Forum Topic

Friday Opening of New Cycleway

Is anybody giving odds that this will actually happen on Friday? I walked along the High Road yesterday and no work seemed to be taking place. The arrangements at junctions are all that need to be put in place but it doesn't look to me like it is simply a matter of turning on the new traffic lights.

Francis Rowe ● 2141d81 Comments

Given the complexity of the junctions it might be a better idea to open the cycleway in phases so that they can be monitored properly and quickly reviewed if problems become apparent. If you started with the Heathfield Terrace junction you would avoid having to deal with the more complicated junctions at the eastern end of the route. Admittedly it would be frustrating for cyclists initially but better a shorter cycleway for a while than none at all.I remain fascinated to see how the Goldhawk Road junction management will work.

Mark Evans ● 2141d

Likewise Mark - on the Goldhawk Road junction. Good job all the schools will have broken up by then and most people who were going to leave London will have left due to Tier 3 lockdown so that the traffic volume might be less than usual and then TFL and Hounslow will be talking about what a great success it is.

J Morse ● 2141d

Well I hope they are not going to open it without ceremony.At the very least I expect an opening ride by.J Vine in the vanguard on his penny farthing and fixed grin, Curran on a hired Brompton (best make it electric assisted in his case) followed by Lambert on 'Little Pony" with the old coggers from the Bedford Park Cycling Club in the rear.Splendid stuff! History in the making.

Adrian Irving ● 2141d

Splendid stuff indeed Adrian!Who should cut the ribbon?

Marlene Plimley ● 2141d

They are bound to be able to get a big name celebrity to do the honours as they can just ask the most famous person stuck in the resulting traffic jam.

Francis Rowe ● 2141d

Let's think big. Crack open the traditional champagne with accompanying speech."I name this shi🙊 C9. May God bless her and preserve all that peddle in her"

Adrian Irving ● 2141d

Her Maj will have ordered her driver to reprogram the satnav to avoid Chiswick High Road after her last experience here so she is unlikely to be available. We might have to make do with Olivia Colman.

Francis Rowe ● 2141d

Per Chiswick Calendar THE Dr. Will Norman, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner was supposed to have a Santa-themed celebratory ride on Monday that got ditched "due to" Tier 3. I'm baffled how those on bikes would not have been able to distance themselves properly. Hell, tire to tire gets you 2M in a jiffy.I'm guessing it has more to do with optics. Given the traffic jams in the background it wouldn't be the best photo op promoting cycling now would it?

David Lesniak ● 2141d

They'll only show the pics where the traffic has been throttled to show a piece of road that might be empty for all of a few seconds and blank out the gridlock behind or in- front - can see it coming

J Morse ● 2141d

Come on people, it will be great. They've been telling us so loud enough and for long enough. It will be a huge success. Sorry - that should read "it WILL be a huge success". Read all about it in Pravda the next time the Hounslow magazine drops through the letterbox.

Bruce Hammal ● 2141d

Is that greedy, space stealing, accident prone, CHiRoad cycleway open yet?

Jennifer Selig ● 2141d

You all sound fun. Can I bubble with you?

John Hall ● 2141d

No mention of the opening anywhere today. Would it be correct to assume it hasn't happened?

Paul Corcoran ● 2140d

With no workmen visible

Loraine Pemberton ● 2140d

"Can I bubble with you?"Pedestrians can 'bubble' on the cycle path because cyclists ain't gonna use it. Even if the odd cyclist does use it, it will make a good footpath. Hopefully all the e-scooters will use it too.

Steve Taylor ● 2140d

It’s a complete mess east of Chiswick lane, doesn’t look like it’ll be ready before January.Still, it’s nice for Tfl et all to keep the local residents updated

Mark Perry ● 2140d

I find it always good to have a selection of excuses when targets aren't met. Come midnight here are a few suggestions that I am happy for them to crib.First the old favourite, leaves on the path.Then maybe, Is it Friday already? It is finished we just haven't swept up yet.Brexit, because, well, just because.It's raining.It's not raining enough.The bloke what is in charge like got stuck in traffic like.OR, the most likely, zilch, we don't do excuses, we get paid whatever.

