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Notes of hfcyclists meeting, Wednesday 8 May 2002, 7.30pm in the info centre Present: John Griffiths, Louanne Tranchell, John Ryan, Chris Amies, Mike Gilroy [LBHF], Alex Forest [LBHF], Rosa Collinge, Anny Mortada, Judy Mortada, Angela Brown, David Lewis, Roger de Freitas, Leor Thomas Apologies: Mark Alderton, Jane Knight Simon Franklin. 1 Mike Gilroy is the chief engineer with the Council putting together the plans for Shepherds Bush Green. We were really pleased that he could take us through the plans and that we had the opportunity to put forward comments that might help cycling. Mike explained that the junctions had been changed to avoid pedestrian / cyclist conflict. Wide pedestrian crossings had been put in. We looked at the various junctions and made suggestions. These mainly concerned the space given to cyclists on islands. Mike said that estimates for the numbers of cyclists using the islands had come from work done by Halcrow for Chelsfield, and did not know if they would be available for us, but he would see if he could release them. At the Uxbridge rd junction we hoped that a cycle lane could go right round the corner into Uxbridge rd [going west] and that confusion over whether the roadway held 1 or 2 lanes of traffic could be clarified so that it was 1 lane. John r felt that an advanced stop lane for right turning traffic [coming up from Hammersmith] encouraged cyclists to use this dangerous route. It was felt that if cyclists chose to go that way, then it did no harm. At the Goldhawk rd junction we hoped that the provision for cyclists going south from the Common could be improved. At the Rockley rd junction Mike said a refuge could be put in before the crossing to aid cyclists going to the Common. In front of the W12 Centre there is a lot of crossing traffic with buses crossing to the bus stops. It is difficult to put a cycle lane there. John g had drawn up plans for a stream lined flow which had bus stops on an island next to the Common. This would allow for a safe cycle lane in this area. John had shown this to Simon a week or so ago and he appeared interested. At this meeting Mike did not think that it would happen. We would like to see an overall strategic plan for cycling covering the roadways, the Green, and the roundabout. [Mike only deals with the roadways, and not with strategic planning - that is the policy group. The roundabout belongs to TfL]. The roundabout could be improved for cyclists going east by having an advanced stop line for cyclists at the brow of the rise. Also reservoirs could be put in part way around. We will try and organise a site visit to the roundabout to include Hugh Richards and Tanya Bailey from TfL We were very grateful to Mike for coming along and having this chance to discuss the plans. [these plans are on our website- www.hfcyclists.org.uk] 2 OYBike. This is the cycle hire scheme operating using mobile phones. There had been a meeting today and our representative John Griffiths had not been invited. Simon Franklin explained earlier in the day that it was because the inventor Bernie Hanning did not get on with John Griffiths. Alex Forrest had been at that meeting and said that John had been excluded because the meeting was commercially sensitive. We think that that is rubbish and we deplore the situation. Alex explained that the system will use unisex bikes. And at the Bike Week breakfast at the town hall [Wed 19 June] Bernie will demonstrate that a bike is not trapped by having 3 OYbikes tethered on top of it. [by trapped we mean difficult, frustrating, or liable to cause personal injury to free. Not trapped in a topological sense.] If we are not happy with the scheme we will deal directly with the deputies. 3 To circulate or not. A member had raised an objection to the fact that we had circulated information about a "Justice for Palestine" critical mass [Sat 18th May 2002 12noon outside National Film Theatre]. No one else supported this objection, several emails supported our present policy, and the entire meeting supported it. So, in a spirit of freedom, we will continue to circulate matter that may be of interest to some of our members. 4 Jane Knight has designed a colourful luscious poster for us. We had laminated copies which some people took away to place in places. 5 We may be involved with a
grant application for secure cycle stands at sports centres. Chris Robey
of the education dept and Pauline Crawford from the sports centres will
meet with john g next Wednesday 7 We now have bulk supplies of local TfL cycling maps. You can pick some up at the info centre where we have our meetings. These are really useful. You can order directly for FREE from www.lcc.org.uk or TfL on (020) 7222 1234. Map No. 9 covers all H&F, map 10 covers central london, map 14 covers Richmond park and Wimbledon. 8 Bike Week, aka Millenium Festival of Cycling. 15 to 24 June. Our entries- SUNDAY 16 JUNE WEDNESDAY 19 JUNE SUNDAY 23 JUNE 9 Roger de Freitas will magnificently host an evening Garden party / Barbecue on Wednesday 17 July 10 Alex Forrest announced that DON'T CHOKE LONDON events will take place during the week 10 - 14 June. Something will take place each day in Lyric Square. Monday - cycling / scooters
11 We welcomed the mass of new members who had come along tonight. We hope they will come again and be active in the group. 12 John g had expenses £20.50 for laminating of posters, and £7.47 for wine to be paid from the groups funds. John Griffiths
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