Hi <<First Name>>, here’s a roundup of local transport news, plus updates from your EFTAG team.

Bus news

Arriva are now accepting contactless payment cards (and Apple Pay / Google Pay) on their bus services, including on the 66 and 87. Because Essex County Council don’t subsidise these services, they are still expensive, but hopefully this will allow more people to use their buses on an occasional or casual basis.

London buses in the district hold on by a thread: the 20 is frequently terminated before it reaches the Debden estate (despite sometimes continuing on through to Debden station, but without stopping!). Some “schoolday only journeys” are being withdrawn, which can only make worse the chaos every day at 3:30pm when the secondary schools are finishing up.

Chigwell Parish Council’s buses continue to help people in the area. Our photo shows how the service is advertised on the regular bus stops.

Are there other bus services we should be monitoring? Get in touch and let us know are the best and worst services where you are!

Cycling

Across the country, cycling is at last being taken seriously as a way to solve our transport problems (and improve everyone’s health and happiness too). There’s good news from Manchester, from Bristol, from London, and even from closer to home: Cycling UK are hiring a development officer for Essex.

Cycle campaign meeting 23 April

We’re meeting at The Monkhams pub in Buckhurst Hill, at 7:30pm on 23 April. Bring your ideas and enthusiasm for all things cycling in Epping Forest!

Cycling in Redbridge

Redbridge Cycling Campaign (part of the London Cycling Campaign) are re-launching, so if you cycle in or through the London Borough of Redbridge, please do get in touch with us and we’ll put you in contact with them.

Whipps Cross ex-roundabout

street plan for Whipps Cross junction It’s happened… The roundabout from Hell is now a large T-junction with a bit for buses on the side – see plan. We’ve cycled through it and it seems fine – though they haven’t yet finished all the pedestrian and cycling facilities, so we can’t yet give a full report. More information (and the source of the image). They’re also making good progress on the Lea Bridge Road: the west of the Bakers Arms is pretty much done, and there’s a lot going on on the easterly section from the Bakers Arms to Whipps Cross. It’ll soon be a lot easier and safer to get into town by this route – which is at least a couple of miles shorter than going in via Stratford. It’ll (we hope) be easier for motorists too without those pesky bikes in the way.

AGM planning