Kennington People on Bikes

Will TfL's junction review be feeble or robust?

2012-02-08T09:53:00.000Z

Transport for London have started a cycle safety review of some 200 junctions. The first batch they've started work on include several in our backyard and there's a commitment to implementing change as a result of the review so it's really important to get involved.

Once a preferred option is agreed we'll start design and construction work, subject to our consultation and approval processes.

The immediately local junctions are:
Lambeth Bridge (northern roundabout)
Albert Embankment (Lambeth Bridge/Lambeth Road), aka Lambeth Bridge (southern roundabout)
Waterloo (inc. IMAX roundabout – York Road / Stamford Road / Waterloo Road / Waterloo Bridge)
Oval triangle
St George’s Circus (Blackfriars Road / London Road / Borough Road)

My biggest fear about the review is that TfL will concentrate on making the junctions safer for those who cycle, rather than making the junctions desirable for those who aren't currently cycling but would like to.

Putting aside actual casualty statistics for a moment, the reality is that all of these junctions feel bloody horrible to use as a cyclist. Parents are hardly likely to encourage their teenage children to cycle across Lambeth or Waterloo Bridges as things stand, and the children are hardly likely to feel inspired to cycle there in the first place.

For a review and subsequent works to have any validity, the minimum outcome must be that teenage cyclists are routinely using these junctions and bridges, and that their parents feel it's safe for them to do so.

TfL also need to be mindful that while being hit by a truck is one way of lessening life quality and/or length, another way is being obese and unfit. If our population are too scared of the road network to choose active means of travel then TfL's junction review will have been inadequate.

With the current mega development and high-rise residential growth of Vauxhall, Nine Elms, Battersea as one specified area, Waterloo as a second, and the Elephant & Castle as a third, it must be made clear to our politicians that it is time to fundamentally change the way our road network operates in this patch of central London in favour of the pedestrian and cyclist and against the hegemony of the motorist.

Is this why Vauxhall Cross and the E&C roundabout fail our community?

2012-02-07T11:12:00.000Z

Look at Vauxhall and the Elephant and Castle across the duration of a day and it is apparent that there is very much more road space than the volume of motor traffic requires. The following two paragraphs, from this American article, make me wonder to what extent both these gyratories were built to the size they are to facilitate the smooth passage during rush-hour, let alone the rest of the day, of a predicted massive growth of motor traffic.

"Many designers size a road or intersection to be free-flowing for the worst hour of the day. Sized to accommodate cars during the highest peak hour, such streets will be “overdesigned” for the other 23 hours of the day and will always function poorly for the surrounding community.

If that isn’t troubling enough, LOS (Levels of Service and Travel) is often calculated using traffic predicted 20 years into the future, even in urban settings. Until the forecasted growth materializes, the roadway will be overdesigned, even during the peak hour. Overdesigned roadways encourage motorists to drive at higher speeds, making them difficult to cross and unpleasant to walk along. This degrades public spaces between the edges of the road and the adjacent buildings, encourages people to drive short distances, and generally unravels a community’s social fabric."

I think that sums up the Vauxhall and E&C experience, and the current development of these areas to be heavily residential means it is now, beyond any question, time to put the community's social fabric first.

TfL consider that making radical change is likely to require/force a 20 - 30% reduction in motor traffic and, tragically, seem to consider that a problem rather than something to celebrate..

My guess is that the gyratories aren't carrying the volume of traffic that was predicted and and that they were designed to accommodate. In which case some reduction in road space allocation would make no difference to drivers for the great proportion of the day while improving life for pedestrians and cyclists.

Take more space away and eventually there will be an impact on the motorist. Great, bring it on and force drivers to revise their travel habits.

The reality is that many of today's motor vehicle journeys are undertaken because our society has spent decades making motoring the easy choice in comparison with alternatives that need less space, make less noise, create less pollution and make for a more sociable, liveable environment.

It's time to reclaim central London for people rather than the motor vehicle..

Positive police action against uninsured drivers

2012-02-06T09:09:00.000Z

According to Detective Chief Inspector Alan Chambers at Sutton Police Station, “Research shows that 80 per cent of uninsured vehicles are driven by people who are involved in criminal activities or have a criminal record and are nine times more likely to be involved in a collision."

I was delighted therefore to hear about the action being taken by our:local police as part of a pan-London operation, a real example of reducing road danger by targeting those who are the cause:

"Lambeth borough officers teamed up with the Safer Transport Team (STT) in another targeted attack at un-insured drivers seizing 15 vehicles and making six arrests yesterday, Thursday, 2 February.

Operation Cubo swept across London’s 32 boroughs and saw officers take up fixed point locations across the boroughs.

Officers from the Safer Neighbourhoods Teams and local policing teams with assistance from STT’s held fixed positions in South Lambeth, Streatham and Norwood from which, they could stop and verify drivers’ details.

Alongside the seizure activity Lambeth Officers arrested two men for immigration offences, one for failing to provide correct details for a summons. One arrest of a woman for having no driving licence or insurance and drug offences. And two men arrested for driving while disqualified.

This action is part of the commitment by Commissioner Hogan-Howe to target criminals and disrupt their activities.

Lambeth Borough Police Inspector Nick Fallowfield said: “These results support our Commissioner’s Total Policing strategy, which encapsulates a war on crime. In essence this means a return to basics and old fashioned policing which means more cops on the streets catching criminals.

Operation Cubo entailed nearly 100 uniform officers across Lambeth stopping and checking nearly 300 cars to deny criminals the use of the road and to identify those driving without insurance or correct driving licenses.

It is reducing crime in Lambeth and is making the roads safer for everyone else. Several future similar operations are now planned”.

PS Tony Dodd from Herne Hill SNT was at the Norwood Op Cubo stop site said: “This was a successful operation and I am delighted with the results the teams achieved. We intend to continue running controlled stop sites on main arterial routes in Lambeth to target motorists driving with no insurance and to combat crime”.