Adrian Irving ● 2140d

I travelled on the bus from Turnham Green Church to Goldhawk Road this morning, a journey I haven't taken for some time. The cycle lanes were not open and the journey took ages because of the snail-like pace of the traffic due to constant stoppages. Of the few cyclists I saw, most were on the pavement or sailing through red lights without a moment's hesitation. What a difference LBH's traffic management schemes have made!

Colin Jordan ● 2140d

Another excuse...."We don't have the paperwork."

Marlene Plimley ● 2140d

According to TfL, “technical problems with cables, new traffic lights on CHR”  What a farce ...

Mark Perry ● 2140d

There seem to have been an army of construction and electrical people working on this for weeks if not months now...which leads to the conclusion that this is just an endless job creation scheme. Wonder if they are available to do bridges. So dangerous for cyclists. At least open the lane so we have somewhere safer to cycle...we can figure out where to stop etc!

Caroline Carrington ● 2140d

More haste, less speed as my old Ma used to say. I might not be quite so diplomatic.

Bruce Hammal ● 2140d

There is an argument for a temporary temporary mono-directional cycleway running west bound but closed off at the junction with Chiswick Lane because of the danger of left hooks.Of course this would be pretty pointless if TfL really were going to open the whole thing before Christmas but I'm really sceptical that they will.

Mark Evans ● 2140d

Although it is not particularly clear, looking at what TfL said, they still could open it before Christmas. They are hoping to get the lights working before then and will open the cycleway 'as soon as possible' afterwards. The reference to something not being ready for the New Year was the detectors that had to be built into the road to help with the traffic lights. With Tier 4 in place the conditions would be ideal for a soft opening.

Francis Rowe ● 2139d

Or they could just remove the cycle lane altogether.

Maggie Dodge ● 2139d

Reading between the lines of what TfL have said it looks like they will switch on the lights as soon as they find the missing bit of cable but won't open the cycle lane immediately. This presumably means a cycle phase will be operating on the lights but no cyclists will be allowed to use it.This is clearly an attempt by them to bring cyclists and motorist together because both will be furious.I'd imagine that TfL will be desperate to do this work when Tier 4 lockdown and Christmas is in place. If it still operating this way when the holiday period is over there will be a very negative reaction.

Mark Evans ● 2138d

Looks like parts of the cycleway are now open. Couldn't see if the lights were operational.

Mark Evans ● 2137d

While the two-way cycle lane now appears to be open, it's not that easy to tell. The 'Closed' signs seem to have gone but there don't seem to be many cyclist using it.  I saw none using it eastbound, but that will take time for people to get the hang of.  Some welcoming 'Cycle Lane Now Open' signs might have helped, or 'This Way for the Cycle Lane' or 'Pick up a Free Mince Pie on the Cycle Lane', or 'Use the Cycle Lane or Else Create More Resentment'!

Peter Evans ● 2137d

I cycled along it today, from Ravenscourt Park to Dukes Ave. I must say Hammersmith and Fulham's cycleway is temporary - no new asphalting, buses can pull into the pavement so no danger for pedestrians - but it felt so much safer than what had been done in Hounslow's Chiswick where zebra bridges lead across to floating bus stops. A nightmare for cyclists and pedestrians- the worst of all worlds. Hammersmith and Fulham's temporary design didn't hold up traffic either as cars could overtake the bus. As soon as I reached the junction with Goldhawk Rd the traffic jams started in W4. Is this deliberate??

