Hackney LCC meeting
3 June 2009
Venue:
Marcon Court Estate Community Hall
Members present:
Ben Edmonds, Brenda Puech, David Farnham, Trevor Parsons.
Topics discussed:
1. 20mph meeting
2. Narroway / Hackney town centre
3. London bike hire scheme
4. Bike Week
5. Modal share research
6. Kynaston Avenue
7. Tfl new Central London greenways programme meeting
8. Closure of the Greenway
9. Street schemes
10. Annual Meeting and election of committee
1. 20mph meeting
Discussed arrangements and publicity
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2. Narroway / Hackney town centre
We ran a stall on a couple of Saturdays recently in the Narroway to promote our proposal that cycling should be re-established northbound on the Narroway and that most buses should be re-routed via Dalston Lane and Amhurst Road. We had a good deal of support from passers-by and several hundred people signed letters addressed to their ward councillors.
Brenda suggests looking at Grafton Street in Dublin as a model. Loading off-peak.
Oliver put in a response to the draft Area Action Plan on our behalf, giving our aspirations for the town centre. (link to be provided)
Living Streets' response said motors out of the Narroway, putting in a new route alternative to Churchwell Path, supporting Amhurst Rd for buses and residents only, more legible connection between Narroway and Clarence Road, link from London Fields, additional route from Well Street etc.
Will need to follow up on our responses over the next few months.
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3. London bike hire scheme + zone 1 improvements
Planning applications are in for over a dozen docking stations in south Shoreditch, and most are fine, being situated on the carriageway. David said Hackney Living Streets (HLS) not keen on proposed arrangement for docking station in Falkirk Street as cyclists would inevitably cycle across the footway to get to it. Better at the front of the footway, or push to have some vehicle parking bays transformed. Better on the college side maybe? HLS is in touch with Streetscene asking them to amend the application. Streetscene doesn't have time to send officers for site meeting but will accept suggestions. HLS would rather avoid making an objection if necessary.
Some money is being made available by TfL for associated improvements in zone 1 (relatively small funds). We suggested two-way cycling and motor traffic restrictions in Rivington Street and other permeability improvements. Rising bollards could work well in Rivington Street.
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4. Bike Week
Bike the Bounds Sat 13th June, London Fields cyclists breakfast Weds 17th. Wse the breakfast as a press call to announce the 8 per cent cycling modal share in Hackney. Invite the mayor, councillors, cycling police, STA Bikes, CCH. One of these years it would be nice to get some mugs and t-shirts done saying “In Hackney every week is bike week”.
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5. New TfL modal share research
New TfL research shows that 8 per cent of journeys in the borough of Hackney are done by bicycle, and only 19 per cent by private motor. Nearest borough to us is Richmond, with 4 per cent. Greater London average is 2 per cent, central London 3 per cent. We will announce this at the breakfast and send press releases.
Source: Travel in London Report number 1 (PDF 6.36MB)
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6. Kynaston Avenue
This alleyway leading onto Stoke Newington High Street opposite the end of Brooke Road is heavily used by people walking and cycling. Pedestrians often complain about people cycling anti-socially here. Kynaston Avenue is a key connection, and more heavily used than it would otherwise be because of the abominable one-way system which prevents southbound cycling in the High Street. Occasional fining of cyclists by police occurs here, including of people going slowly and considerately with children on board. Motorbikes have been observed using it, even.
Anyway, it turns out there's no traffic order prohibiting cycling, and council officers are consequently considering what to do. The dropped kerb at the west end of the alley is quite good, but the High Street end is a dreadful mess. Guard railing, cctv tower. Alley is two metres wide. Park entrance half way down. Legibility of links is cluttered and can't be seen. Needs opening up. Should look like a natural route through. We agree that it is too narrow for cycling, but bans never work. Won't change people's behaviour. It'll just be a ransom strip for occasional enforcement. How can we encourage people to dismount and wheel? Let's suggest a multi-layered approach. Start with polite 'please wheel your bike through this passage' signs. Also consider a swing gate or similar half way down the alley.
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7. New Central London greenways programme meeting
David attended a Sustrans greenway meeting for central London (in which they include Hackney). Sustrans administering the new TfL greenways programme. £4 million per year. Yet another routes-based programme. LCC canals/parks didn't attend. Route proposals being developed over the summer. Consultation late July early August. Action: alert Rik Andrew and contact Sarah Ridgwell (Sustrans).
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8. Closure of the Greenway
Not in Hackney, but does affect the already extremely limited route choice to the east of the borough. Oliver has written to Simon Jay at the Olympics Delivery Authority and he has offered a meeting.
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9. Street schemes
9.1 Gascoyne Road
The northbound cycle contraflow on Gascoyne Road is programmed for upgrade. It is part of both London Cycle Network 'Plus' Link 70 and the proposed Finsbury Park to Victoria Park 'Olympic' route. We would not regard it as a priority as compared to, say, providing two-way cycling on the one-way sections of nearby Well Street and Valentine Road. Nevertheless, funding has been assigned to this location.
Oliver and Trevor met Streetscene engineers Chris Proctor and Andy Bourke on site. They presented a footway widening proposal leaving the cycles on the footpath. We persuaded them to consider another option putting the contraflow on the carriageway and reducing the footway width by up to 50cm. Some concern about that, but maybe we could succeed in persuading Gascoyne Estate residents to accept reducing a few parking places either side of the estate entrance where the street seems narrowest. This would greatly enhance sightlines at the estate entrance. Action: site meeting with Brenda, Oliver, David and Trevor.
9.2 Hackney Downs / Downs Road
Another 'Olympic' route proposal. New dropped-kerb entrance to the Downs with wooden bollards. They can't do an island because of planned new bus route. Looks OK.
9.3 London Fields West Side
Street bumps taken out recently, as part of an effort to encourage people not to cycle on the footway. This has worked, and people are now mostly cycling on the street, but residents unhappy with the speed people are going, and want to fence it off! Only option they can think of is bumps that go all the way to the wall. But that would result in cyclists going back onto the footway, and is also unfriendly for wheelchairs, buggies etc. We need to get some way of encouraging cyclists away from the back garden entrances. Who has the responsibility here? Hackney Homes or Streetscene? We need to think about solutions.
9.4 Stoke Newington Church Street
David: Streetscene doing outline designs for church street this month. Conservation area committee meeting want the lighting sorted out. Agree with them to push Streetscene to get rid of the poor street lighting which makes it feel like a fast road. Putting lighting on the buildings would be much much better. LCCiH would back the Living Streets and Stoke Newington First proposal. Scheme design will be completed by end of July. Intimacy of lower level lighting to lower speeds.
9.5 Yellow lines
David: LBH are still using wide 100mm double yellow lines. They act like go-faster stripes. No need to be doing this any more! Every other borough using 50mm primrose. They could change their practice tomorrow. Essex Road has just had 50mm lines done on it.
10. Annual Meeting and election of committee
This should be taking place next month, 1st July, but we are running out of time to advertise, invite nominations and potentially book alternative venue. We may have to delay until September.
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Next meeting
Wednesday 1 July 2009, same venue.
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