Annual Meeting 27 April 2020: Readout

20 of us gathered virtually for our Annual Meeting. Given the circumstances we focussed on essential business and our reaction to the Covid-19 crisis.

The following were elected Officers:

Co-ordinator – Arnold Ridout

Deputy Co-ordinator – Kerena Fussell

Secretary – Kate Byrne

Treasurer – Bill Bremner

Ride Co-ordinator – Steve Smith

Infrastructure Rep – Olawale Ajibola

Deputy Infrastructure Rep – Chris Kershaw

QEOP Rep – Jonathan Rothwell

The Annual Report, Accounts for 2019-20 and the Budget for 2020-21 were approved. Steve’s Ride Report and an album of Robin’s photos are now available. We hope to arrange for cashless donations at Fix Your Ride sessions when they resume..

In response to the current crisis we encourage members as individuals to lobby their Counsellors on the immediate advantages in promoting cycling and walking and, once the lockdown is eased, to take the opprtunities to maintain the impetus given to sustainable transport and better air quality in the face of an anticipated flight to motor vehicles. A number of templates for this are avaiable including that of Living Streets and British Cycling and those already used have propmpted some responses. We will also provide a template. Other London local authorities are known to be actively looking at how to exit the lockdown by exploiting the opportunities to promote sustainable transport.

We agreed to supplement important individual effots with a Newham Cyclists submission to the Council to remind it of the opportunities available now and post lockdown. This should take into account that the Council’s enforcement officers are presently stretched, but include for the longer term: 20mph, liveable neighbourhoods and ensuring that future road proposals provide good quality provision for cycling – especially given teh anticipated “flight back to cars”.

We also agreed to collate and pass on members suggestions for temporary improvements as part of this exercise. These suggestions should be sent by e-mail – newham@lcc.org.uk

We are in the process of putting together some good cycling routes which we shall publish if we can.

We were warned of increased cycle thefts including breaking open of cycle hoops.

Finally we agreed to keep our next (virtual) meeting to our regular last Monday in the month slot despite this falling on a bank holiday.

Arnold

Annual Meeting Monday 27 April 2020 7.30pm

Due to the Covid 19 crisis this year’s annual meeting will be held using the Newham Cyclists Zoom account.

If you would like to participate can you please indicate by e-mailing newham@lcc.org.uk or responding to the social media notices. You will then be sent an invite.

The agenda will be:

*Election of officers

*Accounts 2019 -2020 and Budget 2020-2021 (to follow)

*Agreement of Annual Report 2019-20

*Any other business.

Arnold

Advice on Cycling

If you have started cycling during the current crisis or have newly returned and would like some helpful advice this is available from the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) and Newham Cyclists, the borough section of the LCC. Resources available include:

An LCC helpline: You can access the free advice service via Facebook Messenger at https://www.facebook.com/LondonCyclingCampaign or 020 7234 9310 or advice@lcc.org.uk. You will be connected with LCC representatives, who have a wealth of cycling information and knowledge and will be on hand to advise people on basic cycle skills, locking and parking bikes, safe route planning, where to buy bikes and gear, and cycling safely in traffic including near HGVs and lorries.

Free LCC Membership for NHS staff: LCC has 11,500 members who pay an annual subscription and support the charity’s campaigning and cycling promotion work. They get benefits including free liability insurance, access to cycling news and information, free legal advice and a range of discounts. Individual members normally pay £49/year but staff working for London NHS trusts or at London hospitals can access membership for free for an initial period of three months, which may be extended if the coronavirus crisis continues beyond June.

https://membership.lcc.org.uk/nhs-key-worker-membership

Newham specific advice from local cyclists: e-mail us at newham@lcc.org.uk letting us know in general terms what your query is and how you wish to be contacted and we will get in touch and try to answer.

Finally, Handlebars are crowdfunding for their scheme to donate a bike for NHS Key workers.

Arnold

Co-ordinator, Newham Cyclists

https://membership.lcc.org.uk/nhs-key-worker-membership