Newsletter October 2023

Draft agenda:

1. Introductions
2. Approval of minutes (Sep meeting) & matters arising
3. Parking consultation due 5/11/23
4. Mobility Hub – Somers Town due 17/10/23
5. Permeability – Adeline Place due 23/10/23
6. CPZ – Somers Town (CAG) due 31/10/23
7. Forest Commute bike hire corp account scheme
8. Update on CCC Code of Conduct
9. Open Q&A: Submit questions in advance on any roads/junctions you would like to know Camden have any plans for. Submitted so far:
   • Dartmouth Park
   • Kentish Town High St
   • Highgate Rd
   • Royal College St
   • Parkway
   • TaviPlace
   • Camden H St

Camden are consulting on installing several mobility hubs in Somers Town, including shared e-cargo bike locations, cycle parking and storage and streetscape improvements.
This looks like a significant step in reducing car dominance of the streets and facilitating active travel modes. Hopefully providing a template for other Camden locations.
CCC web page here with summary and you can view the plans and respond here: https://camdencyclists.org.uk/2023/10/somers-town-green-mobility-hubs/

Please take a few minutes to respond positively to this pioneering scheme by 17th October 2023.

Link below for details, including plans and the consultation response form.

Saturday, 14th October 10am – 1.00pm 
The Allen Hall, Unit 1 Dobson Court 
Bourne Estate, London, EC1N 7AA

This course is intended as an introduction for people who would like to get more involved with rides in their local group or with other groups around London. It is also a refresher course for people who are already leading rides regularly. It is open to anyone who is considering volunteering as a Ride Leader with LCC and is suitable for cyclists who are confident riding on the road even in challenging circumstances.

In light of the two people who were sadly killed while cycling in Hackney in recent weeks, Hackney Cycling Campaign will be holding a protest on Weds 18 October. Details:

• Meet 5:30 at Killinghall Road, E9
• Ride to Whiston Road––then Hackney Town Hall
• Speeches at Town Hall, finish by 7pm
• Participants are asked to bring lights for the protest

Please sign and share Possible’s petition to the UK government to protect School Streets today.

Supported by local councils, schools across the country are stopping motor traffic driving up to school gates at pick up & drop off times.The popular School Streets schemes make it safer for children to walk, scoot & cycle to school, breathing cleaner air on calmer roads.
But now the PM wants to strip councils of the powers they need to enforce School Streets, threatening the safety of children across the country. 

69% of households in Camden do not own a car and public transport use remains much lower than before the pandemic making safe and easy walking, cycling and scooting routes all the more important.

Please respond positively then, to this wide range of urban realm improvements that will both incentivise and facilitate active travel, including bike storage, reallocation of car parking bays for a new hire bike docking station, continuous pavements across junctions and shade from new trees. Click on the link for details and to respond to the consultation.

Camden Council and Islington Council are working in partnership to create a Healthy Neighbourhood for the Dartmouth Park area, aiming to make streets in the area greener healthier and more pleasant to spend time in, making it easier to walk, wheel and cycle and improve air quality.
Local people are invited to respond with concerns and suggestions as to how Camden could:

• Make the area greener, healthier and more pleasant to spend time in, with new plants, trees and seating
• Create safer, cleaner streets for children to travel to school and areas for play
• Reduce traffic in the area to make local streets quieter, less polluted and safer to walk and cycle around
• Support local businesses to thrive

Their mission is simple: get refugees cycling!

They take secondhand bikes, fix them up and donate them to refugees and people seeking asylum in London and Birmingham. Having fled persecution and atrocity in their country of origin, most refugees arrive in the UK with absolutely nothing. A bike helps them access food banks, legal advice, healthcare, education and much more. If they’re lucky enough to receive official refugee status, a bike can help refugees find employment.

All welcome at LCC Community Skills Summit
Sat 18 November 2023 9.30am-5pm
Location: University of East London Docklands 
Free (donation welcome to cover costs)

A day of talks, workshops and networking to help skill you up and inspire you to help make Camden better for cycling, walking and wheeling. All experience levels welcome!

What the decision to curtail HS2 and embrace cars means for the UK’s cities

UK PM, Rishi Sunak’s decision to cancel phase two of high-speed rail project, HS2 in the context of the government’s growing pro-car stance, has potentially profound ramifications for the country. 
Rail has long been hailed as the cleanest means of public transport. The decision to scrap the northern leg of HS2 doesn’t only undermine the UK’s ability to improve its rail infrastructure but government’s broader approach to transport will potentially lead to greater inequality between drivers and non-drivers.

-Chia-Lin Chen – The Conversation

In the late 1960s the then GLC planned a six-lane motorway (‘London Motorway Box’) through W. Hampstead, Kilburn, Swiss Cottage & Camden Town but was prevented thankfully by public

An alternative plan to divert motorway traffic through West End Lane & Fortune Green was then thankfully, fought off by West Hampstead Amenity & Transport, though unfortunately, they went on to oppose ‘Environment Areas’ – that reclaim neighbourhoods from rat-running blight – rather than demanding an end to West End Lane through-traffic-foulling

“We are not a nation of motorists, we are a nation of families.” A message to the prime minister.

Led By Donkeys

‘Tame’ wide British roads and replace them with boulevards of homes, says Create Streets thinktank led by the government’s most senior urbanism advisor.

Needlessly wide roads should be torn up and replaced with boulevards of new housing; sweeping T-junctions tightened, vast roundabouts “tamed” and expressways narrowed. “Forget green belt. This is Britain’s road belt and it’s time to build on it.”

Camden Cyclists is the local group of the London Cycling Campaign. We rely on our members to enable the work we do.

For a limited period, we’ll be sending out a Lezyne Pressure Drive pump to new members.*

Already a member? Refer a friend and you’ll both receive pumps!

*Offer applies to Individual and Household membership purchased via Direct Debit.