centres;
  • a map onn p 33 shows the location of cycle hangers over London. Newham has a relatively low provision for hte density of its population.

Arnold

Rainham Ride Report and latest news

14 July was the new summer date for our traditional 25 mile ,off road (mostly) saunter to Rainham Marshes and Upminister. The weather was no better than on our previous September/October rides – but we escaped any rain (but suffered one puncture)..

The route was as interesting as ever.

  • We saw some frantic working on the northern section of the Greeway in preparation for its opeing the following day after being closed for more than a decade.
  • There are signs of the massive development of Barking Riverside.
  • We had a short stop in Rainhm Hall – the subject of an interesting blog by Diamond Geezer on 18 July.

The following Saturday we did some bike fixing at the AAA Fun Day. The all-ability bikes are particularly vulnerable to malfunction and present a challenge to repair. Nevertheless we ensured that a couple more would be available.

Other news:

  • Our next AAA ride is this Saturday 27 July leaving 10.30 from the Arc – see rides.
  • We have submitted strong support for the 5 pilot School Streets. These are all relatively easy to implement. We have suggested extending the scope in some cases and commented that they should be a stepping stone to proper Liveable Neighbourhood schemes.
  • There is an important current consultation on the “Greater Carpenters Neighbourhood Plan” – an area important for cycling and walking connections to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The plans look – typically for the LLDC – deficient.
  • There is a current consultation on closing the bridge at Browning Rd to through traffic to lessen rat running in Manor Park.
  • We looked with TfL and Newham Council at the the Romford Rd corridor.
  • The consultants for the developers of the MSG Square have contacted us after our objection to their seriously deficiant plans after our objection had been lodged. However they have not yet been able to indicate that they would contemplate changing them (and they are likely to be supported by the LLDC Planning team); nor have they shown any interest in a site visit to look again at the cycling angle.
  • We understand and hope that Newham Council are looking again at their original (poor) proposals for the Greengate St/Barking Rd junction.
  • Our next meeting is 29 July – an short evening ride followed by a chance for some informal discussion – see events.
  • LCC are holding a social at at 6:00PM in Look Mum No Hands (49 Old St, London EC1V 9HX).  All are welcome.
  • Steve has devised an exciting new route for our feeder to the Freecycle on 3 August. More marshals would be greatly approciated for this event which is both fun and important in promoting cycling.
  • I will be leading a feeder ride to a cycle fun event in Greenwich Park on 17 August – see rides.

Arnold

Brewery Pride ride Report 29/6/19

10 of us set off on a very sunny Saturday to ride around some east and north east London’s Breweries –as well as old favourites we found a no. of new brew sites! Crossing river Lee we passed old favourites inc Crate & Howling hops to cross Victoria park (& a family marathon in park!) to Old street brewery in Bethnal green –new to us last year. Passing Boxcar –soon to reopen, we stopped for first sample at new Mechanic Brewery also in Bethnal green.

Travelling north now the day started to really heat up passing more Hackney breweries we headed for Lee navigation canal where we rode up to Hale brewery near Markfield park –they actually brew in a shipping container –very micro! Back up canal past Beavertown who were holding a ticketed beer festival we had our lunch stop at Pressure drop brewery –however promised food was not there! after some negotiation some procured food from tasty Beavertown stalls.

Then past new brewery Ora and onto new site for One mile end brewery & Redemption –both in Tottenham. –back across canal and Tottenham marshes to new site of Wild card –next to a retro scooter shop in north Walthamstow. Past alcohol free brewery Nirvana, four more in Leyton before a stop at another new brewery Gravity well for more sampling. We spoke to keen staff at Solvay Society tap room in E11 –brewers of Belgian style beers! We passed Pretty Decent brewery in E7 to our final stop at Woodgrange market where Forest Gayte festival was in full flight and to sample Pretty Decent brew!

