2006 updates

5th September 2006: Hackney Cyclists has a rides programme!
When it comes to organising rides, we've been put in the shade for years by our neighbouring borough LCC groups, especially Tower Hamlets Wheelers and their excellent rides programme. But now, thanks to our hard-working workshop wizard Adam Thompson, Hackney Cyclists have a great new series of rides of our own, running from September to November and featuring easy evening rides along the River Lea and medium-length trips out in the quiet lanes and villages of nearby Essex. For details see our diary page or just grab Adam's rides flyer (100KB PDF).

17th August 2006: Number plates for bikes proposal shelved
London mayor Ken Livingstone has backpedalled on his silly-season proposal that cyclists should have number plates, under pressure from LCC, its thousands of members, and pretty much everyone else in the capital. Jennette Arnold, Hackney's London assembly member, commented: "I agree that a registration scheme for cyclists is unnecessary and unworkable... in my view, we do not need a hammer to crack this particular nut." Thanks to everyone who wrote to the mayor opposing the bizarre plan. The question we are left to ponder is: why did Ken put us through this total waste of time and effort?

8th June 2006: Hog Hill to be temporary replacement for Eastway
The recent consultation on the relocation of the Eastway cycle circuit demonstrated that current users are strongly in favour of the Hog Hill site, and the London Development Agency (LDA) has decided to pursue that as its preferred option. The full consultation report is available on the LDA website, where you are also invited to give your opinions about the current plans. This new consultation will run until 20th June, and the LDA will be available at Eastway from 10am to noon to discuss the plans with users in person.

6th June 2006: Hackney cycle trainer wins award
Congratulations to Sofia Mergia, cycle trainer with STA Bikes, who been recognised as an Outstanding Adult Learner by the National Institute of Continuing and Adult Education. She picked up her award from John Bird, founder and director of The Big Issue, at City University on 24 May.

Sally Haywill of STA Bikes said: "Sofia's winning this award vindicates our efforts to recruit and train people from the local community as cycle trainers." Sofia received personal language tuition and cycle training with STA Bikes. Her primer cycle training was done by Patrick Field of the London School of Cycling, and she is also attending National Standards training with Cycle Training UK.

Sofia was only one of three award winners from the whole of the Educational and Work sectors in London. Sofia, we are very proud of you.

19th May 2006: Bike breakfast with BBC London
Next Friday, 26th May, we'll be joining BBC London 94.9 as it broadcasts the breakfast show from Hackney town hall square (Mare Street E8), as part of its tour of London to explore the question 'Is London fit for 2012?'. Drop by between 7am and 9.30am for free coffee and croissants courtesy of ourselves and Hackney Council's Streetscene department. Also on hand will be a Doctor Bike service courtesy of London Fields Cycles. See you there.

12th May 2006: May minutes
Our May meeting minutes are now online.

25th April 2006: Bikes on trains -- LCC responds to Silverlink
The LCC has responded to the train operating company Silverlink's consultation on their cycle policy, which recently took a turn for the worse, affecting the North London Line service which runs through Hackney and provides a very handy fast-forward for bike-rail journeys around London. Thanks to Susie Morrow, chair of LCC's cycle parking and carriage working group and to LCC's full-time compaigns manager Tom Bogdanovich for preparing such an excellent response. Read LCC's response.

5th April 2006: Hackney "best cycling borough"
Hackney has just won the cycling award in the London Transport Awards 2006, to complement the 'best bus borough' and 'most improved borough' awards it won last year. The judging panel, chaired by Professor David Begg, chose the London Borough of Hackney over two other shortlisted organisations -- the London Borough of Lambeth (highly commended) and LCN+ -- in recognition its generally cycle-friendly policies and practices which are supporting the unparalleled increase in ridership on our streets. Picking up the gong at the awards ceremony at the Hilton Park Lane, head of Streetscene Andy Cunningham thanked Hackney Cyclists and other partners for the part we have all played in fostering a pro-cycling environment. Congratulations to Andy and his team – and to everyone else who is working to promote cycling in the borough.

24th March 2006: thumbs down for Broadway Market proposals
We have given our comments on a consultant's options for the junction of Broadway Market and Lansdowne Drive, the bit at the north end of the market where the cycle route (and more historically the Market Porters' route / Black Path) crosses over into London Fields. We found the options rather narrowly conceived and timid, where a bold and thorough streetscape approach is needed. We call for a more broadly scoped study with wider community consultation in the development of options, perhaps following something like the Planning for Real® technique. Read our comments on the Broadway Market / Lansdowne Drive study (761KB PDF). The document includes scans of the consultant's options, plus two of our own drawings.

>> Instant follow-up! Councillor Vincent Stops tells us that he has had a meeting with officers today, and they are to go back to the drawing board. "They accept that the proposal was a limited and just an engineering response," he says, and adds that "there are funds for a more holistic solution."

23rd March 2006: Finsbury Park station bike park open
Finsbury Park station's new bikepark was opened today, just beyond the northern border of Hackney, but containing the whole of our borough within an easy 30-minute cycling isochrone. It's a very impressive facility, and we hope it will get good use. Cambridge-based cycle parking consultant Simon Nuttall, who helped with our 2002 on-street cycle parking project, attended the launch and gives his verdict.

22nd March 2006: Gillett Street area 20mph zone
We are being consulted for our views on a proposed new 20mph zone in part of the Dalston area known for the purpose as the 'Gillett Street area'. Look at the proposals and have your say.

Meanwhile, the Scrap Stoke Newington gyratory website has been updated with a report on last month's public meeting. Today London's deputy mayor Jenny Jones is asking mayor Ken Livingstone to commit to funding the necessary feasibility study.

11th March 2006: Diane supports our campaign against Highway Code changes
Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbott has made some helpful comments to Hackney LCC member Ross Corben regarding the current controversy about the new draft of the Highway Code. Diane believes that cycling should be accommodated by lowering speed limits and toughening penalties for bad/drink driving, and that unwarranted contributory negligence claims should not be made against cyclists. She will support any parliamentary activity in this regard and will try to raise the issue in the House when an appropriate occasion arises. Thank you, Diane.

10th March 2006: new Hackney Cyclists committee elected
Thanks to all those who came to our recent annual general meeting, at which a new committee was elected, with Richard Lewis and Trevor Parsons elected as new joint co-ordinators following the retirement of Oliver Schick from the co-ordinating role. Minutes are still awaited but details of appointments are on our 'Who we are' page.

19th February 2006: Albion Road resurfaced
Albion Road, which had one of the most dreadful riding surfaces in the whole borough, has been resurfaced, to the joy of cyclists in the north of the borough. Local LCC member Tom Greenbank says: "Thanks be to all those who have just resurfaced Albion Road! It's magnificent. I no longer see sparks flying off my bike when I ride down it and it's probably added years to the lifespan of my frame. It only took about a week, too. Well done Hackney Council."

30th January 2006: scrap the Stokey one-way system!
Finally some movement on the Stoke Newington gyratory system. Hackney LCC member Robert Lindsay is mobilising opinion in the area and has organised a public meeting to discuss the options for reforming the unloved one-way system, revitalising Stoke Newington High Street and of course restoring full permeability for cycling. Dale McKenzie of Transport for London has kindly agreed to attend. Location: St Paul's church, corner of Stoke Newington Road and Evering Road. Time: 8pm.

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Cycling in Hackney
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Dec 2004 Chatsworth Rd / Lower Clapton special (150KB)

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