Cycle Super-Highways

[EC2boy]

Does that mean that going northbound towards Oval, we'll be expected to stick in the middle lane and then swing round to the right? When I take that junction, there are often 20 bikes. Which means we'll all be sitting there completely exposed in the middle of the lane that heads up to Vauxhall doesn't it? Or am I not getting it?

It looks completely crazy, like it's designed for one cyclist per traffic light rotation and hyper dangerous but with no way of bailing out into the main traffic flow.

Please tell me I'm just not getting it or have they really made this junction worse, same as they have the turn into Kennington Road further up?

 

[gaz]

From the looks of it. You head towards vauxhall and swing round. I have a video of it which I will post later. It would mean that the 20+ cyclists which can easily be at the junction will be fighting for position.

 

[EC2boy]

Personally, I am getting a bit fed up of Boris's useless cycle prattle. London Cycling Campaign doesn't seem to actually do anything and TfL not listening to them in any case (at least as far as the superhighways are concerned as it didn't consult them one jot). I'm beginning to feel like it's time cyclists took a bit more direct action. I'm not sure if I've got the nerve for direct action but I'm just tired of crap decisions being taken by TfL and crap drivers and and and....

 

[gaz]

I'm very close to getting to cycle the route with the head of the cycle superhighways at tfl. I will of course point out some of the short comings of it to him.

 

[BentMikey]

Heckle him, on camera innit!

 

[EC2boy]

It'll be dead interesting to hear what he has to say.

Apparently, all the London Boroughs sat down with TfL to have a go at them about how they designed the superhighways (no consultation, just bundled in and did it, in complete contrast to the cycle hire). As a result, TfL has promised to mend its ways but hasn't committed to what that might ever mean and the boroughs are now talking about boycotting the launch. It's all low-level petty politics stuff but it makes me kind of cross that everyone's just being terribly polite about something that is pretty sub-standard in implementation terms.

Anyhow, rant over...

 

[Tynan]

he'll ride at 10mph, not mind dismounting where necessary, in short he'll make it all look very sensible

 

[gaz]

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ4JAbqcpQM

Video of the segregation in use.

 

[jonesy]

I'm very close to getting to cycle the route with the head of the cycle superhighways at tfl. I will of course point out some of the short comings of it to him.

Clearly there are shortcomings in implementation, but it would be a shame if that detracts from the underlying principle of the CSH, which I think Boris has got right, namely that cycle routes need to be direct and follow the main routes into the city if cycling is to be time competitive against other modes. We've gone as far as we can with trying to signpost circuitous back street routes and gravelly paths on canal towpaths, and that is never going to attract large numbers of cyclists.

I recently visited Copenhagen, and one thing that really stood out to me was that cycle routes followed all the main roads into the centre and that was where the vast majority of cyclists could be seen. I did see a few paths across parks etc, but that wasn't where you'd see the cyclists.

 

[Origamist]

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ4JAbqcpQM

Video of the segregation in use.

If that is the intended path they expect cyclists to take, it's piss poor infrastructure. However, let's see what it's like when it's finished.

 

[Origamist]

Clearly there are shortcomings in implementation, but it would be a shame if that detracts from the underlying principle of the CSH, which I think Boris has got right, namely that cycle routes need to be direct and follow the main routes into the city if cycling is to be time competitive against other modes. We've gone as far as we can with trying to signpost circuitous back street routes and gravelly paths on canal towpaths, and that is never going to attract large numbers of cyclists.

I recently visited Copenhagen, and one thing that really stood out to me was that cycle routes followed all the main roads into the centre and that was where the vast majority of cyclists could be seen. I did see a few paths across parks etc, but that wasn't where you'd see the cyclists.

It was the old newt lover that first championed the CSs in conjuction with TFL, not Boris - but to Boris' credit, this was one of Ken's plans that he decided not to kick into the long grass.

As for the CSs - I see it as both a step forward and a wasted opportunity. Hopefully the planners working on the remaining CS routes can learn from the mistakes of the pilot highways.

Copenhagen does appear to be the CS model, but the Danes have the Green Wave, wider lanes, priority green lights, bicycle bridges, bicycle counters, priority through junctions, regular sweeping and maintenance, wider lanes, loads of cycle parking etc. Maybe some of these measures will appear over time in the UK.

 

[gaz]

I've arranged a talk with tfl for next week about the sh. I will be organising the ride along shortly after.

 

[Origamist]

I've arranged a talk with tfl for next week about the sh. I will be organising the ride along shortly after.

Make yourself a nice list of pertinent questions, anticipate their counters and keep plugging away.

 

[Aperitif]

Ask why they put bumpy white paint all over, gaz - informing that this is "CSH 7" or whatever. Surely indicative markings (on the riser of a kerb for example), would do the trick. Paint is slippery when wet. And it is a waste of facility.

 

[EC2boy]

I've arranged a talk with tfl for next week about the sh. I will be organising the ride along shortly after.

If you ever want any more input with the TfL bods, give me a shout. I'm more than happy to spend some of my time contributing on this sort of thing.