Mandy Waters ● 2137d

It may be. The Acton Lane bus gate seems designed to throttle traffic coming into the centre of Chiswick and the Goldhawk Road junction will have a similar impact. What Hammersmith & Fulham Council will have to say about their road essentially becoming a traffic holding area for this scheme will be interesting. I don't know whether feedback on the scheme is put in the public domain automatically but it would be worth a FoI request to see.The real fun and games will start when lockdown and the holidays are over.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 2137d

All the barriers and "Cycle lane closed" signs have gone, certainly from Duke Road to Goldhawk Road.  I assume that the Heathfield Terrace end is also open.The permanent traffic lights are now in operation at TGT and Chiswick Lane. Not many cyclists there at present, but that's hardly surprising in view of the news/rumour that opening had been delayed until the new year.Two problems that I can see in addition to all those already raised here:1. As cars turn right out of TGT, there's a natural tendency to head for the leftmost lane, to the left of the traffic light in mid-carriageway. But that's the cycleway. The only indications that it is not where cars should go are some cycle logos on the tarmac.I think that the whole cycleway should be surfaced in a different colour.  Indeed, I thought that cycleways were meant to be surfaced in blue, or am I out of date on that?  Anyway a different colour would help to avoid confusion, and would also help pedestrian safety.  (I note that at some minor junctions, a buff/beige colour has been laid.)2.  The arrangements for cycle turning movements at the TGT junction don't seem to be complete. Cyclists turning into TGT from CHR are faced with signs that indicate No Left (or Right) Turn "Except in two stages". The idea is that on a green light, the cyclist will move forward to the middle of the junction, and then wait for the green light for Annandale Road when they can then head across CHR into TGT.  But where are they supposed to wait between stages? There's nothing marked on the road (apart from faded yellow box markings).

Richard Jennings ● 2137d

Very good point about the right turn out of TGT. In the back of my mind there is a recollection that someone raised the issue about painting the road blue before and was told it wasn't allowed on temporary schemes because it wasn't something that could be done under an Experimental Traffic Order. In my view the obvious flaw in the turn for cyclists into TGT is purely theoretical. I can't think of a journey that would require you to make that turn. Cyclists going west would look to go up a road like Thornton Avenue and cyclists going east would stay with the main traffic lane to turn left or would have turned off earlier at Windmill Road or Elliot Road. Presumably the very short phase on Annandale Road isn't going to be made any longer and tempers would flare if there were cyclists trying to cross the junction in front of northbound traffic here. 

Andrew OSullivan ● 2137d

I think they've spent quite enough on the 'temporary cycle lane' through Chiswick without adding blue tarmac!

Mandy Waters ● 2137d

The painted bicycle sign on roads is ambiguous. For example, Garrett Lane in Wandsworth has them, but only until a cycle path starts a bit further on with bollards. So in that case it means ‘cars are sharing this road with bikes’. I  panicked momentarily until I realised there was no alternative, by which time the proper cycle Lane had started.

Vivienne Cox ● 2137d

You seem to have predicted correctly on the right turn from Turnham Green Terrace onto Chiswick High Road.  I hadn’t realised the cycle lane was open tonight about 6pm.  A van turned onto the High Road from TGT and ended up on the cycle lane.  It was raining and no one was riding up luckily.  More lights/signs needed to avoid an accident.

Kieran Fox ● 2137d

All of this hoo-ha for the sake of the occasional one man on bike!  What about the multitude of people walking, riding buses, driving vehicles to deliver much needed goods, car drivers trying to commute, work, carry equipment, passengers, ambulances, fire engines - adding up to far more people than the lone cyclist!

Jennifer Selig ● 2137d

The right turn out of TGT does seem like an accident waiting to happen. The notion that the cycleway was designed on the assumption that TGT would be closed to general traffic gains more credence. The council are likely to solve the problem by reimposing the restrictions very quickly.

Mark Evans ● 2137d

I think that is probably right. The risk to cyclists here is very high even when the restriction is reintroduced. A driver who has unwittingly driven down Turnham Green Terrace unaware of the access restriction is unlikely to spot the new cycleway and will drive face on into eastbound cyclists.

