metApril2010
NOTES OF HFCYCLISTS MEETING
Held on Tuesday 6 April 2010, 7.15 for 7.30pm
at the home of John Griffiths
122c Edith rd / West Kensington / W14 9AP
020 7371 1290 / 07789 095 748
PRESENT: Ayse Kardes, John Griffiths, John Everard, Kristina Krause, Dara Blumenthal, Paul Saunderson, Yvonne Bailey, David Marsh, Susie Gretz.
APOLOGIES: Sharon Norris, Andrew Frederick, Stephen Burke, Gerry Berridge, Roger de Freitas
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday 4 May, 715 for 7.30pm
at the home of Ayse Kardes
50d Longridge road, SW5 9SH
[just over border in RBKC, very close to the big Tesco's on the West Cromwell
rd]
REDESIGN OF WEBSITE
Kristina is a graduate student at Canterbury, University of Kent, and for her thesis is working on project to do with making websites more usable and user friendly in the non-profit sector. JG has been discussing this with her and she has agreed to use us as part of her project.
Kristina would need to complete the website redesign between the months of June and July. In addition to the actual website, she will also need to complete interviews with those involved in the organization and the community using the site. These would be filmed, photographed, recorded or transcribed. She would like to post the development of her research as an online blog. At the end she can provide a lesson on how to use the website for those who need to do the updating.
If you are interested in this development of the website, which would include the ability of users to upload material, and wish to be part of the process, please contact JG asap.
MANIFESTO FOR USE AT THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS
We discussed possible manifestos and how they would be used. It was very helpful having John Everard here as he is a board member of the LCC and is experienced in these matters. We decided to use the LCC manifesto, and added four points relevant to Hammersmith and Fulham. This was in preference to manifestos discussed earlier by JG and Susie. David would have liked us to include a mandatory Advanced Driving Test for motorists in the manifesto, but this not something that local Councillors have any power over.
The manifesto would be sent to the local offices of the major parties by JG, and we would publicise the responses from candidates for the position of Councillor. JE said the LCC head office would be dealing with prospective MPs.
LCC's manifesto with added local issues:
TRAINING FOR KIDS
Provide free on-road cycle training for all school children, free or subsidised
training for adults and regular training for highway engineers and transport
planners.
MORE CYCLE PARKING
Deliver sufficient cycle parking for staff and visitors at all council,
NHS and school buildings and make it a requirement in all relevant planning
applications.
LOCAL ACCESS
Make local cycling journeys easier by returning borough
one-way systems and streets to two-way operation, or by allowing contraflow
cycling.
LORRY DANGER
Reduce casualties involving lorries through a driver-cyclist-awareness
programme for all council HGV drivers and by council membership of the
Freight Operators Recognition Scheme.
SAFER STREETS
Reduce danger, particularly to children, by setting a 20mph speed limit
where people live, work and shop and by adopting a road danger reduction
strategy for the borough.
SOLID TARGETS
Back an investment plan that will surpass the Mayor's
target of a 400 percent increase in cycling by 2026.
HEALTHY STAFF
Encourage council staff to cycle by signing up to the
government's Cycle to Work Guarantee scheme.
EVENTS & ROADSPACE
Promote healthy living by running regular cycling events such as car-free
Sundays, reducing car-dependency and reallocating road space to cycling
and walking.
LOCAL ISSUE 1
20mph speed limit on all residential roads. Residential roads are a class
of road which does not include main roads.
LOCAL ISSUE 2
20 mph speed limit on Hammersmith Bridge. With the supporting piers infringing
on the road space the bridge is very threatening to cyclists. We note
that Tower Bridge has a 20mph speed limit.
LOCAL ISSUE 3
Complete cycling provision around Westfield. A safe route leading cyclists
onto the toucan crossing of the A3220 just north of the Holland Park roundabout
still has not been installed.
LOCAL ISSUE 4
Safe cycling provision should be paramount in changes about to be made
to the Hammersmith gyratory.
GLASS ON ROAD, POTHOLES,
Diana Shaw Clark wrote to John G recently reporting a lot of broken glass
in the vicinity of the City Arms pub next to Hammersmith Bridge. Also
on the Great Chertsey rd, but that is in the LB of Hounslow.
