In anticipation of the Annual Meeting on 30 April the accounts for last year are available here
Blog
Readout of March 2024 Meeting
This can be found here.
Take Action: East Village Cycle Connections
Newham Council are consulting on a long-term plan for cycling in East Village (the ex Olympic athlete’s village on the “new” side of Stratford). The designs are a step-change for the Olympic Park, an area whose cycling infra has been outdated from the moment it was built. The proposals include safer cycle tracks, continuous pavements for most of the streets in the area, and fixes for dangerous junctions.
We support the scheme, but would like Newham to do a little more to make sure everyone can benefit from it—particularly children cycling to school at Chobham Academy.
The consultation is open until Sunday 17th March: we recommend you support the scheme, but ask Newham to:
- Deliver the scheme quickly, obtaining funding from the many housing and commercial developments in the area to do so.
- Find a way for kids to cycle safely to school on Liberty Bridge Road over the railway line, where the designs currently dump people cycling out into the carriageway due to a width restriction. We’d like to see a bus gate, or an extension of the school street on Cheering Lane. Doing nothing is not an option.
- Fix the Mirabelle Gardens-Elis Way-Cheering Lane rat run. Drivers leaving Westfield often use this as a shortcut to avoid the traffic lights on Celebration Avenue.
Remember: your own views and experiences will carry the most weight in consultations.
Newham-Cyclists-March-2024-East-Village-Connections-responseTake Action: Say YES! to the Romford Road cycleway
Newham Council are consulting on their full plan for cycleways on Romford Road. This is a long-awaited extension of Cycleway 2 to the edge of Ilford.
We are delighted to see the designs are super high-quality! Continuous cycle tracks. Fully protected Dutch-style junctions. More planting and trees. New sections of 24-hour bus lane. It looks similar to the Lea Bridge Road cycleway in Waltham Forest, but in some ways (e.g. at bus stops) it’s even better!
Romford Road is one of our most important main roads, and also one of the worst places in Newham to cycle at the moment. TfL’s Strategic Cycling Analysis shows there is huge demand for people to cycle here. Now’s your chance to tell Newham Council “yes please!” to high quality cycleways.
The consultation is open until Sunday 24th March. We recommend you support the scheme, and ask Newham to:
- Deliver cycle tracks on Romford Road in full and as quickly as possible, without compromising on protection, width, or junction design
- Co-ordinate with the Redbridge to allow the cycleway to continue to Ilford town centre
- Future-proof the scheme for low traffic neighbourhoods on the nearby side streets, and for cycle tracks on the main roads that cross it—everyone deserves to live on a street that’s safe for cycling
We’ve posted our own response below for your reference, but remember: your own views and experiences will carry the most weight in consultations.
Newham-Cyclists-Romford-Road-consultation-responseReadout from 26 February 2024 Meeting
This is available via here
Readout from 29 January Meeting
Our Ride Programme is now listed on this website and on LCC website.
In accordance with LCC changes to rides limited to 15, which is plenty for our local rides, there is a new risk assessment template which requires both a leader and a backmarker to be named. We will indicate in advance that there is a maximum of 15 and first 15 who have signed in will be guaranteed a place. Larger rides over 15 require the risk as assessment to be signed off by LCC Office.
Our next ride is the Women’s Freedom Ride feeder on 3 March for which marshals needed.
We are running a ride for the children of the Ambition, Aspire, Achieve children’s cycle clubs on 24 February. At the moment there are not enough volunteers to run bike maintenance sessions for these clubs. If you would be interested (weekends or weekdays) please contact Arnold
We anticipate running a Bike from Boleyn Ride in April/May
Fix your Ride will start again on March 9.
We agreed to participate in Green Fair run by Sustainable Newham in West Ham Park on 6 May and will look to provide some bike maintenance and outreach/information.
In respect of the Newham Cyclists bank accounts we are in the process of changing the signatories to reflect the current Committee.
In respect of Community/Public Engagement, there are 358 people connected to Newham Cyclists, either as LCC members in Newham, or via the mailing list or both, but 223 people on the mailing list. Karen will ask LCC to email the 125 members who do not receive our newsletter, and ask if they want to sign up.
She will also laminate a newsletter QR code so that people at Fix Your Ride and other events can scan if they wish to sign up.
