metFebruary2013
NOTES FOR HFCYCLISTS MEETING
Tuesday 5 February, 7.15 for
7.30pm
At the home of John Griffiths
122c Edith road [corner of North End road]
PRESENT: John Griffiths, Ken McCosh, Alex Ingram, Suzanne Fogg, Janusz Carmello, Alan Rowden, David Marsh, Sima John
APPOLOGIES:
Roger de Freitas, Graham Edwards, Petrina Beaufoy Helm, Paul Saunderson,
Susie Gretz, Shirin Kahn, Natasha Herriott, Ayse Kardes.
HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE
Cllr Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler has written to John saying that the bridge
has undergone structural reinforcing a few years ago and has been certified
safe for traffic doing 30mph with the 10 tonne weight limitation. This
also means that traffic at these speeds are not going to damage or have
a bad effect upon the life of the bridge.
John has replied saying that the radar speed checks show that over 1k vehicles each week are doing more than 35mph. Also that the rough surface, the exposed screw heads receiving impacts and water leakage may mean that damage may be being done to the wooden subsurface, possibly exposing it to rot. In the circumstances, and considering the stress to cyclists, there should be a 20mph limit on the bridge.
TfL have been commissioned to do a safety audit on LBHF's proposed road markings for the bridge. Chris Bainbridge of LBHF has said he will feed in our concerns about the surface of the bridge and our desire for 20mph to the people doing the audit.
FULHAM PALACE ROAD
Nerissa Harrison of LBHF is the design engineer for the new works. Hatching
will be extended from crossing by the Garden centre to provide a refuge
space for cyclists turning right into Bishops Ave. Would like to see full
width hatching extending the other way for cyclists turning right into
Colehill Lane.
Changes are planned for the Silverton rd / Lillie Rd junction. No changes at St Dunstans rd.
CYCLE SUPERHIGHWAY 9
Designs for this are meant to be ready perhaps by March of this year.
LBHF was commissioned by TfL to do the design work. However it now looks
as if TfL will be doing the design work for this section.
TfL have gained expertise after the Bow roundabout redesign. Also RBKC do not want to design their section themselves as Councillors do not want blue paint, so TfL will be designing their section. So it makes sense for TfL to do both the LBHF and RBKC sections. As a result the timetable may slip a month or so.
The route skirts around the south side of the gyratory, using 7 shared use crossings, shared use space and cycle tracks. It also includes two unprotected right hand turns across traffic when going east [by the Town Hall, and where it rejoins Hammersmith road]
TfL will not be looking at improvements to Beadon Rd. Beadon Rd leads into the gyratory when going east, and is often blocked by traffic. Any improvements would come as a result of planning applications in that area. Also TfL may not be looking at links from Hammersmith Bridge in their plans. LBHF have £50k set aside in the LIP for next year for links to CSH9. [Local Implementation Plan, suggested by LBHF and paid for by TfL].
Charlotte Edney, Senior Project Officer, may be the TfL contact. Above info from Chris Bainbridge.
John has concerns that the proposed route will not be able to cater for the expected capacity. In rush hours, the number of cyclists crossing pedestrian paths and areas where space is limited may cause difficulties. He thinks that someone ought to have done projections on capacity before it reached this stage.
If there are to be problems then they need to do something else, like play with the traffic on the gyratory. Alex pointed out that there is a consultation on 20mph for the iMax roundabout at the end of Waterloo bridge. Note that the justification is in part that 1/4 of flow is now cycles.
https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/betterjunctions/20mph-waterloo-roundabout
BORIS BIKES
26 stations have been agreed so far and should be put in by end of year.
Alex says some problems for commuters hoping to bikes. Suzanne says at
Waterloo Station, 100 stands have been put in, all bikes gone after the
first few trains have arrived in the morning. Alex said that the redistribution
of bikes not going so well.
LCC HGV CAMPAIGN
Watch LCC's Safer Lorries, Safer Cycling campaigns video
http://youtu.be/thamBYGQ4TQ
LCC wants all Borough Councils to sign up to a pledge concerning how HGVs operate in their Borough. Other boroughs as well as have LBHF have concerns about proximity detectors and cameras. There will be a meeting involving LCC and TfL, and perhaps LB Hackney. Things are trying to be resolved as far as a practical way forward.
LCC HELPING WITH WEB DESIGN
LCC are working to help local groups with their web design. Although we
have lots of info on our website it is not very well designed, or easy
to see the most pertinent info.
Alex will attend the local group forum next week where this and the lorry campaign will be discussed.
