To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Yong.

To receive any Declarations of Interest.

None received.

To confirm the Part I minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2017 be approved.

To receive the above presentation

The Forum received a presentation from Julian Scriven of Nextbike UK. Mr Scriven explained that bike sharing had started in the1960s with the first recorded scheme in Amsterdam. The guiding principle of Nextbike was that cycling, and therefore bike shares, should be for everyone. Nextbike undertook a lot of promotion to non-core cyclists. Nextbike worked collaboratively with councils to discuss what would work in their area. The company was strongly focussed on innovation. It was important that a bike share scheme was also positive for those not using it; it should not be an inconvenience to others.

Nextbike had 45,000 bikes worldwide in 25 countries. The company had been founded in 2004 in Europe and had subsequently spread to the USA, UK and India. They had five existing schemes operating in the UK and five UK launches had been confirmed for the first half of 2018. Nextbike offered customised system types including station based, free floating and hybrid systems. Bikes were built to the highest European standards and would survive 10 years of use. Unlike those in London, Nextbikes held all their technology in the bike itself rather than in the terminal. This allowed for lighter on-street infrastructure and provided GPS and wifi triangulation on the bikes themselves.

Nextbike users could unlock bikes in a number of ways, using a smartphone app, via the bike computers, with a smart card and through a 24 hour customer contact centre. Geofencing technology was increasingly being used to directly control where bikes could and could be returned. Nextbike offered a 24 hour extraction of faulty bikes and bikes abandoned in in appropriate places within 1 hour if in high security locations. Nextbike offered a rebalancing scheme to ensure bikes were available in the right places at the right time. Service teams were often third sector organisations including local charities trying to get people back to work.

Mr Scriven commented that Windsor was a unique place and therefore presented challenges, including limited shared public space, a high tourist influx and legitimate security concerns. Nextbike would propose infrastructure-light docking stations for the town which would help address the space and security issues. These could be moved in 2-3 hours to accommodate events. A geofencing overlay could alert the service team, and the police if necessary, if a bike had been left somewhere other than a docking station. A tariff structure could allow for differentials between charges for tourists, residents and concessions.

In response to questions, Mr Scriven confirmed:

·         Three gearing options were available (3/7/8) to deal with hilly areas.

·         Areas such as the Long Walk could be defined as embargoed parking zones. It would be made clear in terms and conditions that membership would be revoked if a person cycled in an embargoed zone.

·         The app could include local cycle routes.

·         If a base station were removed, the app would automatically be updated.

·         All bikes displayed identification numbers.

·         The police would be able to move or remove bikes. The role of RBWM Ambassadors could be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

To receive the above report.

Gordon Oliver, Principal Transport Planner, explained that ‘Operation Close Pass’ had begun in the West Midlands. A plain clothes police rider would alert officers further along the road if a car passed them too closely. The driver would then be pulled over, presented with video evidence and offered a 10 minute educational session or points and a fine. The scheme had been successful in reducing the number of incidents and complaints. It was hoped that Thames Valley Police would be able to attend a future Task and Finish Group meeting.

David Lambourne commented that a flashing rear light even in the daytime made a great difference and people should be encouraged to use them. Susy Shearer commented that problems often arose during commuting times. Steven Shepherd asked if TVP would accept the cyclist’s own footage of close passes as evidence.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That it be recommended that Thames Valley Police be approached to see if they would be willing to work with the council to develop and deliver Operation Close Pass within the Royal Borough; and for this to be supported by a comprehensive joint communications programme.

To receive the above report.

Gordon Oliver explained that Route 50 between Maidenhead and Cookham had originally been planned as part of a longer route but this had been put on hold. The route include a permitted path across the Summerleaze estate. The landowner had welded bars across the gates  to stop motorbikes but this had also limited access for most cycles as well as preventing access for pushchairs, wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The Rights of Way team had worked with the landowner to ensure the existing barriers were replaced with K barriers along with some surfacing improvements. Councillor Beer thanked Gordon Oliver and his colleagues for the achievement.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the contents of the report be noted.

To receive the above report.

The Chairman reported that a number of meetings had been held to identify changes needed to the Action Plan. The next meeting would take place in February 2018.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the content of the report be noted.

Dedworth/Clewer areas

Following concerns raised by local residents, discussion of speed humps and cushions and the current condition of road surfaces in which they are used.

Susy Shearer explained that she had become aware of a conversation on social media in the last 6 months relating to the variable heights and shapes of traffic cushions in the Dedworth and Clewer areas. She had forwarded the details of problems on specific roads to Gordon Oliver. Often the road surface around the cushion was of poor quality and in need of resurfacing. Ms Shearer referred to a scheme in Galleys Road that was 15 years old but had a smooth road surface and a sinusoidal hump profile. The Chairman commented that the humps on Dedworth Road had been put in when the Tesco store had opened. They had originally been too high and an ambulance had got stranded so the height had been reduced. Cllr Lion asked if the humps were needed. There had been a history of speeding and the humps were effective in addressing this.

David Lambourne referred to the traffic calming scheme on Burchetts Green Road. He had objected to the scheme when it was proposed and had asked for gaps to let cyclists through. He had been told the humps would be kept in good condition but this had not happened; there was a particular problem with the granite setts around the humps. The Chairman suggested that Volker highways be asked to undertake an audit of the road surface.

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v  Action: Volker highways be asked to undertake an audit of the road surface on Burchetts Green Road.

Gordon Oliver confirmed that a line had been included in the 2018/19 capital programme to look at humps in the Dedworth area. Councillor Beer highlighted the need for people to look at the situation from the point of view of the cyclist.  David Lambourne commented that unfortunately inspections were undertaken to the national standard  of being safe for the motorist.

David Lambourne commented that to encourage people to cycle the figure of £10 per head recommended by the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group should be recognised and applied. The government did not meet their standard but the borough should try to do so. Holland had achieved a cycle network by ring-fencing funds each year.  He had stopped attending the Forum in the past because of a lack of will by the Cabinet. The current administration was spending more but not enough. The Action Plan was very good but unless funding was available it would simply be a piece of paper. Studies had shown that every £1 spent on infrastructure had a £2 health benefit. The Chairman suggested this was a national problem therefore contact could be made with the Secretary of State for Transport. Residents could also meet with Theresa May as the local MP to raise concerns. With the introduction of Community Infrastructure Levy, a parish council with an adopted Neighbourhood Plan would receive 25% of contributions to spend on local infrastructure. 

Gordon Oliver referred to a communication he had received from Mike Gammage highlighting the need to understand why people did not cycle.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.