May Meeting: Tour of Waltham Forest Mini-Holland

May 23 saw us start out from Forest Gate to look at progress on Waltham Forest’s mini-Holland project.  It was a real revelation.

Automatic folding bike hire facility
Brompton bike hire

We met Paul Gasson at Leyton for his expert guidance.   There we saw the first manifestation – the Brompton hire box opposite the secure cycle parting at Leyton :

 

He explained that most of the project had now been designed and consultation was in play.  About one-quarter had been put in place.  TfL had provided £37m but the Council had found a further £17m much of it from developers (in contrast Newham Council seems to have a self-denying ordinance against seeking money for cycle infrastructure from developers); and had backed this by strong political impetus and some expert engineers/designers who were keen to get the infrastructure in place and prepared to change it if it did not work.

Ruckholt Road
Cycleway Ruckholt Road
Ruckholt Road cycleway

We went from Leyton to Ruckholt Rd and made our way up the Lea Valley where there is planned to be a segregated track/quietway route building on existing

bicycle and pedestrian crossing
Crossing at Ruckholt Road

infrastructure:

 

 

Lea Bridge Road
people on bikes on a bike path
Lea Bridge Road cycle superhighway

A key element of the project is a Superhighway along the length of Lea Bridge Road from the river to the edge of the Epping Forest.  A small part is in place near the Ice Skating centre and foreshadows something of high quality which will take about a year to put into place.

 

Lea Bridge Station Cycle Parking
glass building for bike parking
Secure Cycle Parking at Lea Bridge Station

Here we also got our first glimpse of the new Lea Bridge station and its recently installed secure cycle parking:

“Villagisation”

Another key element of the project is “villagisation” i.e. creating four areas without through traffic.  This is key to promoting the project as being as much a public realm benefit as a cycling benefit.  The first such area put in place was Walthamstow village; but we passed through first the recently installed point closures in Blackhorse “village”.  The “villages” are to be complemented by safe routes across heavily trafficked routes along their borders, such as this tiger crossing (of the sort we should see along our Quietway 6):

IMG_2109.:

We ended up at Walthamstow Village, where  point closures had been used to create mini squares:

 

Time prevented us seeing Walthamstow town centre (for which a cycle hub is planned) and routes to Chingford.  But what we saw was impressive and a testimony of what can be done with some political will.

Thanks to Bill for the photos

Arnold

Greenwich & Woolwich Foot Tunnels

We have been asked to participate in trials of a new system allowing cyclists to ride through these two tunnels.

Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels go smart

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

Download the free app and get started.

Apple Store

Google Play

 

Networking Event

As mentioned at the AGM, there is going to be a cycling ‘networking’ event at the Gate in Forest Gate later this month.  The details are below.  If you are interested in helping out, please let us know – and please spread the word to your non-cycling friends!

On your bike
A drop-in evening to find out more about how you can get cycling
Do you have a bike you never use? Thinking of getting one? Keen to try cycling but don’t know where to start? Come to our drop-in event to find out more and to get you started. 
At the Gate Community Centre on Woodgrange Road we will have people to advise on cycle confidence training, cycle maintenance, some bicycle accessories for sale, the police who will security mark your bike if you bring it, information on local cycle routes and more. 
Brought to you by Newham Cyclists and Newham Council