Forum Topic

Yes high st Ken cycling lanes to be removed asap

Just seen on  bbc local news this morning Commen sense

Jon morris ● 2158d58 Comments

Common sense? Sure if ripping out safe cycling infra after such a short period makes sense then fine. There will be consequences of course to these hasty decisions. KHR is one of the most dangerous roads to cycle on this side of town and its poorly policed with loads of careless drivers in SUV's using their phones.  It's also a natural road to use to cycle on between West London and Central and was a missing link between already established cycleways like CS3 starting in Hyde park so its a real set back.

Matthew Swain ● 2158d

Rumour has it that the lanes offended the Daily Mail management whose offices are off KHSt.Can't be doing with writing anti-cyclist clickbait for their readers, look out the window and see loads of them using the lane.When the Daily Mail wants something, a Conservative council  must obey.

Michael Robinson ● 2158d

So by the same reasoning you and your pals are confident then of always getting what you want from Labour controlled Hounslow Council?

Paul Fisher ● 2158d

What a load of complete utter tosh

Julian Pavey ● 2158d

The biggest danger to cyclists is themselves, as the majority seem to be colour blind.

Matthew May ● 2158d

HaThat was in reply to the Daily Mail  conspiracyNow ive posted again im laughing even more soDaily mail rips up cycle lane 😄

Julian Pavey ● 2158d

Well, I did say it was a rumour... I hope I'm not prone to the same tinfoil hat conspiracy theories of some of the 'high traffic' supporters who view London Cycling Campaign in the same way as Trump supporters view the Bilderberg group.Some reading for Daily Mail fans.https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8973727/NIGEL-HAVERS-Disastrous-poorly-designed-cycle-lanes-resulted-gridlock-day.html

Michael Robinson ● 2158d

Great news, lets hope common sense now prevails in Chiswick as well.

Mark Talbot ● 2157d

Nigel Havers has nailed it ! Was chatting to the owner of Exit Here, who's a keen cyclist, but said the number of cyclists who veer off Heathfield Terrace when the lights are red at the CHR junction and hurtle past his premises and round a blind corner is extraordinary and dangerous- anything to say Michael et al ? PS. No one is against cycling in any shape or form, just the cyclists who think they can break the law with complete immunity and endanger Pedestrians

Loraine Pemberton ● 2157d

The cycle lanes have created even more dangers for everyone Chiswick high road is a great example of that. Removing bus lanes was crazy as millions more use them than cycle. London does not have a road infrastructure to accommodate segregation hence replacing a bus lane for a cycle lane was just a crazy compromise. Unfortunately Labour have zero common sense, the residents and traders of Kensington pulled together to get this done, well done to them. Now can Chiswick do the same?

Jayne Thorburn ● 2157d

The Tories have zero common sense too.It was the Tories the gave the money to the councils to spend on these daft schemes.

Brian Green ● 2157d

These make it easier for those who think that they can't cycle to cycle. (There are also other cycles eg with more wheels for those who don't feel they can deal with balancing on two). According to the Times and the Daily Mail subsidies for e-bikes are expected from Govt.

Philippa Bond ● 2157d

sad innit.  This happening to such a smashing bloke.  Wot a loverly man.  Brought nuthing but peace joy to millions an then this has to happen.  Someone once saw him smile at a dead gerbil and swore blind there were tears in his eyes.It was the cyclists wot done it obviously.  The final straw that broke the camel's hump.  Millions of selfish little girls givin' up their bikes and taking to the internet. That and the fact you never could park-up bang outside Phil's shop.  Wot with the rent and the business rates and the empty offices and the half deserted underground – and Primark flogging dirt cheap imitation lycra, 'ow the bleedin' hell can anyone expect to make an honest living nowadays in that sort of climate?  But it was the bikers wot done it!It's a right stinker of blow that's for sure......PS:-  talking of right bandits I watched the doc last night about the Diana interview.  If Martin Bashit (npi) isn't toast then I know not what toast is....

Stuart Kerr ● 2157d

Yes, hopefully Chiswick will soon follow suit.

Mark Edwards ● 2157d

PS. No one is against cycling in any shape or form, just the cyclists who think they can break the law with complete immunity and endanger Pedestrians.What a load of shit.

Tony Smart ● 2157d

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=9GSqSv8UNgo&app=desktop

Philippa Bond ● 2157d

Well, as the first comment said, apart from the protest the lane was virtually empty. And so was the one in Euston, and so is the one in Chiswick. Taking up a whole lane for the odd cyclist does not make sense. This is London- people need roads to travel to and from work, take children to school, and to carry out business. It is not for a few people to enjoy a pleasant cycle ride. If that is what you want to do, fine - do what my family does, and head out to Richmond or wherever, and have your nice cycle ride where it doesn't interfere with the running of the city...

