Forum Topic

Dirty Tricks by Extinction Rebellion re Cycle Lanes

From front page story "I would like to thank all the Chiswick residents who have taken the time and the trouble to contact us, recognizing that it was a dangerous ploy by a small minority of irresponsible people."Quite shameful behaviour by this guerrilla group, whose actions have now cost LBH, its residents and businesses money to remove these illegal signs.Wonder who of Chiswick, HCC and LCC cyclists support this appalling behaviour or will they remain silent ?

Loraine Pemberton ● 2361d42 Comments

I am Spartacus.

Paul Campbell ● 2361d

If they've any common sense they'll remain silent. We don't want yet another of those interminable pro/anti-cycling threads.

Robert Fish ● 2361d

RobertSeems you posted a bit too late 🤣

Loraine Pemberton ● 2361d

Can't see any real problem with painting the signs on roads. They serve to remind motorists that bikes have the same right to use the road as they do. However, painting them on pavements is simply brainless. Some poor cyclist may end up getting a PCN if he or she is unaware the signs are bogus.

Dan Evans ● 2361d

There’s one on the entrance to the underpass at the top of Duke’s Avenue giving the impression cyclists have the right of way.

Judi Roche ● 2361d

Time and time again XR's very important message gets lost due to the actions of its dimmest adherents. I'm sure whoever initiated this campaign never thought for one moment that someone in Chiswick would put the signs on pavements. It's not quite on a par with glueing yourself to the DLR but it does show the problem of have a movement with little central organisation and no way to discipline members.

Felicity Caborn ● 2361d

So you’re saying the ones painted on the road are ok?

Mark Talbot ● 2361d

Before anyone attacks Loraine it is just coincidence that she was the one to start this thread. It is on record that she is pro cycling and this was in no way an attempt to get people arguing about cycle infrastructure in Chiswick for the 227th time.

Tony Smart ● 2361d

Why doesn't any body comment about the appalling use of pavements by multiple cyclists. I was hit by one today, and all she could say was ' get out of the way'. I am 76 and

Mike Preece ● 2361d

What's the difference between this painting of a bike and a painting of a rainbow, hopscotch and messages children nextdoor draw on the pavement in front of my house?

Anna Spiteri ● 2361d

Thats appalling behaviour by this individual. Hope you are ok.

Tony Smart ● 2361d

This is a tough one. What leaves the biggest mess and is the most dangerous, chalk or an exploding car?Chalk of course! The next rain shower will just wash away the wreck of the  exploding car.https://chiswickbuzz.net/blog/residents-shocked-by-car-explosion-in-chiswick/

Michael Robinson ● 2361d

She would have something to say about yet another cycling thread on this forum.

Matthew Swain ● 2361d

Oh no Loraine!I can't believe this gorilla organisation has made a monkey out of you - it's almost as if they targeted you deliberately - maybe all those nearly misses you've had from all those cyclists have been intentional! Should we call Bergerac or maybe even Inspector Morse to investigate?Anyway, enough joking around. This is a serious matter, I'm much confused though! How come Lorrainne you are calling out those good old Extinction Rebellion guys for marking out the cycle lanes with chalk when that oaf from the cafe did the same thing with his cones and tape! I didn't hear all your complaining then!Very strange.Anyway, like the chalk paint they used, I'm sure it'll all come out in the wash!Who are Chiswick, HCC and LCC? And why should they have an opinion on the Rebellion? Please fill me in.

David Studebaker ● 2361d

Felicity, my thoughts exactly.Peddling down Holland Park Avenue this morning I noticed they have been busy there as well. There are multi coloured bikes interspersed by hearts along the carriage way. Sweet, I am sure the creator is feeling very rock and roll.

Adrian Irving ● 2361d

David, can you account for your whereabouts over the last two nights?Phillipa, Rima, Steve, that applies to you as well.😏

Adrian Irving ● 2361d

Lets start with the easy bit. XR were stupid, not a surprise because a lot of their stunts are stupid.  It is nothing more than a bunch of middle class drop outs clamouring for attention, it does little to advance the very real debate we need to have on climate change.As a cyclist who uses Dukes Avenue, maybe this can at least start a debate about the cycling experience on Dukes Avenue which is not good.  With parked cars on both sides there is little room for cyclists faced with a van coming up the road.  It would be far better to limit parking to one side of the road only and have a cycle lane on the other side.  It is not as though the houses need parking, all but a few have off street parking

Justin Stephenson ● 2360d

Nothing to do with me 🤨

Rima Jones ● 2360d

.. you might well be on to something big, Justin..A new thread titled “The Dukes Avenue Cycling Experience” could be a mega hit on here..Go on.. give it a go....

