Newham Cyclists

For the last few years we have been helping the Saturday children’s cycle club of this charity by organising rounds of bike checking (first Saturday) and leading a ride on the Greenway/QEOP (second Saturday). Each take place between 10.30 am and 1.00pm. The club is based at the Arc in Hermit Rd Park.

We are now looking at our 2020 arrangements and, in particular, doing another three rounds before the summer break on the following possible dates: 29/2 (checking) and 7/3 (ride); 16/5 (checking) & 23/5 (ride); 30/5 (checking) & 6/6 (ride); 27/6 (checking) and 4/7 (ride); 18/7 (checking) and 25/7 (ride).

The rides have been greatly appreciated by the children who have visibly improved their cycling. They are good fun to participate in.

We are looking for volunteers to help. If you could assist on any of these dates please let me know via the e-mail address given on this website. If you would prefer to be involved only in either the rides or the checking that would be fine, or if you are only avaiable for one or some of these dates.

Also AAA are planning to establish another childrens weekend cycling club at the Abbey Lane open space just off Stratford High St. Plans for this are still in development but if you would be interested in contributing to this please also let me know.

Arnold

For the third year in succession our first ride of the year was to Greensted. The weather was fine as before but the route was different as was the lunch stop.
We went north from Epping to North Weald and had a brief stop at the well preserved station there. The single track railway began life as an extension of the Great Eastern Railway. We then took the back route through to Tylers Green, Moreton and Bobbingworth, twice crossing the A414. We passed the disused Blake Hall station, over the railway and on to Greensted and St Andrews, the oldest wooden church (circ 845AD). The road then led us through Stanford rivers to Toot Hill and Fiddlers Hamlet, where we had a good lunch at the Theydon Oak. From there it was a short distance to Epping station and the train back although three of our group decided to ride back to Newham and burn some more calories
Thanks to Robin for the photos on the link below, if you scroll to the end there are three aerial photos taken by Chas using a drone giving an unusual perspective

https://www.flickr.com/gp/rsstephenson/31Td71

Following our meeting on 22 November with Murray Woodburn, Principle Transport Planner at Newham Council our chart of cycling issues has been updated.

Arnold

A bid has gone in to TfL to fund a Low Traffic Neighbourhood to the north of Windmill Lane – Maryland Point – Forest Lane. It straddles newham and Waltham Forest. The Newham Cyclists infrastructure team has prepared a detailed proposal which involve creating a number of (through) traffic free cells and in particular blocking the popular rat runs of Chobham Road and Odessa Rd. The scheme uses some point closures, but largely uses “gates” protected by number plate recognition cameras to remove all through traffic but allow residents to enter and exit the cells of the Low Traffic Neighbourhood.

All comments welcome. If you would like further information lease contact me. The intention is to use this proposal in ongoing discussions with Newham Council and other stakeholders.

Theproosal is found in these 9 documents.

NWF-LTN-traffic-cell-filter-or-point-closure-location-analysis

NWF-LTN-Traffic-Cells-3-4-ANPR-and-road-traffic-mgt-locations-map-11112019

NWF-LTN-Traffic-Cells-1-and-2-ANPR-and-road-traffic-mgt-locations-map-13112019_0001

NWF-LTN-Traffic-Cell-4-Forest-Lane-ANPR-and-road-traffic-mgt-locations-map-11112019

NWF-LTN-Traffic-Cell-4-Cann-Hall-Road-Dames-Road-ANPR-and-road-traffic-mgt-locations-map-11112019

NWF-LTN-Traffic-Cell-3-Leyton-Road-Crownfield-Road-ANPR-and-road-traffic-mgt-locations-map-11112019

NWF-LTN-Traffic-Cell-3-Leyton-Road-Chobham-Road-ANPR-and-road-traffic-mgt-locations-map-11112019

NWF-LTN-Traffic-Cell-2-ANPR-and-road-traffic-mgt-locations-map-13112019

NWF-LTN-Traffic-Cell-1-ANPR-and-road-traffic-mgt-locations-map-13112019

Arnold

14 of us gathered at the ViewTube Cafe to tour the byways of Newham in search of some of our heritage amongst the new build and the post industrial landscape of the Royal Docks and the riversides of the Thames and the Lea.

Our efforts were rewarded – particularly the Thames parks of Victoria Gardens, Thames Barrier Park and Lyle Park which looked delightfully autumnal.

We got back to the View Tube just as the old was beginning to bite.

Arnold

Start at 10.ooam at the View Tube Cafe. This year we will be focussing on the Royal Docks, and the banks of the rivers Thames and Lea. There will be short stops at sites of historical interest but for further info and photos (including some sites we will not be visiting!) see the update and expanded guide.

Lots of stopping places in the second half of the ride and the cafe at Cody Dock should be open. The choice will depend on the weather.

Arnold

This will be a Pre-Christmas Social at the Wanstead Tap, Arch 352 Winchelsea Rd, Forest Gate, E7 OAQ from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. There will be light refreshment in the form of bread and cheese.

Arnold

Eight of us made it to the latest, Littile Ilford, round of our tour of Community Centres. Highlights –

• We discussed the logistics of the planned ride to the Newham Firework Display – details to be confirmed.
• We decided that November’s meeting will be a social to which partner organisations will be invited.
• We started our thinking on our rides calendar for next year. Steve will bring a draft to our next meeting.
• We discussed what options were available to replace the Yahoo Group which was becoming limited and whose future is uncertain. We decided to continue to use the website as the main archive and to try out Groups.io; but leave other options, with different functionality, open. We also agreed that there should be an additional site administrator in LCC HQ.
• We decided to put in a detailed response to the proposed Waltham Forest/Newham Low Traffic Neighbourhood based on our earlier response advocating 5 “traffic cells”. The Infrastructure Group were tasked to put this together in the light of any plans already in place from the Council and in liaison Waltham Forest Cyclists. In the meantime individuals were encoraged to add there comments to the consultative interactive map which closes on 14 November. The major rat runs of Cemetery Rd and Odessa Rd were identified. Also the need to protect Quietway 6 which crosses this area.
• Olympic Park “quick wins” have been submitted to the LLDC consultant, and the signs were that the MSG Development was likely to be brought back.
• Schools Streets are being launched on 11 November at the Chobham Academy and Woodrange/Godwin Schools. We hope to have a presence to encourage cycling.
• We identified a need to liaise with the newborn Redbridge Group in support to the “Ilford Gardens” development.
• Various other infrastructure improvements were identified. These have gone on our list of cycling issues which we plan to discuss with Newham Council officers at a forthcoming catch up meeting with them.

Arnold