Mark Edwards ● 2157d

Use of the lane doubled the number of journeys by bike on Kensington High Road to 4000 per day in the 7 weeks it was partially in place. More than ten times the number of emails that Felicity Buchan and the Council received from residents complaining about it in the same period. In one hour on October 10th between 5 and 6pm there were twice as many journeys as emails received by Ms Buchan. Travel times for motor vehicles are the same today as they were before the lane was installed. This is all RBKC data. The Kensington Business Forum has issued a statement denying that they supported the removal of the lane. The government and TfL are both scrutinising the process. The Royal Albert Hall and Imperial College have issued statements supporting the lane. More and more businesses are distancing themselves from the Council’s decision. It is interesting to observe people in Chiswick signing a petition and celebrating the removal of a cycle lane in another Borough that didn’t affect most of them in any way when more and more children and teachers were using it to get to school at a time when they are being advised not to use public transport. It puts Chiswick people’s complaints about local schemes and their petitions in perspective.

Paul Campbell ● 2157d

Paul, as you would say your yourself and have done numerous timesYou lost,its over, get over it,move on

Paul Fisher ● 2157d

TonyCharming as ever !Nonetheless my statement is true, I support anyone's right to travel how they choose. The problem I, and many others, have  is the poor, ill conceived and dangerous C9 design.

Loraine Pemberton ● 2157d

It will be more interesting to see what the numbers are seven weeks into the New Year when schools, offices etc are back to 'normal'. Will they fall back, stay constant, or even increase.Also, when confidence returns to using public transport, same question.

Adrian Irving ● 2157d

Paul Campbell - Please can you stop lying? Is that too much to ask?Can you really state honestly that the lane "doubled the number of bicycle journeys"? Where is the proof of this claim?I make up one of those statistics because I travel that route often and I can assure you I did not choose to cycle BECAUSE a bicycle lane was installed on part of my journey. I like many others have taken the opportunity of the pandemic to choose my bicycle over the train.You are doing cyclists an injustice. I am finding so much more hostility as a cyclist in recent months and I believe it has been caused by these rushed traffic measures, promoted by people like you, rammed down people's throats. If you want change, you need to get people on board, not provide snide comments, label political points and ignore other road users' needs and concerns. We are going to end up with a worse cycling environment than better. As I have said before, get out of your Twitter bubble, get off your keyboard and go and talk to local people and businesses.

Henry Man ● 2157d

How can I be charming when faced with a lie like that?. You never stop spewing your anti cycling rhetoric.

Tony Smart ● 2157d

HenrySpot on.  On all counts.  The London Cycling Campaign have set back cycling.

Chris Soze ● 2157d

This is from Hounslow's own documentation. Have a look at the direction of the line for cycling, and that was only in August, I doubt it will have changed direction with the onset of winter. I do agree with Paul Campbell that people should confine themselves to commenting on their own area — I share his indignation. Wouldn't it be dreadful if a pressure group had encouraged their members from all over London to attempt to influence decisions about controversial traffic schemes in Chiswick? The words "pot" and "kettle" come to mind.

Bruce Hammal ● 2157d

The irony is Paul is likely at Kensington High Street right now at a protest to support the cycle lane that he advertised on his Twitter feed, calling for support from all members of the London Cycling Campaign to head there for 8am this morning. I also agree by the way. People should be confined to commenting on their own areas. What a novel idea this would be if Hounslow council embraced this concept in their engagement with Chiswick residents and businesses.

Henry Man ● 2157d

I noticed that our own Ruth Mayorcas managed to get herself onto BBC London's report about Kensington's decision. Sadly there was only time to include about 5 seconds worth of her much-loved mantra about cycling and shopping. It was a nice close-up though - I particularly liked the tinsel.

Bruce Hammal ● 2157d

Quick question, Tony:When cyclists say C9 is ill-conceived and dangerous do you consider them anti-cyclist?If not, then Loraine and many others stand with them. You clearly do not stand with the Chiswick community. Perhaps its an enigma wrapped in a riddle wrapped in a conundrum.

David Lesniak ● 2157d

Don't be silly. She is as anti cyclist as they come.

Tony Smart ● 2157d

Ruth needs to keep her personal mantra to herself and listen to the constituents. So patronising......also agree that only local folk should have a vote on cycling lane campaigners from elsewhere are not welcome to have any opinion in our manor.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2157d

"Don't be silly. She is as anti cyclist as they come."Yet again you're deliberately confusing a badly designed and dangerous cycleway and yes I'm anti that, but not anti cyclists other than the ones who cycle recklessly and break the law, I'm also don't condone motorists who do the same !If I were anti cyclists I'd be anti Cllrs John Todd and Ron Mushiso as well as 4 of my best friends - they're all regular cyclists. Perhaps have the wit to think about the fact just because people have differing views to your own it doesn't make them anti, it's called freedom of choice, or don't you believe in that ?

Loraine Pemberton ● 2157d

Jayne, are you possibly mixing up the Ruths? Ruth Cadbury is the MP with the constituents and Ruth Mayorcas is the cycling zealot who represents herself. I agree it's easy to confuse the two.

Bruce Hammal ● 2157d

According to Google info. Most women will not cycle to work for all sorts of reasons, even those that cycle for exercise say they would not cycle to work.

