1. Welcome & Introductions
23 attended
2. Notes of December meeting and matters arising from December Meeting
December notes were agreed
Matters arising December notes:
Point 4 - Schools Project. Cycle training are going to invoice us for the next set of training. The subgroup will meet to discuss the next project.
Point 8 - Congestion Charging Birthday. Tower Hamlets Wheelers are planning to put up their banner again this year and Camden Cyclists are planning a breakfast in Camden on 17th February.
3. Pedal Power
The December issue is on the website and Hilary, Liz, Julian, Jason and Anthony volunteered to distribute. Julian asked for articles for the January edition with a deadline for submissions of 15th January. Please email him on julian@jadobson.demon.co.uk.
4. London Cyclists Campaign (LCC) Magazine
The LCC has asked us to contribute to the next issue. They want an article on cycling in Greenwich. Liz and Julian volunteered to do this. They also want an article on the Eltham School?s project. Hilary agreed to do this and also agreed to find out the copy deadline.
5. Councillor Peter Brooks
Peter Brooks introduced himself to the group explaining his main remits within the council. He is the councillor for Thamesmead, the second largest waterfront ward in the Greenwich Borough. He is the Deputy leader of the Council and he is mostly involved with regeneration. He is also involved in job creation, Human Resources, chairing the SRB6 group (a government initiative for funding) and strategic transport planning.
He explained that the council are at present working on a number of projects, for example the DLR extension in which they are working towards making sure that the railway goes through the Arsenal rather than Abbeywood, which is the government's preference. The Waterfront Transit is still ongoing and is in the second phase. The Thames Gateway Bridge project is still ongoing and we will hear next week whether it will require planning permission. If planning permission is required this will take much longer.
Peter was interested in our views regarding cycle routes. Should the council put them through parks? For example Greenwich Park South. What should be done about the missing link on the Thames cycle path along the Waterfront?
He also explained that the Mayor of London has suggested that Congestion Charging should be extended to the M25, but this is a long way off at the moment.
He asked for any questions.
The group wanted to know what was happening with the cycle parking at the Heritage Centre. He said that no cycle parking was planned but, as a result of the Greenwich Cyclists raising the issue last month, 6 cycle parking spaces had been built nearby. When asked why no cycle parking was planned he stated that the Heritage Centre had been built on a shoestring and because of the lack of money it was being built using a phased programme.
When asked what we should do to ensure cycle parking is available in Greenwich, he advised that we should continue to campaign as we are now.
He was asked if the original planning application had cycle parking facilities, but he did not know the answer but agreed to find out for us.
He was asked what work the council was doing to develop a cycling strategy for Greenwich. He acknowledged the cycling Strategy that has been previously submitted by Greenwich Cyclists, but explained little work had taken place due to the long-term illness of David Moorhouse, the council?s Cycling Officer. He explained that a cycling strategy is included in the 'Points Strategy' to get more money and as a result, cycling has a higher profile within the council.
He was asked if he knew how many cycle parking spaces per household are available in the Borough, but he did not know the answer and explained that at present there was no benchmark. There are 0.75 car parking spaces per household.
He was asked if more bus routes had been developed in the borough. He explained in some detail the plans for the Waterfront transit. £21M has been agreed for the development of this initiative. There will be a bus with a dedicated right of way on the road, rather than the original plan to have a tram. Unfortunately the bus will not be allowed to take cycles.
While he acknowledged that the Greenwich Cyclists do provide political support he thought that this was only skin deep.
It was also raised that Greenwich Council is always under spent and why can't the under spend be used to improve cycling facilities in the Borough. He explained that he was meeting David Jessop on Friday of this week and he would ask him if he would identify someone else from the council who could take on David?s work during his sick leave. He agreed to get back to us after the Friday meeting with the outcome of his request.
PB stated that he considered that the council are very close to getting things moving in the borough with regards to the development of improved cycling facilities. What was needed was to join up the good cycling routes together. His vision was to make Greenwich the best borough for cycling in London.
The group asked what was being done about:
Cars blocking cycle routes
The rumble strips on Plumstead road.
He suggested that if problems were observed, a phone call should be made to the parking control department on tel. 0208 854 8888. Problems can also be logged via the council website at www.greenwich.gov.uk
By doing this, trends can be observed and the parking control department can send out a posse to check the areas.
Cycle route 28 was raised but it is in the Lewisham Borough so no further discussion took place.
There was some discussion about an article in the Mercury concerning Route 19. Liz has responded and it is expected that the response will be in the next issue.
The group thanked Peter Brooks for his contributions.
6. Ride and ride Guidelines
Hillary has checked with the LCC. They have no guidelines. Liz tabled an article in the CTC magazine detailing guidelines for cycling and it was agreed that we should adopt the same guideline as follows:
"Greenwich Cyclists believe that with parental consent and a clear understanding of the ride duration and difficulty, no teenager should be turned away from a ride because of child protection concerns."
Peter Brooks talked a little about the Mayor?s Cycle Ride for charity and asked for our help. We agreed to help with the day and PB said that he would email us more details including the date of the ride.
Easygoing rides have been agreed for March, April and May. Karen S agreed to make a new poster and take them to the Forum@Greenwich. Kate agreed to send KS the details ASAP.
7. Bala
Karen S to post a notice via the egroup asking for interested parties and also to check out accommodation details.
Karen M agreed to look into transport for the weekend.
8. Spring into Action Campaign
It was suggested that we should link this into the Mayor?s Ride and this was agreed. A subgroup of Hilary, Kate, William, Jason and Karen S will be set up to take this forward.
It was suggested that we could include the Treasure Hunt that was developed by Barry last year, but not yet used, and also to include fitness testing and the measurement of body fat levels as part of the campaign.
It was suggested that we develop a continuum of events starting with the Spring into Action, and continue with Dunwich Dynamo, Midsummer Ride, Bala weekend and.Car Free Day. This was agreed.
9. Finances
We have a balance of £630 and we still have about half of the £750 grant that we got for bike week.
10. Ceilidh
This was a great success despite the last minute anxieties. We made a profit of £54 and there was between 125-130 people there.
It was agreed that for next year we should order about 75% of the food ordered for this year.
We should start advertising the event in September.
The price will not increase as it did this year.
It should start at 7pm rather than 8pm.
The band and the venue have been booked. Barry, Karen M and Karen S to work on the finer details nearer the time.