Forum Topic

Talk to TfL about Cycleway 9 (Streetspace) - 'Community Conversations'

Dear stakeholder As part of our ongoing engagement about the Streetspace programme we plan to hold one-on-one ‘Community Conversations’ with local people about the temporary version of Cycleway 9.  The conversations, hosted by members of our Local Communities & Partnerships team, will last 15 minutes. They will take place on weekdays from Monday 15 February to Friday 26 February. With participants’ permission we will record them to better capture your feedback and our discussion. If you would like to take part, please register at our Eventbrite page. Here you can select the session which suits you. We have capacity to speak with up to 48 people. If you are successful (sessions will be allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis) we will send you a link to a 15-minute meeting within your chosen session to be held on Microsoft Teams. Registration closes on 8 February. The invitation email will also include a link to a short survey to be completed before your conversation. You do not need to download Microsoft Teams to take part, you can simply click on the link to access the meeting from your computer. In the meantime, if you have a more general question about Streetspace our comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions webpage may already have the answer. Please do check there. We look forward to speaking with you and hearing your thoughts.https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cycleway-9-streetspace-community-conversations-tickets-135973447241

Mark Perry ● 2102d32 Comments

Just went in, one hour after receiving email, ironically I was out cycling, but all spaces are sold out!

Alex McDevitt ● 2102d

Let’s hope they can add more spaces

Mark Perry ● 2102d

The call went out to cycling lobby and they booked all the spaces within the hour. Yet another well organised manipulation.

Richard Potts ● 2102d

"The call went out to cycling lobby and they booked all the spaces within the hour. Yet another well organised manipulation."Proof?

Ken Munn ● 2102d

They were certainly filled at rapid speed. The feedback will reveal if it’s been spiked.

Russell Pearson ● 2102d

I looked the second I got the email from Tfl and the first three sessions were already fully booked. Obviously I don't know what method they use to send out the invitations but the same thought occured to me - i.e. is there a priority list for Tfl's friends? Whether that's the case or not it shows that something's not right when that's even a possibility. Certainly the average punters seem to get told about all this stuff rather late in the day.Anyway what is all this about? It smacks very much of a last-minute response now that the LTN legal cases will be lining up like good old London Buses.

Bruce Hammal ● 2102d

If the ‘usual suspects’ got slots then that would nail it...

Russell Pearson ● 2102d

After several residents alerted me to the fact that it was booked up so quickly (inevitable if there are only 48 spaces), I contacted TfL asking if everyone was sent the invitation at the same time or if it was sent in batches and, if so, who was sent it first.  I also asked about the appropriateness of organising conversations in terms of how representative they will be given that it is first come first served and self-selecting.  Plus, what about people who aren't on email, or are but don't have easy access to a computer to get their emails (which might include people who are particularly affected by C9).  Finally, I asked if they will increase the number of conversations and make sure that the result of doing so will mean that the exercise is properly representative.

Joanna Biddolph ● 2102d

Can you trust them to reply honestly Joanna?

Maggie Dodge ● 2102d

There's always a first time.

Bruce Hammal ● 2101d

The nature of this type of consultation leaves it open to the organiser to manipulate the audience Does anyone really believe Tory, Labour, Lib-Dem or any other party would not arrange things to ensure a response in line with what is wanted?

John Connelly ● 2101d

I tried to book 40 minutes after I received the email & all events were sold out.

Georgina Burns ● 2101d

The pro LTN brigade will have been tipped off and booked all the slots they can. Surprised anyone else got a look-in but from what I have seen, any non cycling  - as opposed to the nutcase vigilantes were all cyclists with a only few issues re the scheme

Claire Moran ● 2101d

I received the email at 12.24 - as someone else said when I checked the booking the 1st 3 days were sold out as happened to someone clearly not supportive - so if as you intimate 'the' cycling lobby had prior knowledge don't you think, given I am pro safe cycling for all I might have known about it before then? What time did you get your email? No doubt you got the subsequent email offering further slots.

Ruth Mayorcas ● 2101d

'The pro LTN brigade will have been tipped off and booked all the slots they can.'Proof? I guess I count as pro-LTN and and am known to TfL because of my responses to other Streetspace stuff they wanted feedback on. I received the email at 12.22 pm yesterday. What time did others get it?

Ken Munn ● 2101d

Mine was received at 12.19. There were still slots available for the last couple of sessions, but unfortunately by the time I went back to start the registering process they were all gone. This all seems a bit irrelevant anyway as thanks to the intransigence of Tfl and LBH the game will inevitably play out in the courts.

Bruce Hammal ● 2101d

The earlier consultation sessions with Steer were apparently overwhelmingly participated in by Streetspace sceptics so the notion that Hounslow are giving advance warning to cycling lobbyists doesn't seem to stack up.Not sure in any case what would be the point of anyone who was uncritically in favour of these schemes taking part.

