Forum Topic

Traffic Chaos in Chiswick

The conditions on the roads around and along Chiswick High Road over the past week have been unacceptable. Granted the road works on the A4 have contributed but there are fundamental problems of capacity caused by the cycle lane and by network movement restrictions such as placed on Fishers Lane. What is even more unacceptable is the attitude of both LB Hounslow and LB Ealing to the situation and the social and environmental damage being perpetuated, plus a total lack of ameliorative action.  Local residents have written to both Councillor Dunne and Councillor Costigan, respectively, to seek their help to address the problems by at least lifting the restrictions on Fishers Lane. but neither has had the courtesy to reply in person.  In Councillor Dunne’s case she left it to a young, graduate officer in the traffic department to issue a reply that simply apologised for the "inconvenience" caused and spouted the active travel mantra and made ill-informed comments about re-introducing traffic to Fishers Lane being unsafe. What was completely ignored was the fact that very large numbers of local people are being adversely impacted, especially those living north of Chiswick High Road, while the councils claim they must keep the restrictions in place to encourage cyclists.   Have you seen how few cyclists actually use Fishers Lane?  Also, I cycled through the route many times prior to the restrictions and it was perfectly safe to do so.These councillors have a duty to listen to, and represent, residents and businesses in all wards, and not just their own. But they are silent. Do they really care about what is happening in Chiswick? Apparently not.  They appear to be trapped by the ideology promoted by Boris Johnson’s cycling adviser Andrew Gilligan and perpetuated by Grant Schapps, who made easy money available for councils across London.  Thankfully both have now gone and some common sense should return soon.  Will common sense and a sense of public duty towards the residents and businesses of Chiswick return the lead councillors and officers of both councils?

David Kerr ● 1472d104 Comments

Michael Robinson ● 1472d

Choked with cars and you're blaming it on people on bikes? Jog on. 

John Hall ● 1472d

"These councillors have a duty to listen to, and represent, residents and businesses in all wards, and not just their own. But they are silent. Do they really care about what is happening in Chiswick? Apparently not."

I think the councillors listen to the concerns of the Head of Belmont. I also think they care about the quality of life of those who live on Fishers Lane and Belmont Terrace.

But our councillors will be concerned about the interests of some more than others, just like someone who demands Fishers Lane be reopened so they can drive down to Devonshire Terrace and park (rather poorly) in the loading bays: 

Tom Pike ● 1472d

I urge all level headed people in Chiswick to focus on the content of my posting and to offer considered views. You can judge for yourself how insecure Messrs Robinson and Pike must feel given the quality fo their immediate responses. A ageist rant followed by Mr. Pike not understanding that it is the right of every person living in Chiswick to choose how to travel and to wait on a local road at a cafe to pick up a coffee while en route to walking dogs at one of the many parks on the edge of Chiswick.

David Kerr ● 1472d

Well said, David. I agree with all your comments.

Claire Moran ● 1472d

You make some good points and that is confirmed by Michael's response - he can make a good argument but resorts to abuse and ridicule when he doesn't feel able. It is unusual to see Tom Pike reacting in this way.I think we need to step back from what is happening. The chaos at the moment is primarily the result of the A4 works and would be severe even if the cycle lane had never been thought of. The queues begin at Chiswick Roundabout so the net effect of C9 is slowing the journey of vehicles to the back of the queue.It is impossible to make an accurate assessment of the impact of C9 in this context. I agree that capacity has been reduced on CHR but, if this is causing displacement onto other roads with relatively little undue congestion and pollution, the net effect may be minimal.A huge amount of money has been spent on it and there is more to come with the junction treatments due to be completed this month (although I struggle to see how Hounslow can thing this will not make the traffic even worse). You can't reach a firm conclusion about C9 until it is complete and there are no major roadworks in the area. This isn't going to happen until next year.At least 12 months would need to be allowed before a firm decision could be made after that. I'd like to see and independent traffic consultant come in at that point to review the cycleway looking particularly at the impact on bus traffic and for them to produce a report the conclusions of which would be binding.The problem at the moment is that both sides (and TfL are very much on one side of this argument) produce claim and counterclaim based on very dubious statistics so it is hard for anyone who is genuinely open-minded about the project to determine who is making the best case.On Fishers Lane, I have myself advocated for reopening on a temporary basis particularly when Acton Lane was closed, (and more works are coming up there according to the roadworks update on this site) but I don't think it will make a huge difference. The retention of the restrictions were offered as a sacrificial lamb by Ealing Council when they scrapped most of their LTNs but that didn't stop Andrew Gilligan putting them on the naughty step. Some people on Twitter are getting excited about changes Gilligan has made to his bio but, as far as I am aware, he remains on the TfL board. If he is gone then Ealing may have more flexibility to act on Fishers Lane. However, judging by the number of cars driving through the underpass during the recent heavy traffic, they may be reluctant to forgo the massive financial bonanza it represents.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1472d

It’s certainly not a “right” to park so poorly at the expense of everyone else. Rather you could be subject to a fine on that basis. There has never been any “right” to drive and park wherever you want, and it’s hardly surprising that our councillors are unreceptive to such a solipsistic argument.

