Coordinator's Report 2020

Review of 2019/2020

In the last twelve months we’ve seen a lot of the work done previously to develop the group bear fruit. New people have joined the group and better contacts have been made with other cycling organisations in Waltham Forest.

In 2019 we’ve also seen the continuation of substantial investment in cycling infrastructure in Waltham Forest and the construction of new facilities. The council have been pushing forward new schemes to continue the work of the mini-Holland funding now that is coming to a close. The work of Dan and Paul has been crucial to ensuring the quality of the schemes is as high as possible and the uptake of cycling demonstrates that the measures are achieving their goals.

The support of the local group and the wider community has also been instrumental, so to everyone who has responded to a consultation, written a letter or attended a meeting – thank you!

Rides and events are important parts of our work and help us engage with the public and encourage people to ride. The Freecycle in central London was a highlight of the summer, with a very enjoyable feeder ride led by Bridget. The E17 Art Trail ride at the start of June was also very sucessfull and attracted a different crowd to our usual rides. The highlight of the winter was the train-assisted, sun-blessed ride around the Royal Parks in November, also led by Bridget.

During the summer we also took part in the Family Cycling Fun Day, organised by Sarah, which was a brilliant day, very well attended and perfect weather. It went on to win the ‘Best Family Friendly Event’ category at the London Cycling Awards, which was very much deserved.

At the start of 2020 Mariam & Joyriders adopted the Newcomers Ride and bought it to Leyton Jubilee Park. This has enabled the ride to appeal to a wider range of people as bikes can now be borrowed from the council and the rides is also accessible to people on adapted bikes and three wheelers. Unfortunately the inaugural ride was cancelled due to storms, but the second ride went brilliantly.

Behind the scenes we’ve being doing more work to ensure we’re well placed to keep supporting cycling in Waltham Forest. We welcomed several new faces in 2019 with new energy and ideas. We’ve improved our meetings, our summer social in KukooLaLa’s was a lovely networking event and our September meeting about ‘Smashing the Cycling Patriarchy’ was especially popular!

We have also adopted ‘Slack’ as an online workplace, brought in internet banking and in February Caroline organised a ride leader training session to help develop the selection of rides on offer.

A huge thanks to everyone who helped make the last year such a success – I didn’t even manage to fit it all in, and it’s already too long!

The year ahead

We started this year looking to be more active in the community, continue to grow our active membership and also to improve our organisation. We have put together a plan for 2020 with a focus on four themes to increase participation in cycling:

• Outreach – Engage with communities and organisations in Waltham Forest to promote cycling. 
• New and returning cyclists – Help people take up cycling (for the first time, or after a gap) and make more journeys by bike. 
• All Ability Cycling – Enable people of all abilities to have the opportunity to cycle.
• Family Cycling – Help families cycle for fun and for regular journeys.

However the developments with Covid-19 and the lockdown have meant all face-to-face activities have been suspended until further notice, and probably at least until the summer. Our main campaigning focus for 2020, the mayoral election, has also been delayed.

A lot of our plans won’t be possible, but we can still promote cycling which is compatible with social distancing and remains a very desirable way to travel and get exercise – Cycling UK have produced a useful Q&A.

I’m currently working out how to use online meetings to get more local LCC members involved, which is something I’d like to make a permanent feature – we’ll see how well it works on Tuesday!

We already have a strong social media presence, which will help us continue to reach people.

Anyway that’s enough from me. I hope to see you online (for the time being at least) and if you want to get in touch do not hesitate to contact me at fred@wfcycling.org.uk.

Best wishes,

Fred Smith
Waltham Forest Cycling Campaign – Borough Coordinator

Annual Meeting, Tuesday 24th March, online!

Our annual meeting is on Tuesday and will be held online, 8-9:30pm. Please email contact@wfcycling.org.uk if you would like to attend and we will send you an invite.

Agenda

1. Introductions.
2. Review of previous minutes
   • Please read the previous meeting minutes in advance if you want to comment on them.
   • No follow-up items identified.
3. Coordinator’s report
   • Published here
4. Treasurer’s report
   • Published here
   • Budget – May want to reallocate some budget for online promotion this year as we won’t be able to do it in person?
5. Council liaison report
6. Motions
   • None submitted
7. Election of Officers (nominations, candidates have an opportunity to speak, then votes)
   • Coordinator
   • Chair
   • Secretary
   • Treasurer
   • Council Liaison Officer
   • Rides Coordinator
8. Important Business
   • All face to face events cancelled until further notice.
   • Which organisations can help people get a bike?
   • Which organisations can help people repair a bike?
   • Are there any other ways we can help people get or repair bikes?
   • Opportunity to recruit volunteers for web based activities.
9. Any Other Business
   • Success stories

Next monthly meeting: Tuesday 28th of April, online!

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

WFCC is part of the London Cycling Campaign, the world’s largest urban cycling organisation. You don’t need to be an LCC member to attend our meetings, but 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.

WFCC 2020 Plan

In the past few years conditions for cycling have improved greatly in Waltham Forest. This has been mainly due to the mini-Holland schemes (now coming to a close). The work will continue with Liveable Neighbourhoods and other schemes.

