Greenwich Cyclists

Greenwich Cyclists are simply a bunch of local bikers who got together in May 2000 to push bikes up the agenda, to press the Council for better bike facilities, to do rides for all sorts of people, and to have some fun at the same time.

We've a proper Constitution and an Equal Opportunities Policy we believe in. We have successfully won some official grant-aid, but we run ourselves democratically through our monthly meetings and stay light.

The more we are, the more we do. We're a very mixed bunch and intend staying that way: we've got everything from hard core urban cyclists to commuters and tourers and very young families who want somewhere safe to learn. We want to get more people on bikes from every section of our community. It's our aim to promote cycling which is safe, responsible and considerate to other road users.

We can do lots: organising one-to-one professional training for any ages, helping you ride to work in the big bad city, choosing the right bike, planning rides locally or anywhere. Just ask.

We've realised that bikes are perhaps the perfect form of urban transport. But they need help. And so do the unconvinced. Join us. We need your help. Come to our first Wednesday of the month meeting. 7.30pm, Armada Centre, Creek Road, London SE8 6PW.

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

Some key items noted by Mike Freestone of Greenwich Council at the meeting with Greenwich Cyclists at the meeting on 13-5-09

1. LBG to continue to explore alternative ferry operations for key closure periods - this would be looked at as a paid for service as the available CIF budget needs to be focused on the refurbishment works. NB this applies principally to the Greenwich tunnel. This could come from a range of existing operators big or small.

2. When lifts are closed it would be helpful to cyclists if guttering could already be in place on stairwells to facilitate access for them.

3. Communications needs to be a carefully linked process with consistent messages and regular updates and advance notification integrated into the project plan - LBG website should be key location for data with hyperlinks from that to other sites e.g. Greenwich Cyclists for consistency and accuracy of message.

4. Notification of outline programme and key events to be made available as early as possible as contract preparations progress.

5. Potential exists for major business interests at Canary Wharf to be approached re subsidising ferry alternatives, also ticketing options to assist cyclists could be explored?

Meeting between Greenwich Council and Greenwich Cyclists

12th May 2009

You can download the Meeting Minutes in PDF format

The background

These tunnels are approximately 100 years old. The lifts, driven by a team of operators during the daytime, have long been liable to breakdown so that the stairs have to be used.

Greenwich Cyclists have been lobbying the Council for the installation of a wheel ramp on the stairs, but this has not yet been achieved, apparently due to difficulty of installation.

The Council have carried out a programme of repair and restoration to the lifts for many years, but there are some faults and design weaknesses which make a reliable service difficult to achieve. The Council was recently awarded a grant of £11 million to replace the lifts and refurbish both tunnels. The Council is keen to improve the service before the Olympics in 2012. The Greenwich tunnel in particular is a vital link across the river to the Olympic site. The work will take about a year, during which the lifts will be unavailable. The tunnel will also be closed for part of this time.

Greenwich Cyclists are now lobbying the Council to try and obtain a viable crossing point for cyclists in particular, since these tunnels carry a lot of cycle traffic and there are few alternative crossings available. A letter has been sent to Councillor Chris Roberts, leader of Greenwich Council, with copies to a number of individuals and organisations who we expect to have an interest in the tunnel operation.

We will use this webpage to provide information on any progress or news which we obtain. In the meantime, we suggest that anyone with an interest in the situation should contact their Councillors or representatives to lobby for suitable arrangements for tunnel users in the period when they will be closed or partially closed.