OUR WEBSITE AT
http://www.hfcyclists.org.uk
SUZANNE FOGG
Suzanne phoned John an hour before the meeting to see if John had filled
in a survey on LCC local groups. Suzanne is on the Board of LCC. John
invited her tonight. Suzanne explained that she would like responses from
active people in the group. So if you come to meetings, or are involved
in email discussions, or go on rides please email John who will send you
a link to the survey. The purpose of the survey is to see how Central
LCC can best help local groups.
Suzanne is a project manager by trade, and has organised several big meetings at LCC. At a Go Dutch meeting she organised she met Slobodan Vuckovic of LBHF. It is good to see he is involving himself in LCC matters.
LEAFLETS AND HOLDERS
John has printed some leaflets and Ken has ordered some holders made of
card. You can staple one leaflet to the back of the holder for when they
run out, and hold the leaflets together with a rubber band.
We printed 1000 double sided A4 sheets at a cost of £57, cut into 3 to give 3000 leaflets. That is 1.9p each. The price / per item is much cheaper if you do 1000 sheets rather than 500. Alex says keep some back for the spring when people will be more receptive. But if/when we run out we will print another 1000 sheets.
The design highlights our desire
for 20mph on Hammersmith Bridge. On the reverse it mentions CSH9 and Boris
Bikes.
http://www.hfcyclists.org.uk/Leaflet2012HammersmithBridgeLCC20mph.doc
http://www.hfcyclists.org.uk/Leaflet2012reverse.doc
They can be given to cyclists and used to engage in conversation. If possible collect there email address and forward to John so they on be put on email list. Best places to stop people is not on commute, but leisure cyclists by river or parks, Do not force on people as they then just end up as litter.
Many shops will not take leaflets
because counter space is at a high premium. Shops like laundries, dry
cleaners, minicab firms, cafes suitable. Places like Riverside studios
may be on contract to London Calling, and won't take leaflets, but one
can try. Doctor's surgeries may take them, and fitness centres.
Also you might be able to stick them on the shop door or window, 2 of
them to show front and reverse. We can also cover Barnes, Richmond, Chiswick
Janusz: Bikeshops in Fulham,
Fulham Library. Macbeth
Alex; Bike shops Hammersmith and northwards. Friendly shops in the area.
John; Central Hammersmith Library which may distribute to other libraries.
David, Sima, Ken, Alan took some to distribute.
If you leave them in a place please let john know so we have a list of places where they are.
We want a massive injection of new blood to make our group more effective. Alan thought we should concentrate more on LCC benefits on the leaflet. John pointed out we need more active members in the group who are willing to do things. They can learn more about the LCC after we have met them.
DEAD BIKES
David brought up the number of dead bikes blocking stands. John checked
with Simon Franklin this morning on the procedure for getting them removed.
You report it to the Council on their website at
www.lbhf.gov.uk/reportit/
Bikeworks East will pick up bikes from the Council Depot and take them to their workshops for recycling.
DR BIKE
David praised the Dr Bike First Tuesday of the month, 12 to 2pm on the
forecourt of Hammersmith Town Hall, undertaken by Bikeworks. Bikeworks
also has Cycle maintenance classes at Ladbroke rd.
5] RIDES, EVENTS, ETC?
BIG BEN
The Big Ben ride, organised by John Wright went well. Thanks to John for
organising it. Some people missed out on it, and I had a bad cold on the
day. We will try to organise another. Alan to contact Andy Slaughter as
you need to arrange a visit via an MP.
MOONWALK 11 - 12 May
We would love you to join us on the Cycling Team to help support our walkers
and our on foot route marshals. All you need is your own bike, safety
equipment, big smile and lots of energy! You must be over 18 years old
to Volunteer for this job role.
Volunteers are an essential part of the Walk the Walk team and without them the MoonWalks simply could not happen.
Donate your time to a charitable cause, meet some fabulous people and have an amazing weekend while helping raise millions of pounds for vital breast cancer causes.
How Do I Sign up?
To register please follow the link to our website - http://www.walkthewalk.org/Volunteer/TheMoonWalkLondon
Or give Abi and Russell a call on 01483 741430 or email volunteers@walkthewalk.org
6] EXPENSES
John: Refreshments £30.02 / Leaflets £57
Ken: Leaflet Holders £19.99
7] DATE / PLACE NEXT MEETING
Tuesday 5 March, 7.30pm at Ken's Place
12 Stanwick rd, W14
John Griffiths [chair / co-ordinator]
020 7371 1290 / 07789 095 748
john@truefeelings.com
OUR WEBSITE www.hfcyclists.org.uk
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