Stuart Kerr ● 2360d

"As a cyclist who uses Dukes Avenue, maybe this can at least start a debate about the cycling experience on Dukes Avenue which is not good. "I quite agree.I asked Hounslow for data from a traffic survey they did on the Dukes Avenue area last year and did some analysis of this.A visualisation of the traffic flow is below (I hope..) and you can see further visualisations at the Tableau public link87% of traffic on Dukes Avenue is cutting through the area as a short cut to the A4 and I'd suggest this is the main issue to address. Removing through traffic would make cycling much easier without the need to change car parking and the street would be a lot more pleasant for residents as well.https://public.tableau.com/views/DukesAveTrafficv2/DukesAveTraffic?:display_count=y&:origin=viz_share_linkIf the link doesn't work you can see the visualisation at https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/avoiding-carmageddon/

Michael Robinson ● 2360d

Looks like Michael has rediscovered his Spyro Gyro during lockdown.

Richard Potts ● 2360d

"But it does show the problem of having a movement with very little central control...."Yes, it's just like politics and it's no different whether it is parliamentary or council or playgroup etc.  There's always somebody who doesn't agree with a plan.

Philippa Bond ● 2360d

"With parked cars on both sides there is little room for cyclists faced with a van coming up the road."Same is true of Park Road, t'other side of A4.

Ken Munn ● 2360d

That's very pretty Michael.  I think you could reduce the through traffic if there was increased safe cycling.Isn't there a thunderstorm due later this week?  It should wash the chalk away.  A shame there weren't any hearts as I read there were elsewhere for those who see cycles in such a threatening light. We've had to put up with cycles being ridden two abreast on the pavement.  They need safe space on the road.  It's lovely seeing so many families out cycling together.  Bring on the cycling proficiency tests for cyclists, speeding tickets for cyclists, cars and anything else newly invented to freak out those no longer so agile and fleet of foot.  Let's look and move forward.  Oh and it wasn't me!

Philippa Bond ● 2360d

JS: "It would be far better to limit parking to one side of [Dukes Avenue] only and have a cycle lane on the other side.  It is not as though the houses need parking, all but a few have off street parking."Quite a few of the houses on DA are flats/conversions, therefore more often than not, residents have to park on adjoining streets.Then there are the Pay Parking bays, already limited in number. These serve deliveries and utilities visiting properties on DA, also health visitors and other essential services. Plus, of course, people visiting CHR.And I say that as someone who is pro-cycling, barely uses his car, and who doesn't greatly mind having to park 100 yards or more round the corner from his own home just about every time he uses his car.

Richard Cathcart ● 2360d

Therefore don't muck about with the parking, but manage traffic so that the road is no longer a viable rat run.

Ken Munn ● 2360d

"That's very pretty Michael.  I think you could reduce the through traffic if there was increased safe cycling."... its all computer generated....I think it is the other way around.  Reduce through traffic by closing off the junction of Dukes Avenue/A4 and other measures to discourage through traffic from CHR to Sutton Court Rd via Barrowgate and Wavendon.The last couple of months have shown that once traffic is reduced, people will walk and cycle more.

Michael Robinson ● 2360d

"Therefore don't muck about with the parking, but manage traffic so that the road is no longer a viable rat run."Indeed, it should be possible to reduce traffic through the area by about 90% with just a few planters.  No need to change parking.  If a bit more money was available, the planters could be "parklets" at the end of the filtered roads.

Michael Robinson ● 2360d

KM: "Therefore don't muck about with the parking, but manage traffic so that the road is no longer a viable rat run."Seems sensible. Though I would also point out that our emergency services (police, fire, ambulance) also frequently use DA to "rat run" to/from the A4.At least if the number of sirens and blue lights is anything to go by.

Richard Cathcart ● 2360d

" emergency services (police, fire, ambulance) also frequently use DA to "rat run" to/from the A4."Emergency services are statutory consultees so would be able to raise any concerns.  Be careful what you wish for however.  I understand one of the things that really slow them down is badly parked cars so if they had their wish, they may want to reduce car parking.Lockable bollards or gates can permit access for emergency services.  In the local area you can see examples of these in Ravenscourt Ave off King St or St Stephens Ave off Goldhawk Rd.

