1. Welcome & Introductions
Chair: Andy Braben. Present: David Senior, Derek Mark (Treas.) John Clarke, Stephen Craven, Anthony Austin (Sec.+ Planning), Ray Suomi (Rides), Rushton Aust, Andy Smith (LibDem candidate in Greenwich West ward in May 4 local government elections). Apols: Liz Delap, Julian Dobson.
2. February Minutes approved.
Item 2A on storage of documents - Andy said there was plenty of capacity. We need to agree on how to designate letters/documents for storage.
3.Rides.
4. Politics.
Andy Smith outlined his party's cycling policy at national and local level. In general they want to get people out of their cars and onto bicycles and public transport. New rolling stock such as Crossrail should be designed to take bikes. Mobile phone abuse by drivers is a serious safety issue but only attracts a £30 fine at present.
On our five issues:
1. 20 mph as the standard speed limit for all residential streets.
Yes, these need to be enforced rather than littered with speed bumps which impede cyclists, and other road users like ambulances.
2. increase the number of children cycling to school by 15% by 2010.
Yes, this requires more cycle training, better cycle lanes, and bike racks at schools
3. Increase total cycle parking spaces at workplaces and on streets by 50% by 2010.
In favour
4. Parking enforcement staff to prioritise keeping cycle facilities car free.
Enforcement is the answer.
ACTION: Andy Smith will have question raised at Greenwich Council about motorists fined for parking in bus/cycle lanes.
5. To improve cycling access to the Thames Path eg. ensure a multi-user bridge is built over Deptford Creek.
Share use has to be segregated/separated at places like this. Developers should be leaned on to reopen public paths.
5. Planning.
Bridge over Creek. Greenwich Council has given outline planning consent, it's a Section 106 requirement on London Merchant Securities. Planning Officer Fred Brown says "the Council will ensure that at the competition stage and the subsequent formal approval of details reserved by conditions, that the bridge will cater for both cyclists and pedestrians."
ACTION: seeking meeting with Don Anyiam to maintain momentum on Path through Royal Naval College, Mast Pond Wharf, cycling through Greenwich town centre, Green Corridor funding from TfL etc.
6. Finance.
Derek said the club's balance was about £1,500 credit of which £500 was unallocated. He suggested using part of this for the purchase of hi-glo singlets and Rushton offered to screen print them with Greenwich Cyclists. These are mainly for use by Liz in cycle training, and some members suggested they could also be on general sale.
7. Olympic Committee.
Ray wants this item regularly on agenda, and said we should talk to Don Anyiam also about cycle routes to 2012 Olympic sites.