1. Welcome & Introductions.
Chair Julian Dobson, Present Lydian Meredith, Liz Delap (Training), Anthony Austin (Secretary, Planning), Ray Suomi (Rides), Xoi Li, Derek Marks (Treasurer), John Clarke, Daniella, David Senior, Stephen Craven (Pedal Power), Maria Robinson (Pedal Power), Andy Braben (Website). Apologies: John Hearns, Danuta Orlowska.
2. Minutes for March approved.
Item 4 (Rides) AGREED to offer help on next year's Mayor's ride but wait until newly elected council is formed.
3. Bike Week 17-25 June.
Andy said various ideas had been discussed at last week's Rides meting, but not in a form that he could post on the website.
Andy helped by Maria will run a Dr Bike at Cutty Sark Gardens. ACTION Anthony to ask Greenwich Council for furniture, Julian to obtain maps, stationery, balloons from LCC/TfL.
Derek offered to host a barbecue on either the first or second Saturday.
Andy proposed a ride from Cutty Sark into Central London each morning.
Julian noted that other local groups had announced their events at a borough coordinators' meeting. He said events for Bike Week, a national celebration, were covered by insurance up to £10 million, but they had to be properly registered (through him).
AGREED: Ray and others to confer and list what rides Greenwich wants to lead.
4. Other Rides.
Ray said a ride to Cambridge had been cancelled due to rail engineering works.Daniella, Lydian requested more easy- to medium-paced rides. Ray said that Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark were working well on shared rides. Some people said they were nervous about leading rides involving young children. Ray said there was a wealth of bike ride experience around the table and agreed there was demand for more easy rides, possibly with a dedicated coordinator.
5. Planning.
Anthony said Mast Pond Wharf was now open, thanks to lobbying led by Barry Mason and Greenwich Cyclists. Ray said cyclists approaching from the east, the Free Ferry end, should be careful of a sharp and potentially slippery turn into the new section.
Members said this successful outcome should be posted on the website, but without criticising Greenwich Council's cycling officer who had attempted to have the route open before and after the Mayor's Ride. ACTION: Anthony to draft for Andy to post.
Thames Path alongside Royal Naval College is due to close shortly for repairs. ACTION Anthony to write to Foundation seeking access through College for the cycling public.
Meeting with Greenwich Council. Anthony said this routine session was pencilled in for May 17. ACTION Anthony to ask Don Anyiam to confirm meeting, to discuss Naval College, bike stands in Greenwich town centre etc.
6. Training.
Liz reported a steady stream of interest but not enough to run courses. She enquired if others were interested in training, and Maria (and later Xoi Li) said they were. ACTION Maria to find out if CTC refunds any of the estimated £650 four-day training course run by CTUK and liaise with Liz. Members said there was money in the bank for training.
7. Grants.
Julian said the LCC has £500 grants for cycle projects and invited ideas.
8. Maintenance Classes.
Julian is running a maintenance class at the Armada the next two Wednesdays.
9. Borough Coordinators' Meeting
Julian said the last borough coordinators' meeting had discussed its own structure and procedures and urged that the LCC committee be more accountable.
10. AGM.
The AGM is on June 7 at the Armada Centre, afterwards food and drink at Dog & Bell. Key posts of Coordinator and Secretary available, all other office-holders ready to continue in post. ACTION: Julian to issue job descriptions, organise catering in consultation with Derek, seek an AGM chairman.