To find out more, or to report dangerous or illegal road users, visit www.met.police.uk/roadsafelondon "

All change for the E & C northern roundabout

2012-02-03T18:02:00.000Z

The SE1 Community Website today suggests Boris may fork out £200m towards the remodelling of the Elephant & Castle tube station and the northern roundabout.

Let's see if we can turn the roundabout into a crossroads instead and create a wonderful public space.

The opportunity must be seized to achieve really significant change at the Elephant & Castle and St George's Road, Westminster Bridge Road and even Westminster Bridge - changes that will improve life for the residents, tourists and workers by favouring walking, cycling and public transport over the private car.

Unhappily TfL's current design, below, is still for a huge five-lane roundabout, though with surface crossings rather than underpasses for pedestrians and St George's Road remains a one-way multi-lane motorstrosity.

If TfL's plan, based on the existing or higher volumes of motor traffic, goes ahead E&C and central London will remain as choked up with motor traffic and unpleasant to walk and cycle as it is now. It's time to find ways to restrict the traffic and the multi-lane gyratories that foul up our area.

Here's a quick sketch of one idea (avoiding spending £15m+ to move the Faraday Memorial and electricity substation marked in blue) - maybe you've got a better one. Let's get them being discussed and researched. There has to be a better solution that the one TfL currently propose.

I envisage St George's Road made two-way and only used by buses and cycles. General traffic uses London Road to approach Waterloo and Blackfriars Bridges. At Elephant & Castle there's a simple crossroads as shown, with a t-junction from St George's Road. Pedestrians get more space and easier crossings.

A bonus of removing private motor traffic from St George's Road is that it facilitates doing the same on Westminster Bridge. In turn Parliament Square can cease being an inhumane traffic island and become a place deserving its World Heritage Status..

Big, bold ideas. Maybe my crossroads flight of fancy, on examination, won't turn out to be the right one, but the underlying principle of stopping central London being dominated by the motor vehicle is absolutely what is needed. We mustn't end up with just a multi-million pound minor tweak of the existing dismal arrangement.

Are TfL too slapdash to achieve a professional result?

2012-02-01T16:49:00.000Z

On 13th December I blogged about TfL moving the Pelican crossing for the eastern Cycle Bypass at Elephant and Castle along the New Kent Road. I wondered why they didn't take the opportunity to replace the old Pelican crossing with a Toucan crossing permitting cyclists to use the Bypass without having to dismount.

The truth, I subsequently thought, was that they made a concious decision not to support cyclists in favour of supporting the motorist.

But now I think the true reason is that TfL are just too slapdash to put in the care and effort needed for a professional result for vulnerable road users. Why else would they move the crossing point from the right side of the junction to the left but not move the related signs? It's now six weeks since TfL moved the crossing and the original signage remains untouched.

16,000 homes; 25,000 jobs; Where's the Cycle Plan?

2012-02-01T12:57:00.000Z

The Vauxhall, Nine Elms, Battersea Opportunity Area continues to take shape with buildings going up and planning applications going in. Meanwhile we continue to await the finalised Planning Framework that developers are working to.

A planning application has just been made to Wandsworth for One Nine Elms (illustrated above). In the background is 'The Tower' at St George's Wharf which is under construction and on completion will be a metre taller than the Gherkin.

Meanwhile Lambeth has an application in for the 3 acre site between Bondway and Wandsworth Road, called Vauxhall Square. 604 flats; 416 student rooms; 500 seat cinemas; shops, 438 room hotel....Car Park entrance ramp, taxi drop off point and servicing along Bondway.

Cunningly the Vauxhall Square website has no images showing the height of the buildings planned, so here's one from a year ago (though without the proposed One Nine Elms, Kylun Towers and other skyscrapers planned for this area).

I'm not going to argue about whether there should be these tall towers or whether the planned population density is too great here. What I do want to see is a detailed plan of how cycling will be encouraged and facilitated across the whole area, and motor traffic reduced and calmed.

I know for example that Vauxhall Square propose 1096 cycle parking spaces predominantly on basement levels one and two. The plans suggest there will be 10 ground level short-stay stands on their property and a further 44 racks on the highway. But, given there will be some 16,000 cycle parking spaces for the homes along the VNEB corridor, is this sufficient short-term parking? Does the masterplan for the area intend people to be using their bikes or leaving them in the basement of their flats?

I'm also intrigued as to how cycling is perceived in relation to the Linear Park. I note, for example, that the Vauxhall Square application shows a one-way cycle crossing from their bit of public space into the Park - i.e. you can cycle across Wandsworth Road into the park but not the other way into their square. Do they intend to ban cycling at all times through their patch, or is another mellow cycle route planned from the Park. What are the other developers planning for their patch of the Park?

Will Nine Elms Lane have beautifully smooth, wide cycle lanes? Will Vauxhall Cross become a pleasure to cycle through, rather than a gruesome gyratory?

What news on the pedestrian/cycling bridge mooted to cross the Thames? Will it be a reasonable width for walking and cycling, or as skinny as the pedestrian only Wobbly Bridge between Tate Modern and St Pauls?

Will the ENVAC style vacuum waste disposal system that also sucks dustcarts off our streets be going in throughout the area? I can find no sign of it in the Vauxhall Square plans (or any drinking water fountains for that matter).

I really, really hope that Wandsworth, Lambeth, the GLA and the developers are putting as much time and effort into making this area a cycling nirvana as they are clearly putting into the hugely expensive Northern Line extension. They are unlikely to get a similar opportunity in the future.

TfL's equivalent to rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic

2012-01-29T18:01:00.000Z

For once I almost welcome this sign. Over the coming week Transport for London are removing the railings that limit the options for pedestrians to cross the five-lane one-way motorstrosity that St George's Road has become.

Unfortunately TfL are using their time and energy on piddling interventions rather than on measures that will make a real difference. This road, with three schools on one side and a park on the other, should swiftly be made two-way and cycle-friendly.

As well as having no plans to make St George's Road two-way in the imminent future, TfL don't plan to make the one-way motorway bit of Westminster Bridge Road two-way and a mellow place to be and cycle.

