Forum Topic

Hounslow Councillors look like they are conflicted over cycle schemes?

From twitter and other social media postings it appears that there are is an interesting theme developing with regard to conflicts of interest involving Hounslow Councillors who are also members of the London Cycling Campaign - Hounslow Cycling, which appears to be a lobby group not a Cycling Club.Apparently a number of Hounslow Councillors are members of Hounslow Cycling and the story seems to be that they have been approving schemes to promote cycling, not walking, and in preference to other road users. It will be interesting to see which schemes they have approved.  One would have thought that this creates not only a massive conflict of interest for the Councillors but would substantively undermine the decisions made by the Council.From a previous post this serves to support my view that I was right not to join Hounslow Cycling, it is not representative of cyclists or people who care about every road user. In comparison Chiswick Cycling, I have learnt is non political, it looks great but potentially a bit too fast for me, we do need a Walking and Cycling group that can work alongside Chiswick Cycling.

David Riley ● 2202d8 Comments

Hounslow Cycling is a division of London Cycling Campaign.Public money is used to fund their efforts hence they should be engaging properly but fail to do so. In the early days of the CS9 debate, we brought this to the attention of Ashok Sinha, the chief executive. If more pressure were used on this front funding could be limited given they are not representing the whole, but merely a fraction of the public interest.Recently I've been thinking there should be something along these lines to pull together all Londoners:London Pedestrian CampaignHounslow Pedestrian CampaignChiswick Pedestrian CampaignThis would create a network in line with cyclists and it would enable those with other perspectives to have a seat at the table.Cue all the anti-business cycle evangelists to pile some sort of rubbish in my direction.

David Lesniak ● 2202d

I don't think Hounslow Councillors have particularly strong feelings about cycling either way. Most of them had to borrow bikes for that infamous photo shoot at the start of the temporary cycleway works and Steve Curran has since reverted to his 4x4.It is the government that is driving policy and they control the purse strings at TfL with Andrew Gilligan now on the board. He is dictating that any money given out must reallocate road space. So, with their revenues hard hit by coronavirus, and expenses not reduced in any way, the council understandably are looking to bring in whatever funds they can and, at the moment, that means an aggressive reallocation of roadspace away from motor vehicles including buses.The opportunity to do this is greater in Chiswick because there seem to be a small but vocal group of people who have an unnuanced view of transport issues and who believe that closing a road or reducing its capacity must be a good thing. They can be relied upon to faithfully respond to poorly publicised public feedback exercises allowing Hounslow to say they are responding to local demand.The desperation for cash at the council means that they quickly recognised that they were being given the green light and funding for a new range of measures that would supplement their coffers. Already they have been given £200,000 for cameras to issue fines and this has paid for itself twice over. This is probably just the beginning and the political reality is that a disproportionate amount of the fine levying measures will be in Chiswick.It would be an error to think the issue here is between cyclists and pedestrians or cyclists and motorists. The majority of people fall into all three categories and only someone with a skewed perspective would define themselves by the mode of transport they use. The real issue here is actually between the governed and those that govern with the latter seeking effectively to refinance by fundraising targeted mainly at a particular community. If they can present people who push back against this as being against sustainable transport they have a greater chance of getting away with it.

Paul Corcoran ● 2202d

Interesting. One of Shapps’ litmus tests is the need for a balance between different road users. As you say, most of us walk, drive, cycle at some time, all a bit weird to be identarian based on a mode of transport. I’m seeing a lot of ‘Us and Them’, holier than thou, posturing and virtue signalling on this. Here the ‘other’, the “car driver” identity, is defined and denigrated in a straw man contrast against the sustainable saint on a cycle. A binary, ripe for deconstruction as Derrida might have said...😜

Russell Pearson ● 2202d

Very true Russell. There is a narrow and ill informed focus on one transport mode. I realise the need for cycle safety, but struggle with replacing bus lanes for cycle paths. Many of the most vocal also are long distance cycle commuters who are lobbying for a route that suits them. There are no local cycle routes and no prospect of any. The displacement of traffic that makes other roads more hazardous for all is ignored.We need not just balance but honesty. The most vocal cycle lobbyists are happy to spread lies and disinformation.

Paul Green ● 2202d

"We need not just balance but honesty. The most vocal cycle lobbyists are happy to spread lies and disinformation."Spot on!

Steve Taylor ● 2199d

We could do with more scientists in government and fewer classicists.Divide et imperar becomes increasingly boring.  So do lies.https://theconversation.com/five-ways-to-kickstart-a-green-recovery-141115

Philippa Bond ● 2199d

The cycle path on Twickenham Rd. going to the West Middx. is an absolute joke. Apart from the fact that the traffic is like glue, and the the much vaunted bus lanes have now been removed to make way for these stupid bollards to provide space for all these cyclists, ambulances are obviously finding it extremely difficult to get through. Cars trying to pull over in between those bollards to make space will find it nigh on impossible, the number of cyclists spotted? None.

Vanessa Smith ● 2199d

"the number of cyclists spotted? None."Very rare to see a cyclist there during the week

Steve Taylor ● 2199d