MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SOUTHWARK CYCLISTS ON 10 MAY 2006 19.00 at Blackfriars Settlement, 1-5 Rushworth Street, London SE1 0RB Attendees: Barry Mason (Co-ordinator), Hugh Bolton (Treasurer), Alex Crawford (Bike Show Resonance 104.4FM), Roger Geffen (CTC), Alastair Hanton, Colin Hartridge-Price (Secretary), Michael Osborne, Eleanor Purser (Planning and Campaigns Leader), Kit Reynolds (Webmaster), Sue Richards (Newsletter Editor), Eeva Berglund. Apologies received: James Barber, Peter Corkill, Rebecca Lack, Roger Stocker (Southwark Council Cycling Officer), Cheryl Williams. 1. Minutes of the meeting on 12 April 2006 and Matters Arising The minutes of the above meeting were approved. Cycle parking facility at London Bridge (item 2 in the previous minutes) – Cyclists should await further information on this via the e-mail group and not contact the company direct. The facility was still likely to open in September. Southwark Community Council Grants (item 2) – the closing date was 28 April and confirmation of the successful applications is expected about 19 May. There had been 90 applications of which about nine were from Southwark Cyclists. Southwark Cyclists had been complimented for encouraging other organisations to apply. In particular, Southwark Cyclists had encouraged the Blackfriars Settlement to apply, and also a nursery in Peckham. Cycle Maintenance Classes (item 2) – no date is available yet for the next session of classes. Action Barry Mason Rye Lane Community Cycling Group Training Project – as previously agreed, £500 of Southwark Cyclists’ money is being used for a before and after report on this project. The report is awaited. Action Barry Mason Herne Hill Velodrome (item 9) – 400 letters were to be sent out regarding the AGM and re-launch on Thursday 25 May of The Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome. This will be at 7:30pm at the Methodist Hall, Half Moon Lane, SE 24. Everyone was encouraged to attend, as a vibrant Friends organisation is needed to widen the use of the velodrome and increase the involvement of the community and schools. Alex Crawford said she knew of someone who might be willing to help. Action Alex Crawford/Alastair Hanton 2. Cycle Saturation 2: Dulwich schools The start of this Southwark Cyclists’ project had been seriously delayed, but will now be progressed by James Barber. It was noted that he might need help, and Barry will check whether James has the time to devote to this project. It was noted that a local parent must run it. Action Barry Mason/James Barber 3. Burgess Park Bike Track This is open almost every day, and most weekends. £4000 is about to be spent on improvements, and it was hoped to increase adult cycle training. Barry had written to Val Shawcross (Lambeth and Southwark’s representative on the London Assembly) requesting an explanation for what appeared to be a London-wide reduction in the budget for cycle training for adults, but had not received a reply. 4. Cycling and the Council Elections on 4 May Eleanor Purser had organised the mailing to the 600 plus members of Southwark Cyclists, of the views on cycling that had been obtained from the local election candidates. The mailing had included information on Bike Week events. Eleanor thanked Alex, Hugh and Rebecca for helping with the mail out. It had cost about £250 in stamps, photocopying and envelopes, and had reached Southwark Cyclists members just before the day of the election. The mailing summarised the responses received from election candidates to Southwark Cyclists’ “Cycling Manifesto for Southwark’s Local Elections”. Responses had been received from 25 candidates, of whom 12 had ultimately been successful in the election. An acknowledgement was sent to all candidates who responded. Their responses are on the Southwark Cyclists’ website (www.southwarkcyclists.org.uk). Eleanor had sent an e-mail to everyone registered on the Southwark Cyclists’ Yahoo group inviting them to respond via a Web link as to whether or not the above mail out had influenced the way they voted in the elections. It was noted that, for some, sending a response seemed to first require Yahoo registration. Eleanor will e-mail again with an alternative way for members of the Southwark Cyclists’ Yahoo group to respond. 5. LCC There is to be a meeting soon regarding the LCC becoming a charity. The LCC had asked cycle groups to volunteer to be audited by the LCC auditor and Barry had volunteered Southwark Cyclists for this. Action Hugh Bolton LCC is about to start a membership drive. Kit Reynolds will investigate whether it is possible for the LCC to advise us promptly of new LCC members in the Southwark area, so that Southwark Cyclists can send them a welcome e-mail and encourage them to become an active member. Action Kit Reynolds 6. Road improvements Bermondsey Street – consideration of the improvements proposed is now with Sally Crew of Southwark Council, as a Southwark Council project. Borough High Street – this was undergoing a massive refurbishment, but advance stop lines (ASLs) were not being included. Eleanor had raised this with Southwark Council and they had responded that Transport for London was concerned at capacity. It appeared that TfL thought ASLs resulted in a lower throughput of traffic, but this seemed a ridiculous notion. Eleanor will pursue this further and report back via e-mail. Action Eleanor Purser Old Kent Road – the improvements proposed by Southwark Cyclists are still under consideration. London Cycling Network – some massive reports on routes had been prepared. Roger Stocker was dealing with this and the results should be seen soon. Action Roger Stocker The Bricklayers Arms Flyover – this is to be removed, which will make a huge difference to the area. Southwark Cyclists will press for improved cycle passage. Action Barry Mason 7. London Architecture Biennale (www.londonbiennale.org.uk) (16 to 25 June) On Thursday, 15 June, there will be an evening launch (from 6pm) and small exhibition on the Bike Shed Design competition. This will be at On Your Bike in Tooley Street. Anyone going to the exhibition by bike should take it inside, as it will be part of the exhibition. The 15 June event will be followed by a larger exhibition in September on the entries received. Southwark Cyclists will be manning an information stall at the evening launch on 15 June and volunteers were needed to help with this. Volunteers should contact Barry Mason (masonb@supanet.com). The stall will display information on the Biennale, and on Southwark Cyclists. Action Barry Mason Volunteers willing to help marshal the LAB rides during the week should contact Barry Mason (masonb@supanet.com). Action All/Barry Mason 8. Bike Week (17 to 25 June) The events for this week had been included in the local election mailing referred to in item 4 above. Times will be advised in due course but all rides were in the evening, except for those on 21 June (midsummer madness), 22 June (urban change) and 23 June (historic London markets). The Dulwich schools “Bike There” day and evening picnic would now be on 22 September (not 20 June), to coincide with “Car Free Day”. Kit Reynolds will lead a “Royal Parks” ride on 20 June. This ride is additional to those previously listed. Action Kit Reynolds For further details of the rides go to www.architectureweek.org.uk/regional06.asp?region=13 and to www.southwarkcyclists.org.uk Alex is trying to organise a live show on 19 June for Bike Show Resonance 104.4FM. Action Alex Crawford 9. Southwark Cyclists Bike Week Stall There will be a Southwark Cyclists stall (5:30pm to 6:30pm or 7pm – i.e. 1 to 1½ hours ) at the southern end of London Bridge in the run-up to Bike Week, and every evening during the Week. The purpose is to hand out leaflets and maps, answer questions, and promote cycling and Southwark Cyclists. The dates for the stall are June 5, 14, 19, 20, 21, and 22. The 14 June date coincides with the next monthly meeting at 7pm of Southwark Cyclists, and also the free showing of Some like It Hot at 9:30pm in the nearby Scoop by City Hall. Films will also be showing there at 9:30pm on the stall evenings of 21 and 22 June. The Southwark Cyclists’ rides during Bike Week, but not the London Architecture Biennale (LAB) rides, will start from the stall. Volunteers are required to man the stall and should contact Kit Reynolds (mail@kitreynolds.me.uk). Action All/Kit Reynolds/Alex Crawford Eleanor will produce a Southwark Cyclists Bike Week leaflet, for which Barry will arrange funding. Action Eleanor Purser/Barry Mason 10. More London/Evans Cycles Bike Day This is being held on 7 June. Further information is awaited. 11. Southwark Bike Theft Project This is a joint project between Southwark Council, Southwark Police and Southwark Cyclists. At the last meeting on 26 April, the following was reported. There will be a bike event (Dr Bike and stunt riders) on Sunday 18 June in Peckham Square. Roger Stocker is organising this on behalf of Southwark Council, and will liaise with Southwark Cyclists. It will probably be very similar to Barry’s Bike Magic day at Surrey Quays. Four second-hand bike shops (Edwards, Recycling, Bobs Bikes, Pedal It) in Southwark had been identified as eligible for the Good Trader Scheme, and all were interested in working to the standard expected. A pack will be issued with every bike sold, dealing with safety and security issues. The contents of this pack was discussed at the meeting. In Southwark, 20,000 bikes a year are sold – 87% by Edwards and Decathlon. Events, with information on cycle security, will be planned throughout the year at places and times of heavy bike traffic. This might include a Dr Bike. Barry reported that Southwark Cyclists would be leading rides at the Bermondsey Festival on 9 July and at the Rotherhithe Festival on 16 July. There was further discussion on a cycling banner that Southwark Cyclists could use for events. It will include all the partnership logos, including that of Southwark Cyclists. Guy Bardoe was no longer responsible for the School Travel Scheme. Information on cycle training for adults was requested. “Lock it” stickers will be put on the 1,000 bike stands in Southwark. There will be a crackdown on bikes being ridden on pavements. TfL will be running a campaign in the autumn on considerate cycling. The next meeting of the Group is at 3:30pm on 25 May and, amongst other things, will discuss youth related issues. Action Barry Mason/Colin H-P/Rebecca Lack 12. Planning and Campaigns Group All matters have been covered elsewhere in these minutes. 13. Financial Report At the end of last year there was about £3,000 in unrestricted funds (i.e. funds not earmarked for projects). The corresponding figure at the end of the current year is likely to be £2000. 14. Newsletter Sue Richards will produce a new Newsletter for May and June. The next Newsletter will be produced in mid-June. 15. Next meeting Wednesday 14 June. Usual time and venue. 16. Depart for The Crown, Blackfriars Road There being no further business the meeting was closed.