Greenwich Cyclists

Greenwich Cyclists are a bunch of local people who got together in May 2000 to push bikes up the agenda, to press the Council for better bike facilities, to lead rides, and to have some fun.

We have a Constitution and an Equal Opportunities Policy. We have successfully won grant-aid, so attending rides and meetings costs nothing.

We've got gnarly urban cyclists, racers, commuters, tourers, young families who want somewhere safe to learn as well as people new to London - or cycling - who want to get to work/shops/visit friends, galleries, etc and get fit. It is our aim to promote cycling which is safe, responsible and considerate to other road users.

We can: organise one-to-one professional training, provide guidance and advice on: choosing the right bike, getting in to work, or planning rides.

Subscribe to our email group and once you feel you know us better... Why not come to our first Wednesday of each month meeting: 7.30pm, Armada Centre, 21, McMillan St, London, SE8 3EZ. (Junction of Watergate Street and Creek Road).

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=537221&y=177710&z=0&sv=SE8+3EZ&st=2&pc=SE8+3EZ&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf

We are in the process of migrating everything to this new site so there is still some stuff that was on the old site but isn't here yet. You can visit our old site here

February 2010

Maintenance Workshop: Tyres and Punctures: Wed 10th Feb
See Maintenance section for details

Teri's Serpentine Ride (and run!)
Saturday 13 February

Meet 8am Cutty Sark Gardens (bring trainers and a set of dry clothing!)
Lock your bike up in Seymour Place, run around Hyde Park, cycle back again.
For more information: Teri 07919 447 316

Maintenance Workshop: Brakes: Wed 17th Feb
See Maintenance section for details

Teri's Serpentine Ride (and run!)
Saturday 20 February

Meet 8am Cutty Sark Gardens (bring trainers and a set of dry clothing!)
Lock your bike up in Seymour Place, run around Hyde Park, cycle back again.
For more information: Teri 07919 447 316

Maintenance Workshop: Gears: Wed 24th Feb
See Maintenance section for details

Rides Meeting: Weds 24 Feb
6:30pm Dog & Bell, Princes Street, Deptford, SE8

Real ale, nice food, convivial cyclists. Meet the diverse representatives of Bromley, Lewisham, Greenwich, Southwark and sometimes even.. Bexley ruminating on future rides. Meet the protagonists, offer rides, beg advice or have a brew... see ya there?

Oxleas Wood
Date: Sunday 28 February 2010
Time: 2pm
Meet: John Ball Primary School
Distance: 10 miles, Return: about 5pm

Follow a mostly motor traffic free route to Eltham. From there we go through Eltham Park, Shepardleas Wood, Oxleas Woods, Oxleas Meadows, Jack Wood and Castle Wood before returning to school via Kidbrooke. Although less than 10 miles, this is a fairly hard cycle ride with one steep hill, much of it is through woodland and although most is on tarmac paths there are some short sections on unsurfaced paths which may well be muddy.

www.britishschoolofcycling.com/rides/moderate/oxleas.htm

March 2010

North Downs
Saturday 6 March 2010
Time: 9am Meet: John Ball Primary School Distance: 35 hilly miles Return: by train at about 7pm

A tough ride on a motor traffic free route, following the Waterlink Way through South London, Croydon, and then crossing the North Downs to Redhill.
Expect steep ascents, steep descents, mud, great views, solitude and a great sense of achievement.
On a good day, this ride can be extended to Gatwick Airport. Tom Crispin completed the ride solo on a very snowy day in January. It took him four hours.

www.britishschoolofcycling.com/rides/extreme/downs.htm

Greenwich Loop
Date: Sunday 7th March 2010
Time: 11am
Meet: John Ball Primary School
Distance: 10 miles
Return: about 3pm

This ride goes through Blackheath Park to Kidbrook, and then follows the old Rochester Way to pass under the Sun in Sands roundabout. From there it follows London Cycle Network link 59 through the Blackheath Standard and down the hill to the Millennium Dome and a break at the Pilot Inn.
The return to Blackheath is along the Thames Path and through Greenwich Park.

http://www.britishschoolofcycling.com/rides/easy/greenwich.htm
www.britishschoolofcycling.com/rides/easy/greenwich.htm