Prize for best dressed bike must go to Anita -8 made it back to E7 after a very hot day of riding 23 miles and 28 breweries! -see list below

Bill

brewery location tap room/notes web
1 Trumans E3 2NT no https://www.trumansbeer.co.uk/
2 Crate E9 5EW y https://cratebrewery.com/
3 Howling hops E9 5EN y https://www.howlinghops.co.uk/
4 Laine E9 7BT ceased? https://www.peoplesparktavern.pub/brewery
6 old st Arch 11 Gales Gardens, London E2 0EJ y https://oldstreet.beer/
7 boxcar Unit 1 Birkbeck St, London E2 6JY tap not yet open https://www.boxcarbrewery.co.uk/
8 mechanic Railway Arches, 22A Cudworth St, London E1 5QU stop https://www.mechanicbrewery.co.uk/
9 Three sods E2 6NB ceased? https://www.threesodsbrewery.com/about-us
10 Forest rd 8 Netil Ln, London E8 3RL y https://www.forestroad.co.uk/
11 London fields 365-366 Warburton St, London E8 3RR tap not yet open https://www.londonfieldsbrewery.co.uk/agegate
12 church E8 1JE y https://www.hackneychurchbrew.co/
13 Deviant & Dandy Arch 184 Nursery Rd, London E9 6PB y http://deviantanddandy.com/
14 Hale at five miles 39b Markfield Road, London, N15 4QA y https://twitter.com/halebrewing?lang=en
15 Beavertown N17 9QP y https://www.beavertownbrewery.co.uk/home/
16 Pressure drop Unit 6, Lockwood Industrial Park, Mill Mead Rd, London N17 9QP lunch stop https://pressuredropbrewing.co.uk/tottenham-taproom
17 Ora Unit 16a, Rosebery Industrial Park, London N17 9SR y http://www.orabeer.com/en/
18 Redemption Brewing Company 16, Compass West Estate, West Rd, Tottenham, London N17 0XL n http://www.redemptionbrewing.co.uk/
19 One Mile End 2, Compass West Estate, 32 West Rd, Tottenham, London N17 0XL n http://onemileend.co/
20 Wild card 2 Lockwood Way, Walthamstow, London E17 5RB y https://www.wildcardbrewery.co.uk/about
21 Nirvana Unit T6, Leyton Industrial Village, Argall Avenue, Walthamstow, London E10 7QP n https://www.nirvanabrewery.com/
22 Neckstamper Unit 3, Cromwell Industrial Estate, Staffa Rd, Walthamstow, London E10 7QZ y https://www.neckstamper.com/
23 Magic spells 24 Rigg Approach, Leyton, London, E10 7QN y http://www.magicspellsbrewery.co.uk/ourbeers.html
24 ELB E10 7QB n https://www.eastlondonbrewing.com/
25 Signature brew E10 7BT y https://www.signaturebrew.co.uk/
26 Gravity Well Arch 142 Tilbury Rd, Leyton, London E10 6RE y https://www.gravitywellbrewing.co.uk/beers
27 Solvay Society Taproom 223 Dyers Hall Railway Arches, London E11 4AF y http://www.solvaysociety.com/taproom/
28 Pretty Decent 338 Sheridan Rd, London E7 9EF y https://www.prettydecentbeer.co/
Woodgrange market E7 stop

Notes of Meeting 24th June 2019

Thanks to Steve for the meeting notes & Olawale for photos!

10 of us rode from the “Rhubarb” statue in Stratford to Here East. The focus was on MSG Sphere issues in Angel Lane and Montfichet Road. As several member of the the group took photos we agreed to send ride photos to Kerena for uploading.

Sphere consultation response: The planning proposal for the sphere and NC’s response to this planning application was discussed and our objections based on transport issues only:

1 Generation of excessive car traffic

2 Monfitchet Road inadequate contingency plans

3 Strategic cycling analysis showing high potential Angel Lane are compromised

The full response details are on the NC website Please note that individual responses are required and there is a link on NC website to a standard email for sending a personalised response

Leafleting against proposal was discussed and some members may pursue this

Freecycle

This event is scheduled for 3rd August and is likely to be the most well attended ride of the year, therefore we need as many many members as possible to volunteer to marshal this ride. Training is provided by LCC so please contact Steve Smith if you are interested. The route is to be confirmed, but the plan is to use CS13 and approach the rendezvous point from the north east.

