Author: Arnold Ridout

Readout from November Meeting

Again a well attended meeting with a full an interesting agenda.  Our first meting at the Black Lion in Plaistow:

  • Following up last month’s meeting with Living Streets we heard that Living Streets were progressing setting up a Newham branch which some Newham Cyclists were likely to join.  This would maintain co-ordination.
  • Following last month’s meeting on Forest Gate Crossrail related improvemetns, a collective Newham Cyclist response has been given to this consultation as well as well as other consultations  on Manor Park and the Silvertown Tunnel.  These to reinforce the individual responses.
  • There was a very positive meeting with Councillors Terry Paul and John Gray over the Greenway closure.  Interestingly,The day before this meeting the signage had been improved by Thames Water.  Notable also was the number of people cycling in the area and the number that stopped to voice their opinions.

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    There is hope for the end to the closure from West Ham station to Stratford by April next year, with some limited provisional access before then  The reopening  paves the way for the planned improvements for the Greenway as part of  TfL  second round of quietways – in this case 24hr opening and lighting, and  4 additional ramps for access.  The closure on the northern side is more uncertain despite the overrunning Crossrail related works coming to end.

  • We are seeking a similar engagement with these two local Councillors to look at the multiple issues surrounding Stratford High Street and the Stratford Gyratory.  To the obvious ones can be added the frequent parking of construction traffic  blocking the shared use pavement.
  • Some more works on the Victoria Park to Hainault Quietway have started in Forest Gate.  We noted that the introduction of a CPZ had led to more parking in Cemetery Rd to the detriment of the route as a Quietway.  We agreed that we could not endorse this Quietway unless the crucial junctions were suitably addressed.
  • We decided to go ahead with some traffic counting pilots.
  • We noted the recent poll in the Newham Recorder on cycling issue.  Steve Smith put forward an excellent case for cycling.
  • We decided to seek a catch up meeting with Newham’s Sustainable Transport Officer in the New Year.
  • We noted that further cycle parking has been casually removed without replacement by Newham Council – this time outside Wilkinson’s in Stratford.
  • The Christmas lights ride on 7 December was discussed and the 2016 Ride Programme was launched.  (Details elsewhere)
  • On street secure parking has been installed by Newham Council in various locations.  A welcome development.  All were urged to identify further suitable sites.

Upcoming meetings

A reminder that two important and interesting meetings coming up:
26 October at 7.00pm at Coffee E7.  Meeting with Murray Woodburn of Newham Council and possibly other Council officers to discuss the Forest Gate Crossrail improvement plans.
2 November at 7.30 at the Wanstead Tap.Open meeting with Living Streets.  Jack Skillen, the London Director will be talking about the benefits of creating a walking nation.  This meeting takes forward our wish to liaise more with other similarly minded groups.
Arnold

Readout from Monthly Meeting 28 September 2015

We benefited from Rosalind Readhead providing a talk and stimulating lively and interesting discussion.  Rosalind is an independent mayoral candidate promoting a policy of car free days and active travel, particularly in central London.

She cited a recent study on the health effects of private motor vehicles in London.  some of the figures were very telling. This is a selection:

  •  67% of all car journeys could be completed by bicycle in 20 minutes.
  • 75 sq kms of London is devoted to car parking.
  • 9,500 deaths in London each year can be associated with air pollution.
  • Road closures can cause 75% of traffic to “evaporate”.

Her message was that, at the global level,  climate change demanded action; whilst at the local level the adverse health effects of private motor vehicles threatened the existence of the NHS as a service provided free at the point of delivery.

Drawing on the example of Seville she advocated that local areas should be prepared with a detailed plan to promote cycling and other forms of active travel  which will be available when when the political opportunity arises.  This should include a proper cycling network, as opposed to the current “labyrinth” that is the central London grid.

On the business side (a) we discussed the approach to the forthcoming initial planning meeting on the Stratford gyratory,  (b) decided to take up an offer from Murray Woodburn from Newham Council to discuss in detail the cycling aspects of the Forest Gate Crossrail improvements, (c) decided to seek details of the junction planned at  Stratford High St/Sugarhouse Lane and (d) progressed our arrangements for a forthcoming open meeting with Living Streets – now 2 November at 7.30pm, venue to be confirmed.

