Confusion Reigns over 'Potemkin' Cycleway
TfL announces 'new' route from Chiswick to East Acton
A section of Cycleway 49 near Acton Park
March 26, 2023
Transport for London (TfL) has announced the launch of a ‘new’ cycleway running through Chiswick even though it has been in operation for over a year.
A press statement said that Cycleway 49 which links Chiswick to East Acton was one of three cycleways being added this week to a network of safe cycle routes across London. The 4 kilometre route is part of TfL’s aim to bring every Londoner within 400 metres of a ‘high-quality’ cycle route.
Signs appeared along the route of Cycleway 49 last year and no additions or enhancements appear to have been made since last year. We asked TfL to clarify what exactly was being launched but they did not respond.
The three ‘new’ routes announced on 24 March make use of low traffic local streets rather than the segregated pathways used on Cycleway 9 and, in the Chiswick area at least, appear to have involved little investment other than some new road signs. Collectively, the routes bring 124,000 Londoners within the target distance of a cycle route according to TfL. The Mayor’s long-term target is for 70% to be within 400 metre of a designated cycle route by 2041.
In its statement TfL says, “The new routes will connect communities across London including Herne Hill, Brixton, Clapham, Angel, Barbican, Chiswick and Acton Central to the Cycleways network, unlocking access to cycling for local residents and helping to boost diversity in cycling.”
However, some local cyclists have expressed concerns to us that this announcement could be being used to distract attention from a scaling back of investment plans for more expensive segregated cycling infrastructure particularly in the local area. They point out that another statement issued this week in which TfL confirmed the start of work on Cycleway 9 between Watermans Park and Kew Bridge talked about route being completed when work was finished in the next six months along with another planned extension along Hammersmith Road. No reference was made to plans drawn up in 2021 for an extension from Brentford to Hounslow and it is understood that funding has yet to be allocated to the scheme by TfL.
Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner said, “The vital action many London’s boroughs have taken in reducing traffic on residential roads and lowering speed limits has enabled us to deliver these three new Cycleways at pace, unlocking access to cycling for many thousands of residents.
“These routes, mainly on low traffic streets, will not only connect communities but crucially improve access to cycling amongst traditionally underrepresented groups. Cycleways play an important role in encouraging more Londoners to walk and cycle, contributing to a greener, fairer city for all Londoners.”
His tweet shown below was retweeted by Sadiq Khan.
The success of London boroughs in reducing traffic on residential streets & lowering speed limits has provided an opportunity to deliver new local cycle routes at pace.
— Will Norman (@willnorman) March 24, 2023
Today we're launching 3 new Cycleways connecting communities on low traffic routes. https://t.co/yreZLnrdcq pic.twitter.com/zKt4zI2zPj
Local resident Mark Evans contacted us to say, “As far as I can see Cycleway 49 has actually been in existence for a over year, so it is somewhat mystifying to see TfL announcing a launch now. Nothing seems to have changed recently and the signs have been up for months.
“When I first saw a map of it, I took the time to cycle along it, sticking to the designated route. It doesn’t make a good start, beginning on the badly potholed Windmill Road and then winding around Chiswick Common Road. An improved path along Chiswick Back Common would provided a much easier link to Fishers Lane. Personally, from this starting point, to get to East Acton, I would instead go up The Avenue, but you are directed up towards Rusthall Avenue.
“The route takes you across Acton Green Common and then over the zebra crossing with its new markings to show cyclists can use it. All but the most inexperienced cyclists would turn left at the Fishers Lane roundabout rather than crossing the park except when there is queueing traffic on South Parade at which point the Cycleway 49 provides a handy way to circumvent the congestion.
“At the north end of Rusthall Avenue, there is a bizarre diversion which takes you along the very bad surface on Carlton Road to enter Southfield Rec at its western end and take the path around the perimeter. Nearly every cyclist going approaching the park from the north would approach via St. Alban’s Avenue using the entrance by St. Peter’s Church.
“A local councillor told me that the illogical nature of the designated route is due to rules that don’t allow a cycleway to go past a playground. There is one, separated by a fence, at the northern end of the park.
“The new wider opening at the north end of Southfield Rec is the only piece of new infrastructure that I can see on the route and this is a significant improvement meaning that cyclists don’t need to dismount here.
“You then proceed north to Acton Park, by which time the gradual incline is getting more noticeable. If you are comfortable going up hills, you may still be stymied by locked gates. Although the opening times of Acton Park are erratic, officially it doesn’t open until 7.30am and it shuts at 5.30pm in the winter reducing its usefulness for commuting.
“One out of the park you continue on north to Perryn Road and then you can theoretically cross the A40 without dismounting by using the zigzag ramps on the relatively new footbridge.
“It is hard to describe this as anything other than a Potemkin cycleway as most of the money spent on it being on the signs. If you take out the daft diversions, it is actually a good way to cycle between Chiswick and East Acton but I can’t see how it has been improved in becoming Cycleway 49. This smells to me like someone wanting to hit a target.”
Potemkin was a Russian minister who supposedly set up fake villages in an attempted to impress the Empress Catherine II during a visit.
TfL says it remains committed to proper cycling infrastructure and announced last autumn that it will restart work on schemes paused during the pandemic, following investment being secured as part of the latest funding agreement with Government. Since April last year, TfL says that, along with local councils, it has delivered 14.6km of new or upgraded cycle routes and there are a further 13.9km in construction. In total, TfL aims to deliver at least 39km of new or upgraded cycle routes over the next 18 months, with the support of boroughs.
TfL's funding agreement with Government secured £80m per year to be invested in walking and cycling schemes, with a further £69m per year allocated to boroughs. However, it has been claimed that the money available for Active Travel schemes is effectively well below what was provided earlier.
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