FYR at FG Festival 6 July

NC will have a “Fix Your Ride” stall and we need members to join us as we will be busy.

Feedback on Councillors’ Ride

Councillor Blaney gave feedback – This was a tour NC organised whereby Newham councillors saw Waltham Forest (WF) mini Holland improvements. All were very impressed although many were already sympathetic to such transport and environmental changes. However, as many councillors cannot cycle it was suggested that walking tour to be arranged via Living Streets will widen support for copying these schemes.

LCC Local Groups quarterly meeting – Camden and Southwark quarterly social event agreed cost circa £30

IBikeLondon forum

Likewise there was a positive response to the idea of a forum to share cycling ideas and events

AOB

Bernard suggested a new Newham Parks Ride to be scheduled for August

Brewery ride starting at 11am on Saturday 29th June, marshals needed please contact Bill

School Streets consultation has started – this environmental scheme will be camera enforced – Olawale to draft NC school streets response

Cody dock rolling bridge crowdfunding – NC to support

Our response to the MSG Sphere proposals

This is the excellent document prepared by Jonathan, Olawale and Chris, which will be submitted to LLDC on Friday (pending any last minute comments). Please do make sure you respond as individuals – see previous post for details!

https://www.newhamcyclists.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MSG-Sphere-response-revised.pdf

MSG Sphere Proposals – Take Action

Take action: Stop MSG Sphere bringing more cars to Stratford

Planning applications 19/00097/FUL and 19/00098/ADV

The Madison Square Garden company wants to build a new 21,500-capacity music venue next door to Stratford Station. It will be in the shape of a giant, glowing sphere (similar to Rover from The Prisoner), towering over residential blocks and the newly improved Stratford Town Centre.

We at Newham Cyclists are deeply worried by the proposals for the Sphere:

  • MSG have taken a look at the current travel patterns to gigs at the London Stadium, decided they’re acceptable (we disagree), and proposed exactly the same modal share for this new, ‘state-of-the-art’ venue. That means:
    • around 2,600 people driving to a sold out event—and a paltry cycling modal share of 0.1%. (It’s not like people will never cycle to gigs: the cycle parking at the All Points East festival in Victoria Park was actually full up!)
    • thousands more people through Stratford station at rush hour, making the station unusable for local residents and pushing many more people into their cars for short journeys.
    • We want a travel plan that aims for a cycling modal share of 5-10%, and doesn’t create worse overcrowding at Stratford station.
  • Cycling has been tossed a carrot in the form of an extended cycleway on Montfichet Road… but it looks just as bad as some of the older stuff in the Olympic Park. Interrupted by shared areas, with conflict between walking and cycling baked into the design. In 2019, we should be doing better.
  • More worryingly, their answer to the current pinch point and painted cycle lanes on Angel Lane (the Sphere’s main access road)? Narrow the road, so everyone—kids, grandparents, Disabled folk—has to cycle uphill, in front of lorries, artists’ coaches, speeding minicabs… the lot. This is bad. TfL have found that lots more people could cycle along Angel Lane in future (see TfL Strategic Cycling Analysis Route 7)—but if these plans go ahead, that will lock many of these people out from cycling here for decades. Considering we need to cut carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, that’s plain irresponsible. We want an exemplar cycling facility here.
  • Newham Cyclists will formally object to the MSG Sphere application… but we need your help. You can send your own response to the planning application and tell LLDC and MSG that this isn’t good enough.In a hurry? Use our template to send an objection email. Click here and your computer will pre-populate an email. Don’t forget to personalise it with your name, address, and ways the Sphere will affect you!

Got a little more time? Write your own objection like this:

  • Send an email to planningenquiries@londonlegacy.co.uk;
  • Quote references 19/00097/FUL and 19/00098/ADV;
  • State that you formally object to the planning application.
  • Feel free to use or reference our reasons for objecting—but don’t forget, put it in your own words and use your own experiences. (For instance: Live near Maryland? Don’t feel safe cycling in front of lorries on Angel Lane to get to the shops? Do your kids go to school in the Olympic Park? Expressing your concerns in terms of the impact the Sphere will have on you, and your family and friends, will hold more sway with the planning committee.)
  • Don’t forget to include your name and address.
  • Send the email by Friday 28th June 2019. You’ve not got long, but it doesn’t take long to object—just five minutes to send an email will be enough!