Francis Rowe ● 2136d

This morning at 7.30 between Heathfield Terrace and Dukes Avenue:-1 x cyclist heading east on the road1 x cyclist heading east on C93 x cyclists on pavement heading east

Loraine Pemberton ● 2136d

Try turning right from Goldhawk onto CHR.The moment you pull the steering wheel you end up in the cycle lane as the roadway and cycle lane meet head on. There is no place to go but directly into the oncoming cyclists. By design I might add. Mind you its not uncommon to have someone on your left turning right with you simultaneously.I'm sure we'll hear the blather about phasing lights but when a cycle lane meets the roadway head-on intentionally it ain't gonna end well.

David Lesniak ● 2136d

So David, are you saying that when the right turn phase out of Goldhawk Road is on green the eastbound cycle lane is also?

Mark Evans ● 2136d

Looking forward to using it. At certain dangerous intersections I will just dismount and push bike across crossing or on pavement) and continue on. Have they cleared all the leaf/mulch? Will be interesting to see how things settle. Although no “normal” yet given lockdown and bridges, Chiswick road closures so we may never know! Drive/ride safely.

Caroline Carrington ● 2136d

I'm saying phasing is the only safety measure and we all know what that means with vehicles of all types running lights.This literally pits one vehicle against the other in a direct line head on.

David Lesniak ● 2135d

I saw a crew clearing up leaves around the barrier on the day it opened but they don't seem to have done the whole route. Not sure it is a big issue at the moment because usage is low so westbound cyclists can cycle on the right hand side of the lane which is generally clear and are unlikely to meet someone coming in the opposite direction. When it gets busier in the new year it will raise a safety issue - hopefully that means the council will be obliged to sweep the streets more regularly.

Mark Evans ● 2135d

Now that all you doubters has been proved wrong with the new cycleway not causing any traffic and nobody being killed isn't it time to admit your mistake?Ruth Cadbury, Hanif Khan and Steve Curran have all hailed it as a great success. We in Chiswick are so grateful that they conferred the benefit of this great project on us first. Now they must give in to the desperate calls of the people of Brentford, Isleworth and Hounslow to similarly be blessed with a temporary cycleway.

Francis Rowe ● 2135d

I've used it a couple of times - these are my experiences:1. Cycle lane blocked by cars pulling out of side roads.2. Cycle lane blocked by an Uber that stopped in the cycle lane to drop off a passenger.3. Car turning right out of TGT and heading straight toward me before realising there was a cycle lane.4. Pedestrians not knowing when to cross and stepping into the cycle lane.5. Pedestrians standing in the cycle lane waiting for a bus on the floating bus island outside Wyndhams.6. The terrifying experience outside Waitrose where the cycle lane crosses the High Road and Heathfield Terrace.7. Cyclists ignoring the red 'Cycle Stop' lights (as usual) and risking being taken out by cars turning right into Dukes Avenue.On the whole it works a lot better than I thought it would but it's not perfect and as it stands I think it is dangerous.

Chris Blackwell ● 2135d

Should you be concerned about the traffic issues in our lovely borough, finally HOUNSLOW COUNCIL are ASKING FOR YOUR OPINIONS but you must do this almost immediately after NEW YEAR. The Council has organised a series of engagement meetings online, the link is given below, on the many road changes made so far including the South Chiswick Liveable Neighbourhood scheme in Grove Park.  (Not included are the many additional schemes for further LTN's to come) It’s important that as many opposing voices as possible are heard to challenge Hounslow Council's view that these schemes are well supported.  WE NEED TO RAISE THE DIFFICULTIES THEY HAVE CAUSED.There are four events, allocated by area, anyone can attend.  They are online, book via Eventbrite using the link below. Hounslow Council wants people to submit questions in advance though they can also be asked during the sessions.  More details via the link.https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/news/article/2236/hounslow_moves_ahead_with_next_round_of_phases_1_and_2_streetspace_engagementThe dates are:•    7pm on Thursday, 7th January: BUSINESSES  boroughwide•    7pm on Friday, 8th January: North Chiswick (LBH language for north of the A4 - including C9 in Chiswick and Brentford & the road closures in the centre of Chiswick)•    7pm on MONDAY, 11th JANUARY: South Chiswick (LBH LANGUAGE FOR SOUTH OF THE A4 - incl. Hartington Rd)•    7pm on Tuesday, 12th January: IsleworthPlease circulate this widely to friends, family and neighbourhood groups. It is vital that the other side of the argument regarding the borough’s traffic is heard.Hounslow Council say they WANT TO HEAR FROM US - NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK UP, it's our last chance!They have more LTN's planned for us here in W4 too.  So get your voices out there now before they start on the next tranche of misery.

