metSeptember04

HFCYCLISTS MEETING

Tuesday 14 September 2004, 7.30pm in the Info Centre

PRESENT: John Griffiths, Alan Rowden, Bill Ogden, Alex Forrest, Chris Tranchell

APOLOGIES: Chris Bainbridge, Simon Franklin, Mark Alderton, Rick Boardman, John Gilbert, Mo Morgan, Bernard Bunting, Paul Alexander, Louanne Tranchell.


WOOD LANE / UXBRIDGE RD JUNCTION

The fact that work has started on the ground without us being involved in the design is a disaster. It shows complete lack of co-operation with us. It also highlights perhaps a lack of co-operation between the Highways Department and the Transport Policy Group. [Is this really the way the Environment Department wants to be remembered when it comes to election time, when it talks about stakeholder inclusion, best value, etc]

We noticed something was happening a few weeks ago. We asked Chris Bainbridge who found out that the designs are substantially those proposed by the Chelsfield's architects in 2001, of which we have copies

John went to the Town Hall to see and discuss the plans with Scott Meehan and Chris Bainbridge earlier in the day before this meeting. This was very good and co-operative. There are perhaps some problems. Some things that came up were:

a) It is not known if the reservoir spaces are adequate for the number of cyclists who may be using it, now and in the foreseeable future.

b) The roadway has been widened as it turns east into the Uxbridge road. Space has been taken away from in front of the building on the green in the corner - an ex-toilet, now an electricity substation. There are no plans to demolish this edifice and it is an integral part of Chelsfield's plans for the green. The cycle lanes across the roadway lead you into the front of it with little space to manoeuvre.

c) It may be advisable to move the position of the crossings somewhat. [However the drop kerbs and flush kerbs have already been put in place on the west side, near the Barclays bank.]

d) Pedestrians and cyclists may be in conflict in a space where cyclists are funnelled into a space crossed by pedestrians. This is where cyclists are about to join the Uxbridge rd going west, near the Barclays bank. [It may be better to at least think about shared use at this point, then the cyclists would not be in such a concentrated space. And to add a further crossing for pedestrians who have crossed the Uxbridge road and now wish to go west along the pavement on the south side of the Uxbridge rd]

At tonight's meeting we studied copies of the proposed plan.

Also the kerb stones seem to have very sharp edges on all new projects.

SITE VISIT

Scott and Chris and John are planning to meet at this intersection for a site visit this Thursday 16 September at 6pm. Please join us. John's mobile number at bottom of this message.

It is not too late to make some changes to the plans.

HAMMERSMITH BROADWAY - WHAT IS GOING ON

We really do not know and have been left almost completely in the dark except for scraps that we pick up. Simon Franklin said today that it appears that it will be possible to continue the contraflow along King Street to the Gyratory. This is good news. This will affect what is possible around the Broadway.

Soon there will be a CRIM [cycle route inspection meeting] and a CRISP [something else] to which we should be invited. [We were not invited to a CRISP concerning the route over Hammersmith Bridge to Richmond last year]

I am concerned about the possible surface level crossings going across to the Apollo and across Fulham Palace rd. There seems to be an essential need to keep the subways operating for a year or so, without any thorough discussion about the merits of this and of the design opportunities lost.

OYBIKE

Simon Franklin also said that this was now operational.

There may still be some problems to sort out between the Urban Partnership Group and Bernie Hanning, the inventor. [perhaps: should Bernie be paying LBHF/UPG to allow him to promote and test his scheme and make his patent more valuable, or should LBHF/UPG be paying Bernie royalties for the benefits of using his scheme?]

A hotel may be joining the scheme. We have been suggesting all along that a system like this is better fitted to tourists than commuters. The success or otherwise of the scheme still appears to be in the air.

Simon has also suggested that the street cleaners form an agreement with OYbike to remove the rubbish that is collecting in their baskets. Bill thought that unlikely to happen.

THE TRAM - FILING A GROUP RESPONSE ON A PROPOSAL THAT DOES NOT WORK?

John along with four members of Ealing LCC recently met with the Nick Berrill and Mike Bartram of the Tram project. This was very good news as until now they have been completely ignoring any input we try and make. The meeting was very useful and we now have a very good relationship with them.

One extraordinary thing was that they said the plans for Shepherds Bush Green DO NOT WORK, and they did not know what might have to be done. [We have been pointing that out for over a year] John will fill out a response on behalf of the group. Please make your own responses by going to

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/trams/initiatives/wlt/wlt-consultation.shtml


WEDNESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER - BBC ENVIRONMENT DAY 12.30pm to 2pm

David and Charlotte from Ealing LCC will be doing Dr Bike at one of the BBC buildings during the lunchtime. John will be there too promoting hfcyclists and the LCC. Please contact if you want to be involved.

WEDNESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER - CAR FREE DAY IN LORIS ROAD. 3pm to 7pm

Alex brought some posters and leaflets along.

Perhaps a less ambitious affair when compared to the events of the previous two years. We will have a stand there and enjoy the day and spread the message of sustainable transport. Please come along and chill out to the sounds of Lu's drummers and others. Please contact John about being there and helping out on the day.

GETTING FAMILIES INVOLVED IN OUR GROUP

We all agreed that we should be doing things to get more involvement from the members, and do more to recruit new people. More activities such as rides, bike repair, cycle training, etc. Bill told us of cycle repair course in the NDC area. Chris noted that it was not difficult to get people to turn up at Roger's do.

ANY RIDES OVER THE COMING WEEKS?

Alas nothing organised. If we /anyone gets it together we will put it out on the email group.

To access the list of forthcoming LCC rides in nearby areas go to:
http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=145

SOME THINGS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND

Thames festival, including reclaim the beach party, 2-7pm Sunday
http://www.thamesfestival.org/programme/timetable.html

Food for free, berries, grubs etc 11am -1pm, Sunday. Join Vinny in the Scrubs lane car park, Wormwood scrubs, at 11am for nature walk. [020 8762 0352]

ROGER'S GARDEN PARTY THAT WAS

We all wish to give a great vote of thanks to Roger de Freitas for his superb garden party.

CYCLE MAINTENANCE CLASS - [not free]

Bicycle maintenance class run by Hammersmith & Fulham Council Adult Education. The venue is near to Hammersmith Tube. 10 sessions starting on Friday 24 September. The venue has a good maintenance workshop. Website: www.lbhf.gov.uk and go to adult education for details of the class.

Starts: Friday, September 24, 2004 Time: 6.00pm until 8.00pm
Macbeth Street Centre, Macbeth Street, W6 9JJ tel:020 8846 9090

ANY THING ELSE

We also nattered about bikes in Norway, working on the QE2, sword fencing with baby Manx shearwaters , badgers under your floorboards, the demise of frogs, rickshaws, etc.

EXPENSES

John had expenses of £13.88 for wine and food. [one bottle of wine remaining for the future]

NEXT MEETINGS

Tuesday 5 October at 7.30pm in info centre


John Griffiths [co-ordinator hfcyclists / local branch of London Cycling Campaign]
020 7371 1290 / 07789 095 748
john@truefeelings.com
OUR WEBSITE www.hfcyclists.org.uk