I hope that the Catholic church are pulling its flock together to fight TfL's oppression of this area. After all St George's RC Cathedral, Catholic primary and secondary schools, and the offices of Catholic charity CAFOD are all hemmed in by these truly nasty roads.

Come on TfL, put your energies into real, not superficial, change.

Three reasons not to shop at Tesco in Kennington

2012-01-23T16:53:00.000Z

(beyond objecting to their monopolistic ambitions in the Kennington area)

1. You can't park because of their rubbish - a regular occurrence at the first local store (photo today)

2. Drivers using their store, or making deliveries to it, park on the cycle path rather than on the highway - a regular occurrence at a second local store (Tesco's cash van pictured yesterday).

3. Drivers waiting to unload block the cycle path - a regular occurrence at a third local store (photos from the past week)

Do you know an employer that needs cycle parking?

2012-01-18T10:23:00.000Z

Transport for London offer free cycle stands for employers with a minimum 5 employees on site.

There are three designs to choose from - Sheffield stands, toast racks and vertical parking.

Companies can request up to 20 stands, and it's quick and easy to get them. Details here . Companies need to sign up to the Cycle to Work Guarantee, which is also quick and easy and doesn't commit the company to taking further action (though let's hope they will).

Dr Bike opposite Oval tube on 18 Jan, 5.30-7.30pm

2012-01-15T07:37:00.002Z

Lambeth Council will be providing a free bike check service in Kennington on 18 January between 5.30-7.30. It is especially important to look after your bike throughout the winter months so bring it along for a professional check up. We will be set up on the triangle opposite Oval tube station next to the southbound Cycle Superhighway 7. No need to book just turn up with your bike.

City of London vs Southwark Cyclists

2012-01-10T22:58:00.000Z

Why will this cyclist wait a very long time and then ignore the red light?

In my blogpost of 19th December I wrote about this traffic light:

Finally, in the City of London, the cyclist push-and-wait traffic lights at the junction of Queen Street and Queen Victoria Street weren't working as has been the case for a good three weeks now. Clearly no-one in the City's highways department cycles over Southwark Bridge in a month of Sundays.

There's now good and bad news. The bad news is worse than the good news.

Finally there is now power to these lights (maybe as a result of my reporting it) and as you can see a working red light.

On the bad news side,I have absolutely no idea if the amber and green lights work because cyclists have been prevented from pressing the button that eventually makes the lights change from red to green. (Would a motorist at this crossroads be expected to press a bloody button?)

The cyclists' button is attached to this traffic light

I filled in the on-line reporting form on the City of London website at noon today, so a traffic queue problem of this nature (somewhat less problematic to solve than the Hammersmith Flyover) should have been resolved by commuter rush-hour tomorrow morning, or at least by the Olympics. I won't be there so please let me know if it's been fixed in the morning or, presumably surely, by the evening rush-hour.

It's totally deplorable that, at the end of Cycling Superhighway 7, cyclists should even have to press a button for the lights to work. It's comparatively incidental in comparison that the accursed button has been barricaded away.

Let's see what the City of London's strategy says (my bold)

The Transport Objectives in the City of London Community Strategy 2004 – 2014

To facilitate the provision of an enhanced public transport system which is punctual, reliable, not overcrowded and accessible to all and has greater capacity, especially at peak times.
To facilitate greater ease of interchange and higher standards of customer information.
To maintain productive and effective relationships with the strategic transport authorities, operators and policy makers, including the development and maintenance of robust contingency plans.
To improve the ‘pedestrian experience’.
To encourage improvements to the safety of all modes of transport.
To encourage cycling.
To deter breaches of traffic regulations.
To facilitate the maximisation of transport choice at all times of day.
To maintain the traffic flow.

In all mildness, the City of London can't be said to be doing very well with regard to the last five points of their strategy here.

The key to successful shared space with motor vehicles...

2012-01-09T23:45:00.001Z

is the rising bollard

There's a excellent post on Shared Space streets on 'As Easy as Riding a Bike' and other good posts on several other blogs, not least because this is the subject of this week's Street Talks arranged by the Movement for Liveable London . It gives me a chance to sing the praises of the centre of Bordeaux, which is fantastic to walk and cycle around.

There is the occasional motor vehicle, delivering stock to a shop or removing rubbish. But drivers absolutely know they are guests in the space - they can't enter without sufficient good cause that the bollard is retracted into the ground to allow them to pass. There are very few motor vehicles and the pedestrians stroll as they wish, with cyclists carefully weaving around them.

If only Exhibition Road could be like this

The Vauxhall factory moved; now can the Gyratory?

2012-01-09T21:47:00.000Z

My grotty photo is of an interesting plan produced by Lambeth Council working with TfL by Farrells, SKM Buchanons and Lambert Smith Hampton. It's part of a document being discussed by Lambeth's Cabinet on Jan 16th. (For a clearer image you'll have to download this PDF .) Here's the text from the page that, despite not mentioning cycling, seems promising - now is the time to push for real change:

"Aiming to unlock the potential of Vauxhall, it offers a vision of how Vauxhall Cross could change to deliver a sustainable community to reflect the vision agreed by the strategy board. The plan draws upon some of the history of the area when there was an identifiable High Street and looks forward to create a major transport interchange, a gateway to the city and a modern, vibrant and sustainable district centre. It intends to offer a centre to complement both Lambeth and London, and to be achievable within the framework of the OAPF and Lambeth Core Strategy.

The plan outlines a coherent and legible centre, easily negotiable for residents and visitors, with the historic barriers of the gyratory and the railway lines over come.Communities previously isolated to the east and north east, are re-connected to the river, the areas greatest natural resource- itself enhanced through the Thames walkway.

The numerous green spaces enjoyed by the area are now similarly now connected and linked to the proposed Linear Park, facilitating safe pedestrian movements. Pedestrian movement is further facilitated within the plan as road junctions and crossings are simplified from over 30 to 20 and transport barriers are reduced.

