Meeting Minutes – Monday 1st October 2018

Venue: The Exchange
Present: Jaime (chair/minutes), Clare, Adam, Steve, Peter
Apologies: Eric, Elizabeth

1. End of the Road coalition and demonstration
Background: We agreed to join coalition and added our name with edits to a letter for the council but never saw final copy of the letter. There is a demo on Thursday (4/10) at 4pm when Council will be meeting to discuss the proposal (Evesham Road and other schemes, possibly Soar Lane/Rally Park). We are reticent to send an All-Members email for this issue at this stage.
AP: Clare to ask Elizabeth to procure a copy of the final letter so that she can send to Peter and have put on the website. Also, in same email to ask Elizabeth about the demo and tell her that if anybody wants to take the banner they are welcome but will have to get it from Neil or the council lock-up.

2. London Road
Background: An anonymous LCCG member obtained plans from the council via an FOI and is concerned about some of the design choices, primarily, (1) how to get to the Cycle Hub when arriving from the south and (2) what the cycle flow is at some of the crossings especially at the top of Victoria Park. We agree that it is unclear what happens from the plans. We think a good chance that the council haven’t worked it out yet either. We have confidence in Brian Deegan’s input and hope this means the issues will be resolved adequately. We don’t want to unnecessarily antagonise them.
AP: Jaime to contact Mat and see if we can get an informal meeting with Adam Clarke. Jaime to thank our member and encourage him to follow up on issues if he feels it would be worthwhile.

3. Hospital cycle provision
Background: Neil has been working to improve cycling provision at Leicester hospitals (especially LRI) for a couple of years. George from Sustrans has also been keen to focus on this and has made some progress at Glenfield. Recognition by group that cycling for staff and patients/visitors should be far easier than it is especially given the clear health benefits of cycling. Adam keen to be involved in this issue as he works at Glenfield and may have some useful contacts.
AP: Jaime to put Neil and Adam in touch and encourage them to liaise with George and continue their good work.

4. Cycle City Workshop
No one at the meeting was able to attend.

5. Administration
Who is Twitter?
AP: Jaime to ask Mat and Eric if they have the details although nobody seems keen to take on this role at the moment.

6. Cycle collisions
JM brought up a piece on Radio 4 Today about the ‘increasing danger posed by cyclists’. General agreement that this was a rage-inducing framing of the issue especially given the huge number of accidents and fatalities involving cars. Peter said that one good thing was that on the follow up at 1pm, pedestrian and cycling advocates were also in broad agreement that cars were the problem.

7. Knighton Neighbourhood meeting
Clare had attended a Knighton neighbourhood forum where the local councillor(s) came along with a large map of the area and people were able to point out troublesome locations for cycling. Clare suggested that other wards could try this but that its success also relied on the existence of an engaged neighbourhood forum. Jaime stated that in Westcotes we had tried something similar but maybe it was too focused on cycling – important to have sustained pressure if you want something to emerge from these meetings.

End of Meeting
DONM: 3/12/2018

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Meeting Minutes – Monday 4th June 2018

Present: Jaime (secretary/chair), Elizabeth, Neil, Steve

Apologies: Clare, Eric, Adam, Eric

1. Business

AGM updates – Elizabeth to send round EMCF minutes and others to comment (AP 18/01: EB)

Secretary position – Jaime to assume, Membership Secretary absorbed into Secretary role

Mat to continue as Adam Clarke/council liaison (AP 18/02: JM, inform Mat)

Committee: Steve, Neil, Elizabeth (treasurer), Jaime (secretary), Eric (press)

GDPR email – we have taken steps to inform members – nothing more to be done

Review of meeting dates – clash with critical mass or other groups, should we go to bimonthly? Our influence is greater than our size/meeting attendance at this stage so we should continue to convene and meet

Next meeting – August, website to show dates of 3 next meetings, even months – AP 18/03: Clare and Peter to update internet

2. UHL, LRI cycling infrastructure

Neil, two years ago talked to LRI boss and presented document detailing the advantages of promoting cycling, IT issues and hospital bureaucracy/communications made the BUG not work as well. BUG run by carparks/transport administrator. Staff parking v cheap and there is a heavily promoted drive to work scheme. Good news is Sustrans and city council are making progress mostly at Glenfield. Neil (AP 18/04) offering to send letter to boss detailing the ongoing issues and express disappointment – visitors and staff unable to park their bikes. Health implications need to be considered. Infrastructure is terrible. Media (Mercury) to be contacted if response is insufficient.

3. UoL safety study

Poor level of responses but little else we can realistically do – AP 18/05 Elizabeth to contact and offer some advice.

4. New leaflets

What are we going to do with these leaflets? What do we put on the bottom? No definite dates to go on but just website. AP 18/06 (Steve and Neil): Will cut leaflets up to remove meeting date portion. 

