metJan04

hfcyclists meeting 11 January 2004 at 3.30pm
at 122c Edith rd W14 9AP

Present: John Griffiths, Bill Ogden, Alan Watts, James Joughin.

Apologies: Mo Morgan, Paul Alexander, Mark Alderton, Chris Bainbridge, Simon Franklin, Alex Forrest.

HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE

Consultants have looked at this and have come up with some suggestions
a) 20mph speed limit - received great approval
b) To avoid being squeezed by the piers, they have suggested restricting the width of the carriageway to the width between the piers for the whole length of the bridge. Not considered sensible by those of us at the meeting. Wider vehicles and buses would pass you anyhow. Only today Alan was passed very closely by a bus and felt the wind from the wing mirror. Bill asked if there were any examples of signs that said "cyclist priority". We would like to see a cycle priority scheme on the bridge at the pinch points.

The following link has a very useful discussion on pinch points. It includes details of a sign in the East Riding of Yorkshire that says CAUTION DO NOT OVERTAKE CYCLISTS. The sign in this place apparently was not very effective,

http://www.thebikezone.org.uk/thebikezone/campaigning/pinchpoints.html

Tower bridge is now believed to have a 20mph limit and cameras to deter HGV's.

HAMMERSMITH BROADWAY.

Simon and Colin Glendenning have not yet fully digested the consultant's report. John is worried that the expensive traffic modelling is based on poorly thought-through plans. John was hoping [and the consultants had implied] that we would be contacted to comment on the plans before the modelling took place.

James surprised traffic modelling should be expensive, only a bit of software.

What to do? Let us wait to see what the results are. John hopes Simon will contact him soon to go through the results.

TRAFFIC LIAISON COMMITTEE

This is a committee where the Highways Dept meet with the police and other groups. John has suggested that we should be included on it before, but Phil Nicholls [head of Highways Dept] was not enthusiastic. John will write a letter saying we would like to be informed of what is going on, and can we receive its papers, or something.

CYCLING ALLOWANCE

For Council Officers travelling on Council business, not for travelling to work. 20p/mile or £36/month if you give up right to claim bus, tube etc. John has spoken to Chris Bainbridge about this, and the Council BUG [bike users group] are looking at whether it can improved upon. We ask whether it isappropriate to publicise the present status

SBG Wardens
Chris Bainbridge had asked John whether we want any input into how they deal with cycling on pavement. The wardens do not have power of arrest. Should we help with a leaflet? The group felt that it was better not to be involved.

SBG ISLANDS
John has asked Chris Bainbridge if the pedestrian areas of the islands at the new junction can be made shared use. At a recent focus group the consensus was that as the pedestrian areas are so wide there is no conflict. John will write to Chris formally asking if this can be done.

HEATHER VALENTINE

The Borough Commander at Hammersmith Police station. John had thought of writing a letter saying please do not pick on softies and considerate cyclists who may be cycling on the pavement. It alienates otherwise law-abiding people, and it does not address the problem of getting at inconsiderate cyclists.

Alan thought that all town centre areas were inappropriate for cycling on the pavement and one should push a bike if one used the pavement. However he also said that there were places like the A4 were the road was so dangerous that he might cycle on the pavement there. Bill thought that her response would be that it is illegal to cycle on the pavement, and that they are just doing their job. Bill said that a lot of pressure came from old people's groups like Age Concern and BGOP [Better Government for Old People]. He also said that a lot of crime was being committed by youths on bikes, snatching mobile phones and bags etc.

We decided not to send a letter.

WEST LONDON GREEN FESTIVAL.

John is contemplating having another West London Green Festival this year if there is adequate support to organise it. It should be easier to organise than last year as we have learnt a lot and have many contacts. Also we started much later in the year last year.

The most probable date is June 13 and the preferred place is Furnival gardens as there are a lot of people passing. Also it is near the riverside pubs. Last year it was in Bishops Park, which was a fine venue, but few people came. The problem with Furnival Gardens is that it is noisy from the A4 traffic and access for stall holders is poor.

Sunday the 13th June fits in with Bikeweek and other sustainability promotion slots, so some funding may be available. Low tide is about 7.30pm that evening, which makes it a bit difficult to tie in with a beach clean-up, but not impossible.

James said he would help, though he is sometimes out of the country. John will contact people from last year's festival who may help, and if there is sufficient enthusiasm, will attempt to book the space.

ANYONE who would like to be involved in planning the event please contact John, details below. Even a small amount of time and effort would be very useful and appreciated. Particularly with design and publicity, and promoting to schools etc.

The ethos of the festival is
to bring eco / env / green people together
to strengthen their power and to attract more people to specific causes
to showcase what different groups [inc LBHF] are doing.
to raise our profile and encourage cycling

The music / entertainment side would concentrate on participation
Stalls could make money for voluntary / campaign groups, but the idea is not to have commercial stalls just present to make money for themselves.

Last year there was [or were?] about 25 participating groups [see our website for photos], and the total costs was £1000.

OUR PUBLICITY

Presently John occasionally gives out leaflets to passing cyclists, and the important thing is that they have the web address on it. Ideally when chatting to a cyclist it is good to collect their email address for the email group.

Are present leaflets OK? Do they reflect what we are? Some confusion as to what we actually are.

Alan thought that our main role was to collect members for the LCC. That the leaflet should mention free third party insurance, etc for members.

In John's view it is to represent cyclists in the Borough dealing with LBHF, and what is important is that we attract activists and concerned people and that we become a respected and politically significant force. And be fulfilled and have a good time.

It would be good to have leaflets in bike shops and libraries etc. Would a photo of a ride be more appealing than the striking logo? James thought a black and white photo would not be as striking.

Note: You do not need to be a member of the LCC to be involved in our activities. But we do encourage it. John has redesigned the home page of www.hfcyclists.org.uk and encourages you to visit it. Hopefully it makes things clearer.

POSTER

Bike shops should also have a poster.

ANYONE who would like to help with the design, or distribution to shops etc, please contact John.

OYBIKE

It is believed that OYbike is under considerable financial stress. The Council's official position is that it wants to see the project go ahead. They would say that, wouldn't they? Considerable funds have been deployed so far that might otherwise have gone to other cycling projects. Perhaps some news soon.

JAMES' BIKE SHED

Because of bureaucratic bungling the original order to demolish his front-garden bike-shed has evaporated. He now has a new order. He is expected to appeal.

NEXT MEETING

The first Tuesday of February clashes with a central LCC meeting. John will talk to some people to see what would be a suitable date. If you would like to come to a meeting please contact John to say what times are most convenient for you.

John Griffiths
020 7371 1290 / 07789 095 748
john@truefeelings.com
www.hfcyclists.org.uk