metOctober08
Notes of HFCYCLISTS meeting
Tuesday 7 October 2008, 7.15pm for 7.30pm
At the home of John Griffiths
122c Edith rd
West Kensington
W14 9AP
020 7371 1290 / 07789 095 748
[at corner of Edith rd and North End Rd]
PRESENT: John Griffiths, Marlene Pope, John McDonagh, David Marsh, Rebecca Malcolm, Susie Gretz, Bea Geraghty, Phil Lamond.
APOLOGIES: Stephen Burke, Gwen Cook, Gerry Berridge, Sophie Gisbert, Paul Alexander, Bill Ogden.
NEW PEOPLE: It was a pleasure to meet new people who had come along to the meeting. Rebecca who works in CR [corporate responsibility] is a keen cyclist and talked about leading some longer rides next year. Bea works with BikeWorks doing cycle training. During the evening John McDonagh performed his song The Bendy Bus.
WESTFIELD:
Westfield London plans to open on Thursday 30 October 2008.
At this stage apparently it
is still not decided how cyclists are expected to enter the site.
Westfield's intention is to put up signs saying "Cyclists Dismount"
though the correct signage should be "cycling permitted with pedestrian
priority". This misleading signage would only lead to outraged citizens
abusing harmless cyclists in the area.
Apparently also under consideration is cyclists using turning lanes presently restricted to use by buses. However as this was ruled out earlier and the space was not designed with cyclists in mind it may present some danger. Unlikely to happen.
WESTFIELD OPENING
We should mark the opening with some kind of celebration. When we know more about the opening we will decide how to celebrate. The opening is on the day before Halloween and the last Friday of the month. Gwen Cook has expressed an interest in being involved.
Meanwhile there has been some interesting profiles on Frank Lowy, the president of Westfield. see http://tinyurl.com/3mgfwd http://tinyurl.com/432nqf
WESTFIELD / APPRAISAL OF CYCLING
When Westfield has calmed down we should take the opportunity to facilitate influential Councillors and people from LBHF planning and transport departments to experience the ease of cycling in the area. These people have permitted the new road layout, as designed by Westfield. Policies exist to encourage drivers to leave their cars and cycle instead for shorter journeys. SBG and the roundabout are part of the new LCN+ cycle route 73 into Central London, and it should be easy to use the safer options that avoid actually going on the roundabout. We hope they will take up this opportunity when it is organised. It should not be threatening as vast sums of money have been spent on improving road conditions. We could provide some cycle training first for the less confident. This is partly inspired by the Wandsworth Cyclists' "Movers and Shakers". see http://www.movers-shakers.btik.com/.
Recently some LBHF Officers involved in the planning of Westfield were taken on a walk by the Guide Dogs for the Blind people. They were blindfolded. This was to experience the problems encountered by the partially sighted and blind in handling an example of road layout. Let us do something similar for cycling.
We could also try and video the routes expected to be taken by cyclists, from a camera attached to the bike or the cyclists helmet.
CONGESTION
LBHF has recently issued a press release expressing concern that shoppers from Westfield may cause some congestion problems, leading to gridlock, and that TfL should do something about this unfortunate situation.
ITN in response invited John Griffiths and Susie Gretz to join Cllr Nick Botterill for an interview on this problem for the London Tonight program. The interviews took place around Wood Lane with a background of stationary traffic and Westfield. Alas it was not shown on air.
John has written a letter to the local papers pointing out that traffic reduction policies and a road system that encourages walking and cycling would be one way out of the potential mess.
HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE
Chris Bainbridge of LBHF has sent me the following email, in response to our hopes that a limit of 20mph would prolong the structural integrity of the bridge.
>Anvar Alizadeh has said that a 20mph speed limit will not make any difference to the structural integrity of the bridge vis-a-vis the current 30 mph limit.
>Discussions about various schemes on the approaches to the bridge and their effects are currently taking place, and I will ensure that your advocacy of a 20 mph speed limit for the benefit of cyclists is given full consideration in these discussions.
There are moves to make all the bridges in Central London have a 20mph limit.
COMMENTS ON THE FREEWHEEL.
Phil and Susie and Bea gave reports on their rides. A really great day out that they all enjoyed.
Bea rode along with Agewell and reported some problem with a National Express coach on Kensington Gore that got rather too close for comfort.
RIDES, EVENTS, ETC?
Susie talked about the recent ride to Horsenden Hill.
Tess Riley has sent an email
about the Climate Rush that's happening next Monday, 13 October. A suffragette
inspired climate protest at Parliament Square. see
http://www.climaterush.co.uk/
Movers and shakers 18 / 19 October.
This project is being explained on the 18 October, followed many activities to promote cycling. see http://www.movers-shakers.btik.com/ More details later.
Movers and Shakers is an innovative
action research project aimed at giving potential role models throughout
Wandsworth the opportunity to have professional cycle training and then
to tell everyone about their experiences. We have targeted local opinion-formers,
such as elected representatives, celebrities, community and faith leaders,
educationalists, business leaders and journalists.
We enabled our Movers to start cycling (or to cycle more), to gain a better
understanding of cyclists' concerns, and to promote their experiences
and cycling awareness through media coverage in Wandsworth and beyond.
We also explored the barriers to, and perceptions of, cycling as a mode
of transport, since this will provide valuable feedback for future campaigns.
GREENFEST
We have been awarded a Fast Track Small Grant of £4000 by LBHF for next year's event, and are very grateful for that. We have also applied for a Grassroots Grant and should hear about that in a week or so.
The likely date for the next GREENFEST is Sunday 14 June 2009. This lies in both Bike Week and the Love London weeks, and does not clash with the London to Brighton bike ride.
John met with Kristine Taugbol who used the Greenfest 08 as part of her MA degree in design. Discussed some fundamentals and design possibilities.
LCC AGM
19 November City Hall - Please consider joining the London Cycling Campaign if you are not already a member. see www.lcc.org.uk
If you have any friends or colleagues who would like to receive these emails, please get them to send me an email.
EXPENSES
Web hosting fee/per quarter £10.58
Web name hfcyclists.org.uk - renewal / 2 years £16.91
Refreshments for tonight £19.47
and from a previous ride and breakfast 11.50
John was issued a cheque for £58.46
DATE / PLACE FOR NEXT MEETING
At the home of John Griffiths
[as at top of page]
John Griffiths [chair / co-ordinator]
020 7371 1290 / 07789 095 748
john@truefeelings.com
OUR WEBSITE www.hfcyclists.org.uk