Tom Pike ● 1472d

You are so right. These people are a total disgrace. They have wrecked the quality of life in Chiswick and done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for the environment It's totally political. And totally wrong.

Andy Jacobs ● 1472d

He's not blaming cyclists, hes blaming the fools that came up with this scheme. Or do you like sitting in traffic. It wasn't a problem before they started all this nonsense. Or didn't you live here then. Basically your as bad as them

Andy Jacobs ● 1472d

"You are so right. These people are a total disgrace. They have wrecked the quality of life in Chiswick and done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for the environmentIt's totally political. And totally wrong."Hear, hear, Andy!It is particularly galling to hear David Kerr pose as an environmentalist to argue for the removal of bus and bike lanes to give more space for his car.

Ed Saper ● 1472d

David Kerr’s “considered views” are just complaining about anything that causes him inconvenience driving.He failed spectacularly to achieve anything with OneChiswick Ltd and his arrogance and incompetence were contributory factors. All that is left for him is being  an “old man yelling at clouds” on this forum

Michael Robinson ● 1472d

Standing in Chiswick High Road on Thursday morning- waiting 40 minutes for a bus. The toxic air bellowing out from stationary cars was truly revolting and dangerous- Are the Council in the least interested-

Helen Bamberger ● 1472d

"The toxic air bellowing out from stationary cars was truly revolting and dangerous- Are the Council in the least interested-"I think you meant to say, "are the drivers producing the toxic air in the least interested"

Michael Robinson ● 1472d

No Michael - the Council

Helen Bamberger ● 1472d

“At least 12 months would need to be allowed before a firm decision could be made after that. I'd like to see and independent traffic consultant come in at that point to review the cycleway looking particularly at the impact on bus traffic and for them to produce a report the conclusions of which would be binding.”The monitoring report on Fishers Lane was based on third-party data on both traffic (Tracsys) and bus times (iBus) which monitored changes over 22 months. These showed traffic on South Parade fell and bus times improved.  On the basis of that independent data, both Ealing and Hounslow decided to make the closure permanent. Ignoring data is hardly being “genuinely open-minded”. And instead of taking your own advice on treating a decision based on independent data as binding, you advocate reopening Fishers Lane!

Tom Pike ● 1472d

Why did the woman get the luxury of a pixelated head and not the old bloke on the left of the picture? Did they run out of pixels?

Basil Finnis ● 1472d

I have 2 points:1. As a driver, a cyclist and a walker I was in favour of closing Fishers Lane and I see no reason to re-open it, it was and would remain dangerous.2.  Yes the traffic chaos is awful, it was completely predictable but the alternative of letting the railway bridge deteriorate further is worse.  Sure we will be like this till at least Xmas but that is still only temporary.But for all the Councilors spouting about active travel, I do wonder whether any of them consider the elderly or disabled who do not have the ability to use active travel especially to do necessary shopping

Justin Stephenson ● 1472d

The council isn't producing the pollution - the drivers of polluting vehicles are.  The drivers are producing the pollution the instant they turn on the vehicle engines whether they are on Chiswick High Rd or not.  And they are producing pollution because they aren't switching off their engines when stationary.Why are you absolving the drivers from any responsibility?

Michael Robinson ● 1472d

Well that's told me. Anyway, as I was just waking back to my home through Fishers Lane, along with a couple of dozen other pedestrians, 10 people on bikes, 2 buses, no pollution on the back common, it was obvious that reopening it so that it could back up from the High Road, be filled with drivers shouting at each other when not giving way under the bridge, and blocking South Parade at the mini-roundabout, would be a ludicrous thing to do. 

John Hall ● 1472d

Your two numbered points seems well reasoned and reasonable to me.Re your closing speculation:"But for all the Councilors spouting about active travel, I do wonder whether any of them consider the elderly or disabled who do not have the ability to use active travel especially to do necessary shopping"No-one, including LBH and LBE, is advocating banning all car use. Instead they are using a combination of carrot (active/public transport promotion) and stick (traffic restrictions) to deter unnecessary car usage.The point being that the more successful this deterrence is, the better it will be for all those people you mention who still have to use cars, thanks to less congestion, fewer delays and decreased pollution. This is the very essence of a win/win solution, with the most vociferous opposition coming from those people who selfishly demand to continue using their cars at all times for whatever reason and without any restriction - and to hell with how that affects others.

