Forum Topic

Cycle lanes

I've just got back from a visit to Charing Cross Hospital. I got on the 391 at 11.15am and from Hammersmith Broadway to Turnham Green Church I counted 8 cyclists using the new cycle lanes.

Eric Gilchrist ● 2172d43 Comments

Apparently some WILL use the lanes that are not on High Streets,strange as it may seem.

Janice Evans ● 2172d

Hah!Counting cyclists whilst of a bus journey helps make the time go by...

Stuart Kerr ● 2172d

It's something we have always done when driving, it helps you notice them on the roads.

Janice Evans ● 2172d

What else can you do whilst stuck in traffic ?

Maggie Dodge ● 2172d

Would I be right in assuming that the cyclists were going faster than the bus?The weather was pretty reasonable for November and cycling is one of the few forms of exercise we can do in lock down.  I suspect the number of cyclists will fall as the weather turns to winter

Justin Stephenson ● 2171d

I don't think 8 cyclists seen whilst traveling from Charing Cross to Chiswick is to celebrate. It just shows how little cyclists there are for all the road chaos being caused. The council seriously need to step in and sort this out as the pollution and traffic jams is currently awful, along with that emergency services can barely use the roads during a time of so called crisis.

chris poole ● 2171d

Turn the cycle lanes back to shared bus lanes and then let's all get back to work.

Mandy Waters ● 2166d

Unfinished cycle lanes?

Philippa Bond ● 2166d

Here here! The few cyclists I saw again today were not even using cycle lanes! Complete waste of valuable road space. That's why bus lanes were introduced in the first place, to reduce congestion. So why are we not getting rid of them for the sake of a handful of cyclists who not only don't need, but don't even use the new lanes? And, as a final point, I saw two racing through red lights on the High Road again today - luckily no one trying to cross in front of them. Remind me what gives you the right to ignore the rules of the road? I might just have to follow your lead, and start driving down Fishers Lane again - after all, it would shave 10 minutes off my journey home, and contribute to a reduction in pollution...

Mark Edwards ● 2166d

Yesterday Jeremy Vine took his look-at-me penny farthing out for a spin. He was headed east on the new cycle lane. When he came to Chiswick Lane, he dismounted, pushed that idiotic thing up on to the pavement, across the pedestrian crosswalk at the light then back on to the cycle lane in front of the hotel. He mounted and rode off.I thought to myself it wasn't really the best endorsement for any number of things in particular the efficacy of the cycle lane itself. If anyone would know how to cross that intersection on a bike, it would be him. And he couldn't sort it out. Too bad he didn't have his rich-white-guy headcam thingy.

David Lesniak ● 2166d

Why is cycling one of the only forms of exercise? There’s walking, running, indoors there are endless work outs on You Tube, sit ups etc etc all sorts of exercise besides cycling.

Maggie Dodge ● 2166d

Whilst it’s clear that David doesn’t think much of Jeremy Vine, yesterday afternoon the cycle lane seemed  to be fairly constantly busy.

Tim English ● 2166d

Cycling is, mostly, enjoyable. Indoor sit-ups are not.Cycling is also transport.YouTube workouts are not.Cycling can be done in normal clothes.Running can not.Agree with about walking, though. And traffic reduction encourages walking. Unless you're a car spotter.

Ken Munn ● 2166d

Maggie, housework, decorating, why pay for cleaners and decorators if you can do it yourself, especially during lockdown and keeps you active, if you are able of course.

Janice Evans ● 2166d

At least he got off and pushed his bike to get around a bit of the road network he lacked confidence (for whatever reason) in riding through. So many seem to justify riding on pavements because riders is too scared to use that bit of road — get off and push your bike (on the pavement) until you feel safe. As for the actual juction in question. Seems nuts. 

Rob Reynolds ● 2166d

Best thing I’ve seen lately is a woman wearing a yellow jacket with              “ Hounslow highways” on the back cycling on the pavement opposite the Police Station !

Maureen Yakoubi ● 2166d

I dont think it's a good time to be looking at usage at the moment.  The lane is not yet finished through Chiswick, or it wasn't last time I was there in the middle of last week.We are also in the middle of a lockdown, with a lot of shops shut, and a lot of people working from home rather than commuting to work.I'm not a big fan of the design, but we can't make any sensible judgements on usage at the moment.