Jennifer Selig ● 2135d

Is it safer than before? NoIs there better traffic flow? No.Are journey times better by bike? No.Are bus journeys times better? No.Are bus islands good for passengers? NoIs it pleasing to the eye? NoDoes it reduce polution? NoDoes it significantly encourage more to cycle? NoWill it be scrapped? No

Adrian Irving ● 2135d

Thanks for the post Chris, the temporary cycle lane doesn't sound like it's going to reassure any nervous cyclists that cycling is for them.

Andrew Jones ● 2135d

No way to drive without nervously edging and peering across the cycle lane into heavy traffic-and it's worse returning, can't see them coming till too late! Unable to cycle  with age related sensory impairment- I shan't be joining them and feel disrespected.

David Ivor Terry ● 2134d

Most cyclists heading West in the cycle lane ignore the red CYCLE STOP sign at the end of Dukes Avenue and simply pull out of the cycle lane to merge with the main traffic flow where there is a green light, then rejoin the cycle lane on the other side of Dukes Avenue.

Chris Blackwell ● 2134d

"3. Car turning right out of TGT and heading straight toward me before realising there was a cycle lane" That means your a very slow cyclist or you have gone through a red

Julian Pavey ● 2134d

CorrectionI understand what your saying.Jumped the gun on that one

Julian Pavey ● 2134d

Whilst waiting for several hours at the butchers queue yesterday it was very noticeable how often cars travelling west on CHR went past the TGT junction and straight into the cycle lane.  Not only is that an accident waiting to happen but a very serious head on accident between car and cycle.Of course the car would be at fault, and in some cases it may be drivers operating on muscle memory rather than looking at road signs and road marking but that is not going to save the cyclist

Justin Stephenson ● 2134d

Having looked at this junction earlier today I really can't accept that the driver would be at fault if they went into the cycle lane and hit a cyclist. So many are going the wrong way that it is self-evident the fault is in the design and the signage.

Mark Evans ● 2132d

Julian Peavey wrote ; ""3. Car turning right out of TGT and heading straight toward me before realising there was a cycle lane"That means your a very slow cyclist or you have gone through a red"I was sat at the red light.

Chris Blackwell ● 2132d

We've lost count of the cars using the cycle lane.They either turn left from Chiswick Lane into it or they cross the intersection of CHR and Chiswick Lane headed west and veer into it. At speed. This is worse when some is waiting to turn right onto Upham Park Road.And with the new placement of the signal those who manage to sort out which lane is which will now wait at the light on Chiswick Lane then turn left and wait at the relocated signal coming to an abrupt halt to do so. Even though the second signal is not meant for traffic coming from Chiswick Lane. Just waiting for the rear-end collision. Any day now...

David Lesniak ● 2131d

"I was sat at the red light."  Can one be "sat"???  In my day, I was sitting!  Pedantic maybe but I was sat just grates.

