Cycle Superhighway 8 - Timed Lanes

[AndyCh]

Last Friday evening about 7.30pm I was cycling along CS8 along Millbank and Grosvenor Road when a couple of taxis dropped into the lane from the 'normal traffic' lane. I couldn't believe it, and was in the middle of shouting something constructive like "Oi!" when a scooter also dropped into the lane. I pointed at the lane and he rode alongside me and said it was timed (i.e. 7am to 7pm). I said it wasn't, but then saw the signs which confirmed it is a timed lane.

I had never noticed them before, or even contemplated that it might be a timed lane, particularly given it is mostly too narrow for a car. I've ridden along there countless times after 7pm and never had any problems with cars using the lane.

Is this a new thing, or have I just not realised? It doesn't make sense to me, it was downright dangerous having taxis and scooters/motorbikes squeezing on to this lane with a number of bikes.
Are they all like this, or just this superhighway?

I think it is wrong and should be changed. Anyone else had issues with this?

 

[gaz]

Probably been like that from the start.
The superhighways are pretty crap out side of commuting hours, even during commuting times they aren't great as they are full with bloody cyclists!!!!

Just try and use it on a sunday, you don't even see the blue paint then.

 

[EthelF]

Yep, 'fraid so, it's been timed since it opened so nothing new. Another reason to try to leave work during its hours of operation. Mind you, CS8 is better than CS7 in that respect, iirc that only operates between 7-10 & 4-7.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Cycle Superhighway? Don't make me larf!

 

[Maz]

Last Friday evening about 7.30pm I was cycling along CS8 along Millbank and Grosvenor Road...

Excuse my ignorance, but what is Cycle Superhighway 8 and where is it? i.e. which town, etc.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is Cycle Superhighway 8 and where is it? i.e. which town, etc.

It is/they are some blue paint on the roads in that Laaaaandun.

 

[Maz]

It is/they are some blue paint on the roads in that Laaaaandun.

Ah! You crazy London boys with your cockney rhyming slang, jellied eels, CS8, cor blimey stone the crows, mother's ruin daaan the musical 'all, knees-up mavva braaaan...

 

[Beebo]

Ah! You crazy London boys with your cockney rhyming slang, jellied eels, CS8, cor blimey stone the crows, mother's ruin daaan the musical 'all, knees-up mavva braaaan...

Why has the girl on the right got two tissues stuck in her ears?

 

[subaqua]

Why has the girl on the right got two tissues stuck in her ears?

to drown out the cockernee drone.

 

[Maz]

Why has the girl on the right got two tissues stuck in her ears?

One sheet, me 'ol makka - in one ear an aaat vee avvaaa!

 

[Maz]

Having just googled it, these Superhighways look like a good idea, at least to get people out on their bikes a bit more. I think I'd be on the main road, though, if the other bikers were too slow for my liking.

 

[Dan B]

I don't know CS8 at all well, but are the times definitely for the cycle lane and not for the bus lane? Sounds unusual

That said, half the cycle superhighways seem to consist entirely of blue paint with no markings that would give them force of any law at any time at all, so it could be that the mopedaller was right by default anyway.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Having just googled it, these Superhighways look like a good idea, at least to get people out on their bikes a bit more. I think I'd be on the main road, though, if the other bikers were too slow for my liking.

chicken and egg.

first came the bombs driving people off public transport and onto bikes
then came the hordes of bikes
then came Boris Bikes
then came the (crap) superhighways

As someone who cycles in London only a few days per month they seem to me to be much like crap cycle lanes the country over, only painted blue.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

Having just googled it, these Superhighways look like a good idea, at least to get people out on their bikes a bit more. I think I'd be on the main road, though, if the other bikers were too slow for my liking.

They are a good idea, however, the implementation leaves a lot to be desired - you can't just put some blue paint on the road and expect it to be cycling paradise...

 

[GrumpyGregry]

They are a good idea, however, the implementation leaves a lot to be desired - you can't just put some blue paint on the road and expect it to be cycling paradise...

I disagree. Respectfully. Let me explain...

Yes. Cycling Superhighways are a great idea.

"They", these execrable excuses for proper provision, however, are not cycling superhighways. "They" are not dedicated to cycling. "They" are not super, nor are they highways, though they could be super-highway in the sense they are over/above the actual highway.

"They" are gutters painted blue and misnamed.

and the blue, like hi-viz, doth offend mine eye.