Al Webber ● 2166d

I don't see many women cycling at all, there are quite a few in the cycle parks but generally think the cycling to work etc., is for the men as Ken said they are dressed for it, also there are times women cannot cycle for other reasons.

Janice Evans ● 2166d

The cycle lane on Chiswick High Road isn’t finished yet. Which probably explains why it isn't being used yet.

Andrew Fleet ● 2165d

The cycle lanes from Hammersmith to Chiswick were operational but as I said I only counted 8 cyclists actually using them. I am a cyclist myself but this whole issue has got out of hand and I hate to think of them money wasted which could have been put to much better use.

Eric Gilchrist ● 2165d

EricThe cycle lane on Chiswick High Road isn’t finished yet. Why would we expect people to be using it?

Andrew Fleet ● 2165d

Typical cycling lycra louts - using the cycle lanes when they're not open and I bet not using them when they are! Humph! Humph!

Peter Evans ● 2165d

I just checked on HS2, and no-one is using it. Ridiculous.

Simon Pedley ● 2165d

Ken Munn, I listed other forms of exercise to demonstrate that cycling is not the only one. It was not about forms of transport nor was it anything to do with which forms  of exercise you like.

Maggie Dodge ● 2165d

You regard cycling as an exercise option and not as everyday transport.

Ken Munn ● 2165d

It really isn't an every day transport for a lot of women, think they do cycle for exercise mostly in the cycle parks, they don't cycle to work for all sorts of reasons, check it out on Google, mainly that they are not dressed for it when going to work also it's not something they would do every day, it will never be a main form of transport for everyone.  And we don't live in a flat country, its hilly and lots cannot manage the hills, also another reason is that they know nothing about bikes.

Janice Evans ● 2165d

Yes of course, if women try and cycle up the hills in West London their brains could explode.

John Hall ● 2165d

I'm not a woman, so probably not qualified to say 'Janice, you're talking cobblers'.

Ken Munn ● 2165d

Check out on Google.

Janice Evans ● 2165d

John they don't have the stamina, I would like to see cycle lanes used more.

Janice Evans ● 2165d

John, think it was you said put the lanes along side the open train routes, I thought that was a good idea but would never be allowed of course.

Janice Evans ● 2165d

Janice, Ken does not really care. The lobbyists harass everyone in a vehicle. If pushed they might admit not everyone can cycle, but be dismissive if you suggest this. When I cycled to work I needed to shower off, lucky for me the office had that facility. Most do not.

Paul Green ● 2165d

Paul, thanks, I'm used to Ken's attitude, just feel I should speak up for some of the women who are keeping quiet but do have issues with cycling,I have nothing against cycling but sensible enough to know it's not for everyone.

Janice Evans ● 2165d

My daughter cycles to work SW19 to EC1 (or, rather, she did pre-Covid). She cycles in office clothes, and doesn't shower when she arrives at work. Any day on the high road you'll see women cycling in a variety of clothing, little of it cycling-specific.

Ken Munn ● 2165d

Ken, I'm sure that would not suit everyone, especially office workers.

Janice Evans ● 2165d

My daughter cycles to work SW19 to EC1 (or, rather, she did pre-Covid). She cycles in office clothes, and doesn't shower when she arrives at work. I wouldn't want to be sitting in an office next to her on a hot day.

Brian Green ● 2165d

A funny one was that women don't want thunder thighs or a wider backside,Made me laugh. Some don't like to wear a helmet and others said they have to either take items to work or buy goods on the way home.

Janice Evans ● 2165d

Check out electric cycles.  A friend of mine bought a second hand one and has cycled miles.  It's easier to go up hills!

Philippa Bond ● 2164d

True Philippa although quite expensive, people don't like the small wheels.or do some have the larger wheels.

Janice Evans ● 2164d

Sorry to butt in...yes there are some spectacular electric bikes to be had - plenty with big wheels. I haven't tried one myself but judging by Simon Cowell's recent experience I think they may have to be handled with care!

Bruce Hammal ● 2164d

That was horrific.  And for anyone with osteopenia/osteoporosis (and there are lots of people, both male and female walking around not knowing they have it) even a minor fall from a bike could be catastrophic - broken limbs and operations and a long, long recovery.

Claire Moran ● 2164d

Yes, best stick with the huffy puffy models I suppose.

Janice Evans ● 2164d

This might be true but who knows:https://cyclingindustry.news/electric-bike-subsidies-on-the-way-starting-with-trials/

Philippa Bond ● 2164d