Central to the plan is the restoration of a high street at the centre of Vauxhall, to provide a heart and focus, along the Bondway, the strip currently occupied by the bus station.

Rather than a pedestrianised area, this is intended to be enlivened by allowing buses to pass through, and both sides will enjoy active retail frontage, thus providing valuable employment space and contributing further to Vauxhalls economic vitality. A Civic Town Square is proposed next to the existing station as a potential venue for community and cultural events. It is intended that this is an area of mixed use, both within the streets and the buildings themselves.

The plan allows for the development of tall buildings as described in the emerging OAPF, but describes how streets can be created so that those buildings have a context.

Transport, and the management of Vauxhall as an interchange remains essential and the proposal, is to remove the bus station and replace it with a series of bus stops, facilitating the bus routes and journeys. The plan anticipates the return of two way working, in place of the current gyratory, which exacerbates traffic and its attendant problems, but does not rely upon it."

Input to the future of the E&C (incl. the new swimming pool)

2012-01-09T10:04:00.000Z

You have a chance to make a difference to the development of the Elephant and Castle area over the next 15 years as a planning framework is being established by Southwark Council with comments welcome by February 7th. Details with a link to the document to download are on the Council's website.

If you use the E&C and its adjoining areas please try to get to one of the following events and send an email or fill in a form with feedback/suggestions.

This Wednesday, 11 January, at Southwark Cyclists monthly meet, there will be a presentation on the Draft Elephant and Castle Opportunity Area Supplementary Planning Document by Southwark Council's Planning Policy Team. The meeting is from 6.30 to 8.30pm at Better Bankside Community Space, 18 Great Guildford Street (behind Tate Modern).

There will also be exhibitions of the plans:
12,13,14 January 2012 at 182 Walworth Road. (10am -4pm each day)
25, 26, 27, 28 January 2012 at Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre (11-1pm each day)

In greater detail, there is also a public consultation event to view and comment on the outline designs for the new Elephant & Castle Leisure Centre (including a swimming pool) and the supporting residential led mixed-use development at Elephant & Castle Leisure Centre, 22 Elephant & Castle, London SE1 6SQ on:
Saturday 14 January 10am – 5pm
Monday 16 January 10am – 5pm
Tuesday 17 January 11am – 8pm

I'm going to suggest Southwark investigates building a pool like the Claudius Therme in Cologne, pictured above.

A flipping good idea for wet weather riding

2012-01-07T21:18:00.000Z

No rear mudguard? No problem - just grab a flipper

There seems to be a trend for placing advertising bikes at the end of batch of Sheffield Stands.

Maybe an income opportunity for the Council?

Who are our roads intended to be used by?

2012-01-06T13:04:00.001Z

We have a lot of expectations of our streets.

We want them to be pleasant to live alongside and to cross, but we also want them to be a quick and efficient way for us, and an ever increasing population, to get from A to B.

As a society we are made to be very appreciative of urgency; our ability to get the DVD we want couriered to us at once. News reports continually remind us of the cost to the economy of congestion and delay. Speed is king.

To accommodate this we have huge numbers of professional drivers, and professionalism in turn is increasingly expected of our road users. We have deadlines, no room for downtime, important stuff to deliver.

Speed and efficiency can be enhanced by training and testing. The driving test is intended to demonstrate that drivers are sufficiently skilled and trained to control their heavy and potentially fast vehicles - vehicles that are easily capable of wiping out a life with a casual swipe. Unfortunately it seems to be viewed as the key to being allowed to use the road at all - everyone should be professional and speedy.

Want to dawdle? Not too good at judging distance and speed? A bit prone to absent-minded action? Then the pavement is the safe place for you.

But where does that put the child cyclist?

It's illegal to cycle on the pavement but it seems to me that that a lot of drivers consider that other road users, including children, should only be permitted to use the roads if they have same level of training, skill, predictability and understanding as a grown-up and qualified driver (who always has an urgent and important reason to use the road).

Do you really want your child to share the road with the owner of the ANGER ROVER above?

In our society vehicles are often designed, promoted and driven with a view to intimidating other road users, particularly the slower and less skilled. Just look at the Mitsubishi Barbarian or the Range Rover Evoque, the website for which said:

""Its dynamic profile, with a dramatic rising beltline, muscular shoulders and a distinctive taper of the floating roofline, seems to draw the eye towards it, giving Range Rover Evoque a natural authority and magnetism."

I am not convinced drivers in the UK (and by extension Driving Instructors and the Police) believe that real kids (the soft, squidgy, unpredictable, immature ones) should be capriciously cycling around on our roads in their millions, with motorists gently working around them.

At the root of debates about Shared Space, segregated cycle routes and speed limits is the question of whether as a society we wish to make the motor vehicle a benign part of our public space or the domineering and aggressive one.

Until we decide to make the motor vehicle benign, parents will be reluctant to permit their children to roam freely by foot or by cycle. Let's work towards enabling free range kids earlier rather than later..

TfL's seasonal funding announcement for 2012/13

2011-12-31T17:39:00.003Z

Transport for London’s Press Office for south London appears to have had an excellent seasonal lunch on December 15th prior to issuing an individual press release for each borough revealing TfL’s financial Christmas present and what the borough will spend it on during 2012/13.

While the press releases for north London boroughs highlighted their individual successes in the last year, the south London boroughs of Southwark, Lambeth, Merton and Lewisham were all left to bask in the achievements of Bromley.

It’s vaguely interesting to discover that Bromley installed 118 new on-street cycle parking spaces but I’d rather know what my local boroughs achieved.

Let’s hope TfL can issue corrected press releases once the New Year hangover has subsided.

In the meantime here's what we can expect in 2012/13 from Lambeth and the neighbouring boroughs of Southwark, Wandsworth and Westminster: Overall, TfL report that funding to the boroughs to deliver improvements is to remain stable to 2013/14 at £147m per annum, rather than be reduced each year as they previously forecast..

