Coordinators Report 2018

Review of 2017

In Waltham Forest the last year has seen continued progress for Mini-Holland. Two of the three “villages”, Walthamstow Village and Blackhorse Road Village, have been built. It seems that the changes are producing real benefits for the local areas. We have also seen significant work on some of the big infrastructure projects on Lea Bridge Road and the gyratory at Walthamstow Central station.

We have also seen work starting on the re-design of Whipps Cross Roundabout. Also work has happened in both Leyton and Leytonstone which will make these areas far more attractive and safe for cycling and better for local residents and local businesses.

The council has also been making significant improvements to areas outside of the Mini-Holland bid in particular putting in cycle tracks on Billet Road. Nearly all the stations have secure bike parking facilities as well as many on street bike hangers all over the borough. Also this year has seen the introduction of a new dockless bike hire scheme in the borough giving many new people access to bikes and cycling.

We have continued to lead regular rides. From April Waltham Forest Cycling Campaign and Walthamstow Family Bike Club will be leading 4 rides a month. Along with our rides there are now many other regular rides in the borough for rider of all abilities. In particular the last year has seen the setting up of new ride, Cycling Sisters and Joy Riders, rides that are reaching out to the Muslim community. All the rides we know of are listed on our website, if we’ve missed any out please let us know.

After a slow start to his Mayoralty Sadiq Khan has started to produce some of the promised improvements in infrastructure, he has started to announce and consult on the next group of cycle super-highways including one which will extend the Lea Bridge Road scheme into Dalston. He has also announced the 1st group of Liveable Neighbourhoods including the Coppermill Village in Walthamstow, a £2.5 million scheme in the area around Coppermill Lane and St James.

The Year Ahead

We will continue to ensure that Mini-Holland is delivered throughout the borough and that the opportunity for great cycling infrastructure in Waltham Forest is not wasted. It’s great that the infrastructure is going in and 2018 will see a lot of work on the ground.

Unfortunately even though the changes that have been put in have already seen reductions in car use and roads that are quieter and safer for residents, pedestrians and cyclists there are still people who are not convinced about the councils plans and putting pressure on the council to cancel further developments. We still need your help to ensure Mini-Holland is delivered. We also hope to start talking to, and planning with, neighbouring borough cycling campaigns so that infrastructure improvement an be joined up making cycling safer all over North East London.

London Cycling Campaign will be re-launching it’s membership model this year with more benefits for members. The campaign is able to do it’s important work due to it’s membership and the funding that members provide so please ensure that you renew your membership, it’s important for the campaign.

Finally Simon Munk is standing down this year as one of our Council Liaison Officers after many years of sterling work. Simon’s hard work was one of the main reasons that Waltham Forest won the mini-Holland bid. Simon has been for a long time one of the main public faces of the campaign, arguing for the benefits of mini-Holland on many local forums and in the local press and often leaving himself open to personal abuse when making the case. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Simon for all his hard work, support, expertise and broad shoulders over the last few years.

Anyway that’s enough from me. I hope to see you at a meeting, a ride or a campaign event, if you want to get in touch do not hesitate to contact me at David@wfcycling.org.uk.

Happy Cycling,

David Hamilton
Waltham Forest Cycling Campaign – Borough Coordinator

Advertisements

April Rides & Events in Waltham Forest

Sunday 1 April – 11am, The Mill, Coppermill Lane, E17
The Sunday Cycle Easter Special
Look on the bright side of Easter and get your two wheels out!
Meet outside The Mill in Coppermill Lane at 11am. Return c. 3pm. If you have questions, email “Art Catcher” Katja.

Sunday 8 April – 10am, Leytonstone @ McDonald’s
The E11 / North Star Vélo Ride to the Beach
Meet outside McDonald’s in Leytonstone High Street E11 for 10am departure. If you have questions, call Dwight on 07973 131429.

Sunday 8 April – 1pm, Ancient House E17
Walthamstow Family Bike Club’s Open Spaces Ride
A relaxed and enjoyable afternoon travelling by bicycle and exploring the nooks and crannies in and around our borough. Frisbees sometimes materialise when we hit a suitable open space.
We aim to stop off at a café at about half time, but we recommend you bring a snack and some water.
Meet at 1pm at the Orford Road/Church Lane junction, E17 9RW, next to the old postbox opposite the Ancient House … see the map.

Sunday 15 April – 10:30am, Walthamstow Town Square
Take the Peaceful Route with Nic
Meet from about 10:30 for an 11 o’clock start outside Walthamstow Library / Farmers’ Market.
Join Nic for the peaceful ride over mixed surfaces (be ready for a bit of mud!). The destination and direction of the ride will be discussed at the start and will account for wind speed and direction and may be train-assisted – so take your Oyster or contactless debit card with you.

