MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SOUTHWARK CYCLISTS ON 8 FEBRUARY 2006
19.00 at Blackfriars Settlement, 1-5 Rushworth Street, London SE1 0RB


Attendees: Barry Mason (Co-ordinator), Hugh Bolton (Treasurer), Alex Crawford (Jack 
Thurston cycling radio programme), Alastair Hanton, Colin Hartridge-Price (Secretary), Neil 
Hutchinson, Rebecca Lack, Linda Morris, Eleanor Purser (Planning and Campaigns Leader), 
Sue Richards (Newsletter Editor), Roger Stocker (Southwark Council Cycling Officer), Cheryl 
Williams.

Apologies received: James Barber, Geraldine Mason (Sustrans Liaison), Kit Reynolds 
(Webmaster).

1. Minutes of the meeting on 11 January 2006 and Matters Arising

The minutes of the above meeting were approved. 

Cycle parking facility at London Bridge (item 8 in the previous minutes) – the work by On 
Your Bike on a "garage" for 250 bikes was progressing well but may not be completed in 
time for the opening originally planned for the end of March.  Cyclists should await further 
information on this via the e-mail group and not contact On Your Bike direct.   

Rides (item 15) – Barry was waiting to hear further from Scot Powles on the rides in Kent 
that Scot had said he would lead.  Action Scot Powles/Barry Mason

Cycle training (item 16) – Barry had written to Val Shawcross (Lambeth and Southwark's 
representative on the London Assembly) requesting an explanation for the reduction in the 
cycle training budget from £80,000 for 2005/06 to £35,000 for 2006/07.  A reply was awaited 
and further action was likely to be required in view of the fact that no money had been 
allocated for cycle training for adults in 2006/07.  Action Barry Mason
 
2. Tour de France

London has won the right to host the start (Le Grand Depart) of the Tour de France in July 
2007.  Transport for London is coordinating the event.  The Tour will leave through 2 miles of 
Southwark streets, and Southwark Cyclists will assist in marshalling etc.  Barry had been 
invited to the imminent press launch.

3. Bike cage for St John's School

This had been completed ahead of schedule and was already in use.  Everyone was very 
pleased with the result.  An official launch was planned for 3:30 p.m. on 21 February, for 
which Southwark Cyclists was arranging the attendance of cycle trainers.  Some of the rides 
on 4 March (item 16 below) would visit the cage.   The Sunday Times was likely to run a 
feature on the Southwark Cyclists’ Cycle Saturation project at St John's School.

4. Cycle Saturation in Dulwich

As previously reported, Barry had met with some Dulwich schools and they were very keen 
for Southwark Cyclists to undertake a Cycle Saturation project, for which Southwark Council 
had pledged £30,000.  Barry had done a huge amount of work (in the region of 30 hours) on 
this project, but the £30,000 had subsequently been withdrawn without explanation.  Roger 
Stocker said at the meeting that he might have £25,000 available from his budget for cycle 
training and would discuss this with Barry and others on Friday, 10 February.  Action Barry 
Mason/Roger Stocker

5. Bermondsey Street  

As reported on the London SE1 Community Website, "Bermondsey Street could become a 
'home zone' where pedestrians and cyclists have priority over motor vehicles, if a proposal 
heard by councillors on [1 February] comes to fruition.  Barry Mason, co-ordinator of 620-
strong Southwark Cyclists, made the formal deputation at Wednesday's meeting of 
Bermondsey Community Council...".  Barry had agreed to obtain the views of Transport for 
London and report back to the Community Council.  It was then intended that the Council be 
asked to conduct a feasibility study.  About one third of the Street was the responsibility of 
Transport for London, and the rest was in Southwark.  The proposed changes affected only 
the part of the Street in Southwark.  It was noted that a significant (£300,000?) sum had 
been set aside for resurfacing the road, and that once this resurfacing was done it would not 
be possible to make alterations for about two years.  Action Barry Mason

6. Walworth Road

As reported in the minutes of the last meeting, Southwark Cyclists had supported the 
proposals in Option 1 for this £1.5 million project to widened footpaths, take out one bus lane 
and reduce motor traffic (including buses).  Southwark Council had now confirmed that 
Option 1 was indeed the final choice.  The project leader has been expected to attend the 8 
February meeting of Southwark Cyclists and Barry would investigate why they had failed to 
turn up.  The designer of the final plan chosen is to be invited to attend the March meeting of 
Southwark Cyclists.  Action Barry Mason

7. Old Kent Road

An interim report had been completed on improvements to the Road, and a design guide for 
the whole length of the Road is being prepared.  Alastair agreed to investigate whether it 
would be worth arranging for Southwark Cyclists to have a specific cycling input to the 
proposals.  Eleanor will also feed in any further comments from Southwark Cyclists.  Alex 
used the Old Kent Road regularly and would give her comments to Eleanor on possible 
improvements.  Action Alastair Hanton/Eleanor Purser/Alex Crawford

It was agreed there would be a Southwark Cyclists' ride (two hours maximum) on Saturday 
18 February to identify potential improvements along the Old Kent Road.  The ride would 
meet on the corner of Mandela Road and Old Kent Road for a 10am start.  Action Alastair 
Hanton/All