There will be a separate meeting (1 hour, virtual) to discuss strategy for increasing and diversifying membership. Anyone I would like to participate should contact Karen who would also welcome contributions for a forthcoming planned newsletter
Infrastructure
- Olawale met Newham Council’s Romford Road Active Travel Scheme team in January. The only new development was on the stretching of the phases of development, with separate sections within each phase. The next section in planning will be the south side of Romford Rd between Dershingham Ave and Fifth Ave. This will be considered by the Council Cabinet on 5 Feb.
Implementation of the scheme and opening sections, including public engagement events, has been slow and there are issues such as puddling on some of the sections built. However the Council has a good project engineer and an experienced project manager has recently been appointed. There remains issues TFL and the omission of major junctions. Olawale invited comments and suggestions for consideration be the Committee.
- Newham council are promoting a cycle route via Osborne and Hampton Rds – running parallel to the Romford Rd – by stencils on road and minimal signage. At the moment it is considered unsuitable s and it was agreed that we should ensure that this was not an alternative to improving the Romford Rd. Both routes need to be safe.
- Council proposing making existing bus lanes 24/7 on New Plaistow Rd-Plaistow Rd-West Ham Lane. It is encouraging that there is acceptance that the bus lanes should be 24 7 given the reluctance of TfL to follow their own policy at the awful Greengate St/Barking Rd junction and Prince Regent bus priority schemes. However there should be continuous bus lanes on both sides of these roads as they are part of Cycle Future Route 7. This is especially important especially between Plaistow Station and Barking Rd.
- The proposals contained in Traffic Orders for the Beckton Walking and Cycling Scheme – essentially Tollgate Rd and south part of Woolwich Manor Rd look good but don’t cover the whole of Tollgate Rd and do not address the linking A13 and Tollgate Rd. Newham Cyclists responded to these proposals in 2022 and there will be a supportive response to the Traffic orders.
- Councillor Tripp looking for comments on transport side of the proposal for use of the Capel Rd Changing Rooms especially in light of reopening car park, which could impact on Cycleway 16. Comments can be offered direct to her via Kerena.
- East Village Connections proposals are going to consultation next month. The main features are 2 way cycle tracks on Celebration Ave and Penny Brookes St and improvement of Liberty Bridge Rd. These proposals link to the northern section of Cycle Future Route 7. Issues include: International Way being descoped for present due to development and no space for segregated tracks on Liberty Bridge itself. A bus gate or bringing this within the existing school street are potential alleviating measures – the former by preference.
- Work on the excellent Westfield Ave scheme has started.
- Work on Honourlea Ave mostly complete and funding is now available for the long awaited drop kerb and parallel crossing suitable to facilitate cycling into the park area. to facilitate crossing into park at west end for parallel crossing.
- TfL are to consult on changes to the Lower Lea Crossing. The proposals look very cumbersome and scanty given the pressure to come (and the finance available from) the Silvertown Tunnel. Any suggestions on what is needed in this area can be made to Jonathan.
- Planning permission has been granted for the Crown Wharf development without taking on board Newham Cyclists suggestions for a pontoon path under A13 to link to CS3.
Any Other Business
- It is proposed to hold the AGM on 22 or 29 April. All posts are up for re-election.
- The LCC Local Group Forum link includes notes on the LCC strategy plan for the forthcoming mayoral election.
- A Cargo Bike celebration event on 28 January 2024 was a timely demonstration of parking for cargo bikes and adapted bikes. It would be good for Newham Council to promote this type of facility forward, consistent with its active travel, health and climate change policies.
Next meeting 26 February.
Lower Lea Crossing: Is that it?
TfL are consulting on changes to the Lower Lea Crossing and Aspen Way Roundabout. It’s not too bad—tweaking some crossings here, widening some cycle tracks there, etc.
But it’s also not especially transformative: there’s already a cycle track here, and it already provides an important connection to the Royal Docks. Some of the changes will be nice to have, but they could’ve been better. One arm of Aspen Way roundabout on the north side, amazingly, still won’t even have crossings!
The bad news is that this scheme ties in to the Tidal Basin Roundabout and the Silvertown Tunnel. The Tunnel will bring much, much more traffic to the Lower Lea Crossing and Aspen Way. Maybe these changes to the Lower Lea Crossing cycle track are an attempt to mitigate these negative effects—but they’re nowhere near enough.
The consultation is open until Monday 12th February. We recommend responding and telling TfL:
- The scheme won’t really make a difference to the number of people walking and cycling in the area.
