London Cyclist Nov-Dec 2011

Page 49

receive regular email updates. ➤ Similarly, on the campaigning side, things do not stop for winter. Now is quite a good time to take stock of what has happened over the past year and to make plans for the next. What needs to happen in Enfield? How should Enfield Cycling Campaign be spending its time and where should it be focussing its resources? I'm confident that you have an opinion, so why not let us know your suggestions. MEETINGS: Thursday 3 November, 8pm at Winchmore Hill Cricket Club, Fords Grove, N21. Thursday 1 December, 8pm at The Wheatsheaf pub, 185 Baker Street, Enfield, EN1. CONTACT: Richard Reeve, 07957 591387; r.reeve@ blueyonder.co.uk.

GREENWICH www.greenwichcyclists.org.uk For cyclists in Greenwich, the saga of the Thames foot tunnel closures and access restrictions continue with no end in sight, and little in the way of reliable information from the council. Maybe the relationship will improve with the appointment of a new council officer responsible for cycling issues. ➤ On a more positive note, we have had cause to publicly praise a firm of property developers for its excellent work on a stretch of the Thames Path near the Millennium Dome. This followed a full and friendly consultation, with three company representatives outlining plans at one of our monthly meetings. ➤ We have recently been discussing the benefits of 20mph speed limits in residential areas and how these may be promoted following legislative changes made by the UK coalition government. ➤ Throughout the summer we have (with friends in neighbouring LCC groups) organised weekend rides, both short and long, and some of us have also been involved with local Skyride events. Our rides are well-attended and include a good demographic mix and

exhibition by Kat Jungnickel. For our part, we continued our series of easy-paced social rides with an outing to the Kirkaldy Testing Museum in Southwark. We hope the momentum carries on through the cooler months. MEETING: first Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm at Marcon Court Estate Community Hall, near corner of Amhurst Road and Marcon Place, E8. CONTACT: Trevor Parsons, 020 7729 2273; info@hackneycyclists.org.uk. MAILING LIST: send blank email to hackney-lcc-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com

CANTERBURY TALES: Enfield cyclists en route to Kent

➤ We have been talking to Hackney's Streetscene department about how to improve Broadway Market, which arguably carries more cycle traffic than any other street in the borough. We particularly want to see a revamp of the junction at the London Fields end, and the reduction of through private motor traffic. We also attended a meeting of the Broadway Market Traders' and Residents' Association, at which there was a good deal of support for our suggestions. HACKNEY ➤ University of East London www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk researcher Eva Martinez has been assessing the potential for A whopping 70 percent of popularising cargo bikes in our residents want the main streets borough, for carrying both of Stoke Newington to be freight and people. Her returned to two-way working, fieldwork has focused on according to the results of a interviewing parents at schools. Hackney council consultation to The research is being done in which more than 800 people conjunction with responded. Locals ls were also w Carry Me Cargo Bikes, a revealed to be very ery new Claptonconcerned aboutt C LCC GIFT based the high level of bas social MEMBERSHIP enterprise private motor en LCC Gift Membership is available which is traffic, much of w all year round and makes an ideal running which is due to r present. Not only will your friends and family short local f family benefit from discounts, third rides to trips. Only a r party insurance and our magazin e, give third of our g you’ll be supporting LCC too. And, while stocks last, Gift Memberships people a borough's p come with a free Trek cycle chance to households own n ch computer worth £25! try out cargo a car, but their bikes. travel choices have ave ➤ Our borough a serious effect on the bo teemed with events community as a whole whole. e Switching these local journeys this summer, including the to walking, cycling and public Festival of the Bicycle on Mabley transport will be easier once we Green, the London Open bike are rid of the intimidating polo tournament on Hackney one-way racetrack. Downs and the Cycling Portraits

range of cycling experience. ➤ Our weekday evening rides during Bike Week were largely successful, despite the variable weather. However, with centralised initiatives such as this, we need to compensate for occasionally deficient PR on the part of organisers and intend to become more proactive in our own local media outreach. MEETINGS: see website. CONTACT: Dr Francis Sedgemore, francis@sedgemore.com.

HARROW www.harrowcyclists.org.uk An amazing 60 people arrived at Harrow on the Hill station for our feeder journey to Hillingdon Skyride — this was 50 percent more than our similar ride last year and testament to the huge upsurge in bike interest in the area. It's evidence like this that we presented to the council at our latest quarterly meeting with its officers. And as the days shorten, our emphasis is back on pushing them towards more cycle-friendly schemes. ➤ Harrow Cyclists was interviewed by the Harrow Observer on bike provision in the borough. We had to admit that we do not have the clout of the motoring lobby and, in voting terms, we cannot outnumber residents of any one street who object to cycling facilities. But we told the paper, we are challenging the default presumption of "car first and foremost". We are questioning the planning rules to ensure supermarkets offer adequate and prominent cycle parking, for both current and future use. Yet another supermarket is under construction in central Harrow so this is vital. ➤ The group has become involved with a local charity which is working with the Metropolitan Police to recondition lost and stolen bikes which have never been reclaimed. The bikes will go to young people the charity seeks

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