Wheelers Campaigning
Details of our past and present campaigns for better cycling in East London are posted here.
Trading of Stolen Bikes at Brick Lane
The trading of stolen bikes on Sunday mornings around Brick Lane Market has been going on for years and is on the increase. We are informing the relevant authorities that this trading is not acceptable and is contributing to the increase in cycle theft itself.
 Update: March 2006
Bike Security Awareness event with the Metropolitan Police - read more...
Update: January 2006
Progress so far, Bike Details Postcard & immobilise.com - read more...
Update: March 2005
Brick Lane Police initiative to reunite owners with their stolen bike - read more...
Update: January 2005
Progress so far - read more...
Update: September 2004
Action has started to be taken to clear up the illegal trading around Brick Lane - read more...
Join our campaign by writing to the police, councillors, MPs, trading standards etc. Visit this template letter page for further information and the contact details of those to write to.
If you have been the victim of cycle theft see also the Wheelers stolen bikes register.
Stolen Bikes
Register your stolen bike »
Enforcement of ASLs (Advanced Stop Lines)
On 4 October 2005 Wheelers carried out a survey of the usage of the ASLs at the westbound junctions of Whitechapel Road and Commercial Road with Aldgate Gyratory. Press release and full report "A S Hell!!!" in our Dec 05-Jan 06 newsletter [pdf 200K].
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Aldgate Gyratory
The Aldgate Gyratory [map] is a barrier to cyclists travelling to and from Tower Hamlets and the City. We support the removal of this gyratory and for the traffic flow to be reverted to a two-way system.
Petition
Sign the online petition in support of changing the Aldgate Gyratory one-way system to two-way operation.
Cycle Counts
Tower Hamlets Wheelers has now carried out three cycle counts at the gyratory during the morning rush hour: 10 January and 18 June 2002, and 26 March 2003. The count results show an increase in cyclists travelling east-west since the introduction of congestion charging in mid-February 2003.
We appreciate the removal of the gyratory is a long-term aim and so in the short-term we are campaigning for an increase in cycle facilities at Aldgate to cater for the predominant cycle flow east-west from Whitechapel Road to the City. In 2002 some facilities were installed but apart from the ASLs these do not cater for the vast majority of cyclists who use the gyratory.
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 Cable Street traffic priority scheme
Background: May 2002
The traffic priority scheme indicated by the road markings and signage on the recently completed two-way cycle track on Cable Street are unacceptable (and are not indicated on the original drawings we were shown).
We do not accept that users of the cycle track should have to give-way to traffic entering or turning off Cable Street.
We are currently in discussions with the borough council and the DfT (formerly DTLR) to resolve this issue.
Help us by writing your letter of complaint to the DfT and the borough council.
Sample letter to the DFT.
Update: September 2002
A meeting took place in August 2002 between the Department for Transport (DfT), Transport for London (TfL), Tower Hamlets council (LBTH) and Wheelers to discuss this issue. It was confirmed that the road markings are as they are now as that is what is required by current legalislation. It was also confirmed that a change in the relevent legalistion would be passed through parliament at the end of 2002 meaning that cycle tracks at junctions would have priority over other roads as long as the junction is on a raised table.
Notes from the meeting give the full details.
At the meeting we also handed over the first 180 signatures of our petition to the council. This is will now go before the council's cabinet. More signatures we still be a help so please continue to:
Sign our petition!
Update: January 2003
Our petition was put before the council cabinet at their meeting on 8 January 2003. A deputation was made to the Cabinet to reiterate the problems we have with the current priority scheme and reiterated our demand for the give-way signs on the cycle track to be removed, the give-way signs for the side roads to be moved back "behind" the cycle track and effective signage to be installed to make it clear to all traffic that the cycle track has priority.
Cllr Michael Keith (Shadwell ward) supported our view that the current scheme made little sense or as he put it seems "bonkers". Cllr Denise Jones (St Katharine's and Wapping ward and vice-chair of the Cabinet) also gave us support. The discussion concluded with the Cabinet being asked to resolve that the Traffic & Transportation must produce further analysis of the scheme - the Cabinet agreed on this.