Richard Cathcart ● 1472d

David,Much like in the other thread you opened on the topic a while ago, I can’t see much in terms of alternatives.What do you suggest Ealing and Hounslow do that would speed up traffic, keep ALL road users safe and perhaps reduce pollution? All I read was some platitudes about the Hague (which, again, don’t apply to CHR) and Fisher’s lane which, frankly, won’t change things much (gridlock on South Parade, gridlock on CHR…)The problem is that vehicle journeys have gone up 20% since 1994. Journeys on minor (non-A) roads have increased even further. Car journeys account for half of that increase. Plenty of evidence from abroad, like in the US where they managed to make their cities look like dystopian car parks-cum-highways, show that increasing road space leads only to more traffic. As I wrote a few times now, even if you ripped out C9 you’ll still have gridlock at junctions, like we used to before, and you’ll still have queues on South Parade, Acton Lane, Chiswick Roundabout and so on.

Francis Sheehan ● 1472d

Francis, it is pointless asking David Kerr for solutions, he just wants rid of anything he thinks is an inconvenience to his driving.Of course, the biggest inconvenience to him driving his car is other people driving their cars but it is easier to blame a bike lane.  Not only have the number of cars increased, the size of the cars has increased as well.When I was born, in 1971, there were 10 million cars in the UK, with an average width of 1.55m. Now there are 32m cars, with an average width of 1.94m.

32m big cars, parked up 96% of the time.
Our roads are clogged with big, parked cars.
MT: @susanclaris
Graphic via @Tsrognitram pic.twitter.com/NbTRNLs6rB— Jonathan Owen (@anotherJon) July 9, 2021

Michael Robinson ● 1472d

Some people seem far more concerned about their perceived rights but there is no mention of their responsibilities.Meanwhile Pakistan - a country with far lower greenhouse gas emissions than the UK - has suffered tremendous flooding with weeks of monsoon rainfall.  Sindh province has received 464% more rain over the last few weeks than the 30-year average for the period.  And it is not just the rain it is the increase in melting of glaciers. Why are people here not just still insisting on carrying on regardless and resisting any changes but apparently also ignoring what is happening in Pakistan? Is it inconvenient? It is not even as if severe weather is only causing problems in Pakistan - it is worldwide.

Philippa Bond ● 1472d

Tom, you didn't read my post. I only suggested a reopening of Fishers Lane temporarily during the Acton Lane closure. I haven't seen the data that you refer to and don't travel often near this road so have no strong opinion either way on a permanent reopening. All I can say is that when I have been in the vicinity since the closure there are nearly always queues on Acton Lane which I don't recall having encountered much before. Granted I have only occasionally seen queueing traffic on South Parade so my observation doesn't necessarily contradict what you are telling us the data says.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1472d

Yes utter chaos. And all we get is moralising cant from those who support the chaos.

Russell Pearson ● 1471d

There's a bigger picture you just don't want to see.

Philippa Bond ● 1471d

Fully aware of the picture, both large and small. Judgemental moralising from some, moaning about this and that, doesn’t address this. It’s just a huff and puff. What we need are sensible, and agreed measures to address our problems, both local and global.

Russell Pearson ● 1471d

Until the cycle lobby stop being in charge of Chiswick nothing will change, in fact if anything it will get worse. Is Katherine Dunne still claiming not to be biased in favour of cycling? She got quite angry in fact as I recall.

Maggie Dodge ● 1471d

You in la la land love? It's like there's no climate crisis in your sweet head. 

John Hall ● 1471d

This afternoon (Saturday 10th) there were two blue lighting ambulances stuck behind stationary traffic in Chiswick High Road.  This can't be acceptable.  People might die because of the cycle lobby's arrogance. Chiswick High Road has emergency stations (a fire station to the West and an ambulance station in the East) at both ends of the High Road. Let us get our priorities right. Cyclists can use the cycleways along the A4 or walk.

Michael Preece ● 1471d

... and car drivers can take the bus or walk.

Anne England ● 1471d

Quite extraordinary that the emergency services are being silenced. Cycling before saving lives, really ? . Bearing in mind that the High Road cycle lane is a mistake on so many levels, you have to wonder what is going on.

Maggie Dodge ● 1471d

And how do the Disabled, Elderley and people with Mobility issues cope ?