Janice Evans ● 2156d

I repeat, Tony, what would you call a cyclist who had the identical observation/opinion/experience of CS9 as ill-conceived and dangerous?Your "clever" avoidance of the question speaks volumes.

David Lesniak ● 2156d

Janice  Lots of women cycle to work.

Philippa Bond ● 2156d

If most means more than 50% I suspect that most men wouldn’t cycle to work either. It wouldn’t surprise me if most women didn’t drive cars to work as well.

Andrew Jones ● 2156d

Three times more men cycle to work than women, also more women walk to work than men, info from Google.

Janice Evans ● 2156d

I didn't avoid the question. You just tried to change the narrative. I wouldnt label someone who has an opinion on quality. I must have complained about hundreds of cycle lanes not being fit for purpose. There is a big difference between wanting better infrastructure and taking every opportunity to complain about cyclist behave.You are not that niave.

Tony Smart ● 2156d

Atleast Phillipa did not give us a host of daily links today To me phillipa will allways been known as lady links Mind you,i dont read any of them otherwise id need 36 hrs in a day 😀

Julian Pavey ● 2156d

Apologies thanks  Bruce I did get confused, senior moment 😂😂😂

Jayne Thorburn ● 2156d

NOFOMO Julian?  I often deliberately use ones which explain what they are about.

Philippa Bond ● 2156d

No, Tony, I didn't try to change the narrative.I asked the same question twice and twice you avoided answering.

David Lesniak ● 2156d

Looks as though protesters have prevented the removal of the Cycle lane so far, although there's another 4 nights to go.https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/sadiq-khan-high-street-kensington-cycle-lanes-b151022.htmlI am glad it happen in Kensington first as the protest groups have shown their hand of who is involved and where the come from.

Bernard Allen ● 2155d

Just out of interest Jon, has the High Street Ken cycle path impacted on you in any way at all?

Carl Wynne ● 2155d

The protesters are shocking but the mayor even more so he needs to go! The local residents don’t want the cycle lane so the council has listened it is called democracy clearly Khan doesn’t support democracy so I say it’s time for him to go. He has done nothing for Londoners other than cause chaos, zero consultancy, just his pet project as he is a cyclist, outrageous behaviour for anyone in power.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2155d

Looks like the protest was organised by XR. Their local activists are active here, well at least their multiple fake Twitter accounts having a “collective” tantrum are.

Russell Pearson ● 2155d

So why on EARTH do you think they would do something like that?

Philippa Bond ● 2155d

Who knows, maybe out of this world fantasies and an obsessional belief they are right?

Russell Pearson ● 2155d

Looking forward to an answer to your question Carl.

Paul Campbell ● 2155d

Extinction Rebellion activists climbed onto the roof of council contractor’s van last night in High Street Kensington. The Conway contractors agreed to halt work to remove the “pop-up” lanes.With those guys involved it now gets very nasty. Innocent people are going to get hurt. Dont take your children along that road..

Bernard Allen ● 2155d

Innocent people are going to get hurt. Dont take your children along that road..Indeed with the removal of the bike lanes innocent people will get hut whilst simply trying to cycle through London.  Lets hope the decision is reversed at least we have upgraded infra in Chiswick to look forward to once its ready and open.

Matthew Swain ● 2155d

Carl, I am struggling to understand the thinking behind you question to Jon.The only conclusion I have come to is that if Jon is not directly impacted them his opinion is somehow invalid.Obviously I must have missed something as this would mean many of opinions on a multitude of subjects covered on this forum should be ignored.

Adrian Irving ● 2155d

MatthewI take it you and your mates in Extinction Rebellion activists will be visiting Chiswick.if any Road measures are reversed.All the Government, Local  authority Lcc, and Hcc are achieving is a them and us society,

Bernard Allen ● 2155d

Bernard,I don't have any mates in XR and have no connection to them.

Matthew Swain ● 2155d

Very true Adrian, the cycle cranks like to whittle on about Copenhagen and Amsterdam, but if anyone mentions the other side of west London, there’s sneering remarks.

Russell Pearson ● 2154d

I'm a bit late on this comment Loraine but I do have something to add. I wouldn't be using the example of what a convicted drink driver says as a basis for my arguements about other people doing illegal things...https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Havers#:~:text=Havers%20was%20arrested%20in%20February,t%20regret%20it%20at%20all%22.&text=Havers%20appeared%20in%20BBC%20One,Think%20You%20Are%3F%20in%202013.'Havers was arrested in February 1990 on suspicion of drink driving, and taken to Harrow police station.[16] He was later banned from driving for one year, and fined £500, but told a woman's magazine "I don't regret it at all".''

Tom Trower ● 2153d

Taxis tend to stop in the middle of the road stopping traffic now whether or not there is space to pull in just the same way that buses using floating bus stops do. So what is the difference?  Change is needed now.

Philippa Bond ● 2152d

Just out of interest what happens if a vehicle breaks down, can it temporarily be move to a 2 way cycle lane.

Janice Evans ● 2152d