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WI Suffragette Ride

A group from Newham Cyclists and the Forest Gate WI set off from Forest Gate to Tower Hamlets library to visit an exhibition on the East London Suffragettes.

Our route took us through the Olympic Park, Victoria Park and Mile End Park. We discovered that the East London suffragettes not only campaigned for votes for women (and men who did not have the vote) but also provided support for those in need via their campaigns against food poverty and also via their ‘pay-what-you-can’ restaurants’, one of which was recreated at the exhibition:

We returned home after lunch and a leisurely 12 mile ride.

Canterbury to Ramsgate Ride Report

A mixture of Newham Cyclists and friends from E20 Cycle Club set off from Canterbury West, heading through Canterbury University and up a hill to join the Crab & Winkle Way (some ‘Paris Roubaix’ surfaces here!)

 

 

 

 

At St Cosmos & St Damian Church, Blean, we met Jane from Southwark Cyclists, who joined us for the ride.  Then it was on to the coastal path – aka the Viking Trail.

 

 

 

 

 

A cheeky climb up to Reculver Towers…

Stopping for lunch (and a few ice creams) at the West Bay Cafe, we were joined by Newham Cyclist Anna, who was off for a swim at Broadstairs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On around the coast to Margate and then finally to Ramsgate station for the train home, after 33.4 miles and 350m of climb (not pancake flat as previous advised by Robin!*)

More photos here.

Ride map here.

*Editor’s note – anyone spot a recurring theme with our ride leaders?!?

Apologies about the odd formatting – lost the will to live trying to get it to look right!

Readout from Meeting of 30 July

Despite the absence of some regulars 20 of us assembled in the Garden of the View Tube Cafe to participate in a lively meeting.

  1. Bill had sent in a note of the financial position which was a balance of £879.20 thanks in part to donations from the  Fix My Ride stall since April of £241.43 (£119.21 from the forest Gate Festival).  Some of that will be needed to replenish stocks.  Our payment for providing the RideLondon feeder ride from Stratford is to come.
  2. We discussed the fact that Newham was one of the few London Boroughs to provide free parking for a fist car for households in its in its parking zones.  We decided to put together a first draft of a letter to the Mayor, the responsible Cabinet Member and interested Councillors, setting out our view in the context of promoting  sustainable transport;  and to approach other interested bodies  (e.g. Living Streets, Newham CCG) with a view to putting the case jointly.
  3. Arnold outlined the results of the catch up meeting of 13 July with the Sustainable Transport Officer of Newham Council.  This chart provides a summary of the position:
    Newham Cyclists Issues of Interest July 2018
    and this document (the LIP) sets out planned spending in 2018-19 on various cycle projects intended to be implemented by Newham Council.
    LIP PROGRAMME 2018-19 V
    Please let me know if you have any comments or questions on either of these documents.
  4. We intend to be represented on an audit ride of the  CS3 extension to Barking being conducted by Newham Council.
  5. We debriefed on the RideLondon feeder from Stratford.   It did have very positive feedback from the participants (74 going and approximately 30 returning).  In particular we will examine alternatives to CS2  from Mile End to Aldgate.
  6. The next Bike from Boleyn ride is sceduled for 20 October.  If you would like to help put this in your diaries.  There are plans to link it with a street party/festival at the site of the World cup Statue.
  7. We decided to organise another sequence of bike fixing and rides for the children’s cycle club at Ambition, Aspire, Achieve for September/early October.  The feedback on the rides so fr this year has been very positive and those helping have found it very satisfying.
  8. We brainstormed how Brampton Primary might find some bikes for its bike club and where there might be some old bikes for reconstruction by Pro Bike Service.
  9. There have been some events on the Greenway organised by Sustrans and Newham Council.he section north of Stratford high St is due to open (at long last) next year. It includes (a) a 4m path (as per the rest of the sections between Wick Lane and Canning Road) with the legacy fencing/concrete blocks that the council is negotiating with LLDC to remove so we can install lighting and CCTV (b)  alarge bridge area next to the rail line (c) the possible reopening of the closed City Mill River Path on the north side of the Greenway which would that offeran additional high quality future connection, being more direct to UCL/Stadium Island etc and (d) a ramp, constructed by Crossrail, to Marshgate Lane.Since the meeting I have asked about the overhead lighting in the section of the  Greenway north of the View Tube.  Apparently they have never worked but there is permission for the power connection which should take place this month.
  10. Our Canterbury to Ramsgate ride takes place on Sunday 5 August.
  11. There was a long discussion, based on Jonathan’s Report (below) on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.  It was clearly disappointing how little regard LLDC had for cycling facilities, how little understanding of what was acceptable and how much it was promoting rat running.  Noe of this is particularly surprising given its poor track record.  A ray of light is that the Newham Councillors now on the LLDC Planning Committee had an understanding of cycle issues.  We decided to draft another letter  expressing our concerns and seek to act in partnership with neighbouring borough groups.  We would also examine the possibility of putting the QEOP forward as a Low Traffic Neighbourhood in an attempt to halt the current adverse trend.

Arnold

Report on Recent Rides

On the 17 June a goodly crew started off  a Newham Ride. from the View Tube.

