Greenwich Cyclists

July 2010

Saturday 31 July 2010
Pluckley Haunted Trail
Time: 07:50 London Bridge or 07:50 Bromley South

About 50 miles in total - moderate pace - moderately hilly

Meet: Trevor Hughes at London Bridge Station 0750 - main entrance, near the ticket machines, to catch the 0808 to Pluckley or Andrew Fergar at Bromley South 0750 outside the main entrance, to catch the 0806 to Orpington, changing there onto the 0824 to Pluckley.

Our ride starts and finishes at Pluckley, Englands most haunted village. We will ride out deep into the countryside along narrow lanes and country roads, stop for lunch at a rustic old Inn and return to Pluckley by late afternoon, where those who wish can join us for an evening drink and a meal in the village pub, the Black Horse...The ride will be at moderate pace, and will not be significantly hilly. However is quite long and will feature some climbing. We will pass a station about halfway if anyone wishes to leave the route early.

Contact: Trevor Hughes

Email: tjh@brockley.orangehome.co.uk Mobile: 07775 928953

September 2010

Wednesday, 1 September 2010
An evening with Andrew Ritchie
Time: 6pm
Place: The Gallery, 70 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EJ

Come and hear Andrew Ritchie talk about Brompton bikes. Andrew Ritchie was working as a landscape gardener in London when, in 1975, he conceived the idea for a folding bike. Since then he has guided the Brompton Bicycle company from its initial production facility in a railway arch to become the largest bicycle manufacturer in the UK producing 26,000 bikes per year and the last transport manufacturer of any kind based in London. Today, Bromptons are sold in 33 countries around the world.

Doors open at 6pm and the talk will commence at 6:30pm. Refreshments will be available, with all proceeds going to Sustrans. £7.00

http://www.sustransshop.co.uk/products/5723-an-evening-with-andrew-ritchie

http://www.sustransshop.co.uk/products/5723-an-evening-with-andrew-ritchie

All representations must be made by 1 August (Deadline extended)

Please comment on the Council's intention to introduce a one way gyratory system between Deptford and Greenwich.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/greenwichcyclists/attachments/folder/1420329918/item/list

http://www.greenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich/YourCouncil/HaveYourSay/GreenwichTownCentre.htm

- - - - -
Here's what Greenwich Cyclists have replied to Greenwich Council. They tend to count the number of responses from individuals so it would be good if as many locals as poss also responded by Jan 15 under your own name and in your own terms.

Click here to comment and add your own name to the comments.

Greenwich Cyclists have carefully studied the options and we make the following submission:

Option 1. We favour closure to motor traffic of the north and east sides of the present town centre gyratory; cycle lanes should be painted in College Approach and King William Walk North, or signs raised showing that cycling is permitted and pedestrians have priority. If the underground car park at Cutty Sark Gardens is retained, access should be only via Welland Street, thus closing the north end of Greenwich Church Street to motor trafffic. King William Walk south should have a cycle contraflow southbound to Greenwich Park and safe access to it across Nelson Road/Romney Road.

Greenwich Council should think boldly and work towards reducing, not facilitating, east-west traffic through the town centre World Heritage Site.



Option 2. We oppose the idea of a much larger 2-lane gyratory – Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich South Street, Greenwich High Road, Norman Road, Creek Road -- which would encourage motor traffic to travel faster than at present; clear examples of this can be seen from the speed that cars travel on Norman Road and Creek Road at off-peak times. In particular, a one-way system would make cycle access to Greenwich rail and DLR station impossible from the east; Norman Road has an arched railway bridge unsuitable for a 2-lane 1-way flow; just north of the bridge an east-west cycle route from Deptford via Halfpenny Bridge hits Norman Road at a right angle – how can those cyclists cross safely to continue their journey down Tarves Street and vice versa? Cyclists make a variety of journeys through Haddo, Tarves and Roan streets and Straightsmouth to avoid the primary distributor roads.