LAMBETH
The £5m funding package in 2012/13 will finance a range of transport projects in Lambeth, including:

£1.16m to help pilot Lambeth's new 'cooperative approach' to designing transport and environment schemes and carry out improvements to pedestrian and cycle facilities in Oval, Stockwell, Vassall, Coldharbour, Ferndale, Larkhall and Clapham Town areas of the borough. As part of its plans to become the country's first cooperative council, Lambeth Council is developing a new 'community led' approach to designing transport improvements, working much more closely with residents through its 'Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme'. The LIP funding will help get this off the ground in the pilot wards of Oval, Vassall, Coldharbour, Ferndale, Larkhall and Clapham Town
£550,000 to encourage more cycling in the borough, including cycle parking (both on street and residential), greenways for off-street cycling and route and junction improvements to facilitate safe cycling
£110,000 for phase one of a two year project to make crossings and residential streets safe around Loughborough Junction

SOUTHWARK
The £4m funding package in 2012/13 will finance a range of transport projects in Southwark, including:

£400,000 to improve walking routes on Forest Hill Road, connecting communities and providing a link to local shops and schools
£342,000 for widespread improvements in East Walworth supporting 'Pocket Parks'. These will include improved walking and cycling routes between green spaces to encourage more walking and cycling trips
£150,000 for improved walking and cycling facilities in Camberwell to get more people walking and cycling for shorter journeys. Funds will also facilitate environmental improvements to link green spaces and the town centre

WANDSWORTH
The £4.7m funding package in 2012/13 will finance a range of transport projects in Wandsworth, including:

£1.4m towards an on-going scheme to improve Clapham Junction town centre and tackle traffic congestion. Works include improving the road layout, renewing pavements and road surfaces, decluttering footways, planting new trees and upgrading lighting, wayfinding and street furniture
£280,000 for public realm improvements and to create new pedestrian areas
£210,000 to promote cycling through improved cycle parking, cycle training courses, completing cycle route links and a programme of promotional events
£350,000 to improve the look and feel of streets around local shops and provide better pedestrian access to shopping parades.

WESTMINSTER
The £5.9m funding package in 2012/13 will finance a range of transport projects in Westminster, including:

£500,000 to extend the Legible London pedestrian signage in the City of Westminster
£1.173m to implement public realm improvements to the West End. This includes improvements for the vital pedestrian link from Leicester Square to Covent Garden
£1,000,000 to deliver Westminster's programme of urban realm improvements, including the implementation of the first phase of the important project at Queensway/Westbourne Grove

Cycle and Car Parking, and a Christmas Tree binned

2011-12-22T16:57:00.000Z

Fantastic to see the new cycle parking outside Kennington tube station - very promising for the New Year.
Let's hope the staff and users of Lambeth Living's North Lambeth Housing Office make a New Year resolution to leave the car at home and cycle instead. This kind of parking that obstructs pushchair and wheelchair users happens all too often outside their Kennington Lane/Opal Street office:

Pavement obstruction by parked cars is something the Women's Institute could get their members to act on, rather than their current suggestion of forcing cycle helmets to be mandatory. Please read the Cycling Embassy of Great Britain blogpost and sign the petition against the WI's suggested measure to dissuade people from cycling.

Finally, while we're just about to bring our Christmas tree inside for its annual holiday, it would appear that Christmas has come and gone already for others

Promising developments in Heygate Street

2011-12-22T16:34:00.001Z

Following on from my last blog post on the plan to remove a chunk of the Heygate Street cycle lane and suggesting options, I've heard this news:
Further to consultation responses to plans to remove 100m of cycle lane at the above location (in order to introduce a footway where there currently isn't one) our officers have now produced a plan which will allow the retention of the cycle lane. The width of the bus lane will be reduced to the minimum allowed. TfL have been consulted and have no objection. In addition the carriageway on the northern side of Heygate Street will be increased by 1m. In total this will provide the 1.5m that is need for a cycle lane along the full length of Heygate Street.

We are delighted to confirm the Council will be able to find the money for this vital improvement to our plans to make Heygate Street accessible and safer for both cyclists and pedestrians.

Let's hope the cycle lane is mandatory rather than advisory for motorists not to use. I'm looking forward to seeing the reworked plans. Now TfL, what about the Pelican crossing on New Kent Road becoming a Toucan...

UPDATE The cycle lane is going to be mandatory, and the poor cycle lane in the bus lane going the other way will be removed. Both positive actions in my view. Well done Southwark.

TfL's latest ruse - making cyclists walk to smooth traffic flow at E&C?

2011-12-20T14:46:00.000Z

I was wrong in my blog the other day that TfL had omitted to take advantage of works to install a Toucan crossing to complete the eastern Cycle Bypass that avoids the horrible E&C roundabout.

It isn't that the thought didn't occur to them. Much worse than that.

TfL actively decided not to install a Toucan crossing on this contorted but crucial Cycle Bypass. Here's the plan that was drawn up for the works that have recently taken place on the New Kent Road, and, as you can see top right, they proposed a Toucan Crossing

That's pretty clear:

After all, what could be more sane and rational than to permit cyclists to cycle on a cycle bypass?

I don't know why TfL decided to stick with a Pelican crossing and make cyclists dismount, but I'm going to hazard a guess.

Pelican crossings have a flashing amber light period of time when traffic can go if people have stopped crossing. Toucan crossings are like normal traffic lights so road users have to wait until the green light to check it's clear then proceed.

So, if your imperative is to have traffic whooshing smoothly to a deadly major roundabout you could well choose to opt for a Pelican crossing.

If your imperative is to nurture and facilitate travel which decreases congestion, increases fitness, reduces CO2 emissions and pollution, and saves lives then you'd opt for a Toucan.

TfL have elected to support the motorist. It's time for change at TfL from the top down.

Please go and see the film 'Urbanized'

2011-12-20T07:58:00.000Z

I really enjoyed this film, on at the Barbican to 23rd December (details here). It should probably be required viewing for anyone involved in decision making in London.

