Hackney LCC meeting
4th October 2000

Venue: Pub on the Park, London E8

Present:
Crispin Truman (Chair), Lizzie, Elly, Trevor Parsons, Brenda Puech, Tim Evans (minutes), Patrick Field, Dave, Charlie Steve, Melissa, Paul, Roger Blake (Hackney Council), Frank, Marianne, Ben Webster, Patrick, Claire Tansley (Treasurer)

Apologies:
Douglas Carnall
Oliver Schick

Topics discussed:
0. Matters arising
1. Shoreditch traffic system
2. Communication with Hackney Council
3. Car Free Day
4. Retirement of Douglas as group co-ordinator
5. Fun
6. Fuel blockade
7. Council discriminates against cyling tenants
8. Safe routes to school
9. Hackney Community College BUG
10. Votes of thanks

0. Matters arising

Tim turned up with a map of the borough, as promised.

Trevor reported that the prospect of the Shoreditch gyratory being restored to 2-way is growing. Shoreditch Town Hall Trust has commissioned him to organise a publicity event in November [now 1st December, 11.00-noon]. He is thinking of pedicabs, transport chairs and officers from GLA and relevant boroughs (Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, City); & of demonstrating the division & reunification of the community by setting up a temporary zebra crossing for groups of children or pensioners.

We agreed to contribute by:

• contributing £200 to cycle-related expenses
• coming along on our bikes at 11.00
• finding pre-gyratory pics of the area (Tim volunteered)

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2. Communication with Hackney Council

Our liaison meetings with the Council have died since Liam Mulrooney left. Patrick has spotted recruitment adverts for his replacement. Agreed we should lay the ground for reviving liaison meetings by asking to meet Robert Biggs, head of Regulatory Services & the prospective cycling officer's line manager.

We discussed the progress made by Lambeth where the new cycling officer is an experienced LCC activist and sees things from the cyclist's point of view (cyclist's needs and possibilities) before the traffic engineer's (motors and restrictions). The jargon is 'Client side'.

Our agenda should draw attention to the Big Picture stuff:

• Car Free Day
• Permeability survey
• Role of cycling officer: 'Client side'
• Going for central government funds for cycle infrastructure

To set up & go to meeting with Robert Biggs: Crispin, Brenda, Charlie [help - I think I've missed someone out here]. To go to re-established quarterly liaison meetings: Patrick

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3. Car Free Day

The early-bird ride gathered 35 cyclists from Hackney and hundreds in Trafalgar Square. The idlers' noon ride was likewise successful with 30-ish setting off from the Town Hall in the aura of Chinese Elvis.

What about next year? Our survey of Mare St shops showed a majority in favour of a car free Mare Street. Could we suggest that Groundwork Hackney tries to get a grant to employ someone as project officer for next year? Tim to speak to Groundwork.

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4. Retirement of Douglas as group co-ordinator

Douglas wishes to step down after five years as co-ordinator. Many thanks were expressed and dismay that in his absence it was impossible for everyone present to buy him a drink on the spot.

No one present wanted to take on all the tasks of a co-ordinator, and as there is a fine collection of wise heads & talents in the group it seemed possible to nominate one person as responsible for receiving mailings and channelling the information, while sharing out other responsibilities. Oliver volunteered to do this.

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5. Fun

We talked about how to attract more group members into showing their faces. Having fun was highlighted as an incentive. How about some rides? Urban rambles ending at an eating place? Produce flyers to leave on bikes. Lizzie, Brenda and Ellie took on to organise rides. Charlie to check with Paula about money for a local members' mailing.

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6. Fuel blockade

We discussed: no conclusions that I minuted.

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7. Council discriminates against cyling tenants

As previously reported, group members Dave and Lorna have a council house which entitles them to garage space for any vehicles. Very useful since they have several bikes and a trailer. Some witless Council jobsworth is refusing them the facility because these aren't motor vehicles. Ward councillor Mark (Lib Dem) has taken it up.

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8. Safe routes to school

Trevor attended the Safe Routes steering group. Most Hackney children walk to school. Cycling doesn't feature heavily in the group's view. A good tactic would be to focus on better cycle parking in schools and to consult known experts on this.

9. Hackney Community College BUG

A BUG is a Bicycle user Group. Patrick is organising a BUG at Hackney Community College and we agreed to donate £50 to help get it going.

Douglas for the years of co-ordinating.

Trevor for the newsletter.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, 1 November, Pub on the Park, 8:00 pm

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