Sunday 15 April – 2pm, Walthamstow Village Square
Walthamstow Family Bike Club’s Newcomers Ride
This ride around the quiet streets in Walthamstow Village is intended for those new to cycling, including families with young children, and will especially appeal to those who don’t have the stamina or confidence for our longer ‘Open Spaces’ excursions on the 2nd Sunday each month.
Basic skills are necessary: please make sure you are able to pedal and balance, turn corners, and brake to a halt .. all without falling off! If you are not confident about your basic skills, then we can recommend the council’s free cycle training.
We’ll keep together as a group and ‘top and tail’ the ride with marshalls, with an experienced ride leader at the front, and an expert marshall at the back to keep cars out of our convoy. We also have at least one other marshall who cycles on the right hand side of the group to help out with junctions etc.
We meet at 2pm in Walthamstow Village Square at the junction of Eden Road and Orford Road (for a map click here). We finish at the Square around 3:30pm.
No bike? Rent one for the ride in Waltham Forest’s dockless bike hire scheme.

Saturday 21 April – 2pm, Walthamstow Town Square
Waltham Forest Active Travel Infrastructure Celebration
A 2 hour tour by bike in what is becoming one of the best urban locations in the UK for people to walk and cycle, followed by tea & cake in a local cafe. We’ll see lots of walking and cycling infrastructure including new pocket parks, crossings, cycle tracks, secure cycle parking hubs, and explore some quiet residential areas which have seen road danger dramatically reduced.

Sunday 22 April – 10am, Walthamstow Town Square
WFCycling Social Ride
Bring food and drink, though we will stop for a snack along the way. Please bring your Oyster card or contactless debit card.
Meet at 10:15 outside Walthamstow Library, for a departure by 10:30. We are usually back by 3-4pm.

Friday 27 April– 6pm, Walthamstow Town Square
Critical Mass
Come to Belvedere Road in the Southbank by 7:30pm to join this energising bike party if you’re already in Central London, or else meet Nic outside Walthamstow Library by 6pm to ride there together.

Sunday 29 April – 10:30am, Walthamstow Town Square
Take (another!) Peaceful Route with Nic
Meet from about 10:30 for an 11 o’clock start outside Walthamstow Library / Farmers’ Market.
Join Nic for the peaceful ride over mixed surfaces (be ready for a bit of mud!). The destination and direction of the ride will be discussed at the start and will account for wind speed and direction and may be train-assisted – so take your Oyster or contactless debit card with you.

Every Saturday – 8:30am, Leytonstone @ McDonald’s
North Star Velo Road Rides: easy & medium paced
Whether you want to try road cycling and don’t know how fit you are, or you’re ready for a medium-paced effort, join the club.
Easy rides maximum 30 miles
Medium-paced rides c. 50 miles.
Meet outside McDonald’s in High Road Leytonstone.
Back in time for lunch, or a pint at the North Star!North Star Velo also run frequent midweek short road rides, evening and sometimes morning so do check their website!

If you would like your ride listed here just get in touch.

No bike? Rent one for the ride in Waltham Forest’s dockless bike hire scheme.

Want to try family bikes and trikes? Rent one for the ride directly from Waltham Forest Council.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Meeting 2018, with guest speaker Clare Rogers

Our annual meeting is on Tuesday 27th March and this year we also have Clare Rogers coming over from Enfield to tell us about their mini-Holland scheme. I am sure it will be an interesting evening and there will be time for questions and discussion after.

Tuesday, 27th March, in the Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street, E17 9AH

• 7 pm – Business Meeting   Please bring your LCC membership card in order to vote.
• 8 pm – Talk by Clare Rogers   All cyclists are welcome, no need to be a member of LCC. Please see the Facebook event for full details.

Agenda for Annual Meeting:

1. Introductions and appointment of minute taker
2. Review of previous minutes
3. Coordinator’s report
4. Treasurer’ (brief) report
5. Council liaison report:
   • Progress since March 2017
   • Ongoing works
   • Issues and areas of concern
6. Motions – none submitted
7. Election of Officers
8. Any Other Business

Next monthly meeting: Tuesday 24th of April, 8-9:30 pm in the Hornbeam Centre.

Only LCC members can vote, so please bring your membership card!

Any additional items for the agenda please comment below, or email Contact@wfcycling.org.uk

WFCC is part of the London Cycling Campaign and only LCC members can vote at our annual meeting. If you like what we do please consider joining LCC to help support our work. Members also receive discounts in many bike shops, insurance and other benefits.