The unusual feature was that it was anti-clockwise, starting with a run down the Greenway to Beckton.

Then to the Royal Docks via Thames Barrier Park and finishing with a run up the Lea Valley.  This way round was intended to maximise coffee stop opportunities and the best times.  Once again it proved how the borough is ever changing.  Much is new and changing but ther are remnants of post-industial.

P1070040

On 30 June we led 6 children from the Ambition, Aspire, Achieve Saturday Cycling Club for a ride along the Greenway and around the Olympic Park.  A run of 7-8 miles which went a long way to improving their cycle skills.  They did brilliantly in the heat.

In his note of thanks Kevin Jenkins, Founder of this Charity observed: “As always the feedback from the children has been nothing but positive. ”

So a good trip for them and a well spent morning for us.

Arnold

 

Stratford Gyratory and related issues

Four Newham Cyclists  participated in another cycle round the Stratford works on 4 June  with Michael Barratt, TfLs influential Development Development Impacts Manager and Paul Gannon, the Newham Council Officer managing the restructuring project, .

Here is their full Report with the full list of actions, and more (annotated) photos:

Focus on the gyratory works 04 june 18

By way of reminder, the Stratford Gyratory scheme has been generally welcomed by Newham Cyclists.  The works already completed give a flavour of the benefits to come.

One of our concerns has been to ensure cyclists remain as safe as possible during the lengthy construction works. The very positive approach by all concerned is helping to achieve this.  The engagement of TfL and Newham Council is very welcome.

At present there are two major issues, which are recognised as difficult to avoid at present:

  • The closure of the cycle track in the Grove.  However Paul indicated that this was planned to open southbound in the next few weeks.  Cyclists going northbound can still use the wide shared use pavement up to Great Eastern Street.
  • The cycle lane completed in the Broadway westbound can only be used for cyclists turning into Tramway Avenue towards Plaistow.  it cannot be used for continuing westbound to Stratford High St.

    Otherwise it is necessary to move into the centre lane in order to get to the now open westbound lane outside the Old Town Hall.  Please be aware of this if you are going westbound through Stratford  to Bow in order to avoid conflict with pedestrians.

Otherwise a series of minor modifications (moving fences, changing the position of signs, covering loose wires etc.) were suggested.

The 4m wide two way cycle track between Angel Lane and The Grove, which is currently under construction may need to be temporarily limited in width at first to prevent the idea arising that this is extra car parking space.  Paul is looking for the best way to do this, for example by use of planters or cycle parking. All ideas gratefully received.

The track will still open with a very adequate 3m width and will move to its full 4m when bedded in.

It was also interesting to learn that traffic counts had shown a significant overall decline in motor traffic (evaporation) since the works had started and a significant reduction in speeds – to nearer the 20mph limit.  Also, further major development  on Stratford High Street between Bridge Street and the Magistrates Court could present another opportunity for improvements for cycling and walking in the area.

Arnold

 

 

 

Cake Mountain Ride 3 June 2018

The “Over the Hill” group of cyclists from south of the river have become regular participants in our Newham rides and so they were once again tempted to cross the river and try the cake.  The weather was fine and warm and travelled at a leisurely pace along the canal towards Enfield lock.
The first part of the ride along the canal is naturally quite flat.  Dawes hill is always a test for heart, lungs, and the benefits of ebikes and we approached the forest this way.  Riding through Chingford we stopped at the Queen Elizabeth hunting lodge, which was open, and it was easy to imagine Tudor nobles chasing deer through the valley below.  Onward to High Beech and through the forest, before negotiating the busy A121, we crossed a lesser known bridge over the M25, down a track and into Upshire and St Thomas’ church.  We had lunch in the Horseshoe pub before returning to the church for tea and a mountain of cake.
We rode back sated and probably more slowly, taking an alternative route around High Beech avoiding the hills to the the canal, which led us all the way back to our start point.  Unfortunately, as we rejoined the Greenway Roxie’s derailleur got caught in her back wheel.  We we almost at the end of the ride and she was able get home and hopefully repair or replace the bike, which I believe is under guarantee.
Coincidentally, I  saw my daughter Ellie’s narrow boat along the canal and stopped for a photo with the new tenant
Steve

Ambition, Aspire, Achieve

We have led two more rides for AAA’s Saturday children’s cycling club – on 5 May and 2 June.

The first was a jaunt along the Greenway (first braving a traffic jam caused by a funeral in the West Ham Cemetry) and through Three Mills Green.  Notably we got a disability bike along the Channelsea Path linking Three Mills to the Greenway.

There was  very positive feedback from the eight children participating.

Duly inspired, and with a group of six slightly older children, our second ride ventured from the Greenway along the Lea towpath to the Olympic Park.  This gave us a chance to focus more on cycle  skills as well as taking some of the children to a part of Newham they had not been to before or had little knowledge of.

A great pleasure and success for them and us.

We are therefore trying to fit another ride in before the summer shut down.  If you might be able to help between 10.15 am and 12.45 pm on either Saturday 30 June or Saturday 7 July let me know at newham@lcc.org.uk

Arnold