5. Sky Ride and other bike events

NB Stall stuff is at Neil’s house

Ride Leicester – 7^th August – 21^st August

HSBC Ride: Sunday 12^th August

Could we get close pass mat from Neil’s friend or a contact of Brendan? What should we put on the stall? Survey to find out factors that influence cycling e.g. What puts you off cycling more? Which of these do you like most (photos)? “10 second survey”

Jobs before 6^th (Next meeting date): (1) Let Andy know/arrange a table; (2) Recruit volunteers;

Jobs in week leading up: get sign-up sheets and change

AP 18/07: Steve to lead and coordinate LCCG stall (depending on availability)  

Open Streets – last Sunday of every month, if we had enthusiasm we might get involved but at the moment not enough momentum. Tea with cyclists? Something relaxing, quick chat about strategy. Next event should be 24^th June (11-2), if somebody goes along, they will report back.

6. End of the Road

Specific invitation and request from new coalition, being put together by activists, starting in response to the city’s strategic plan. Particular focus on Evesham Road link – building more roads is not the best way to cope with an anticipated rise in traffic. We are asked to put in a statement. Friday (10 am) this week, EOTR going to present petition at Town Hall specifically about Evesham Road link.

Statement on road building agreed unanimously, LCCG signed up to EOTR. AP 18/08 Elizabeth to let Zina know.

7. Transforming Cities update

Steve and Neil report back. Not particularly innovative but some interesting workshops on city planning particularly on misplaced incentives coming from central government.

Talks: Problems caused by Dutch cycle lanes – people pushing boundaries of what is acceptable (e.g. mobility scooters, electric bikes, large pedal-powered vehicles). Led to uptick in accidents. Law says that certain vehicles have to use them. Designation via speed could be more appropriate in many situations. Rigid designs can cause problems so flexible designs can help retain street character.

Lift-share: should be promoted more, with corporate buy in and good technology solutions. Filling empty car seats could be a really useful solution to congestion.

Council signing up to be 100% renewable.

Waterside development apparently not particularly sustainable. Criticised by a number of people. Shows lack of ambition, put down to lack of budget.

DONM: 6 August 

Table of Action Points

AP#	Action	Member
18/01	Circulate EMCF minutes for comments	Elizabeth
18/02	Inform Mat about ‘City Council Liaison’ role	Jaime
18/03	Update Facebook/website with new meeting dates	Clare/Peter
18/04	Send letter to UHL / LRI boss about cycling	Neil
18/05	Contact to offer advice about participant recruitment	Elizabeth
18/06	Chop up leaflets	Steve/Neil
18/07	Coordinate stall for Skyride (talk to Andy about stall and ask for volunteers)	Steve
18/08	Tell Zina about LCCG support for End of the Road	Elizabeth

 

Road and Path User Statement of Respect

Background: At Leicester Cycle Campaign Group we felt that there is often too much negativity in the discourse about transport choices. This can often lead to resentment and animosity on the roads, which makes the situation worse. Whilst a minority of car drivers have a negative attitude towards cyclists, this often comes from misunderstandings or from poor infrastructure. Cyclists (and pedestrians) can also sometimes be witnessed acting in a disrespectful manner, something which they accuse car drivers of. In reality, most road and path users are willing and able to respect each other and recognise anti-social or foolish behaviour, regardless of the mode of transport involved.

For this reason, we have drawn up a list of examples of the sorts of behaviours that can make the difference between anti-social and respectful travelling. Although almost all of these points are part of the Highway code, they are frequently observed to be breached. We would like all road and path users to consider this statement of respect and we hope that everyone can try to follow it. We would like to hear any comments or points for discussion.

We believe that all road and path users have the responsibility to respect other users, regardless of mode of transport. In return, all users should have the right to expect such treatment from others.

A general guideline is that all road and path users have a particular duty to respect more vulnerable users.

Although often covered by the highway code, specific guidelines to be aware of for various users:

Motor-vehicles

• Pass cyclists at a safe distance (minimum of 1.5m on narrow/ slow moving roads and a car width on faster roads)
• Be aware of cycles when pulling out of side roads. They move faster than you think. Also be aware that some roads which are 1 way for motor-vehicles are 2 way for cyclists.
• Do not park to obstruct cycle lanes or pavements.
• Do not jump red lights. Amber lights are a warning to prepare to stop, not instructions to speed up.
• Take care when opening car doors, especially on the road side. Check behind first.
• Remember that everyone pays for the roads through council tax and so everyone has a right to use them.
• Respect advance stop lines at junctions. These are put in for cyclists safety.

Cyclists

• Respect the ‘rules of the road’ and road infrastructure, such as traffic lights. Other road users will expect you to.
• Do not cycle on pavements, unless it is signposted as shared use.
• When on shared use space, show respect to pedestrians. Ring bell in good time and do not pass too close to pedestrians. Slow down near children, dogs and people with an obvious disability. If it is busy, consider dismounting and pushing the cycle.
• If you want to cycle fast, stick to the road or segregated cycle lane.
• On the roads, allow cars to overtake by keeping to the left if safe to do so.
• For your and pedestrians safety, wear high vis and use cycle lights when cycling at night.
• Take care when overtaking horse-riders, so as not to startle the horse.