March Rides & Events in Waltham Forest

Sunday 4 March – 11am, The Mill, Coppermill Lane, E17
The Sunday Cycle
Meet outside The Mill in Coppermill Lane at 11am. Return c. 3pm. If you have questions, email “Art Catcher” Katja.

Sunday 4 March – 10am, Leytonstone @ McDonald’s
The E11 / North Star Vélo Ride to Ally Pally
Meet outside McDonald’s in Leytonstone High Street E11 for 10am departure. If you have questions, call Dwight on 07973 131429.

 

Every Monday in March – 10am, William Morris Gallery, Forest Road E17
Margaret’s Breeze Road Rides
Join Margaret, of Sick Bike Repairs, every Monday morning in March at 10am for a British Cycling Breeze women-only ride starting outside the William Morris Gallery.
The first ride is longer, from Walthamstow to Broxbourne and back. We will head north along the River Lea towpath and return via Nazeing and Fishers Green. Please note this is not a ride for beginners, it is for confident riders with experience. We will average 10-12mph, there will be some sections on busy roads and it will probably be muddy so make sure you have mudguards:
Monday 5th March

The last three are easy paced rides exploring parks, wetlands, marshes, towpaths and back streets around Walthamstow. We will cover approximately 10 miles, mostly off road but with some back street:
Monday 12th March
Monday 19th March
Monday 26th March

If you have any questions, please call Margaret on 07834 896442 or email her at sickbikerepairs@gmail.com.

Sunday 11 March – 1pm, Ancient House E17
Walthamstow Family Bike Club’s Open Spaces Ride
A relaxed and enjoyable afternoon travelling by bicycle and exploring the nooks and crannies in and around our borough. Frisbees sometimes materialise when we hit a suitable open space.
We aim to stop off at a café at about half time, but we recommend you bring a snack and some water.
Meet at 1pm at the Orford Road/Church Lane junction, E17 9RW, next to the old postbox opposite the Ancient House … see the map.

Sunday 18 March – 10:30am, Walthamstow Town Square
Take the Peaceful Route with Nic
Meet from about 10:30 for an 11 o’clock start outside Walthamstow Library / Farmers’ Market.
Join Nic for the peaceful ride over mixed surfaces (be ready for a bit of mud!). The destination and direction of the ride will be discussed at the start and will account for wind speed and direction and may be train-assisted – so take your Oyster or contactless debit card with you.

Sunday 18 March – 2pm, Walthamstow Village Square
Walthamstow Family Bike Club’s Newcomers Ride
This ride around the quiet streets in Walthamstow Village is intended for those new to cycling, including families with young children, and will especially appeal to those who don’t have the stamina or confidence for our longer ‘Open Spaces’ excursions on the 2nd Sunday each month.
Basic skills are necessary: please make sure you are able to pedal and balance, turn corners, and brake to a halt .. all without falling off! If you are not confident about your basic skills, then we can recommend the council’s free cycle training.
We’ll keep together as a group and ‘top and tail’ the ride with marshalls, with an experienced ride leader at the front, and an expert marshall at the back to keep cars out of our convoy. We also have at least one other marshall who cycles on the right hand side of the group to help out with junctions etc.
We meet at 2pm in Walthamstow Village Square at the junction of Eden Road and Orford Road (for a map click here). We finish at the Square around 3:30pm.
⇒ No bike? Rent one for the ride in Waltham Forest’s dockless bike hire scheme.

Sunday 25 March – 10am, Walthamstow Town Square
WFCycling Daffodil Ride to Trent Park
Join Bridget on the annual Daffodil Ride to Trent Park in Enfield.
Bring food and drink, though we will stop for a snack along the way. Please bring your Oyster card or contactless debit card.
Meet at 10:15 outside Walthamstow Library, for a departure by 10:30. We are usually back by 3-4pm.

Friday 30 March – 6pm, Walthamstow Town Square
Critical Mass
Come to Belvedere Road in the Southbank by 7:30pm to join this energising bike party if you’re already in Central London, or else meet Nic outside Walthamstow Library by 6pm to ride there together.

Every Saturday – 8:30am, Leytonstone @ McDonald’s
North Star Velo Road Rides: easy & medium paced
Whether you want to try road cycling and don’t know how fit you are, or you’re ready for a medium-paced effort, join the club.
Easy rides maximum 30 miles
Medium-paced rides c. 50 miles.
Meet outside McDonald’s in High Road Leytonstone.
Back in time for lunch, or a pint at the North Star!
North Star Velo also run frequent midweek short road rides, evening and sometimes morning so do check their website!

⇒ No bike? Rent one for the ride in Waltham Forest’s dockless bike hire scheme.

⇒ Want to try family bikes and trikes? Rent one for the ride directly from Waltham Forest Council.

 

 

If you would like your ride listed here just get in touch.