Cycle Super-Highways

[Origamist]

More paint layed down last night in tooting. With some wider sections in parking spaces. Will get some footage up tonight

I'll get some snaps too.

I didn't see them filming the CS promo film at Kennington last night, but here's the gen:

http://realcycling.blogspot.com/2010/04/shoot-tfl-create-new-superhighways-ad.html
http://realcycling.blogspot.com/

 

[Origamist]

Here's a couple of pics from Tooting High St and Broadwater Rd.

Note the "wobbly widening" of the blue lane as it moves from 1.5m to 2m to use up the width of the loading bays:

 

[HJ]

What a pile of pants! Does Boris seriously think this will impress anyone? Oh well, I suppose that is what you get when you vote Tory, public money wasted to paint the roads in the party colour...

 

[lit]

I really don't think they are as bad as people make out, ok they aren't perfect but people do seem to forget how old London's road system is.

 

[gouldina]

I really don't think they are as bad as people make out, ok they aren't perfect but people do seem to forget how old London's road system is.

London is the only city I know in the UK without a major pedestrianised section. What does that tell you about their priorities?

 

[lit]

We aren't talking about pedestrianised sections here but it'd be helpful if you could suggest what they could actually do without causing major disruption to all forms of traffic rather than ask a pretty pointless question.

 

[gaz]

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfh2nW4blYI
- video of new markings.

 

[stowie]

We aren't talking about pedestrianised sections here but it'd be helpful if you could suggest what they could actually do without causing major disruption to all forms of traffic rather than ask a pretty pointless question.

That is the problem. To promote cycling, or walking, or even public transport would require more disruption to private vehicle usage - but that is the whole point, to make these forms of transport easier, and unless we start remodelling our city, this will necessarily take space away from the car.

There are many roads and junctions in London with the space for high quality cycling provision without really disrupting the flow of traffic (single lane traffic on wide roads). There are also many roads that could do with reducing the lanes to slow down motor traffic and make the area more safe and friendly. I always cite Tottenham Hale in this. A ring-road of 3 lanes of traffic which speeds far in excess of the 30mph limits that makes walking or cycling an absolute nightmare if you have to cross the road. Reducing the space for cars would slow traffic and provide the space for decent walking and cycling provision.

It needs a brave plan for cycling infrastructure if London is to go to the next stage of cycle use, and the cycle highways are not it.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I think I might sneak out one night and paint dolphins leaping out of the water, mermaids frolicking by the kerb and pirates mugging the pedestrians.

Oh, please do. :-)

I reckon you could get away with it so long as you wear a high-vis vest, have a white van and carry a clipboard with appropriate paperwork for the works to be completed.

 

[CopperBrompton]

London is the only city I know in the UK without a major pedestrianised section.

Trafalgar Square. Covent Garden. The South Bank. Carnarby Street. Etc, etc.

 

[lit]

It needs a brave plan for cycling infrastructure if London is to go to the next stage of cycle use, and the cycle highways are not it.

Why do you think they are not it? I feel relatively safe on London's roads without the blue paint (I've also cycled over some sections of it and felt a lot of drivers took more notice because of it's the colour. It's not perfect but I haven't seen many valid reasons why it's so bad, just people criticising it ad hoc.

 

[stowie]

Why do you think they are not it? I feel relatively safe on London's roads without the blue paint (I've also cycled over some sections of it and felt a lot of drivers took more notice because it's of the colour. It's not perfect but I haven't seen many valid reasons why it's so bad, just people criticising it ad hoc.

I do not think they will be the thing to get us increasing levels of cycling with a view to having the same number of cyclists as Copenhagen or Amsterdam. There seems to be little difference between the standard cycle provision and the super-highway apart from the colour. And though it may be modifying driving behaviour now because it is new (although in all of Gaz's videos and pictures there are still buses, lorries and cars encroaching), familiarity will breed contempt, and I cannot see how the blue lanes will not get full of cars, scooters etc. like a standard cycle lane.

Junctions are the most difficult for a novice cyclist, and it seems that no junctions are going to be altered for the cyclist on any part of the route. This is a big mistake.

I guess the issue is that us cyclists now have made a choice to cycle in spite of the provision, but the perception of the hazards of cycling will keep many people in their cars - the critical mass of cyclists will only go so far. To get a step change in cycling, their has to be a perception that cycling is quicker, easier, safer and more enjoyable than the alternatives. I don't this the current super highways do this. Coupled with the fact that these highways (along with the bike hire scheme) are the strategy, I think the money could have been better spent.

 

[gouldina]

Trafalgar Square. Covent Garden. The South Bank. Carnarby Street. Etc, etc.

You'd consider those major for a city the size of London? The South Bank doesn't count for a kick off. That's like saying Hyde Park is a pedestrianised zone. The _whole_ of Cardiff city centre is pedestrianised.

 

[lit]

Fair enough, I can see what you mean about in time they might get ignored but I just live in hope they don't.

 

[gouldina]

We aren't talking about pedestrianised sections here but it'd be helpful if you could suggest what they could actually do without causing major disruption to all forms of traffic rather than ask a pretty pointless question.

You think that pointing out how old London's roads are is constructive? There are lots of old cities in the world. The point about the lack of pedestrianised sections is that the same thing applies for bikes but more so. We're an afterthought in London and painting parts of some existing roads blue doesn't help that much I wouldn't say. What about some dedicated cycle/pedestrian areas like in Holland for example? Why the hell not? Amsterdam is also an old city with old roads.
Also, why are you so scared of disruption? When they widen motorways etc around London there's plenty of disruption for the ultimate benefit of cars. Why not for cyclists?