Tilbury Ferry
Saturday 13th March 2010; 10am
33 miles; return by 6pm

Another remarkable cycle ride, mostly free from motor traffic. From Blackheath we follow the Thames Path to the Woolwich Ferry; over the ferry and then we follow the tedious A13 cycle route to Rainham. From there we rejoin the River and follow it through Rainham Marshes, heavy Thameside industry and spectacular graffiti art on the flood wall. After taking the Tilbury Ferry to Gravesend we catch the train back to Blackheath, Lee or Maze Hill stations.

www.britishschoolofcycling.com/rides/difficult/tilbury.htm


Locks, docks and one smoking ferry
Sunday 14 March 2010
Time: 11am
Meet: John Ball Primary School
Distance: 15 miles
Return: about 3pm

The junior version of the ever popular Southwark Cyclists ride. From Blackheath we will follow the Thames Path to the Woolwich Ferry, then cycle by City Airport, Excel, then by the Thames north bank to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel.

www.britishschoolofcycling.com/rides/moderate/locks.htm

The Olympic Ring
Saturday 27th March 2010, 9am
60 flat Km (38 miles); return by about 6pm

60km of continuous, green and attractive paths linking all 9 central London Olympic venues with some of the capital’s best attractions, heritage, parks, waterways and views.

The route passes a great many London landmarks, including: The Royal Greenwich Observatory, the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, Horseguards Parade, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Little Venice, Regent's Park, London Zoo, Camden Lock, Victoria Park, 2012 Olympic Park, City Airport, the Woolwich Ferry and the Old Royal Naval College and the Queen's House.

About 80% of the route is free from motor traffic, most of the remainder is on quiet roads, with only a few short sections alongside busy roads.

www.britishschoolofcycling.com/rides/extreme/olympic.htm


Thames Barrier
Date: Sunday 28 March 2010
Time: 11am
Meet: John Ball Primary School
Distance: 8 miles
Return: about 3pm

A short ride along the Thames Path to the Thames Flood Barrier and a return by the same route. There is a playground and cafe at the Barrier, so bring sandwiches for a picnic, or buy at the cafe.

www.britishschoolofcycling.com/rides/ easy/barrier.htm

On 2 December Jeff Horsman attended a monthly Greenwich Cyclists and provided us with an update on progress on the tunnel refurbishment. Some of the details await final decisions, but a summary of points is as follows:

*Work has already started at night time on leak repair and other items as some of the budget has to be spent by 31-3-10.
*Closures of the Woolwich tunnel will take place during the day as the ferry remains an alternative crossing option.
*There will not be no lifting of the ban on bikes on the DLR
*Closures of the Greenwich tunnel will be limited to night time (10.00am - 5.00am), though full weekend closures are not ruled out.
* When the tunnels are open there will be either lift of stairs access at both ends. It should be possible to find out which of these options exists before travelling.
*Talks with TfL and Canary Wharf businesses are ongoing with reference to a subsidy for ferries in the event of a total closure during the daytime. This could occur in the event of unforceen occurences during the work or for limited amounts of the work.
* Tenders and Building Contracts will be awarded in January. Serous work is likely to start in February.
*Current levels of lift availability will remain until April 2010
*Wheel ramps on the stairs are being investigated. There is currently a trial ramp in a section of stairs at the Woolwich tunnel
*Eventually it is intended to provide a 24/7 automatic lift service with much more extensive CCTV, Help buttons and a fully staffed surveilance room.
*The wooden panneling in the lifts will be protected by glass and the white tiles in the tunnels will be retained. The lighting will be improved.

GREENWICH CYCLISTS

MINUTES OF MEETING 4 November 2009

1. Members present
Anthony Austin [Chair], Andy Braben, Stephen Craven, Tom Crispin, Brian Dalton, Sarah Ellis, Teri Griffith, Barry Mason and Ian Moore. Anthony welcomed Ian who was attending for the first time.

Apologies from Liz Delap, John Kinching and David Senior.
2. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the October meeting were approved (proposed Tom, seconded Sarah).

3 Matters arising
1. Bicycle stands: Brian reported that London Bus Priority Unit will pay for some in Woolwich centre, e.g. at the Tramshed arts centre and the DLR station. Plans for Greenwich town centre as a whole were still uncertain so no decisions had been taken on cycle parking. He was surprised that the group had not been consulted. Action: Anthony to write to the Chief Executive to claim Statutory Consultee status.
2. Stephen had not yet written to the Council about the peninsula path (action: Stephen).
4 Planning issues
a) Foot tunnel closures
The petition in the form of individual letters to the Council had been distributed at Greenwich tunnel (only) on two weekday mornings (27/28 October) and the following weekend (31 October / 1 November). Over 1000 had been signed. Two options were identified for delivery: (A) in person at the 28 November Council meeting, or (B) to be handed to a sympathetic councillor at the Town Hall in advance of the meeting and with a press photo-opportunity. It was agreed that (B) would be preferable. Action: Anthony to approach Cllr Woodcraft (LibDem) as a first choice.

