metMay03

NOTES ON HFCYCLISTS MEETING
Tuesday 6 May 2003, 7.30pm in the info centre

Present: John Griffiths, Cllr Charlie Boyle, PC Gareth Potter, Sue Mullins, Chris Amies, Kieran Flynn, Wendy Ann Matthews, Mo Morgan

Apologies: Cllr Andrew Jones; Rik Andrew, Mark Alderton, Chris Bainbridge, Alex Forrest, Simon Franklin, Louanne Tranchell, Chris Tranchell, Sarah Schubinsky, Roger de Freitas

POLICE

PC Gareth Potter of Fulham Police will be responsible for policing at the Festival on 22 June. We talked about numbers of people and possible problems. There would be two police officers on duty and perhaps a few more may come along. We would not be charged for the police presence. We assume the Parks constabulary will also be present.

REAPPRAISAL OF OURSELVES.

Last time a new member came and afterwards said that she was not interested in the group, as we were mainly involved with Council matters. And it has to be admitted that we have negligible effect upon the Council, apart from helping them to decide where to put cycle stands. Any suggestions for an effective way forward.

Charlie thought that we were doing a good job. Who else does the Council have to consult with? Thought meeting with Roger Khanna had been very useful.

Wendy is very pleased we exist.

John clarified that it was not a matter of giving up, but how to be effective.

We are by no means the weakest of the local LCC groups. And we have good relations with some Council Officers and Councillors. Mo pointed out that campaigns dealing with local politics are long extended drawn-out affairs, and one has to keep chipping away.

We are not floundering. We are fortunate to have many active people involved with us, but often their primary concern is with other groups. However it would be good to have more people contributing time to our group.

Charlie pointed out that getting things done is a matter of delegating.
Perhaps John is poor at delegating. Let us hope this changes.

It would be good to have a guest speaker at some meetings. We could go for a ride prior to meetings.

For any member who would wants to be more involved with London-wide issues they can subscribe to an email group by sending an email to
lcc-issues-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

BUG IN BUG

Kieran mentioned the non progress of a Bicycle Users Group at the Council. Perhaps there are liability issues involved in the Council supporting it. [Does a BUG need the approval of the employer?]

HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE ROADWAY

Can it be made safer? John had spoken to the police about Bridge, 20mph limit. Charlie mentioned the trials of the automatic "Slow down" machines. Sue had approached Mike Cartwright informally. But he had not got back to her. Sue to pursue. Alex Forrest does not seem to have got far in pressing anything through official channels.

PLANNING EVENTS

26 May Kingston Green Fair - Bank holiday Monday. We have taken a stand there to promote our festival. If anyone wants to help look after the stand or have their group involved with the stand please contact John.

5 June BBC Environment Day, we have a stand there.

13 June Don't choke London - we have a stand there on Friday in Jerdan Place.

Bike Week [14 - 22 June],

14 June 8pm Barbecue on the Beach in front of the royal Festival Hall.

15 June Ride to Camden BikeFest, Meet local cyclists at 12.30pm
Holland Park café, before setting off at 1pm. Chris will lead this.

22 June West London Green Festival - Our big event in Bishops Park. Environmental showcase - mass picnic with music making - cycling promotion. 12noon to 5pm.

Discussion of cycling side. Ealing going to supply 3 Dr Bike people. Hope that people coming would try out a bike. Contact bike shops for this. Charlie said he would do this.

Problem of whether to have cycle tryout area on grass or on the skating area. Cost of crowd barriers to mark off area may be £200. On grass may be able to use stakes and rope.

Problem of whether to corral the bike riding area. John said yes so as to prevent opportunist theft. Everyone else said no, let the people providing bikes take the responsibility. Let them take deposits of credit card, etc. Not the atmosphere John wants. [Also problem of people not used to riding, riding into pedestrians?]

Chris will help with design and publicity.

There is a group [and an email group] for people who want to be involved in planning the festival - contact John

EXPENSES

John had spent
£10 on two reams of paper,
£2 on guillotining
£9.05 on refreshments, one bottle wine drunk, one put in cellars for future meeting.

for Festival
£26 on fee to park
£10 on becoming a member of resources group, to hire tables etc for event.
£30 on having a stand at Kingston Green Fair.

NEXT MEETINGS
are on Tuesdays, 3 June, 1 July. Please PUT in your diary NOW.

John Griffiths [co-ordinator]
020 7371 1290 / 07789 095 748
john@truefeelings.com
our website www.hfcyclists.org.uk