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Official launch went well... Well, apart from protesters who dragged a coffin up the middle of the street and heckled the Dutch ambassador with a megaphone.

http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/dutch-ambassador-witnesses-protests-at-london-s-mini-holland-opening-2/018384

Quick update, as it's been a while...

Lots of modal filters are going in, and the centrepiece of the first stage, the semi-pedestrianisation of Orford Road in the centre of Walthamstow Village is all but finished and is amazing.

The reduction in through traffic in the area with the road closures has had a subtle but profound effect. Things don’t look that much different, but I cycle around this area with my family and it is so much quieter. I feel better about letting my boy loose on the roads. Would have kept him on the pavements before.

As well as modal filters, the big thing is Lea Bridge Road and Whipps Cross Roundabout. Plans have been released which will tear up Whipps X and turn it into a fully segregated T-Junction, plus the other end of Lea Bridge Road will see full segregation, which will eventually extend all the way up to the roundabout.

Small sections of the local population continue to protest, and there’s been a legal challenge from a group calling themselves E17Streets4All (lol) which essentially relied on a technicality that was easily fixed by the council.

All in all though, things are going well. It’s an exciting time out East for people who want to see somewhere with the balls to do something a bit radical that takes away priority from cars.

If you're from the area you can get on the Waltham Forest People on Bikes Facebook group and follow E17Streets4Cars on Twitter, which is quite funny.

We've now got people on facebook now bemoaning the loss of parking due to a bike shed being put in on their street.

It takes up half a parking space.

Half.

For six bicycles. On a length of road entirely given over to car parking. It's actually pretty mindblowing.

@bothwell are you having trouble with those dirty splitters of the People's Cycling Front of Enfield?

Just go onto change @bothwell, start up a petition, then at least it's going. Do a few tweets out to London bloggers etc - you'll have more than 200 signatures by the end of the day...

Also if I could get some help trolling the anti Mini-Holland site 'Walthamstow Toss' here, that would be much appreciated:

https://www.facebook.com/walthamstowtoss/photos/a.1513049298947573.1073741828.1513045852281251/1542901499295686/?type=1&theater

A petition against Enfield Mini Holland has been started on the government e-petitions thing. It has a couple hundred signatures:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/74598

When this happened in Walthamstow, we organised a pro-petition that garnered a surprising amount of support. That's been very helpful in mitigating negative stories in local media and for keeping councillors on board.

You should get one going on change.org (which is much more effective at gathering support) if you live in the area and support the scheme...

Everything seems to be in order

Depressing. Maybe someone could knock up some pro mini holland posters? Redress the balance a bit?

Yeah getting a lot of that in Walthamstow as well. Good thing about the filtered permeability road closures is that they'll make them easier to cross for people with mobility issues.

I wonder what Ms Osman's response would be if parking spaces were to be removed to create a safe zimmerframe lane for elderly people to walk along?

They've done a Downfall

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1532034537049049&set=vb.1513045852281251&type=2&theater

Things not looking that promising in Kingston:

https://twitter.com/VoleOSpeed/status/541677269014835200

Would be a counterproductive waste of money if it isn't done right...

You spend days on end arguing for Mini Holland on Facebook, and then someone puts this work of genius up... Sometimes I feel like just giving up.

Interesting stuff @bothwell - as far as I understand it they're going to have to get a move on and spend that money. I think it needs to be spent in Walthamstow by the end of 2016.

Good to hear 70% support, and will be fascinating to see what the good people of Enfield choose as their preferred cycle infra. Though that trafficchoices website seems to LOVE ASLs and is lukewarm about cycle lanes, whether segregated or not...

I would also brace yourself for a howl of protest if any measure brought in seems to any way impinge on motorists.

Sorry need to keep up with this thread better.

To update: the roadblocks came down a while ago. Residents' suggestions/critiques were gathered and new adjusted plans for filtered permeability were delivered last weekend.

Also traffic data was released, showing a dramatic overall reduction in cars in the trial area.

Some residential roads did see a dramatic INCREASE in traffic which worked out how to cut through. The revised plans feature more and moved road blocks to (hopefully) address this.

Pre- trial, slightly More than half of people in the area polled were for, about a third against. Post trial both percentages increased slightly, leaving a majority in support.

So this next consultation will be chewed over, and implemented early next year.

Next step is filtered permeability in a neighbouring area, and hopefully soon plans for a fully segregated Lea Bridge Road will be released.

If you're a proper vehicular cyclist then stop moaning about segregated infrastructure. Carry on in the road like you have been. No one's forcing you into the cycle lane. You say you worry about 'more aggressive drivers'. They're already fucking aggressive. You can deal with it. It's not actually that dangerous. You do it every day.

Front page of this week's Waltham Forest Guardian. First piece they've run that isn't ENTIRELY negative. Gotta love the headline. Join the rage. Sign the petition! http://www.change.org/p/stella-creasy-mp-we-support-mini-holland-in-walthamstow

You need a sort of catchy poster version of what oliver schick just said.

Well if you're a resident of Enfield I would suggest you get the word out because you're already behind in the battle of hearts and minds.

Someone needs to get posters up refuting those already there. And you need to be EXTREMELY reasonable with some very irrational people to win support.

So this is now happening in Enfield. If you're from the area and support Mini Holland you need to organise your support. Don't let yourself be shouted down.
http://m.imgur.com/ae5WWd9

if anything i felt it was a bit unbalanced there was only one vox pop of someone who was against - rest of it was all in support. Not that I'm complaining.

Anyhow thanks everyone for signing the FOR petition has just overtaken the AGAINST - think I may as well leave the petition running as this is only the start of mini holland - be nice to keep it ticking along throughout

If you've signed it already - thanks!

If not:

https://www.change.org/p/waltham-forest-council-we-support-mini-holland-in-walthamstow-2

Yep Bothwell I agree with all of that on showing support to a wider audience than just councillors (though 500 signatures on a petition can't hurt)

And I'm crossing my fingers that businesses in the area see a lift like those studies say they should. Will be heading up Orwell this weekend with the family on our bikes and make a point of spending some money.

I think people living outside the area could gain a lot from a successful mini holland in time. Other councils would have an example of just how far £30 million can go when invested in decent cycle infrastructure. Rather than, say, resurfacing some roads.

Thanks all. It's now only 70 behind the anti petition and we started 300 behind 24 hours ago...

I think it's unfortunate that this has turned into two opposing petitions. But I felt I had to start one. There's a small group of loud, angry residents who were getting media coverage and hundreds of names on a petition totally unanswered.

There is a battle of hearts and minds going on right now, and my fear is that people in the media and people inside Waltham Forest Council - which I know has a lot of anti-cycling sentiment inside it - would begin to reconsider if all they see is opposition.

I've tried to keep the wording of the petition as inclusive as possible - because it is an inclusive scheme for everyone in the borough. And couldn't agree more that a lot hangs on this. That's why I felt I had to get the supporters' voices out there. Would be devastated if we let this slip through our fingers because we didn't stand up for it.