Loraine Pemberton ● 1471d

Isn't the heavy traffic caused by the issues with the A4?  I think people are trying to avoid the queues by taking alternative routes.  I have certainly seen a difference in my travelling times since the work began.

Nora Watkins ● 1471d

The ignorance of people who don’t understand or care why people drive. Breathtakingly short sighted.

Maggie Dodge ● 1471d

Michael,They were stuck behind cars, not bikes.

Simon Pedley ● 1471d

With the A4 issues even if the cycle lane wasn't there ambulances etc would still be stuck in traffic in CHR.

Lucy Chambers ● 1471d

Lucy - not true - there used to be a long westbound bus lane along the central part of the High Road which gave priority to bus passengers and it also provided an extra lane width which allowed emergency vehicles plenty of space to pass around other vehicles.  Of course, cyclists could also use the bus lane.

David Kerr ● 1471d

"The ignorance of people who don’t understand or care why people drive. Breathtakingly short sighted."It was most helpful of David Kerr to lift this veil of ignorance:"It is the right of every person living in Chiswick to choose how to travel and to wait on a local road at a cafe to pick up a coffee while en route to walking dogs at one of the many parks on the edge of Chiswick."And only the ignorant would temper that inalienable right in the interests of those suffering any detriment, including the car-bound dogs stuck in traffic who might actually prefer to run around in their local extensive park just a few minutes walk away: it would indeed be breathtakingly shortsighted to prioritise their preferences  over the caffeine requirements of their owner.

Tom Pike ● 1471d

They don't Loraine, but it seems no one cares about them.

Claire Moran ● 1471d

"Not true — A long westbound bus lane along the central part of the High Road". You mean the 40 yards of bus lane outside the old police station operational for six hours a day? A rather longer length of the High Road eastbound is still blocked with parking spaces, but it's clear you don't believe such vehicles provide any impediment to traffic, however badly parked! . 

Tom Pike ● 1471d

David Kerr's memory appears to be failing him because in the central section of Chiswick High Rd there was only about 50m of bus lane outside Old Market Place between the Fire Station and Chiswick Police Station. Fortunately google street view provides evidence of the lack of "long westbound bus lanes" and the sections of the street which went down to single lane in both directions as proof of David Kerr's befuddlement.

Michael Robinson ● 1471d

Just to add, the 50m section of bus lane that David Kerr thinks transformed Chiswick High Rd into a free flowing paradise for drivers was just operational at peak times Monday — Friday and was parked in outside 7am-7pm.  On a Sunday, of course, it was parked in all day.

Michael Robinson ● 1471d

Only now we do have a lane that runs the entire length of the central section of the High Road that is available to and used by the emergency services: 

Tom Pike ● 1471d

Walk where, Anne?On pavements littered with e-bikes and scooters? Pavements recently reduced in width by more than 2/3? While bobbing and weaving cyclists using the pavements? Those pavements you mean?

David Lesniak ● 1471d

One photo does not an emergency lane make.Ground control to Major Tom.Although I'm happy to be proven wrong. That would mean Tom posting a video of an emergency vehicle using the length of the cycle lane for driving, not parking. I'm not holding my breath as we all know it isn't possible.

David Lesniak ● 1471d

My attempt at posting seems not to have gone off so I'll try again. Of course there are those who have a 'good enough' reason to be using a car and nobody has ever denied that so why come out with the same old same old? Some people with disabilities and/or difficulties with mobility though will use a mobility scooter, for local journeys at least, as does my older sister and my mother before her. My mother learned to drive in Edinburgh while in the ATS in the war and after giving up the car enjoyed a new found freedom with her scooter.

Anne England ● 1471d

You really are going round in circles. I don't think there has been one person on this site who has denied that there are certain groups of people for whom a car is a necessity. By your logic, all people are equally in need of owning a vehicle. Even accepting that we all could benefit from the convenience of owning and driving a vehicle, particularly for heavy loads and long(er) distances, this doesn't take away from the fact that shorter journeys and local shopping could be done by bus, by bike or by walking by the vast majority of people. I really don't see your argument with that.

Anne England ● 1471d

I sincerely hope that David Kerr is writing all this guff to Ealing and Hounslow Councils regularly. Hopefully playing his previous tricks of throwing in some threats as well. The Onesies are the Evil Cycle Lobby's useful idiots and Mr Kerr is one of the most valuable assets of them all.

Paul Campbell ● 1471d

They might fake one, that’s ALWAYS a possibility

Maggie Dodge ● 1471d

Fake ambulances in the cycle lane. Fake data to fool us into a climate emergency. There's no pulling the wool over your eyes!