Michael Robinson ● 2360d

As a cyclist who uses Dukes Avenue, I find my cycling experience there pretty good. Perhaps that's because I'm not too concerned about keeping momentum and am prepared to slow down when I have to negotiate the way with motor vehicle, other cyclists or pedestrians. The traffic is not heavy in Dukes Road so it really doesn't represent any problem for me. Same applies to the Park Road on the other side of A4.

Alex Shpinkov ● 2360d

"The traffic is not heavy in Dukes Road "Not sure if you meant to refer to Duke Rd or Dukes Avenue.Traffic on Duke Rd is about 50% of traffic on Dukes Avenue.  About 80% of traffic on Duke Rd is through traffic, mainly coming in from the streets off Devonshire Rd like Glebe St.On Dukes Avenue during the evening peak there is a car every 10 seconds on average .  That is pretty damn heavy for what is meant to be a residential street.

Michael Robinson ● 2360d

I meant Dukes Avenue between CHR and A4. To me even a car every 10 seconds is not really heavy for a street like this. I see no problem with it. Life has to have  reasonable compromises.

Alex Shpinkov ● 2360d

The daily figure of over 2,700 cars a day isn't heavy for a connecting road but is very heavy for a residential street.It comes down to what the residents would like their street to be, a connecting road or a pleasant and quiet residential street.  It can't really be both.If it is a connecting road then they should do it properly and signpost it.You may not see a problem but then you don't live there (neither do I, I hasten to add).Fortunately things are changing so the views of residents are being prioritised higher than people just driving through.  A quieter and healthier street being more important than some people saving a few minutes on car journeys.If that is what residents on Dukes Avenue would like then they should contact their cllrs and ask for it. Now is the time to do it.

Michael Robinson ● 2360d

Some of those signs look like the droppings of a pair of terrierists. ;-)

Richard Greenhough ● 2360d

Perhaps any decision should be made taking into account a lot of factors. Otherwise we'll end up with more problems like with the Church Street in Isleworth.

Alex Shpinkov ● 2360d

Church St Isleworth is great.  Maybe you haven't noticed that the world is changing and car journeys aren't the most important thing.Easiest thing for Dukes Ave would be an experimental closure needing nothing more than some planters or bollards and signage.  That will provide more information than round after round of consultations, and "taking into account a lot of factors" whatever "a lot of factors" are.

Michael Robinson ● 2360d

Temporary road closures are fine, but put to many in at one time could possibly have a small increase it RTC's. Anyone in control of a wheeled vehicle should be paying attention to the road ahead, but there are a few whole are either looking at a sat nav screen or listening to the directions will no doubt plough into the beloved planters or end up going the wrong way on a temporary one way road, because sat naves will not been updated to take in the amount of Temporary changes. So the only safe thing to do is for the government to order all Sat Navs to be turned off, and google maps on smart phones to be shut down. 

Bernard Allen ● 2360d

Church St Isleworth is awful. May be you don't realise cycling is not for everyone and motor vehicles are still very much a reality and will continue to be.

Alex Shpinkov ● 2360d

Church St Isleworth isn't about cycling although it does enable more people to cycle..It was a toxic rat-run along a street so narrow that it would never have been allowed today.Of course motor vehicles are a reality but that doesn't mean they have carte blanche to drive through every and any area by the shortest route possible.

Michael Robinson ● 2360d

"Of course motor vehicles are a reality but that doesn't mean they have carte blanche to drive through every and any area by the shortest route possible."Alternatively "Of course bicycles are a reality but that doesn't mean they have carte blanche to cycle through every and any area by the shortest route possible, cycle on pavements and the wrong way down one way streets."

Loraine Pemberton ● 2360d

Hi David - The oaf from the cafe demonstrated facts based upon TfL drawings. It was done and removed in about ten minutes time on a per block bases. It was not misleading as this XR example is. I'm sorry if you didn't like what was represented but that's what's in store for CHR and I felt it necessary for people to see prior to such a large investment being made. Something LBH and TfL could've done at little cost but great benefit to the community.But thanks for shooting the messenger. To be clear, you're against complaining about misrepresentation, but all for complaining about fact.Well done.I'm gonna guess, however, that all this won't really matter for quite some time. As of 25 May, gasworks will be in progress for the duration of the summer on CHR. Feel free to shoot me again. Alternatively, you could just read the traffic A-board erected last night just outside our shop.

David Lesniak ● 2360d