Newham Ride 16 June 2019

Four stalwarts braved early showers for the latest variation of our traditional Newham Ride. This time we took in the excellent parks on Newham Thameside, including Royal Victoria Gardens, Thames Barrier Park and – for the first time- Lyle Park. They all looked lush, and the last was a surprising delight in an unpromising area of new development and traditional industrial sites.

The gates of Harland and Wolff, which originally adorned the entrance to this comany’s site on Woolwich Manor Way.

With this inspiration we resolved to work out a Newham Parks Ride for next year.

Arnold

Councillor Ride 9 June 2019

We supported a ride, instigated by Councillor Blaney and Richard, for Newham Councillors to see the Mini-Holland developments in neighbouring Waltham Forest.

There was a good turnout of about 10 Councillors including the Mayor and the relevant cabinet members. We are grateful to Waltham Forest campaigner Paul Gasson for leading the ride and providing technical input; and especially Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader of Waltham Forest Council who spoke from the political angle and answered a raft of questions.

The objective of the ride was to demonstrate on the ground the broad range of community and health benefits that quality cycle provision brings; and in particular how Liveable Neighbourhoods can be implemented. Newham has succeeded in securing TfL funding for a Liveable Neighbourhood in Custom House and has developed progressive plans for one on the borders with Waltham Forest.

As a bonus the weather was excellent.

Along the journey we stopped at the Leyton Cycle Hub;

and Francis Rd.

We cycled a section of the transformed Lea Bridge Rd;

and experienced neighbourhoods which are filtered to exclude through traffic and provide pocket parks.

After a well deserved coffee break in central Walthamstow , we all returned to Newham on an off-road route through the Wathamstow and Hackney Marshes, and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

A very pleasant and sociable ride which we hope and believe will help promote the development of quality cycle provision in Newham.

For a full range of photos taken by Robin see: https://www.flickr.com/gp/rsstephenson/UUF75Q

Arnold

Cake Mountain Ride Report

Steve’s report:

The weather was sunny and warm when 19 of us set out from View Tube en route to Upshire and the mountain of cake.  However there were many challenges that we had to meet before we could have our cake and eat it. We rode out of the Olympic Park under the Lea Bridge Road, the towpath was busy with walkers, joggers, cyclists and fishermen/women and on the water there were rowers, paddle boarders, houseboaters as we made our way through the distinctive areas of Springfield park and the start of the string of reservoirs extending north out of London.

Nesting swans were seen as the waterway became quieter and water fowl had more room.  We had a few punctures on the rough tracks and although we managed to fix them quickly we did find ourselves returning to the same back wheel.  

After we left the towpath just before Enfield lock, we followed the National Cycle Network before joining Sewardstone Road and then climbing Dawes Hill, which combined with too many cars was a tough challenge.  As we rode into Chingford passed Gilwell Park scout camp, we were surrounded by the forest and we climbed up to the Queen Elizabeth hunting lodge where we had another brief stop. Turning off Rangers Road we entered the forest and followed the tarmac track towards High Beech, the track had some steep sections before we emerged from the forest at the bikers tea hut.  We were soon at High Beech, which was crowded on account of the sunny weather, the forest was beautiful as we rolled on towards the Wake Arms and the busy A121. We negotiated this road without any problems and joined the small road that took us over the M25 and into Upshire and our destination, St Thomas’.

Arrival time 14:28, tea and cake served from 14:30, and with a large slice of home made cake for approximately £1.10 and tea £0.70, unbeatable value.

The ride back was uneventful with zero punctures.  We detoured from the canal and cycled around Hackney marshes and through the ever changing Olympic Park as our group reduced in number with people peeling off towards home.  We arrived back at Viewtube around 17:30 after an enjoyable outing. Thanks to Anita for back marking, Karen and Robin for marshalling, puncture repairs and photos; also Jonathan, some of whose photos are included here.