Tom Pike ● 1471d

What did David threaten? That the residents of Chiswick were about to take to the streets to defend their right to use a travel mode of their choice, after stopping off en route to pick up a coffee?

Tom Pike ● 1471d

Sunny day, nice one for cycling, and the Militant Cycling Lobby chuckle buckets are on here.Here’s an idea to relieve the chaos. Open up the cycle lane so buses can use it. Or is that too much of an Omnibus Supremacist concept?

Russell Pearson ● 1471d

With respect, Russell, you and Tom are making the same mistake albeit from different perspectives.Tom thinks the cycle lane can be used by emergency vehicles in pursuit or responding hence in motion. You want it used by buses. Neither is possible given the configuration.

David Lesniak ● 1471d

Possibly. I’m just thinking that the road space that buses are currently banned from using could be restored back to its previously more inclusive state. Im sure they could use it previously. But maybe I’m wrong, as I’ve been doing some fish tank insulation work today and the adhesive has given me a headache.

Russell Pearson ● 1471d

How do you think the ambulance got there? Maybe it fell out of the tree...Or do you think these are all fake footage, as Maggie suggested?https://twitter.com/thejeremyvine/status/1529478847254642690?lang=en-GBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt8v3MeQBwshttps://rosslydall.wordpress.com/2016/02/15/police-car-on-999-calluses-cycle-superhighway-to-bypass-gridlocked-traffic/

Tom Pike ● 1471d

Have you got any of buses using the cycle lane so that ordinary people can get home? Or is it all ‘celebrity video time’?

Russell Pearson ● 1471d

If the cap fits Tom ! Tell enough tall stories and people doubt your every word

Maggie Dodge ● 1471d

The reality is given our climate the cycle lanes will NOT be fully utilised during winter the cycle lane will be empty except for a few who believe they are entitled…..the cycle lane is utter madness and causing every other road user massive extra journey times, dangerous for pedestrians. Given we are supposed to be a leading world economy one would think we could create schemes that are appropriate for the area and climate.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1471d

This was the daily count at 6 pm on Embankment on 2 February this year.  Is there a Chiswick microclimate that is especially inappropriate for cyclists?

Tom Pike ● 1470d

Tatty data. To say the least.

Russell Pearson ● 1470d

Probably not Tom but maybe with all the hot air and chilly comments surrounding  C9, possibly.BTW.Feb 2nd recorded sunny periods, some cloud, high 12, low 9 degrees, dry.

Adrian Irving ● 1470d

If an amergency vehicle is trying to get past you should pull over into the cycle lane to allow it to pass.

Julian Pavey ● 1470d

Not sure how you would do that where there are wands in the way separating off the cycle lane from the road? Could a car demolish them without damaging the car?

Claire Moran ● 1470d

That is why the wands are seperated enough to drive in and out or within the space between 2 wands

Julian Pavey ● 1470d

Tatty? The data’s put up in lights! What are looking for?

Tom Pike ● 1470d

But if the gap is not enough then the design is wrong. I cant think how wide the gap is between the wands on the cycle lane

Julian Pavey ● 1470d

The bicycle lanes will be used by those on bicycles, not by those 'who believe they are entitled'. Or do you think cyclists should use the pavement or road instead?

Anne England ● 1470d

Who are the entitled except cyclists being it is a cycle lane

Julian Pavey ● 1470d

> Tatty? The data’s put up in lights! >What are looking for?In the real world, outside of the less funded sections of academia, some ask what the numbers mean, how they’ve been obtained, how they’ve been defined, what they refer to, what the assumptions are, and what the trends are based on all of that, and how they can be re-applied to xyz etc. that’s just for starters… Also, have a chat with Rachel Aldred about Instrumental reason if you get the chance.

Russell Pearson ● 1470d

Cyclists DO use the pavement AND  the road instead. Many find it preferable to the dangerous Chiswick High Road cycle lane.  The are allowed to use the road, they are not forced to use the cycle lane and have always used the pavement

Maggie Dodge ● 1470d

Julian - where is your source that cars can pull in to the cycle lane to get out of the way of emergency vehicles?The Highway Code says:"140.Cycle lanes. These are shown by road markings and signs. You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation. Do not drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a broken white line unless it is unavoidable. You MUST NOT park in any cycle lane whilst waiting restrictions apply.Law RTRA sects 5 & 8"

Phil Kay ● 1470d

It’s simply the cycle counts for one day in February this year at the time of the photograph. So far this year  the daily counts on Embankment average just below 10,000 a day, and so this count indicates a lower usage in February, though at more than 6,000 a day it’s hardly empty. You’re of course free to construct some conspiracy theory as to how it was obtained and quite what it means, but the reality is rather more prosaic.