Over half the world’s population now lives in an urban area, and 75% will call a city home by 2050. But while some cities are experiencing explosive growth, others are shrinking. The challenges of balancing housing, mobility, public space, civic engagement, economic development, and environmental policy are fast becoming universal concerns. Yet much of the dialogue on these issues is disconnected from the public domain.

Architectural and city planning visionaries of our times including Rem Koolhaas, Oscar Niemeyer, Amanda Burden,Michael Sorkin and Norman Foster investigate what and who shapes a city – the designers, the citizens, the environment?

US/UK 2011 Dir. Gary Hustwit
"This visually arresting film, like Hustwit’s past work, elegantly conveys the omnipresence of design in daily life. Essential viewing." Josh K. Leon, Metropolis

"Urbanized is a brave and timely movie that manages to strike almost exactly the right tone. The more people who see this movie the better." Justin McGuirk, The Guardian

Oil smudges decision making?

2011-12-19T23:57:00.002Z

STEP ONE: Check out the authors of this letter published by the Guardian on 11th December.

We are writing to express our concern at the new parking policies which Westminster council are planning to introduce from January which will extend hours of parking control in the West End from 6.30pm to midnight from Monday to Saturday, and from 1pm to 6pm on Sunday. This is likely to have a serious impact on our visitors and audiences at a time when arts budgets are already being severely challenged by cuts in government spending. Westminster council states that these proposals are being introduced "on an experimental basis", and we call on them to reconsider policies which will have such a detrimental effect on the success of cultural organisations in Westminster and the economy of London in general.

John Berry Artistic director, English National Opera, Sandy Nairne Director, National Portrait Gallery, Tony Hall CEO, Royal Opera House,Ian Blatchford Science Museum, Julia Peyton-Jones and Hans Ulrich Obrist Co-directors, Serpentine Gallery, Julian Bird CEO, The Society of London Theatre, Nicholas Serota Director, Tate, Martin Roth Director, V&A

STEP 2: Compare the list of institutions I've put in bold above against today's news report from the BBC:

BP pledges £10m art sponsorship

Oil giant BP says it will continue to sponsor the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Opera House and Tate Britain, pledging £10m over the next five years.

Carnage on Cycling Supercrapway 7 tonight

2011-12-19T22:05:00.000Z

I came as close to a collision as I have in a very long time tonight. A pedestrian ran into the centre of the road from behind some parked cars. She wasn't looking as she was running across the road. If she had looked before leaving the pavement she wouldn't have seen me as I couldn't see her because of the legally parked cars in the cycling superhighway blocking our view of each other. Thanks to my training I was well in the middle of the general traffic lane and had time to bellow nonsensically while doing an emergency stop.

If this was a proper cycling superhighway the problem wouldn't have occurred because the bloody cars wouldn't have been there.

On the cycle Bypass at E&C a motorist and a pedestrian crossing had collided. The car, which was on the pavement when I first saw it had been taken away but the damage remained. The crossing had been taped off to pedestrians and the lights were stuck on green for the motor traffic, meaning that pedestrians and cyclists on the superhighway had to gamble their way across the multiple traffic lanes. Why didn't the authorities put the motor traffic lane on red and force the motorists to decide when the way was clear? (By the way the light at the bottom of the traffic light in the picture above isn't a green light, it's TfL's sign, for cheapskate reasons, prohibiting cyclists from a desirable right turn into the bus and cycle lane).

Further up the road just before Southwark Bridge, under the railway bridge, roadworks are going on. Where are the signs telling the bloody motorists to get out of your car and push it, like the cyclists are asked to do for some lack of reason.

Finally, in the City of London, the cyclist push-and-wait traffic lights at the junction of Queen Street and Queen Victoria Street weren't working as has been the case for a good three weeks now. Clearly no-one in the City's highways department cycles over Southwark Bridge in a month of Sundays.

This kind of shit provision and consideration for cyclists and pedestrians is another reason why I'll be at the Vigil outside Kings Cross at 6pm this Tuesday.

If anyone from TfL or the City of London reads this, as well as everyone else, please go and see the wonderful film 'Urbanized' at the Barbican to the 23rd December, to see what changes are needed and why London's cycling and walking provision needs major improvement, not tinkering while smoothing the car carnage.

Enormous Vauxhall planning application to pore over

2011-12-19T16:43:00.000Z

We're only just beginning to see the major changes that will be coming in the North Lambeth area over the coming years and the latest scheme to go to the Council in search of planning permission is a whopper. Local residents looking to a future that supports cycling and walking in a pleasant environment should get involved, checking the overall proposal and the details within.

Local civic groups such as the Kennington Association, Vauxhall Society and Lambeth Cyclists make a real difference here, as do individuals making their own considered representations. If you haven't taken an interest in local issues previously then now would be an excellent time to get involved .

Here's the developer's press release about their plans at Vauxhall (image above from a recent presentation):

CLS Holdings plc, a pan-European property company headquartered in Vauxhall, announces that yesterday it submitted a detailed planning application for a 154,000 sq m (1,657,650 sq ft) mixed-use development scheme in Vauxhall, London SW8, following a series of stakeholder consultations.

The proposed Vauxhall Square redevelopment is located close to Vauxhall’s transport interchange and comprises: two residential towers of approximately 50 stories containing 510 homes and 15,231 sq m (163,945 sq ft) of office space; 3,500 sq m (37,660 sq ft) of retail, restaurant and café space; 416 student units; a 438 bed hotel; a 4 screen cinema; 94 affordable housing units; a new homeless hostel; a major new public square (of similar size to Paternoster Square in the City of London); and public realm improvements.

Vauxhall Square is at the heart of the Vauxhall Nine Elms regeneration area between the Vauxhall transport links and the proposed new US Embassy.

Subject to receiving planning consent, CLS would aim to start on site in 2014, with phases being completed from 2017 onwards. The development cost of the proposed scheme is in excess of £400 million.

