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Nothing you say is untrue but every point is a platitude.What you are ignoring is the fact that if you degrade the quality of the bus service a proportion of people will switch from using it to using private cars. As the number of cyclists along this route is a tiny fraction of the number of people using the bus service, the potential for increased car use is significant. If the existing bus lanes were not increasing the reliability of the service then why were they installed? Their removal surely must have some level of negative impact?The TfL document mentions that there are increased green phases for cyclist and pedestrians - that actually means additional green phases to accommodate the cycleway at which buses will be forced to wait.Removing some bus stops may mitigate the issue somewhat but you are giving no comfort that bus journey times will improve particularly on the already patchy service on the 237 and 267.However much you will tell us that bus islands are safe, you need to listen to the testimony of the elderly and visually impaired that they don't feel safe on them. A proportion of these people are likely to switch from using the bus to private car use particularly if their regular stop is one that is being removed.The very real concern about these proposals is that they will lead to an increase in the number of motor vehicles on London Road and Brentford High Street at a time when they are already going to be under significant extra pressure due to the increased population in the area.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1722d

Where was everybody when this cycle lane was approved on 3rd September 2019? I was in the room cheering when the Cabinet unanimously approved it, apparently unmoved by the plaintive attempts of the opposition speakers to make them understand that the superiority of Chiswick people should exempt them from such anti-car schemes. The antis lost the battle with the Evil Cycling Lobby over two years ago and still haven't realised it. https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/news/article/853/cycleway_given_approval_by_hounslow_councilThe introduction of a new Cycleway 9 which will run from Kensington Olympia to Hounslow town centre was approved by Hounslow Council yesterday (3 September).  The first phase of the route is the section between Kensington Olympia and Brentford Town Centre, with consultation on the section between Brentford Town Centre and Hounslow Town Centre planned for 2020. Cllr Hanif Khan, Cabinet Member for Transport at Hounslow Council said: “The council is keen to create a safer and more inviting environment for cyclists alongside additional improvements for pedestrians. Cycleway 9 would form part of an emerging network of cycleways across the capital.These are an important part of the council’s and the Mayor of London’s over all Transport Strategies and Healthy Streets approach, which aim to encourage walking, cycling and using public transport, making the borough greener, cleaner, safer, healthier and a more pleasant place in which to live. “The introduction of this route will make a real difference in encouraging residents and people who work and visit our borough to get on their bikes.  We are committed to delivering schemes aimed at encouraging more people to take up cycling and invite all residents and businesses to take the opportunity to shape these proposals. Subject to the results of this consultation, Transport for London (who are funding the scheme) aim to start work on the scheme late this year.”Cllr Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council added: “As a council, we have committed to being carbon neutral by 2030, with improving air quality, particularly for younger people and making the high road a more family friendly place for those who wish to walk or cycle – Cycleway 9 will help us meet that goal.”

Paul Campbell ● 1722d

JP: "Richard, based on years of observation from cycling, driving and riding along buses on these roads. The A315 through Brentford is a bit narrow and intimidating for cyclists in stretches so there has always been far fewer than on CHR."RC: You may be correct, but isn't the whole point of the cycleway to make it more appealing for people to cycle? Which in turn will mean less pollution and as modal shift takes hold, lead to less congestion on the roads, which in turn will benefit those drivers who have to use their cars.JP: "Not all the new flats are car-free."RC: No, but the great majority are, and increasingly so as Planning Regulations continue to require develpments to deter car ownership. Besides which, most flats are Studios or one bedders, two bedrooms at most. This means they will largely be occupied by young people. And young Londoners increasingly don't drive cars, in fact many don't even have a licence.JP: "As has already been pointed out a multi-storey car park is being provided for some residents."RC: Is it? (Genuine question). If you're referring to the new park planned for the Morrisons site, will it be available/affordable for local residents 24/7, or instead for people who visit Brentford for one reason or another. Besides which, even if it has several hundred spaces, there are literally thousands of flats built/planned for the area.And even if you could get a space, how many flats are within convenient distance of the car park? No-one wants to park in a multi-storey building half a mile from their flat.JP: "Those that don't allow their residents to have car don't necessarily generate minimal extra traffic - residents will still need services and deliveries and will probably be heavy users of Uber given the less than ideal public transport availability."RC: Except that many (most?) most of the flats in Brentford aren't directly on the route of the cycleway.JP: "People are also very ingenuous in managing to run cars even though their development is car free."RC: I wouldn't call it 'ingenious' if you can park your car in the corridor of your 8th floor flat, I'd call it a modern miracle!

Richard Cathcart ● 1721d