Jennifer Selig ● 2131d

Taking into question the theory that one citizen of Britain may use the stated expression of “I was sat…” we must understand exactly the difference between the ongoing action of Sitting and the conjugated form of the infinitive verb Sit.For example we may take one person by the hypothetical name of Kalysta.Kalysta says : “I was so tired. I was sat there in my car for three hours!”We must acknowledge the fact that Kalysta was in her car for an ongoing time, 3 hours. We assume that she was tired because she was in the ongoing action of sitting for those 3 hours.Or perhaps she would like to use the conjugated past form of sit to say that she took the action of sitting once, and then stayed in that state for three hours.However, to say that she was sat there, would imply that she took on the literal adjective of being sat. And because we know that she wasn’t eternally sitting there, her BEING sat does not become part of her personality or being.Therefore, what Kalysta could have said was“I was so tired. I sat there in my car for three hours!”“I was so tired. I was sitting there in my car for three hours!”

Chris Blackwell ● 2131d

I was sat ON my bike. SITTING ON my bike suggests that it was lying on its side on the riad and that I was sitting on it.

Chris Blackwell ● 2131d

NO to I was Sat on my bike.  YES to I WAS SITTING and YES to I SAT on my bike.

Jennifer Selig ● 2131d

..... and what ever you were doing, trust you were not risking damage and injury by riding it in that unfit for purpose cycle lane!

Jennifer Selig ● 2131d

I was giving the cycle lane the benefit of the doubt ... hence sitting at the lights on my bike / sitting on my bike at the lights / sat on my bike / sat at the lights / sitting at the lights.

Chris Blackwell ● 2131d

Now that TfL have announced that C9 is complete except for some minor works to be done in the New Year it looks like the bus shelters will not be moved closer to the islands.This is unacceptable particularly as the "temporary" lane is likely to in place for months running into years no doubt. Yes, I have told TfL exactly what I think, maybe you might like to do likewise.

Adrian Irving ● 2131d

I think I am right in saying that this is something TfL and Hounslow can't do due to the terms on which funding has been given as it would count as a permanent change under the rules set down by the government.The consolation is that for most of the trial we will be in lockdown and therefore the number of people who wouldn't be able to run to the bus island from the shelter is much reduced. The treatment of bus users in the latest phase of tranport policy is unbelievable. They suffer due to not having any effective lobbying group representing them. Black cabs and cyclists are unduly favoured by policy because they are so good at getting the ear of government.

Paul Corcoran ● 2128d

I took my 7 year old up the CS9 today on his bike.  The signage and traffic lights were clear and it wasn't scary for a kid who isn't used to cycling on the roads.We did Gunnersbury to Metro and back again, via Ozzie's for a hot chocolate.  The only complaint is that it doesn't go all the way to Gunnersbury so we were back on the pavements for half the trip.  I realise this might get me blackballed from polite Chiswick society, but I thought for a temporary solution it was pretty good. 

Ed Saper ● 2128d

Your dilemma seems to be similar one that many parents with young children have - the route is great for kids once you are on it but it can be a challenge getting onto it safely. Many of those living in the north and west of Chiswick can't really access for this purpose.Assuming you were going west you could have perhaps crossed Turnham Green and or taken the 'Quietway' along Heathfield Terrace then cut through residential back roads to get to Gunnersbury.

Paul Corcoran ● 2128d

I agree - fantastic for kids in the segregated lanes, but the quietways are a bit dicey for a 7 year old who's only been cycling properly for 6 months.  I felt it was a good start rather than the finished product!

Ed Saper ● 2128d

How many people have to use and approve of the cycle way to make it a success?

Maggie Dodge ● 2128d

But with Tier 4 lockdown how much traffic, emergency vehicles, cars, buses, vans, taxis, bikes, pedestrians will there be in C.Hi Rd - hardly a normal amount!  So these lockdown weeks or even months cannot be included in any judgment of its success or otherwise.

Jennifer Selig ● 2128d

There is more joy in Hounslow over one motorist who pedals than for 99 righteous cyclists who already use C9.