Richard Tice, Chief Executive Officer of CLS Holdings plc, commented:

“This substantial mixed-use scheme is a key element to the Vauxhall Nine Elms regeneration plans. It will create a new vibrant heart for Vauxhall and over 1,000 additional full-time jobs across a broad range of skills, both during and after construction. The investment of over £400 million will bring substantial benefits to a wide range of stakeholders and is not dependent on the Northern Line extension.”

I certainly hope that any S106 'planning gain' money from this development goes towards the removal of the Vauxhall Gyratory rather than being put into the incredibly expensive hole in the ground that is the Northern Line extension - let Wandsworth's developments pay for that.

Should cyclists cycle up this cycle lane?

2011-12-18T06:01:00.000Z

Vulnerable road users are being seriously injured or killed as a consequence of large lorries, designed in such a way that drivers can't see other traffic, being driven in our city . As a consequence TfL are encouraging cyclists "Never cycle up the left side of a lorry stopped at a junction.".

You envisage that TfL mean don't squeeze up the inside of a lorry in the kind of narrow situation below (at the junction coming off Lambeth Bridge into Lambeth - though why on earth TfL recently painted the cycle logos where they did is quite beyond me),

But do TfL really intend that a cyclist shouldn't continue in a clearly provided mandatory cycle lane they've installed such as the one in this video?

If vehicles or lanes are so poorly designed that a driver just can't see whether a neighbouring lane is clear or not then there's clearly a huge problem and I don't believe it should be the responsibility of the cyclist to resolve it. I know the cyclist is the one who will lose in a collision, but I believe that we should have a society where children, adults with learning difficulties and executives in city banks should be able to cycle around without having to second-guess whether a lane provided for their use is usable.

Conditions for cycling and walking in London have got to improve. That's why I'll be at the vigil taking place this Tuesday 20th December from 6pm at Kings Cross. Please come along too.

TfL Smothering the Traffic Flow

2011-12-13T15:42:00.000Z

The eastern cycle bypass to avoid the horrors of the E&C roundabout(s) has always been a bit of a horror itself. A particularly irritating aspect used to be the Pelican (pedestrian only) crossing of the New Kent Road, demanding 'Cyclist Dismount' from the segregated cycle lane, push your bike over the road, and remount on the shared pedestrian/cyclist pavement the other side. As you can see the Pelican crossing has finally gone due to regeneration works:

to be replaced a few metres along with, you guessed it, not a Toucan (two can cross - cyclist and pedestrian), but another Pelican crossing..

So, there you have it: a clear example that TfL are not all about Smoothing the Traffic Flow. At least, not if you're a cyclist.

In practice, unsurprisingly, 99% of cyclists don't dismount, being able to see TfL nonsense for what it is.

Why would a cycle-friendly Mayor allow such a straightforward opportunity for improvement to be missed by TfL?

Local Recycling Centre no longer so local

2011-12-13T08:28:00.000Z

On 3rd January Southwark's Manor Depot Recycling and Reuse Centre (a mile from Kenningon) shuts, with the replacement opening at 43 Devon Street, SE15 1AL - 3 1/2 miles from Kennington in Peckham.

This makes the Cringle Dock Solid Waste Transfer Station, Cringle Street, SW8 5BX on the river at Battersea, a little over two miles away, the preferred option to take items that can't be given to a local charity shop or put on the wonderful Lambeth Freecycle.

The advantage of using Cringle Dock is that barges are used to take unwanted materials away, reducing local lorry journeys.

Lambeth Council also provide bulky waste collections

Imperial War Museum to Westfield Stratford - a safe, fun ride?

2011-12-10T19:56:00.000Z

All things going to plan, next Wednesday's Pedal Power Kennington ride will see our teenagers riding after school to see the Olympic Park. I suspect the best view will be from the Observation Deck behind the John Lewis store at Westfield Stratford City, the gateway to the Olympics.

Conveniently cycle specific route planners are provided by Westfield Stratford City and by Transport for London. Our starting postcode is SE1 6HZ, the Imperial War Museum.

From the TfL site I chose the Easy option: Mainly quiet backstreets, canals and park routes. The speed is 12km/hr. Here's an extract of the route:

Turn Left Into Whitechapel High Street
Straight Up Whitechapel Road
Straight Up Mile End Road
Straight Up Bow Road
Straight Up Bow Interchange
Straight Up
Turn Left Into
Turn Right Into
Straight Up
Straight Up High Street
Straight Up High Street Cycle path
Straight Up High Street
Straight Up High Street
Turn Left Into Great Eastern Road
Turn Left Into walk your bicycle (230m)
Straight Up walk your bicycle (150m)

And here is part of Westfield's recommended cycle route:
14. Slight right onto Whitechapel Rd/A11
Continue to follow A11
15. Slight left onto Mile End Rd/A11
16. Slight left to stay on Mile End Rd/A11
Continue to follow A11
17. Slight left onto Bow Rd/A11
18. Slight left to stay on Bow Rd/A11
19. Slight right to stay on Bow Rd/A11
Continue to follow A11
20. Turn left onto Warton Rd
Destination will be on the left

Cycle friendly shopping centre? Cycle friendly Olympics? That's what we've been promised. We'll find out next Wednesday when we follow the recommended routes. Gulp.

Moving bikes by bike

2011-12-08T09:14:00.000Z

With a little help from Simon, handyman-par-excellence, I've got my bike trailer up and running. It's made from two car roof cycle carriers attached to a sawn-off roof rack. This sits on the base of the Carry Freedom trailer (with the extended towing bar) and has a couple of bits of Velcro wrapped around it to hold it rigid, which simply required two one inch long holes cut into the marine ply base.

It's amazingly stable with one or two bikes. It had a real test yesterday as I had six Pedal Power Kennington bikes to donate to a school and it made moving the bikes around more of a joy than a chore.

Riding into winter with Pedal Power Kennington

2011-12-08T08:58:00.001Z

Despite it getting darker, a little wetter, and colder the rides have continued and are attracting new participants. On Tueday 29th November we went to Tower Bridge and St Katherine's Dock to look at boats in the rain

It happened to be the day that the gangway onto HMS Belfast had collapsed.