It was agreed to ‘harvest’ the e-mail from the forms before handing them in, in order to send a one-off “thank you” message and invite signatories to join the group. Stephen agreed to scan the letters for this purpose, but all data to be destroyed once the message had been sent so as not to contravene Data Protection laws.

Barry tabled notes of his latest phone conversation with Jeff Horsman (to be appended to these minutes).


b) Bellfield Close (“Hexagon wall”)
Anthony read out the Council’s written reply to his questions. The matter was “due to be reported back to the Area Planning Committee” but with no definite date. In discussions a new point was raised, that the 2004 Transport Act [?] requires an alternative cycle route parallel to the A102 since cyclists are banned from it. Action: Anthony to draft a complaint to the local Government Ombudsman about the Council’s delaying tactics.

c) Thames Path “missing link”
Anthony read out the Council’s written reply to his questions. Brian reported that he was working on tracing and contacting the owners of riverfront properties (not the CIS, contrary to earlier reports). There were six parcels of privately owned land involved, with the owner of one (a derelict transformer site) unknown, but it was too late to go through Compulsory Purchase procedures before 2012. The route being considered was just inland (not on the river front, but through the industrial estate). It would probably be open “working hours only”. The route is already shown as part of the proposed Jubilee Greenway and Olympic Cycle Route, so the Council has an incentive to progress it.

d) King William Walk
A petition of 320 signatures had been handed in. Anthony read out the Council’s written reply to his question, which was that although the demand is acknowledged, the need to provide resident and metered parking made it difficult to provide a contraflow lane, and TfL permission would be needed. Brian said he preferred a simple signed permission rather than a marked lane, but DfT permission would be needed for the “non-standard” signage. The route is already shown as part of the proposed Olympic Cycle Route, so the Council has an incentive to progress it. The question of how to get cyclists safely across the junction with Romney Road would have to be addressed but should be possible without major works.

e) Deptford Creek bridge
The basements of the Greenwich Reach East development had been constructed but superstructure works were delayed indefinitely because of the recession. As the undertaking was to provide a bridge before selling completed apartments, it could not be expected to happen for some years.

f) Thames path closure (Peninsula west)
Barry had seen a planning notice for an imminent closure for unspecified periods during the next 6 months of the stretch from Lovells Wharf to the O2 to allow for demolition works. The alternative route would be the already-signed NCN1 route.

5 Rides and events
a) London Wave, 5 December
There would be feeder rides from some boroughs to the climate change rally in central London. Stephen would lead one from Cutty Sark Gardens, advertised departure earlier than usual at 9.45 to meet Southwark group at London Bridge at 10.30. Action: Stephen/Teri

6. Finance
Sarah reported that payment had been received from Greenwich Council of the outstanding invoice for leaflets.

Tom proposed a scheme for joint purchase by Greenwich and Lewisham cyclists of five adult bikes to form a “pool” available for short-term hire by new/returning cyclists or established members temporarily without their own transport. A charge of £5 per hire was suggested, with a deposit from those not already known to the group. They would be bought from Decathlon at £240 each (locks extra) and stored at John Ball School. Security arrangements were good, but 1 or 2 additional keyholders to the storage area may be needed for the arrangement to work smoothly. It was agreed to release £700 from the grants account for our share of this purchase. Volunteers would be needed to collect the bikes from Decathlon and ride them to Blackheath to avoid a hefty delivery charge.

Tom also requested funding for bulk replacement of tyres on the children’s bikes at John Ball School. It would not be possible to get another “start up” grant to cover this ongoing maintenance cost. It was agreed to release £120 from the grants account towards this.

7. Pedal Power
It was noted that Grant Griffiths had stepped down from the editor’s role and there was thus a vacancy.

8. Website
The facility to upload ride details to the website was workable but not without difficulty. Only plain text files could be accepted.

9. Seasonal party
Anthony had booked the Dog and Bell for the evening of 19 December. Catering details had yet to be agreed. A quiz would be organised.

10. Any Other Business
None.