Tom Pike ● 1470d

I know the mayor mentioned it about 2 years ago when questioned. Ive not been able to find where and when but strangely ive found one a bit older but kind of the same message Answer for Cycle Lanes and the Emergency ServicesAnswered By: The MayorDate: Thursday, 31st August 2017"I want to assure you that, when it designs segregated cycle infrastructure on London's streets, TfL keeps in mind all road users, and in particular works closely with the emergency services to ensure their views are understood. Cycle tracks are designed with regular breaks so that other vehicles are able to pull in to allow emergency service vehicles to pass.""Emergency services operating under blue lights will find the safest and fastest way possible to arrive at a major incident. This could include safely using any section of the highway, including where necessary segregated cycle tracks, which will be clear of motor traffic"https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2017/2653#If i find the one from a few years ago i will post. Basically the same message about moving into the cycle lane to allow emergency services to pass

Julian Pavey ● 1470d

Easy, Tom.The ambulance at that precise location could have entered the cycle lane at a junction or driven over the plastic wands yet they seem not to want to as the evidence on King Street suggests.Otherwise you know full well the cycle lane configuration now in place will not allow for a speedy pursuit. If any. There are parts of the cycle lane that barely accommodate the width of cycles let alone an oversized vehicle. It is physically impossible. But do cling to that photo of a parked ambulance. It's your stock in trade. Manipulating data to suit your purpose.

David Lesniak ● 1470d

Data put up in lights.Gee, Tom, all we have to go on is your word which increasingly looks suspicious. I'd settle for an actual lit-up display for all the world to see like the one in the photo. Odd you all didn't advocate for that. Well, maybe not odd, but typical.

David Lesniak ● 1470d

Julian, look at the cycle lane between Goldhawk and Chiswick Lane. No more wands. Just solid curbing. No way to jump that curb. I'm assuming the pending upgrade will be the same. So again, Tom's photo "proof" is already out-dated.

David Lesniak ● 1470d

So if it didn’t drive over the wands, the ambulance must driven down the cycle lane. Thanks for making my point! Indeed, you were reporting refuse trucks using the cycle lane after it was first put in, so clearly there would have been no issue for an ambulance. It’s good for  you to provide independent confirmation!But considering your claim that an emergency vehicle won’t mount the kerb to enter a cycle lane, have a look again at one of the videos I posted.https://twitter.com/thejeremyvine/status/1529478847254642690?lang=en-GBIn fact a car has also been seen using the upgraded section to jump the westbound queue at the Chiswick Lane lights!

Tom Pike ● 1470d

Tom, so a video of a cycle lane that is not in Chiswick and is very wide with no bollards is evidence of what? In some locations emergency vehicles can use cycle lanes, though outside of busy urban/ town centre roads. Some of these were also no doubt once bus lanes, which carried large numbers of public transport uses, as well as bikes, and were readily and regularly used by emergency vehicles. There are no doubt lots of positive arguments for cycle lanes, some you probably havent even thought of. But having seen several ambulances in central chiswick sat in queues and not in the cycle lane, I dont think this one has legs. Suggest you drop it

Bill George ● 1470d

You seem to have overlooked the photo of the ambulance in C9 in Chiswick. Certainly the 40 yards of part-time bus lane outside the old police station, the only westbound stretch on the central section of the High Road, did not provide the viable emergency alternative we now have.

Tom Pike ● 1470d

The mayor asserts that emergency vehicles can use cycle lanes. “ This could include safely using any section of the highway, including where necessary segregated cycle tracks, which will be clear of motor traffic"However, the Highway Code does not allow for motorists to clear the highway to make way for emergency vehicles by encroaching the cycle lane. Motorists risk being fined by encroaching cycle lanes or moving across box junctions or crossing a few feet over the line at red traffic lights. I was fined for moving into a bus lane for about 10 seconds to allow a police vehicle to pass. Hence you find that many people will not move into a cycle lane to allow an emergency vehicle to pass. No doubt about it, cycle lanes are a hazard and cause disruption to all traffic including emergency traffic.  Lives may be lost.

Steve Taylor ● 1470d

"However, the Highway Code does not allow for motorists to clear the highway to make way for emergency vehicles by encroaching the cycle lane"Advisory in a court or law or law and a fine for a council? I've seen in central London police on foot intervening and ordering people to move over I think that if you have an ambulance trying to get past and it turns out that the ambulance cant and is going nowhere and its blues are still on and is still using its Twos on and off and possibly using a bull horn on and off that people are not going to try and find a way to get it passed but the law says your breaking it in some ways is madness.