There are a wide range of rides in the borough with WFCC rides (including the Family Bike Club) most weekends. Going forwards, we want to capitalise on the infrastructure improvements by getting more people out on their bikes more often.

Objectives for 2020:

• Outreach – Engage with communities and organisations in Waltham Forest to promote cycling. 
• New and returning cyclists – Help people take up cycling (for the first time, or after a gap) and make more journeys by bike. 
• All Ability Cycling – Enable people of all abilities to have the opportunity to cycle.
• Family Cycling – Help families cycle for fun and for regular journeys.

Ongoing Project and Potential Projects

Rather than follow with a list aspirations, we’ve put together a list of specific achievable projects which follow from the four objectives. These are projects we can present to the community and potential volunteers with encouragement for them to get involved if they want to make it happen. Our volunteer capacity is only enough to do about half of these and the amount of support we receive will decide which projects are taken forward.

• Rides
  • We are always looking for volunteers to help marshal our rides – we provide ‘on the job’ training and support with the potential for ride leader training later in the year.
  • Support the Newcomers Ride and relocating to Leyton Jubilee Park – step free rides, borrowing council bikes and potential to include adapted bikes and cargo bikes.
• Families / Schools
  • Encourage parents to set up ‘Bike Buses’ to enable family groups to cycle to school together.
  • Support seven school streets to be consulted on in early 2020 and get together parents to engage with each school during and after the consultation. 
• Outreach
  • Work with colleges and community groups to encourage cycling – volunteers needed to make contact with local groups.
  • Volunteers for stalls over the summer at community events to promote cycling, including volunteers to help organise events..
  • Organise an interfaith bike ride
  • Promotion and media – getting wider exposure for our activities and reach new people (see items in bold on calendar).
• All Ability Cycling
  • Volunteers need to support all ability sessions in borough and help us develop and and expand the opportunities.
• Other:
  • London Cycling Data Project – help map cycling infrastructure in Waltham Forest and encourage others to get involved. Organise mapping expeditions in the summer with the aim of having the entire borough mapped by the end of the year.

Ongoing work:

• Support volunteers.
• Share opportunities to get involved and enable people to shape how we work and what we do.
• Partner with other organisations to run projects and improve cycling opportunities.
• Identify gaps in available rides and organise additional rides where possible.
• Campaign for cycling schemes and further infrastructure improvements.
• Share knowledge with other cycling groups.

Calendar

Meetings are normally held on the 4th Tuesday of the month and currently we have them every month except August and December. Key events in bold.

• March – Annual Meeting
• April – Meeting: Bike week planning, publicity & logistics
• May – Meeting
• June – Cyclist Tea, Family Cycling Fun Day – Sunday 28th, Meeting
• July – Tour de Waltham Forest might be 5th July TBC, Meeting. Kidical mass or glamour ride?
• August – Ride London, Summer Social
• September – Car Free Day?, Meeting
• October – Meeting
• November – Meeting
• December – Twinkly Sparkly Ride, Winter Social (cafe after ride)

Volunteer with us!

We’re a volunteer led organisation and we need more volunteers to run all the projects we’d like to run.

We try to link new volunteers with activities suited to their interests and skills, and provide support to help them succeed (and hopefully enjoy it too!).

We try to strike the right balance between ambition and our volunteer capacity so we’re able to grow the group, make a difference and not overload people with tasks.

Please get in contact if you would like to help out: fred@wfcycling.org.uk

March Rides & Events in Waltham Forest

Sunday 1 March – 10am, Leytonstone @ McDonald’s
The E11 Ride to Yi-Ban restaurant in the London Regatta Centre, Royal Docks (advanced)
Join us for the (almost) annual trip for a very special treat, the excellent Yi-Ban Restaurant! Meet outside McDonald’s in Leytonstone High Street E11 for 10am departure. If you have questions, call Dwight on 07973 131429.

Sunday 1 March – 11am, The Mill, Coppermill Lane, E17
The Sunday Cycle (intermediate)
This is Katja’s goodbye, so come and say hello! The ride will continue, but most likely with Nic permanently at the helm. Massive thanks to Katja for years for excellent rides.
Meet outside The Mill in Coppermill Lane at 11am for a gentle ride of c. 20km / 13 miles. Return c. 4pm. If you have questions, contact Katja at katjarosenberg@hotmail.com or 07799 411 587.

Sunday 8 March – 1pm, Orford Rd / Church Lane by the Ancient House E17
Walthamstow Family Bike Club’s Open Spaces Ride (intermediate)
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.

Sunday 15 March – 10:30am, Walthamstow Town Square
Take the Peaceful Route with Nic (advanced)
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 March – 1:15–3:30pm, Leyton Jubilee Park, Seymour Rd E10 7LX
WFBC’s & JoyRiders’ Newcomers Ride (beginners)
Please note the new time and location of this popular ride, now co-hosted by JoyRiders!
The perfect ride 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.
No bike? No problem! Book a bike here!

Due to the virus all LCC group rides are cancelled until further notice.