Pedal Power
Newsletter of Greenwich Cyclists - No.15 - November 2001
Nightmayor on cycle street?
London Mayor drops commitment to cyclists
Greenwich Cyclists have been shocked by the news that the draft Transport for London budget for 2002 contains no money at all for the London Cycle Network (LCN).
On the face of it this is a massive cut in funding for cycling provision for Londoners, since £8m was earmarked for this project this year. Camden Council, whose job it is to complete the LCN by 2004, has put the recruitment of 5 project managers on hold
The news comes in spite very encouraging commitments in the Mayor's Transport Plan, which clearly sought to give greater priority to cyclists in order to make London an 'exemplary sustainable word city'. And it is a massive embarrassment to the Greater London Authority's newly established Centre for Cycling Excellence, whose newly appointed boss, Rose Ades, has well-established pro-cycling credentials.
A Greenwich Cyclists spokesperson commented: "Completing the London Cycle Network was clearly part of the London Mayor Ken Livingstone's Transport Plan, but its future is now in jeopardy. We will be joining other cyclists across London to oppose this move and calling for funding to be increased to encourage cycle use across the capital."
London Cycling Campaign AGM
Some of us met at the Cutty Sark at 11am on Saturday 27 October to go to this legally necessary bikefest at the National Council for Voluntary Organisation's canalside HQ. Great watery views from the ground floor conference room.
120 Cycle activists from all over London attended: loads of familiar faces and a brand new Greenwich Cyclist who was just bursting to meet us. After a very positive welcome from Peter Lewis, LCC's Director, the first hour of so was spent split up into smaller groups brain-storming LCC Strategy for 2003-8. Their excellent magazine will detail this later.
Then it was down to Lynne Featherstone, Greater London Assembly member to give out the prizes. Best new cycle route: Leyton Relief Road, Waltham Forest. Best cycling facility: the bike lanes on Kingston Bridge. Best ancillary activity: joint winners: Brixton Cycles and Ealing Council's training scheme for kids.
The LC Management Committee then detailed the year's work and outlined future plans. Only 4 people stood for the 6 vacancies on the 12 member Committee, so all were elected.
During discussion and questions, Peter Lewis was asked about the cuts in the budget for the London Cycle Network. Like it or loathe it, the LCN is part of the Mayor's Transport Strategy, but it has effectively been put on hold.
The meeting quickly agreed the wording of an emergency resolution that asked for reinstatement of the LCN budget and more. Peter Lewis, was mandated to write to Ken Livingstone as Mayor, and Bob Kiley as Transport Commissioner accordingly. The meeting was then closed.
So, an efficiently run, shortish, well-orchestrated meeting. Interesting and well worth being at. And two more Greenwich Cyclists joined up as members.
BAM, 30 October 2001
London Cycling Campaign
The LCC is a membership organisation that works for cyclists in London and provides a wide range of services to its 8,000 members. For many, the shop discounts alone much more than pay for the subscription:
London Cycling Campaign
Unit 228, 30 Great Guildford Street
London SE1 0HS
www.lcc.org.uk E: office@lcc.org.uk
P: 020 7928 7220
Get a touch more technical!
January bike maintenance classes
The two sets of classes in September went well, lessons were learned. Denise has agreed to run another set on four consecutive Tuesday evening running starting on 15 January at Greenwich Forum. The classes start with the very basics....you work on your own bike from fixing punctures upwards and work steadily through it. Very hands on. No more than 12 people in the class. £30 for the course. Payment in advance, with no refunds unless we can resell your place. Phone/email Barry for reservation details.
Winter in the saddle
Below is our latest rides programme. Our rides are enjoyable, informative, sociable and fun. All (except as shown) are free to anyone without booking. Most events start from Cutty Sark Gardens (CSG) in Greenwich. None of these rides are races - they are paced for all.
On train assisted rides, we leave very soon after the meeting time. Expect help with minor problems like punctures but ensure your bike is roadworthy and bring a pump and a spare inner tube or two.
We'll soon be adding some additional family rides too - check our website for up-to-date list.
Saturday 3 November: 11am CSG for ride to Herne Hill velodrome and chance to try the track bikes
Sunday 4 November: 10am Liverpool Street station. Essex delta explore. 40 gentle miles.
Wednesday 7 November : monthly meeting. 7.30pm
Saturday 10 November: 10am CSG. Locks, docks and one smoking ferry: Docklands explore. 15 and 30 mile options.
Sunday 11 November: 10am CSG. Darwin ride to Down House. 30 mile round trip. Wednesday 14: 7pm Time to Listen Greenwich Council meeting. Bikes prominent. Queen Anne Court, Greenwich University, RNC site
Saturday 17 November: 10am CSG: Gravesend and over. Flat river explore. 30 miles
Saturday 24 November: 9am CSG. 60 miles to Whitstable. Or train it to Rochester and meet us for the prettiest 30 miles. Then train back or stay over and
Sunday 25 November: 11am Whitstable Harbour. 55 beachey miles to Dover. Train back.
Friday 30 November: 6pm National Film Theatre, South Bank: central London Critical Mass
December
Saturday 1 December: 10am CSG: Thames path to Dartford and over. 30 mile circle.
Wednesday 5 December: monthly meeting. As 7 November.
Saturday 8 December: 10am CSG: Thames path ride to Richmond. 15 or 30 flat miles.
Sunday 16 December: 10am CSG: Darenth Valley. 30 miles.
Wednesday 19 December: our Christmas Party, upstairs at the Admiral Hardy, College Approach. £10 buffet and pay bar.
Christmas Week: phone 020 7232 0444 or check this website later for details of our Christmas rides.
Key dates for 2002
Sunday 21 April: 10am CSG: Mayor's Charity Bike Ride
Friday 21 June: 2am (that's right - 2am!) CSG: for Summer Solstice ride to see dawn from Primrose Hill on the longest day
Saturday 20 July: 7pm CSG: the legendary Dunwich Dynamo. 120 overnight miles to the Suffolk coast. Coach back
Full rides list at www.greenwichcyclists.org.uk
CONTACT US
We welcome your contributions, suggestions and even your criticisms! We meet on the first Wednesday of every month (next meeting 7th November) at The Forum, 177 Trafalgar Road, Greenwich, SE10 9EQ. Write to us there or try:
Co-ordinator: Barry Mason - phone 020 7232 0444 or masonb@supanet.com
Planning co-ordinator: Greg Englefield
Phone 020 8858 7982 or greg_englefield@hotmail.com
Membership secretary:
Liz Delap: liz.delap@dial.pipex.com
Pedal Power Newsletter: bikepest@hotmail.com
P&P Greenwich Cyclists, c/o Greenwich Forum, 177 Trafalgar Rd, SE10