Julian Pavey ● 1470d

As it happens I was walking along the High Road at 9.05am when ambulance on an emergency call came down Chiswick Lane wanting to turn left. It did not turn into the cycle lane but was stuck in traffic unable to use the east bound carriageway with two buses and traffic blocking progress .At walking pace I kept up with it as far as café Nero when it entered the cycle Lane and shot down the road. How far it got I don't know.Conclusion. Some stretches where there are wands still in place it is possible however between Goldhawk Road and Chiswick Lane where hard surfaces/kerbs are in place I would be most surprised if it was practical in practice due to narrowing, hard kerbs etc.Let's hope the "design" for the rest of the hard finishing has factored in access to blues and twos.Time will tell, lives may depend on it.

Adrian Irving ● 1470d

"I was fined for moving into a bus lane for about 10 seconds to allow a police vehicle to pass."Did you appeal ? I am sure that Richard Jennings would have got that fine quashed.

Richard Greenhough ● 1470d

Thanks for the observation. This is in line with David's previous reports of refuse trucks also using the central stretch. Similarly vehicles can and sometimes do drive along C9 between Goldhawk Road and Chiswick Lane. This car turned into C9 on Airedale and drove along it to Chiswick Lane to jump the queue at the lights. There's clearly plenty of room for an ambulance.

Tom Pike ● 1470d

Tom Thank's for your photo.Indeed at that point there is room however I am not sure the lane is consistently that wide between the two points in question.I will take another look.

Adrian Irving ● 1470d

The emergency services are statutory consultees and, as the cycleway remains under review, they could submit comments if they felt that the design compromises safety. As far as I am aware, they expressed no serious reservations about the original design.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1470d

The cycle lane isn't dangerous.  It is much safer than using the road, particularly for younger or less experienced users and those cycling with children - on their own bikes or in Chiswick Tractors. The continuing danger to cyclists and pedestrians is motorised vehicles, but separating cyclists from lorries and buses is a huge safety benefit. Maggie and others in the anti-cycling lobby are highlighting cyclist safety in the cycle lane as a bad faith argument: they want to remove the lane and reclaim the space it occupies for cars (not buses), which would make cyclists less safe.  The same people who argue for the restoration of the imaginary Westbound bus lane (rather than the 45m / 2 bus lengths it actually ran) are also campaigning to remove the Fishers Lane bus / cycle route, which gives priority both to buses and emergency vehicles.

Ed Saper ● 1470d

The whole length of the cycle lane is wide enough just not straight in parts and not ideal but certainly could be used if really needed. You could not do it at any great speed but i think its the last resort to being used as such and all cyclists would have to move off to allow this so it would be done with safety in mind.

Julian Pavey ● 1470d

If you skip to 4.50 that is the start from king street onwards through chiswick. Gives you a good view of what its like to ride.

Julian Pavey ● 1470d

Wow it looked utterly terrifying, the amount of near misses, cyclists going through red lights, pedestrians running for their life and hardly any cyclists just shows what a complete waste of money and so very dangerous for every road users love it thank you Julian 👏👏👏👏 clearly emergency services have been given zero consideration which is terrifying.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1470d

It was the bus lane in Kew Road approaching Richmond circus. I couldn’t appeal because it was a Company Car and our company lease agreement with Arval  stipulates that all fines will be automatically paid by Arval and Arval debit our company with the fine (in this case £110 plus an Admin Fee of £30)  Leasing companies will not appeal cases on clients’ behalf. There must be thousands of people in the same position as me with company cars and tens of thousands who just couldn’t be bothered to go through all the hassle of appealing. Drivers should just be aware that breaking the Law to do the right and moral thing by moving out of the way for emergency vehicles, could cost you or cause you some grief in trying to appeal. I guess we have to live with our conscience if we decide to not move out of the way or suffer the consequences if we do. Obviously with all the cycle lanes we have to make that choice more often.

Steve Taylor ● 1470d

Poor Tom.He still can't understand the constraints of the physical universe here on Earth.1.) The refuse truck I mentioned was using the same stretch of the temporary cycle lane that your ambulance did. Just wands on a the existing roadway which was engineered for vehicular use.2.) The video shows a cycle lane unlike the crap we got. Two lanes wide it seems, both enough for vehicles. Not sure how that was implemented but it appears to be the same as the temporary measure. 3.) Look at the example set by the new cycle lane from Chiswick Lane to Goldhawk. You will see a lane that varies in width and that has various twists and turns a vehicle could never make especially when in pursuit. But do go on, Tom. Please post a video that shows an emergency vehicle doing the double 90 degree zig zag we see in Hammersmith as the cycle lane changes from one side to the other. Again, you will not be able to. Let us all know when you come across a pertinent example that mimics the conditions we were given on CHR. Then maybe we can talk. Otherwise it is your typical blather pretending to ignore facts. Concrete facts.