Will Watson ● 2128d

I was taking the dogs for their early morning walk on the pavement of CHR and we were nearly run over by an electric car pushing and shoving its way past a bicycle.The car driver was wearing head-to-toe Sweaty Betty and listening to loud music on her earphones.  She didn't care.  Neither did the lycra-clad bike rider carrying a 64 inch TV on his back and hanging onto a rolled-up Persian carpet.  Obviously a drug-fuelled local burglar.  I phoned the police and was told, “not you again”...It's getting worse..Happy New Year everyone.Keep safe.(I'd add some emojis but have forgotten how to do it)

Stuart Kerr ● 2128d

When will this madness end?

John Hall ● 2128d

It's a death trap for cyclists and pedestrians. Motorists win, again. Hooray..!

Michael Brown ● 2127d

Why do motorists win? Or are you seriously saying that the motorists' goal is to kill cyclists and pedestrians, so they do win whenever there is  a death trap for cyclists and pedestrians?

Alex Shpinkov ● 2127d

I'm just saying that I think it's dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians.

Michael Brown ● 2127d

Pedestrians are in mortal danger on Chiswick pavements from illegal traffic.  Particularly beggar-pedestrians who are slow moving.  Which is why I'm anxious to ensure that any beggar risking his or her life on our local pavements is a genuine beggar (who I deeply care about) and not some foreign b***h pretending to be pregnant in order to get herself mowed down by a bicycle.  Or an electric car.I have been in touch with head office of The Big Issue and will soon publish photofits of all beggars who are not genuine.(emojis still unavailable)

Stuart Kerr ● 2127d

I drove along there the other day and, at the Hammersmith end, straight away a car pulled up alongside me in the cycle lane at the lights. I drove a bit further and stopped at another set of lights. This time a cyclist sped past on my inside. His light may have been green, I’m not sure but, if so, confusing to any pedestrians. At times, I felt I was being pushed too far right and needed to check that I was still on the correct side of the road. I think the biggest problem may lie where westbound traffic turns left into side roads where speedy cyclists are whizzing along on the inside. All in all, I found the whole thing to be messy and confusing. Ill thought out ideology is my conclusion, and I suspect we’ll see more of the air ambulance; and I wasn't pro or anti the scheme.

Michael Brown ● 2127d

I needed to get to the High  Road yesterday, a journey that in times gone by I would probably have made on my bike. After due consideration and considering my alternatives (bus with inherent virus risks), or walking (currently a bit painful for me) I concluded that the option of absolute last resort would be to cycle given dangerous mess that is the new ill-considered cycleway. I didn't go in the end as it happens, but the fact that I now regard cycling around Chiswick as inherently more risky than it once was says a lot about where we are now. I can't see who has ended up better-off after all this. Cyclists? No. Pedestrians? No. Bus users? No. Drivers? No.  So that's all good then. No doubt it will be declared a stunning success in Hounslow House.

Bruce Hammal ● 2127d

How about this opinion from a Hounslow Lead Cllr (not the round pedlar on his Little Pony, another one although I bet he agrees with it) - "I have used the new cycle lane and can assure you it is safe. The traffic light phasing has not yet been corrected so I would not expect to see improvements to traffic flow yet. However, I appreciate your concerns regarding public transport and urge you to feed this back to TfL, who are implementing the cycle lane: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/general/streetspace-for-london/consultation/subpage.2020-10-08.8193336914/"There you are, it ain't our fault guv., - the blame lies with the TfL. nuffink to do with us, we was merely followin' orders!

Jennifer Selig ● 2127d

This morning I was nearly killed by a deadly lycra-clad W4 pavement cyclist who wasn't looking where he was going and whose hands were in mid-air as he rolled a cigarette instead of holding the handlebars.  Fortunately and following this near fatal miss,  I discovered my vintage police whistle was still in my gloved hand, enabling me to give chase to the offender whilst whistling for assistance.Unfortunately not a single member of the W4 public joined in so the offender got away.As everyone knows I'm neither pro or anti anything.  But when it comes to beggars and bikes I believe they should all be licensed and forced to carry number plates strapped on their back. (still without emojis)

Stuart Kerr ● 2127d