Month: May 2014

An Olympic Park Theme

Reminder – our evening ride/meeting 
Will take place on Tuesday evening 3 June.  Meet outside CoffeeE7 (corner of Woodgrange and Sebert Rds) at  7pm, or corner of Henniker Rd and Leyton Rd at 7.15.  After a ride around the Olympic Park we will end up at the Wanstead Tap cafe in Forest Gate which is being opened specially.

Olympic Park Cycling

Two question to Boris on a matter we have been pressing.  Answers are polite as far as the ODA/LLDC planners are concerned.  They messed up in the face of clear warnings from LCC, and now Newham council tax payers are having to shell out for remedial work:

“Olympic Park Cycling (1) Question No: 2014/1669

Andrew Boff

Please could you update me on the progress of re-examining the plans for cycling infrastructure across the Chobham Manor development, as you committed to do in answer to my question on the topic in December (Question 2013/4696)?

Written response from the Mayor

The approved Reserved Matters application for Chobham Manor has removed the need for cyclists to dismount at junctions on Chobham Manor. Cyclists will now travel on the road, rather than dismounting at junctions.

This is appropriate due to the low level of motor traffic expected in the area and follows reasoning that on local streets – such as those in Chobham Manor – if cars know they must share with cycles they will travel at a slower speed.

My cycling commissioner, Andrew Gilligan, is working with the LLDC and Westfield to improve cycling provision across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Olympic Park Cycling (2)Question No: 2014/1670

Andrew Boff

Will you remodel the cycle track on Westfield Avenue in the Olympic Park where cyclists currently have to dodge concrete cobbles every 15m or so? Why did your team allow for such a substandard track to be built?

Written response from the Mayor

Westfield Avenue, while part of the wider London Legacy Development Corporation’s (LLDC) area, is part of the Westfield Stratford City estate, sitting outside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The original plans for the cycleway were submitted prior to the London 2012 Games and were approved by the Olympic Delivery Authority in line with then guidelines on cycling.

Standards and aspirations have risen since those times. I have asked the LLDC and my cycling advisor, Andrew Gilligan, to work with Westfield Stratford City and others in the area to improve the public realm and cycling as part of a wider Park review.”

Hackney Cycling Conference 6 June

If anyone would like like to go (Newham Cyclists will reimburse the cost)  please let me (Arnold) know.

This is how the conference is billed:

“The major funding committed for London highlights a growing political will for ambitious and innovative approaches to improve the public realm and encourage more people to cycle on our road network. With huge commitment for such change, what is the future of London’s landscape?

With schemes such as Mini-Holland set to create substantial and transformative change along with the extension of cycle superhighways and funding for Quietways, key questions and challenges start to arise around cycling design standards. How will the competition for space be managed? Is there a need to reallocate road space? How do we encourage and increase cycling numbers without taking away space from modes other than the private car, should we cut into bus lanes and muscle in on footways?

As London’s number one borough for cycling, the Hackney Cycling Conference offers unrivalled access and opportunity to explore these issues with a cross-sector mix of transport professionals, politicians, academics and campaigners that are involved in influencing an increase in safe cycling in the UK.

Confirmed speakers include                                                                                   

- Andrew Gilligan, London Cycling Commissioner

- Klaus Bondham, Director at Danish Cyclists’ Federation

- John Dales, Director of Urban Movement

- Brian Deegan & Paul Lavelle, Transport for London

- Peter Piet, Steer Davies Gleave & Roy Thompson, Royal Borough or Kingston upon Thames

- Dr Rachel Aldred, Senior Lecturer in Transport, University of Westminster

- Tom Bogdanowicz, London Cycling Campaign

- David Dansky, Cycle Training UK “

British Cycling led ride Saturday 31 May

We have been notified that there are still places left on a British Cycling led ride of 14 miles described as “a leisurely circuit of Newham and Tower Hamlets using almost entirely traffic free off road paths”.  It starts at the View Tube at 10 am. To book a place go to:

 

goskyride.com/Search/Details?eventid=42144&DCMP=emc-gsr-ec-SRL-Newham2

 

 

New links to the Olympic Park have opened

In time for the beginning of May bank holiday, some new links into the Olympic Park from the River Lee navigation have opened. These links might be useful for people going to the big ride on the 17th May,  if they are unable to join our feeder ride.

At Old Ford Lock, you can now get into the South Park close to the Great British Garden by the Stadium via a gentle ramp. 

DSCN1022
Old Ford Olympic park access

 

 

 

 

By the Copper Box Bridge across the river/canal, There is now use a zig zag ramp, (next to stairs) from The Newham side (and towpath) to the top of the bridge by the copper box, on the other side of the bridge there is a lift.

DSCN1052
Copper Box access

 

 

 

 

The East Marsh at Hackney is now open too, Though Eton Manor is not yet so you still have to cross busy roads between there and the North Park.

DSCN1058a
East Marsh, Hackney

 There are still a few access routes to open, but some others should be open shortly.

 

 

 

 

Canning Town South Conservative candidate’s cycling views

We received the following email from Gareth Knight, Conservative party candidate for Canning Town South, which was originally sent direct to LCC.

Hi, I am a candidate in Canning Town South in Newham and I’ve just seen your website.

Firstly, my twitter handle is @GarethKnight and I’m more than happy for your members to contact me.

Secondly, I support your calls for dedicated cycle lanes on the Lower Lea Crossing and Silvertown Viaduct. 

Finally, I would go far further than this and support a wholesale strategy to encourage residents in my ward to commute to Canary Wharf by bike, relieving pressure on the DLR and Jubilee Lines, including:
-secure cycle parking serving the developments on Western Gateway and Seagull Lane and the new developments off Hallsville Road;
-secure cycle parking for all new developments in the Canning Town area to be built as they are constructed;
-bike racks and cycle lanes on Western Gateway serving local shops, restaurants, the Emirates Air Line and the ExCel centre;
-the introduction of “Boris Bikes” to the Royal Docks area (they currently stop before they reach Newham);
-a cyclist hotline where reports of potholes, dangerous roads and dangerous drivers can be made so action can be taken quickly;
-mandatory cycle proficiency training for all local primary school children;
-an offer for adults to receive cycle proficiency training to increase confidence in cycling on London roads and reminders of the highway code as far as it affects cyclists.

I would actively encourage any of my colleagues on the council to identify similar opportunities to promote cycling in their wards, most notably around the Royal Docks and Olympic Park.

Newham has one of the worst reputations of any borough in London when it comes to being cycle-unfriendly and if elected, I would want to substantially shift that reputation as far as my ward is concerned.

I hope that explains my position!

Kind regards
Gareth Knight

Space for Cycling in Newham?

 

S4C_TOWNCENTRES_WHITE

 

We now have all but 2 wards where people have taken action (i.e. put in their postcode and sent emails to the candidates).

The 2 where no actions have been taken are:

Green Street East
https://action.space4cycling.org/data/ward/1226

and
Wall End
https://action.space4cycling.org/data/ward/1220

So if you live in either of those, or you know anyone who does, please visit the website or pass on the details.

The TUSC and Green Parties have both said they are supporting the campaign right across London. In Newham we have 2 Green Party candidates (both in Forest Gate North) and 8 TUSC candidates.

Also there is one Green (Jane Lithgow) and one TUSC (Lois Austin) standing for Mayor.

We have 1 confirmed Conservative supporting (Adam Nowacki in Beckton) and 9 Labour candidates.

Plenty of work still to be done, but it’s a start!