Pedestrians

• Don’t walk in designated cycle lanes.
• Always check for cyclists when crossing a cycle lane.
• Move dogs out of the way when cyclists approach.

London Road Sept 2016 update

The death of Sam Boulton on London Road on 27th July highlighted the lack of space for cycling on London Road. There were two Critical Mass rides, one of which ended up at an exhibition of Sam’s art at the Parcel Yard. A petition was started to allow cycling on New Walk with 1034 signatures at time of writing.

The city council took the (unprecedented) step of sharing its early plans for a two way cycle track on the inbound side of London Road. They were discussed at the August Cycle City Workshop meeting which agreed unanimously that a two way track on one side of the road isn’t good enough, and that there should be tracks on both sides of London Road.

The cycle campaign supports calls for tracks on both sides for the following reasons –

• Cyclists are put in danger when they are (legitimately) riding on cycle tracks against the flow of traffic because drivers turning out of and into junctions frequently fail to look for or see them – try riding along Granby St past Northampton St towards the station for an example. Cycle tracks should run in the direction of general traffic (but allow use the ‘wrong’ way where necessary).
• London Road is a destination with shops, businesses and other routes on both sides. A cycle route on one side only will make riding here less attractive and lead to pavement cycling.
• Routes each side will be easier to build at an appropriate width than one two way one.

As ever, the detail of any design is critical here. Schemes in Leicester tend to treat us as fast pedestrians who don’t mind giving way at every opportunity. We would like to see the planners treat cyclists as vehicles which need priority when passing side roads and design a safe, continuous and direct route along this busy road.

The plans released by the council are said to be at an early stage. We need to lobby for tracks each side as a matter of priority. The campaign will be in touch with Adam Clarke (assistant mayor with responsibility for Energy & Sustainability) to press this point and will continue to lobby for an first class route which will be an example of what can be done.

What do we think of Welford Road?

A group of a dozen or so gave the cycle lane a tryout before our June meeting. We would have to say that responses were mixed – some of it is good – it’s there, for a start, and it’s segregated, which is what we have campaigned for on these kinds of projects. And there is metered parking along sections of it, which hopefully will mean it doesn’t become a carpark (as Newarke Street does occasionally).

Some was not as good as we would have like – no priority at junctions means cyclists have to keep stopping and starting and the ends are not great, but we do know that more will be done at the Welford Place (city) end once the replacement for the New Walk Centre is finished. And there will be some more work done at the other (prison/Tigers) end, once the entrance to the new A&E is completed.

So, all in all, a mixed bag. We have arranged a meeting with Adam Clark, Assistant City Mayor for Energy and Sustainability (which includes transport) at which to raise our concerns and identify any improvements that can be made.

Belgrave Road Consultation June – Aug 2016

Belgrave Road Consultation

Space for cycling : none

The Leicester Cycle Forum meeting on 27th July discussed the changes on offer for Belgrave Road, from Belgrave Circle to the Loughborough Road turn. In short, the options on the table are as it is (2 lanes in each direction) with a few trees to prettify it and some changes to crossings, or one lane in each direction with bigger pavements (and changed crossings).

Neither option offers any safe space for cycling or does anything to reduce the pavement cycling seen as a problem in the area.

This is not acceptable and the council needs people to feed into the consultation to make the point that we need separated space to cycle.

We are encouraging all our members to complete the consultation as we know that the number of responses on each side is what they care about most. Your response really will count!

It only takes a few minutes to complete and can be found here: Consultation link

Here are some suggested responses.

Space for cycling : none

Question 1
Which option do you prefer?

Option B – two lanes

Question 2 (this is the only space to add comments)
Please let us know if you have any comments on either of the options

Belgrave Road is a major route into the city. At the moment, it is a place where only the fast and the brave will cycle on the road – others choose the pavement, with the usual problems. The Mayor has expressed a desire for cycle tracks on major routes and Leicester has recently been lauded as a forward-thinking city for cycling. Despite this, there is no separate space for cycling included in these plans. The idea that people will cycle amongst the cars and buses (as shown in the artists impressions) is a whimsical fantasy and cycling levels will continue to be as depressed as they are now. This is contrary to the council’s plans re cycling – would you take children to school on Belgrave Road as pictured? If there is room for four traffic lanes and a central reservation, there is room for two traffic lanes and separated cycle tracks on each side.

Questions 3,4,5,6,7 – monitoring questions.

We know that numbers count in this consultation. Thanks for you help.

 

Update 20th Oct

There is a piece in the Mercury on the outcome of the Belgrave Consultation. It’s light on detail – in short, the four lane “keep it as it is” option doesn’t have a massive majority.

It’s not an ideal situation – we’d have liked a resounding mandate to enable people to cycle safely up and down Belgrave Road. However, not rebuilding four lanes now does leave the door open for something better in the future.

Thanks to all who responded.

Is Leicester a bike-friendly city?

Leicester Mercury article reporting on the Cycle City Active City conference (19-20 May 2016), quoting LCCG’s Eric Ludlow on our view of the progress being made towards ‘making cycling normal’ in Leicester.