Forum Topic

Cycle Superhighway starting from Acton

Just received this:-Proposals for a new Cycle Superhighway between Tower Hill and Acton. The East-West Cycle Superhighway would mean changes to the road layout to create a largely segregated two-way cycle track, designed to improve safety for cyclists. We would create space for the new Superhighway by reallocating road space from other traffic and changing the operation of some junctions, including banning some turns for motorists. For further details and to have your say, please visit tfl.gov.uk/cycle-east- west The consultation closes on Sunday 19 October 2014. Please note another consultation is underway for a new Cycle Superhighway between Elephant & Castle and King’s Cross. For further details and to have your say, please visit tfl.gov.uk/cycle-north-south

Bob Crossley ● 4381d17 Comments

"*Consultation on Westway to Acton section at a later date" The consultation is just the first bit through central London at this point, as this map indicates:https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/cycling/eastwest/user_uploads/proposed-route-alignment.pdfOut here in the west we're still cut off from the centre by the lack of willingness of Kensington and Chelsea to consider segregated cycling on their streets.  That will form my response to the consultation, as the proposed Westway route doesn't really address issues this far south and the previously planned route through here appears to have been scrapped.

Thomas Barry ● 4381d

I spoke to someone at the exhibition in Padding todaywho said the delay in the westway section is because it's elevated and requires a lot more engineering planning (e.g. lighting).Sadly the section west of Paddington won't see the light of day until well after the 2016 delivery date of the central section.  I know Boris is obsessed with fashionable east london but can't see why the western section needs to take quite so long.  So get your support in before the western section gets forgotten about by the next mayor.Also, they said to make sure you provide any feedback on links to local routes (e.g. from the A40 to Acton Main Line / Crossrail) because they'll coordinate those with the local "quite routes" consultation team & local authorities  - especially since Ealing is doing a mini-Holland thing and have a big budget for improvements  (although knowing JG Bell that'll just be for the W5 and Southall elite).

Ben Smith ● 4380d

Im not sure why all this money is being spent when they admit car journeys will take longer and the its the cars that pay tax.As a one time cyclist I swore never agin to ride one in London. Far to dangerous so I suppose cycle lane are a safer option. However Cyclists must stop riding on the pavement unless its an official cycle lane, stop zipping across red lights. I saw a lady nearly kill herself when she did just that. Be fined if they don't obey the highway code. When I learnt to cycle everyone used to get off their bikes to cross the road. When was the last time you saw a cyclist do that.

Bob Crossley ● 4380d

"Im not sure why all this money is being spent when they admit car journeys will take longer and the its the cars that pay tax."Everyone pays tax.  Car owners pay vehicle excise duty - it is not hypothecated.

Ben Smith ● 4380d

"Everyone pays tax.  Car owners pay vehicle excise duty - it is not hypothecated."-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------So should cyclists then.I am not anti law abiding cyclists just some of the idiots who use them. For which there seems to be no check or sanctions.

Bob Crossley ● 4380d

Same old anti-cyclist vitriol.......so boring. Why not a walking tax for pedestrians, and execution for crossing the road while using the telephone whilst looking in the opposite direction to oncoming traffic.

Robert Murray ● 4380d

"Same old anti-cyclist vitriol"I did specify I was NOT anti cyclist. How come a sensible discussion can be vitriol.You are the one being vitriolic and rude Robert.

Bob Crossley ● 4380d

I am sorry to have caused offence but I am tired of seeing calls by non-cyclists for taxes on cyclists. It would hate to see the freedom of cycling destroyed by regulation and red tape.

Robert Murray ● 4380d

I don't argue with those sentiments. It is rogue badly behaved cyclists that's the problem not the vast majority.However back to my main point, Isn't the superhighway a lot of money to spend which in effect is going to slow down London's traffic even more?It might be preferable to use cycle lanes on pavements where practical.

Bob Crossley ● 4380d

"However back to my main point, Isn't the superhighway a lot of money to spend which in effect is going to slow down London's traffic even more?"You mean it may slow down certain journeys for some car, van and truck drivers, but will speed up journeys for cyclists, while making the roads safer for everyone?The space for cycle lanes has to come from somewhere and we have a choice - either motorists lose space of pedestrians lose space.  Roads existed before cars and motorists don't own roads, so it's about time the balance of power was restored.  This is ONE route across London, not every road.

Ben Smith ● 4380d

I always wonder why nobody slags off ALL motorists for the exceptionally poor driving of some. But it's OK to group cyclists together as one anti-social, badly behaved, tax evading bunch of health freaks.Surely a segregated lane would help everyone? If it encourages some motorists to occasionally abandon their cars - all to the good.And as for pavements: Why can't wide ones be designated shared spaces? I am NOT going to cycle on the A4 so I ride on the pavement - which is wide and hardly ever has a pedestrian. Same in Notting Hill. Spaces should be shared. Sometimes a cyclist may hurt a pedestrian (though it's very rare in my experience.) Think how often motor vehicles injure or kill cyclists...and pedestrians for that matter. It's inequitable. It must be sensible to separate motor vehicles from people moving under their own steam whenever possible.Just wish the Western part was happening quicker.

Sara Nathan ● 4380d

"Just wish the Western part was happening quicker."Well, add your voice to section 18 and make sure they link it up with useful "quiet ways" to the town centre, Acton Mainline and central line stations.  They will pass that on to Ealing in case Julian Bell decides to spend any of his mini Holland budget in Acton.https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/cycling/eastwest/consultation

Ben Smith ● 4380d

Bob, remind me how much vehicle excise duty electric cars pay?Additionally, consider how much VED I pay for my petrol car, which sits outside my house while I cycle to work every day.

Steven Kealey ● 4380d

Cycle lanes on pavements are generally hated by both cyclists and pedestrians. It won't slow down "traffic" for the many cyclists that it will provide a safe and direct passage into and across central London.If journey times are increased for motorists then maybe they will consider cycling instead (or get the bus/train/tube etc). Perhaps they will find that with more journeys being made by bike, that the road is less congested?Finally, please don't let your issue with a badly behaved minority of cyclists in London detract from the worth of the scheme. I know that careless and dangerous driving kills hundreds of people every year, but we keep getting new roads built left, right and centre.

Steven Kealey ● 4380d

Ok so if you own a car that entitles you to use a bike on the road. I can live with that. I don't think cyclists should have to pay tax anyway.Electric cars do have to display a zero tax disc. Motorbikes and scooters need registration why not bikes.It could be free.

Bob Crossley ● 4380d

"Electric cars do have to display a zero tax disc. "Not for much longer, they're getting rid of paper tax discs in favour of electronic ones."Motorbikes and scooters need registration why not bikes."Relative capacity to cause harm, same reason you need to pass more tests to captain a 747 than to ride a 50cc scooter or go jogging."It could be free."Except it wouldn't, as you'd need a reasonable sized bureaucracy to administer it, so it would be a net taxpayer subsidy to cycling which would be entirely pointless, unlike the EW superhighway which is a net subsidy to cycling that has a thoroughly admirable point to it.

Thomas Barry ● 4380d

I drive a car, a motorcycle and I also cycle. Impossible to please all, but how about a few more paths open to cyclists in the Royal Parks. That would improve the most pleasant riding areas without upsetting motorists. On the motoring front I Am concerned about the Westway. Not so long ago the elevated section was a 60mph motorway. This limit Was briefly halved then changed to 40. Totally unsuited to cyclists and changes to Westbourne Terrace would back up congestion to Paddington slip and beyond.

Robert Murray ● 4380d