David Lesniak ● 1470d

Actually, Julian, by design it could not be used at speed. There are multiple speed bumps put in place deliberately. At any bus stop there is a bump to allow pedestrians to cross as well as at any street crossing. You cycle going up and down and up and down, but an emergency vehicle attempting to do that would lose a fender. Or wheel. Or its patient.

David Lesniak ● 1470d

"Wow it looked utterly terrifying..."Yes, that cyclist must having been going over 30 mph!"...hardly any cyclists just shows what a complete waste of money"On the two-way stretch, from Studland Road to Heathfield Terrace, I counted 42 motor vehicles travelling in the opposite direction, compared to 21 bikes. All but four of the bikes were on C9 and I didn't spot any cycling on the pavements.Great video, Julian.

Tom Pike ● 1470d

https://www.change.org/p/hounslow-and-h-f-councils-scrap-the-king-street-chiswick-high-road-cycle-lane-scheme?redirect=false

Marcia Carridice ● 1469d

What about cyclists going through red lights…..it’s a complete waste of hard earned tax payers money

Jayne Thorburn ● 1469d

What about drivers breaking 20 mph limits? Surely on the same basis those roads are a complete waste of hard earned tax payers money too!But at least you're no longer arguing C9 is hardly used and claiming most cyclists avoiding it by cycling on the pavement or the main roadway.

Tom Pike ● 1469d

I see many cyclists on the road not using the cycle lane, cars get fined if they go through a red light time cyclists did too! it is a waste of money and is causing chaos for everyone other road user

Jayne Thorburn ● 1469d

"I see many cyclists on the road not using the cycle lane"Given you missed the 22 bikes in the video (only four on the roadway) compared to 34 cars, your observational reliability might not be all you hope it is. But at least you are now seeing "many cyclists" whereas before you were claiming there were "hardly any". Here's another video in the series going eastbound, with another 24 cyclists for you to miss, all but two of them in C9. Between the two videos, bikes amount to over half the number of cars along the length of C9 between Heathfield Terrace and Studland Road, 45 bikes (39 on C9) and 79 cars.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amxQO2mBRKE

Tom Pike ● 1469d

There might well be however many cycles now using the special facilities, but could there have been just as many using CHR before?  Are there figures to illuminate this that aren't affected by two years of Covid distortions?

Peter Evans ● 1469d

Peter, I think you were responding to me rather than Marcia.We've had annual cycle counts on the High Road since 2015. The latest figures are for 2021, after C9 opened. Counts were up 37% compared to the last figures before the pandemic in 2019, 2889 vs 2114 a day.Of course all figures in 2021 will be affected by COVID to some extent, so it's worth comparing to the rest of outer London to see if the increase in cycling on the High Road might be part of a general trend rather than anything to do with C9. The increase was 20% in the rest of outer London, just over half of the 37% seen on the High Road. Looking in more detail at the High Road, there is a large difference between the peak and off-peak increase of cyclists in 2021 compared to 2019. Peak numbers were up by 15%, from 1369 to 1574 and off peak by a much larger 77% from 745 to 1315.  In comparison for the rest of outer London, the increase was 9% for peak and 37% for off-peak bike counts.Hence while a portion of the increase on the High Road can be explained by a general increase in cycling, the strong increase in non-peak cyclists, 40% higher than their increase elsewhere in outer London, suggests that C9 has been particularly effective in encouraging new, non-commuting cyclists.The figures are at cycling.data.tfl.gov.uk/CycleCountsProgramme/Outer London (area).xlsx

Tom Pike ● 1469d

Traffic Chaos in Chiswick tonightCars have taken to fishers lane and you just know they are prepared to pay the fineSouth parade and all sarounding roads are a complete mess Reason...Back to normal,darker evenings,rain and all.We will get that west london gridlock more than previous The future is bright,the future is roads full of red tail lights

Julian Pavey ● 1468d

Cycles don't have to use the cycle lane as you should know and cars should not be using it.Eventually I guess the fines for motor vehicles may be increased if traffic rules are ignored.  Motor vehicles and cycles still need to stop to let pedestrians  cross roads at junctions and zebra crossings where pedestrians have right of way.https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/new-highway-code-rules-what-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=Rule%20H2%20applies%20to%20drivers,from%20which%20you%20are%20turning.%E2%80%9D

Philippa Bond ● 1468d