July (and a bit beyond) News

As usual a lot happening.

12 July saw our last scheduled Newham Ride which again took in a foray south of the river to enable us to enjoy almost all the pieces on the Sculpture Line and a trip on the Cable car.  It was thoroughly enjoyed by the dozen or so participants.  Thanks to Steve for the photos.

 

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On 13 July we attended an initial stakeholder presentation for the remodelling of the Stratford Gyratory.

On the 16 July we were represented at the LCC Local Groups meeting  which was concerned with the updating of its governance arrangements.  There will likely be be a small knock  on effect requiring some tinkering with our (by now venerably ancient) local constitution.

At the same time a Crossrail stakeholders consultation meeting was held by Newham Council.  The point was made that at Manor Park and Maryland there was room for cycle lanes that could be continuous with the other proposed schemes for Stratford Gyrator y and the Quietway.

On 1 august we led our most successful yet feeder ride from Stratford to the central Lhondon Freeride.  Over 90 cyclists were delivered safe and dry to Fenchurch St, by a large team of Newham Cyclists.

Our July monthly meeting took place on 3 August.   We were pleased to have the opportunity to cycle the proposed Newham section of the Victoria Park to Hainault Quietway with  Forest Gate North Councillor  Seyi Akiwowo.  We showed her our proposed more direct alignment (avoiding a potential conflict with a popular playground)  and demonstrate how crucial it is to get high quality crossings of the main roads.

Newham Cyclists and a number of us as individuals have already put in  responses to the Council’s consultation on this Quietway, but the details of the route are still very much open following a stormy meeting the Council held with the residents of Capel Rd and its immediate neighbourhood.  Interestingly the traffic count for Capel Rd came out lower than expected.

Over refreshment the monthly meeting further discussed the Quietway, plus the following matters:

  • Stratford High St:  The Greenway closures either side are set to continue for some time.  The additional closure caused by building work has been ameliorated by allowing shared use of a widened section of pavement – possible in reaction to a formal Freedom of Information Request that was made to TFL by us.  The response to that request also shows that the Warton Rd junction of CS2 was assessed to be dangerous.  TfL now have a long term plan to have a hold left scheme as we originally asked for.  But in the meantime there is danger of short term expedients  which will disadvantage cyclists.  Full details are available from Arnold.
  • The Olympic Park and Westfield:  London Assembly Member Darren Johnson pressed Mayor Boris Johnson about  recent studies of the sub-standard cycle provision.   LCC are still in discussions with the LLDC about the siting of hire cycle stands especially near the Timber Lodge where conflicts are likely to arise.
  • We decided to ask for a catch up meeting with Newham Council’s Sustainable Transport Officer.
  • TfL’s response to consultation on the latest tinkering with the Bow Flyover (designed mostly to assist pedestrians) is disappointing.  In particular it will do nothing to improve cyclists access to the southern section of the Lea towpath.
  • We decided to invite Living Streets to our 26 October meeting and invite Councillors and other community groups such as school governors, youth groups, the WI.  Put this in your diary and watch this space for further details of venue etc.
  • The Crossrail public realm improvements at Manor Park are out for consultation which closes on 4 September.  The link is here:
    https://www.newham.gov.uk/Documents/Transport%20and%20streets/CrossrailManorParkQuestionnaire.pdf
    Newham Cyclists will be putting in a response, but individuals are encouraged to as well – in particular to press for cycle lanes.  Forest Gate is expected to follow in the autumn and Maryland in the new year.