Mark Evans ● 2101d

The sad part is that so many people simply don't trust Tfl or their local council to behave properly. They have form for tailoring the evidence to produce the desired result with their "independent" opinion polls. Polling companies actually compete for this sort of business based on their ability to engineer the outcome. Playing with demographics and tweaking the questions means you can normally deliver what the client wants. It's why organisations like councils are so set against letting local people decide local issues - in other words why they hate referenda.

Bruce Hammal ● 2101d

That is probably true but there is also consideration that TfL and the Council can't trust people to behave properly. Many of the people participating in these exercises have had their views ossified by participation in a group which is firmly on one side of the argument either a pro-cycling or pro-motor car. The vast majority of people who recognise that the issues here are complex and have a nuanced view of what is happening aren't likely to bother to sign up.

Mark Evans ● 2101d

It was ever thus!

Bruce Hammal ● 2101d

A very good point. Plenty of people on both sides of the debate with very entrenched views.

Andrew Jones ● 2101d

Not really. Most opposed would simply welcome a scheme that works and that means talking and engaging with people in a genuine way, and exploring different options. This did not take place. So we just got plans hoisted on us, a large part of which were ideologically driven rather than on meeting a shared need.

Russell Pearson ● 2101d

We'll have to disagree on your first sentence then Russell. I've seen posts by plenty of people on this forum from people who appear to have pretty entrenched views.Just plucking one out of the air ... Cyclists should use the cycle lanes that have been built for them and shouldn't be on the roads. I reckon that plenty of posters share that view and wouldn't change it even though plenty of cyclists have said they don't want to use the cycle lanes because they don't feel they are safe.Or maybe you are right and most would simply welcome a scheme that works, and it's just the vocal ones we get on this forum.I do think you've got it fairly close with your last sentence though as to what we have in place right now.

Andrew Jones ● 2101d

There’s a wide spread of views. But then we get Jeremy Vine (and Co) saying that anyone who disagrees with his views on the schemes is “anti-cyclist”. That’s frankly absurd.

Russell Pearson ● 2101d

If that’s what he said (and I don’t know what he’s said which is why I used the word ‘if’), then I agree with you Russell.

Andrew Jones ● 2100d

Yeah I agree. Not a cat in hell's chance the main antagonists on here want to see something that works.They would rather deny the problem and see out their years without change.Let someone else worry about the issues in the long term.

Tony Smart ● 2100d

Many times Andrew, a petty culture war. He likes to describe ‘One Chiswick’ as anti cyclist. It’s just a Facebook group of around 1800 people, including cyclists like myself.Tony, change happens. It’s a question of whether the change is good or not - Brexit, Climate, StreetspaceLondon, opinions, underwear.

Russell Pearson ● 2100d

Tony, change happens. It’s a question of whether the change is good or not - Brexit, Climate, StreetspaceLondon, opinions, underwear.Certainly does Russell and some people don't like it regardless.

Tony Smart ● 2100d

As we see, on all of these. Sort of refutes your daft point, does it not?

Russell Pearson ● 2100d

no

Tony Smart ● 2100d

Andrew, there is no "if" here. This is precisely what Jeremy Vine and many others have said. I know from personal experience which can easily be traced here and elsewhere.What I find most ironic is cycle campaigners are those who should be thanked for inadequate and unsafe cycle infrastructure that you yourself would not use.Those who have pointed out inconsistencies between intent as outlined by TfL and other international guidance and implementation not to mention rhetoric are those that get branded "anti" yet if they had been heard and engaged with properly maybe, just maybe we'd all have a better solution. Just watch how they contort themselves trying to place the blame for what has happened on our doorstep. Michael Robinson and Paul Campbell to name but two who have attempted it. Those who "know best" are those that delivered this sh*t to you. While those that simply asked "why" or "what if" were silenced at every turn.

David Lesniak ● 2100d

David - fair enough. I don't have time to research what everyone has said, even if it turns out not to be that difficult. My 'if' wasn't a questioning 'if', it was simply there to protect me from commenting about something that Jeremy Vine had said, if he hadn't actually said it.As I see it, what we have on CHR currently isn't the cycling infrastructure that was envisaged, perhaps if the originally envisaged cycle highway had been put in I would feel it would be safe to use. What there is in CHR is hardly a cycle highway -certainly it's not what I would think of when people talk about highways.Personally, and with the benefit of seeing what has gone on, I would say the best option right now is to remove the cycle lane and reinstate the bus lane on the south side. Safe dedicated cycle lanes would need for some of the pavement space to be given up, or for through non public transport traffic to be taken away from CHR. All IMHO. And yes, I agree it was steamrollered through.

Andrew Jones ● 2100d