On Putney bridge, going north, JG noticed that the nearside lane is like a WW1 battlefield with its potholes. The bridge is the responsibility of LB Wandsworth.
If you know of places where glass / potholes is a continual problem please let LBHF know on their report form: access this via
http://www.hfcyclists.org.uk/potholes.htm
TfL's streets' reporting site for faults can be found at the same link
DISTRACTING ADVERTISEMENTS
JG has been amazed that an electronic advertising billboard has been installed on the corner of Hammersmith road and Butterwick. As you are travelling east at the top of the Broadway and are about sweep around to the south you are confronted by this glaring attention getting sign just as you approach traffic lights with a crossing. Vulnerable road users have just become more vulnerable.
John has written to Cllr Stephen Cowan whose ward this lies in but has had no response as yet.
BIKEWEEK / GREENFEST
GREENFEST will be on Sunday 20 June 2010. see www.greenfest.org.uk.
The GREENFEST planning is underway but at the moment we are waiting to here about the allocation of a Fast Track Small Grant from LBHF. We should have heard last month.
Kristina said she would be interested in helping with the planning and on the day. Anyone else interested in being involved in the planning or on the day please contact JG as soon as possible.
John E has contacted JG earlier about incorporating a celebratory ride to mark the 15th anniversary of the Sustrans' National Cycle Network, and the 10th anniversary of a NCN route through the Borough. JE has been discussing this with people from LBHF and is expecting the Mayor to attend. The plan is to start from Pryors Bank in Bishops Park near Putney Bridge, to cycle along the NCN to the borough boundary at Lots road, back again and then along to join the GREENFEST around 1pm. We would welcome this and shall collaborate upon it.
BJORN'S LEAVING DO
Bjorn Volk, who has been involved with cycling matters at LBHF and has been highly involved with the GREENFEST for several years, will be leaving the Council at the end of this week. There is a slight chance he may return after 6 months, but will come back to help with the GREENFEST on the day. He says "It would be absolutely great to see you all on the 07th April 2010, from 5pm at the Old Ship Public House, Upper Mall, Hammersmith next to the Thames" ie tonight. Thanks for all your support, Bjorn.
RIDES, EVENTS, ETC?
Scrubs Open Day: Saturday 10 April, Family oriented event - 11am - 3pm, South West corner of Wormwood Scrubs. There is normally a Dr Bike there.
Regional Kingston and Merton social gathering at The Roebuck, Richmond, on 22 April. More about this later.
We will have a ride to look at the local bluebells when they are out. More later.
The BBQ to watch the boatrace went very well. Some photos here - copy and paste link if it does not work directly. http://www.flickr.com/photos/john_griffiths/sets/72157623766345126/
THE LONDON CYCLING GUIDE,
Tom Bogdanowicz has written this new book, and LCC members can get a 30% discount on the book and free P&P by typing in the code 'cycle' at http://www.newhollandpublishers.com/travel.asp.
There's a review here: http://tiny.cc/dod3p
MARSHALS WANTED WEDNSDAY MORNINGS IN MAY
TFL have invited bids to tender for a series of led rides on the back of the success of Cycle Fridays, they would like to run them this summer. LCC is keen to put an application in, however the intention is to run many more rides than last year. To ensure that we have the capacity to deliver Lucy is asking all experienced marshals who would be available every Wednesday morning during May from 7 - 10am to get in touch with her asap.
Lucy Cooper, Marketing &
Income Generations Manager, LCC
Tel: 020 7234 9310 ext 202
EXPENSES
JG had expenses of £10.58 web hosting and £26.97 for tonight's
refreshments
DATE OF AGM
We hope to have this in June or July
DATE / PLACE OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday 4 May, 715 for 7.30pm
at the home of Ayse Kardes
50d Longridge road, SW5 9SH
[just over border in RBKC, very close to the big Tesco's on the West Cromwell
rd]
John Griffiths [chair / co-ordinator]
020 7371 1290 / 07789 095 748
john@truefeelings.com
OUR WEBSITE www.hfcyclists.org.uk