The deputation also reminded the council that the give-way signs should never have been placed in front of the car wash entrance on Cable St and yet they are still there. Margaret Cooper, Acting Head of Traffic & Transportation confirmed to the Cabinet that they would be "removed forthwith".
Update: May 2003
Finally the give-way markings in front of the car wash entrance have been removed.
Update: May 2003
LBTH have sent us their briefing note in response to the resolution of the 8 January 2003 cabinet meeting. It sets out the pros and cons of each priority scheme for the Cable Street side road and cycle track intersections: LBTH Cable Street Briefing Note.
Update: October 2003
We have been consulted on the plans for the proposed extension of the two-way cycle track eastwards from Cannon Street Road to Watney Street. Of note is that the cycle track is shown to have priority at the junction with Watney Street.
Update: February 2004
Work has begun on the extension of the two-way cycle track eastwards from Cannon Street Road to Watney Street and should be completed by the end of March. We have requested that a stop line be placed at the Watney Street junction in a pre-emptive effort to reduce the instances of motorists rolling over the cycle track before turning into Cable Street. Currently our request has been rejected.
Update: August 2004
Work has begun on the next extension of the two-way cycle track eastwards from Watney Street to Sutton Street. No side junctions to worry about along this short stretch :-)
Improvements to both sides of the junction with Cannon Street Road are also planned, creating more space for pedestrians on the eastside corner and removing the now unnecessary westbound entry lane to the track on the westside.
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Royal Mint Street cycle track surface
January 2003
The surface to this new cycle track has just been laid. It is appalling - totally uneven and 'ripply'. We have complained to LBTH and await their assessment.
Update: May 2003
The lines have finally been painted onto the track. It would therefore seem the work on the track is deemed to be completed..... The newly surfaced road parallel to the track is very nice and smooth if you would like to ride on that eastwards instead (it's a one-way street so you'll have to put up with the bumps going west).
Cycling in Tower Hamlets
Take part in our on-going positives & negatives survey of your cycling experience in Tower Hamlets by completing this online form. We always welcome your comments and it helps us focus on the issues that are important to our local cyclists.
Potholes : "Fill Them In!"
(January 2003)
We are campaigning for better road surfaces in Tower Hamlets, specifically for speedier and better quality repairs to potholes.
Initial campaign news release (December 2002)
We have setup a database where you can record potholes that you come across in Tower Hamlets. At the end of each month we will then send this information to the council.
See the Wheelers Potholes Database pages for further details.
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Proposed One-Way System for Whitechapel East
(November 2002)
With the introduction of Congestion Charging, traffic calming measures are proposed for the areas ajoining the charging zone boundary. Tower Hamlets council proposed scheme for Zone 11-Whitechapel East includes making all the roads in that area one-way in a west-east direction - Zone 11 proposals diagram [300K]. As there is no provision for cyclists to permeate through this system we have strongly objected to these proposals.
The main concern is Stepney Way becoming one-way between New Road and Cavell Street. Stepney Way is a quiet alternative to Whitechapel Road and Commercial Road. Wheelers therefore carried out a cycle count at the Stepney Way/Cavell Street junction to assess the potential impact of preventing east-west travel.
The count data clearly shows that the majority of the cyclists that travel through this junction in the morning are going east to west and therefore would be prevented to do so with the Zone 11 one-way system proposals. This data has been passed onto the council.
Cycle Counts
We carry out cycle counts at various locations around the borough to assess cycle usage and trends. We are then able to use this data to backup campaigns for improving cycling conditions.
If you have any recommendations where a cycle count should take place and/or you would like to volunteer to help out on a count then let us know. Just half an hour in the morning or evening would be a great help.
In 2002 we held counts in the morning rush hour on 10 January and 18 June at the Aldgate Gyratory system and on 26 March 2003 to measure any effect of the congestion charging scheme introduced mid-February 2003 - view the results.
Mile End Road
(October 1999)
After another fatality on the streets of Tower Hamlets Gary Cummins, Borough Co-ordinator has sent this message to all Tower Hamlets Wheelers/LCC members highlighting what they can do to improve cycling in the borough.
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