Option 2 is likely to increase traffic through Greenwich Park, on its highly unsuitable roads, unless it is closed to through traffic all day, as recommended in the recent CRISP stakeholder report.

Option 2B with bus and cycle contraflows on Creek Road, Greenwich High Road and Church Street is the least objectionable of the Option 2s.



Anthony Austin, Coordinator, Greenwich Cyclists

The only access to Greenwich Foot Tunnel is via the lift. The tunnel will be closed from 10pm to 6am for shot-blasting and painting. CCTV and electrical upgrading will then take place. When the stair work has been completed the lifts will close. When the north side is completed, work will begin on the south side. It is anticipated that the tunnel will close completely in July for approximately 20 weeks. The lift service engineers are on a two hour callout. The contractors undertaking the work are Dean & Dyball 07974 443 550. If you leave a number and a brief message they will return your call.

Thames Clippers (a 4 min journey) run:

Northbound: 06:16 until 23:18 Mon-Fri 08:58 until 23:28 w/ends
Southbound: 10:52 until 00:37 Mon-Fri 10:17 until 00:45 w/ends

Cross River Tickets cost £3.20 £2.15 with Travelcard £1.60 Freedom Pass £2.15 London Student Oyster £1.60 Child Single (under 5s travel free) £1.10 for a child with a travel card (1/3 off)

Woolwich ferry staircase south side now closed. Lift only access. Woolwich Ferry runs from 06:10 to 20:00 Monday to Saturday, 11:30 to 19:15 (south to north) to 19:30 (north to south) on Sundays.

If we hear any more news we will let you know.

- - -


On 2 December Jeff Horsman attended a monthly Greenwich Cyclists and provided us with an update on progress on the tunnel refurbishment. Some of the details await final decisions, but a summary of points is as follows:

*Work has already started at night time on leak repair and other items as some of the budget has to be spent by 31-3-10.
*Closures of the Woolwich tunnel will take place during the day as the ferry remains an alternative crossing option.
*There will not be no lifting of the ban on bikes on the DLR
*Closures of the Greenwich tunnel will be limited to night time (10.00am - 5.00am), though full weekend closures are not ruled out.
* When the tunnels are open there will be either lift of stairs access at both ends. It should be possible to find out which of these options exists before travelling.
*Talks with TfL and Canary Wharf businesses are ongoing with reference to a subsidy for ferries in the event of a total closure during the daytime. This could occur in the event of unforceen occurences during the work or for limited amounts of the work.
* Tenders and Building Contracts will be awarded in January. Serous work is likely to start in February.
*Current levels of lift availability will remain until April 2010
*Wheel ramps on the stairs are being investigated. There is currently a trial ramp in a section of stairs at the Woolwich tunnel
*Eventually it is intended to provide a 24/7 automatic lift service with much more extensive CCTV, Help buttons and a fully staffed surveilance room.
*The wooden panneling in the lifts will be protected by glass and the white tiles in the tunnels will be retained. The lighting will be improved.

We have a Constitution and an Equal Opportunities Policy. We have successfully won grant-aid, so attending rides and meetings costs nothing.

We've got gnarly urban cyclists, racers, commuters, tourers, young families who want somewhere safe to learn as well as people new to London - or cycling - who want to get to work/shops/visit friends, galleries, etc and get fit. It is our aim to promote cycling which is safe, responsible and considerate to other road users.

We can: organise one-to-one professional training, provide guidance and advice on: choosing the right bike, getting in to work, or planning rides.

Subscribe to our email group and once you feel you know us better... Why not come to our first Wednesday of each month meeting: 7.30pm, Armada Centre, 21, McMillan St, London, SE8 3EZ. (Junction of Watergate Street and Creek Road).
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=se8+3ez&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=16.000284,28.696289&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=London+SE8+3EZ,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.481383,-0.020921&spn=0.00886,0.022724&z=16