8. Cycling and the Council elections on 4 May

Southwark Cyclists will ask those standing for election in respect of the Labour, Lib Dem, 
Conservative and "green" parties for their cycling manifesto.  A draft letter requesting this will 
be considered at the next meeting of Southwark Cyclists, together with a mechanism for 
processing and publishing the results.  A full list of those standing for election will be 
obtained by Alex but this is not expected to be available until early April, even though 
canvassing by some candidates has already started.  A Southwark Cyclists working party 
was required.  Action Barry Mason, Eleanor Purser, Alex Crawford, Adam Maddison

9. Southwark Arts Forum

Southwark Cyclists will organise a day of activities in Mint Street Park.  Action Barry Mason

10. Southwark Community Council Grants

Each of Southwark's eight Community Council areas has a £15,000 budget to give small 
grants of up to £1000 for local projects between March and August 2006.  Barry had 
circulated (at 17:43 on 19 January) the Southwark Cyclists e-mail list asking for suggestions 
on where the £1000 grants might be spent, but had received little response.    Additional 
cycle parking was one possibility, but sites needed to be identified.  The deadline for grant 
applications is 17 February, so responses should be made quickly, either to Barry or direct.

11. City Cycling Forum

Barry will be attending the inaugural meeting from 6 to 8pm on Monday, 20 February, at The 
Basinghall Suite, The Guildhall, London EC2P 2EJ.  Anyone was welcome to attend, subject 
to confirming this to simon.phillips@cityoflondon.gov.uk (telephone 020 7332 1811).  The 
Forum had been set up to act as a review body for the approach to the provision for cycling 
in the City by the City of London Corporation.  The meeting on 20 February will include an 
overview of the City's policy and plan for cycling.  The guest speaker is Philip Darnton from 
Cycling England (the national body planning and co-ordinating the development of cycling 
across the country).  It promised to be a very interesting evening.

12. Sustrans

It was agreed that Barry should send an e-mail to John Grimshaw confirming that Southwark 
Cyclists supports a new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists over the Thames from 
Rotherhithe to the Isle of Dogs.  Hugh volunteered to attend a Sustrans meeting at 6:30 p.m. 
next Wednesday, 15 February, at Friends House.  Action Barry Mason/Hugh Bolton

13. London Architecture Biennale (www.londonbiennale.org.uk)

Barry passed round a summary of the 50 or more activities planned for this event, which 
coincides with Bike Week (17 to 25 June 2006).   Southwark Cyclists will lead seven themed 
rides between properties of interest.  Each ride will be attended by someone provided by 
London Architecture who is able to talk on the places being visited.  There had been 
considerable interest in the Southwark Cyclists’ Summer Solstice dawn ride to Primrose Hill 
on 21 June to see the sunrise.  This ride would finish at the Globe Theatre.  Action Barry 
Mason

14. Bike Week (17 to 25 June)

Southwark Cyclists' events for this will be discussed at the next monthly meeting on 8 
March.  This might include a bike fair to promote, amongst other things, cycle security.  
Possible venues were Burgess Park, the BMX track or (most likely) Dulwich Park.

15. Southwark bike theft project

Barry, Rebecca and Colin have attended all the three meetings to date of this joint project 
between Southwark Council, Southwark Police and Southwark Cyclists.  At the last meeting 
on 7 February it was confirmed that leaflets regarding registering bicycles on the Immobilise 
website had been sent to all bike shops in Southwark.  It was thought there were less than 
12 such shops, of which four were also dealing in second-hand bikes.  Leaflets had also 
been sent to libraries and Southwark College.  Southwark Wardens were keen to help in the 
distribution of leaflets and in promoting cycle security.

Southwark Council agreed to produce a cycling banner that Southwark Cyclists could use for 
the event on 4 March (item 16 below) if it was ready in time, and other events.  Following 
input from Southwark Cyclists, Barry had finalised the "Keep It" list of do’s and don’ts.  This 
might be turned into a leaflet by Southwark Council/Southwark Police. 

The meeting on 7 February was attended by Andrew Miles who had recently joined 
Southwark Council’s Trading Standards division.  He planned to visit all the bike shops in 
Southwark to gauge their interest in participating in a "good trader" scheme.  If there was 
sufficient interest, such a scheme would be implemented.

A Young Offenders Scheme had been established whereby six young people at a time spent 
six weeks renovating bikes and attending behaviour workshops.  At the end of the period 
they get to keep the bike.  The bikes for renovation were provided from the supply of bikes 
recovered in Southwark where the rightful owner could not be traced.  

The police were targeting those who they suspected of being involved in bike thefts, and 
were also using bikes with microchips in sting operations. 

Southwark was looking at alternative use for the Pram Sheds in the area.  Using these for 
cycle security might be an option.  (Pram Sheds are rooms in buildings, originally intended to 
securely house prams.)