- TfL should build crossings on all arms of the Aspen Way roundabout, and they should all be separated for walking and cycling (no shared areas please.)
- In the medium term, TfL should look at grade-separating walking and cycling at the roundabouts, like at the Green Man Roundabout.
- Where the cycle track is interrupted for servicing entrances, drivers of servicing vehicles need to be given adequate warning to watch for people walking and cycling.
- The main problem in the area will still be the Silvertown Tunnel, a 1960s quality urban motorway scheme which shouldn’t have been approved. This scheme, combined with the threadbare bus network and silly cycle shuttle bus, comes across as a tick-box exercise to let the Tunnel’s promoters pretend they’re doing something worthwhile for people who don’t have a car, don’t want one, or can’t afford one.
You can also read our consultation response here:
Lower-Lea-Crossing-consultation-responseChristmas Lights Ride
Thanks for coming to the Christmas Lights Ride! It was very busy but we managed to see all the best displays. Kudos to Robin for a quick puncture repair and photos, to Steve for leading, to Anita and Ken for marshalling, and to all for completing the ride. More photos available here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rsstephenson/albums/72177720313311169/
Karen.
Everybody needs good neighbours!
Our neighbours in Tower Hamlets need support!
Many of us cycle into Central London via the Tower Hamlets cycling network.
However “Mayor Lutfur Rahman has taken the most extreme, undemocratic and dangerous decision available to him. He has decided to rip out all the walking and cycling infrastructure in Bethnal Green. “
“Save Our Safer Streets” is fighting back.
Find out more below. Can you help our neighbours?
Readout from 27 November 2023 Meeting
Ted Maxwell, representing the informal group Save Our Safer Streets, spoke about the removal of the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Tower Hamlets even after being made permanent. The meeting was supportive of the campaign. Ted outlined ways in which Newham Cyclists could provide practical asistance .
There has been one Newham Ride since the last meeting, on 12th November 2023. Next ride is the Christmas Lights Ride on 10 December 2023. There was discussion on improving the link with the LCC website and providing a GPS link of our rides.
The ride for the Ambition, Aspire, Achieve (AAA) children’s club proposed for 2 December 2023 will not go ahead because AAA are engaged with their toy delivery then. A new calendar will be put together for maintenance and rides in the New Year.
Fix Your Ride (FYR) has now finished for 2023. It will start again in 2024.
On infrastructure:
- The opening of phase #1 of the Romford Road Active Travel Scheme (RRATS) scheme will happen when the Council is satisfied with the safety. The regular NC dialogue (which is good on this particular project) will continue. There will be a further liaison meeting in December 2023 when there should be information on Phase #2. Public engagement events are planned by the Council for December 2023.
- Implementation of the borough-wide 20mph speed limit will be implemented in #4 Phases , northern part of the borough to the southern part. The traffic order for Phase #1 has been published. Liaison will continue with the organisation 20 is Plenty and other interested organisation in case of problems in implementation and to ensure enforcement.
- A response has been submitted to the Bromley-by Bow Gasworks (BBBG) planning application raising the fact that some of the critical roads for local Active Travel connectivity are currently designated as “private roads” i.e. not adopted or controlled by LB Newham so don’t .
- The Mayor of London (MoL) has rejected the planning application for the MSG Sphere (to be located next to Stratford railway station), to which Newham Cyclists had objected.
- LB Newham Liveable Neighbourhoods team have proposals for complementary measures for Low Traffic Neighbourhood/LTN 2 (Odessa) includes proposals for complimentary measures. The exact nature of these are not clear from the Council’s website.
There was feedback from the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) Campaigning Summit. A key message was that campaigning by ‘personal witness’ stories was more effective that reliance on ‘dry data’ (to promote and support cycling). There were also tips on improving outreach through partner organisations and cycle shops. A strategy could usefully include means to attract younger activists. A consolidation of mailing lists increased the numbers by 10%. The suggestion of a separate meeting of the interested to develop an outreach strategy was favourably received.
Other business:
- London Cycling Campaign (LCC) Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday, 6th of December 2023.
- Voting ends on 29 November for the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) Board of Trustees interest/Board elections 2023.
- The Newham Cyclists Christmas Social is scheduled 11 December 2023 at the Boleyn Tavern. For those wanting the Christmas menu the choice of dishes needs to be given to Arnold by 3 December.
- The suggestion to look into the activities of the Safer Transport Team of Newham Police command, if it exists, will be looked into.