Arnold

Next monthly meeting

Our next monthly meeting will be held on 3 August.  This will be an evening ride, including a refreshment stop.  Exact details to be confirmed.  Meet outside Coffee 7 (corner of Sebert and Woodgrange Rds) at 7.00pm

Newham+ Ride 14 June

13 of us gathered at the View Tube in the Sunday morning gloom, with 12.5 bikes.  With a spirit of undaunted adventure we nevertheless headed for south of the river, but not before seeing the new developments at Cody Dock (now open weekends), including the innovative design for the new bridge.  We continued this year’s theme of sculpture by taking in 6 of the 10 sculptures on the Sculpture Line started our inspection of the Sculpture Line, including works by Damien Hirst and Anthony Gormley.  This was topped off by a short cruise on the Woolwich Ferry and a return along the Greenway.  In the process we discovered that the Greenway diversion has now been signed and various minor improvements completed.

A record 8 of us made it back to the View Tube – a thoroughly enjoyable 21 miles. by which time the sun had come out.

Our next Newham ride is 11 July

Newham Ride 2 May 2015

A combined team from Newham Cyclists men’s elite and vintage squads, eight in all, set out at 10.15 am  from the View Tube in cool but dry conditions to complete the only etape of the 21 mile Tour of Newham.

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Some tricky windy conditions were overcome on the new trial stretches around North Woolwich and up the Roding Valley.  A high rate of attrition meant that only 2 riders (one each from the vintage and elite categories) made it, at 2.00pm. from the foothills of the Lea Towpath up the final col de Greenway to the View Tube and a pot of Earl Grey.

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Our next Newham ride is on Sunday 14 June.

Thanks to Steve for these photos.

Readout from April 2015 meeting and update

Our meeting took place on 27 April at Coffee E7.  As usual lively

Headlines

  • We discussed the wide ranging review meeting which took place with the Newham Council Sustainable Transport Officer on 24 April.  Further details are annexed below.
  • We looked at the slack.com communication platform and decided to trial it for a couple of months with a view to replacing the Yahoo Group (if the trial turns out successful). (if you would like to participate in the trial and did not give your name at the meeting please indicate this via our e-mail address)
  • We discussed future rides and were grateful to Steve for volunteering to be our ride co-ordinator.
  • We decided to take the opportunity of publicising our group at (1) the Newham show, (2) the Forest Gate Festival and (3) the monthly Dr Bike sessions in Stratford.

Upcoming matters

  • The next Newham Ride is 2 May (see calendar).
  • The committee will be meeting Sustrans and the new Newham Council project officer in relation to the Quietways.
  • We will be riding the route of the proposed “A 406 Quietway” with Sustrans and Newham Council.

 

Annex

Issues discussed with Richard Wadey (Newham Council Sustainable Transport Officer) 24 April 2015

  •  LIP projects: most  ward audit schemes slated this year as “early winners”” have been implements or are shortly to be implemented  – mostly around Stratford and associated with the Greenway Diversion. 
  • Next year priorities likely to be contraflows around Stratford/Plaistow N and A 406 route – see below). We drew attention to need for priority to be along proposed quietways i.e. Ismailia Rd FG.
  •  Royal Docks: separately funded and opening up a route north of Albert Rd. We pressed for improvement to crossing of road to London City Airport. 
  • Gallions Roundabout: separately funded. Our priority is widening path to Cyprus and ensuring traffic crossing on all legs. 
  • A 406 QW: Sustrans have done initial scoping and land ownership looks helpful, as key plots owned by LBN, or TFL or (ultimately) AM Trust.  Northern section is most direct if it follows road rather than Little Ilford Park.
  • QEOP: There is a proper plan for Penny Brookes St, Montfichet Rd and Westfield Ave.  These now need funding but this may come from neighbouring developments. 
  • Quietways: Henniker Rd the preferrred route for northern QW.  LBN have appointed a project manager who we are arranging to meet with Sustrans in May.  We agreed with Richard that junctions s are key (Leyton Rd, Leytonstone Rd, Dames Rd, Woodgrange Rd, Forest Drive.) 
  • Leaway: land for route south of Cody Dock likely to become available shortly.  Plans already developed for Canning Town subject to some minor issues. 
  • Stratford Gyratory design sessions to take place this summer.
  • Newham Cycle Strategy should be put in place 2015/6.   We supported the idea of a detailed strategy drawing , for example, on ward audit projects.