A map showing the hotspots for bike crime in the area had been produced and would be put 
on the Internet, and on the website of Southwark Cyclists.  Action Barry Mason/Kit 
Reynolds

At the meeting on 7 February there had been a brief discussion on how the effectiveness of 
the work being done might be improved.  Barry suggested the possibility of giving a one-year 
free membership of the LCC, which would result in a 10% discount on goods purchased at 
most bike shops, plus the regular LCC magazine.  Another alternative was to issue a 
voucher entitling the bearer to, say, a 20% discount on locks approved under the Sold 
Secure independent standard.

At the meeting of Southwark Cyclists, Barry agreed to see whether someone from the Young 
Offenders Programme would be willing to talk at one of our monthly meetings.  Action Barry 
Mason

16. Saturday 4 March: Bike Magic Day (11am to 5pm)

Arrangements for this event outside Decathlon at Surrey Quays were well in hand.  The 
theme is promoting cycling and keeping your bike safe.  Southwark Council has allocated 
£2,000 for Southwark Cyclists to spend on this event.  Barry has booked Rich Johnson, one 
of the UK's best stunt riders, for three demonstrations, and he will also promote cycle 
security.  There will also be three easy local rides, a free Dr Bike, free cycle training, free 
maps, and police advice on how to prevent your bike being stolen.  The mobile Police 
Internet Bus will be in attendance so that people can put details of their bike straight onto the 
Immobilise website.  

A good number of Southwark Cyclists will be required on the day, both to man the 
Southwark Cyclists stall, and help marshal the rides.  There could be a large number of 
participants on the rides, so there will be probably need to be at least three Southwark 
Cyclists to lead and shepherd each ride.

The Sold Secure website has information on locks that have been independently tested, of 
which there are about 20 that have been given their "gold standard" as being highly secure.  
Barry will purchase 5 to 10 bike locks to demonstrate the different types of lock available.  
Barry is also producing a flyer to advertise the day.  Action Barry Mason

Rebecca and Colin will collect the Southwark Cyclists' table from Evans Cycles on London 
Bridge, and the cycle maps (1000 of each of the four maps covering the local area).  Action 
Rebecca Lack/Colin H-P

17. Local Cycle Action Plan

A positive response had been received from Southwark Council to the comments made by 
Southwark Cyclists.  In particular, there was agreement that the proposals needed to be 
prioritised.  Improved training for bus drivers was also accepted.  Money was available for 
cycle training for students and Eleanor agreed to press Southwark Council to also commit to 
cycle training for adults.  Action Eleanor Purser

Alastair reported that Southwark Living Streets (SLS) had also received a positive response 
from Southwark Council to the comments SLS had made.  He explained that SLS 
campaigns for better conditions for walking, and that their next monthly meeting is at 7 p.m. 
on 16 February, upstairs at the Royal Oak in Tabard Street (buy yourself a drink before you 
go up).  A high-level official from Southwark Council, Des Waters, would be giving a talk at 
the meeting.  Alastair encouraged anyone interested to attend. 

At the last monthly meeting of Southwark Cyclists, Paul Lowe had confirmed he used the 
route from Hearne Hill to Nunhead Cemetery and would make comments on possible 
improvements.  It was not known whether he had done this.

18. Planning and Campaigns Group

All matters have been covered elsewhere in these minutes.

19. Newsletter

The Newsletter for January and February is on the Southwark Cyclists' website.  Sue agreed 
to produce an amended version for distribution at the Bike Magic day on 4 March (item 16 
above).  Colin would then produce 1000 copies.  Action Sue Richards/ Colin H-P

20. Financial report

As previously noted, our bank account does not earn interest at present.  The LCC is 
applying for charity status, which would then extend to Southwark Cyclists, since we are part 
of the LCC.  If Southwark Cyclists qualifies for charity status, it would be straightforward to 
apply for an interest-bearing current account.  The alternative is to have a second interest-
bearing account (a reserve account) to hold most of our money.  There would be no cheque 
facility with a reserve account, so money would have to be transferred from the reserve 
account to the current account when a cheque payment was required.  Hugh will take the 
appropriate action.  Action Hugh Bolton

21. Cycle maintenance classes

Barry was keen for these to continue with On Your Bike.  The earliest date for the next 
session of classes was likely to be early April.  Action Barry Mason

22. Southwark Bridge

Barry reported that engineers had expressed concerns regarding the structure of the bridge.  
The balustrades along the edge were low with virtually zero impact resistance, and there 
was a high risk of a vehicle crashing into the Thames.  The meeting unanimously agreed to 
support a proposal to reduce the three lanes of traffic on the bridge to two, with a 2 metre 
wide cycle lane in each direction.  There would be a solid barrier between the vehicle and 
cycle lanes, but this would have gaps every 20 metres so that cyclists could move in and out 
of the vehicle lane if required.  Action Barry Mason

23. Herne Hill Velodrome

It was agreed this should be an agenda item for the next monthly meeting.  Alastair would 
make some further enquiries on the lack of use of this facility.  It was noted that parts of the 
track were in shade and tended not to dry out in winter, making the track unusable at that 
time.  Action Alastair Hanton

24. Next meeting

Wednesday 8 March.  Usual time and venue.

25. Depart for The Crown, Blackfriars Road

There being no further business the meeting was closed.


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