On Wednesday 30th we went through the City of London to Hoxton to tour around the Circus Space - wonder if those we took will end up on the Circus degree course?

We also nipped into the Classic Car Club on Old Street

This Tuesday we decided to go to St Pancras to see the Lego Christmas Tree

and yesterday we had a repeat visit, by popular demand, to Winter Wonderland

before heading, via a brief diversion into the Aston Martin showroom on Pall Mall, to Bond Street for the Christmas Lights.

Just two more rides to go this term - one of them maybe to the Olympic site if I can find a quick and safe route. Hmm.

Heygate update

2011-12-06T13:22:00.001Z

A quick response from Lend Lease's consultation company:

I've managed to find out some more information on the proposed works. Please note that these works do not change the proposals in the masterplan for the area that I previously describe to you, which are to make Heygate Street a more pedestrian and cyclist friendly environment.

The proposed works are a solution to pedestrian access during the demolition of the existing estate and redevelopment. Demolition requires that the estate be secured around its perimeter, but this will result in loss of the pedestrian through routes that use the elevated walkways. However, there needs to be some east west pedestrian access due to the large size of the estate. Currently, as I'm sure you know, there are no footways alongside Heygate Street.
The proposals you have seen are to create a footway on the northern side of Heygate Street to create the required east west pedestrian permeability, albeit at the expense of the cycle lane.

I understand that Southwark Council discussed these works with Southwark Cyclists, who of course shared your concerns, but did acknowledge the difficulties the council is encountering in delivering facilities for both cyclists and pedestrians during demolition.

First off, the need for a decent pavement along here is totally valid.

Below are some ideas, though I haven't checked the details of what's intended to be built by the road or what underground pipes etc. are involved that may influence the line of the pavement.

The photos show where the cycle lane will remain just after the junction, where it will disappear under pavement, and where it will reappear shortly before the second junction. You will notice a straight line of trees - I don't know if some of these are destined for the chop but if not it seems reasonable for a pavement to continue in a straight line, retaining the cycle lane.

Presumably there are works that render a pavement in line with the trees impractical (though the plans suggest it's not the removal of the pedestrian flyover), hence the pavement buildout over the cycle lane.
I wonder (as someone who never uses this route in rush hour) whether it would make more sense to reallocate space for the cycle lane from the other side of the road, by removing the substandard cycle lane and making a narrower shared bus/cycle lane (as it is used in practice in my experience). The railings need to go too!

On a final note, I'm delighted the advertised scheme plans to narrow the turn into this side road, so traffic needs to slow to take the corner:

Piecemeal cycle disaster in Heygate Street?

2011-12-01T23:39:00.000Z

A couple of weeks ago the consultation company working for the Heygate developers, Lend Lease, told me (my bold):
Heygate Street will remain a more traditional highway, but Lend Lease are working to gather evidence to support its reduction in width to make it more pedestrian and cyclist friendly. They are also working to increase the number of pedestrian and cyclist crossings to ensure north south accessibility.

I'm not sure that I believe them.

Southwark Council have today published draft plans (under the misleading title MINOR PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENT) to 'tweak' one side of Heygate Street, a wide road with a long, useful mandatory cycle lane on the E&C cycle bypass going from the Walworth Road to the New Kent Road. It's not clear whether they've really considered the whole street (they plan to keep the bus lane on the other side but say nothing about the stupidly narrow cycle lane within it, for example). They're seeking comments on their plans and I really urge you to demand to see the whole plan and find out whether this part of it really delivers for cyclists.

The draft plans for this side of the street
a) make part of the existing Mandatory Cycle Lane (i.e. motorists can't enter it) into an Advisory Cycle Lane (i.e. motorists can enter it). SURELY LESS CYCLE FRIENDLY

b) has this lane end, with cycle and motor traffic merging/fightingt into a shared traffic lane. SURELY LESS CYCLE FRIENDLY

c) before splitting again to an Advisory (rather than existing Mandatory) cycle lane and general carriageway. CERTAINLY NO IMPROVEMENT

I think there's lots wrong with this road and lots wrong with the E&C cycle bypass that this currently forms part of. From this document it really appears that the Council plans to fiddle around half a street at a time rather than work out and publish a cohesive plan that is unequivocably active travel friendly.

I'm gobsmacked - I'll be writing in demanding they don't proceed with the half-baked plan presented and I urge you to also.

Persons wishing to object to the proposal, or make any other representations in respect of it, should send a statement in writing to that effect, and in the case of an objection, stating the grounds thereof to, either: the Traffic orders officer, Southwark council, Environment & leisure, Public realm, P.O. Box 64529, London SE1P 5LX, or via e-mail to traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk quoting reference PR/PD/TMO1112-028 by 22 December 2011.

New secondhand bike stall in Lower Marsh

2011-11-30T08:17:00.000Z

The Kennington area has another place to get a bike from.In addition to the recent addition of Balfe's Bikes we now have Briggy's bike stall open most days of the week on Lower Marsh. Worth checking out if you're looking for a second hand way to get around and bring your shopping back from the market.

Westminster Council and congestion

2011-11-29T09:03:00.000Z

There's an excellent article in the Standard that explains the need for car sick Westminster to have its streets totally totally jammed with cars - it's what allows them to set a low Council Tax. Lambeth by contrast has much less available parking so more people walk, cycle and use public transport.

What the article doesn't point out is how cheap it is for Westminster residents to park their car, with an annual permit for a 1200cc plus car costing a mere £115 online.

In Lambeth's congestion zone area the cost is between £136 and £247 for equivalent vehicles (you'll pay more for your V8 Range Rover than in Westminster) if you live inside the Congestion Zone, and £149 to £260 outside it.

The knock on effect to Lambeth residents of Westminster's addiction to drivers is Vauxhall gyratory and its ilk.

Drinking water fountains for Waterloo Station?

2011-11-28T19:43:00.000Z

At the Vauxhall, Nine Elms, Battersea exhibition the other day I discovered (when a person I gave my name to said 'Ah, it's you') that over fifty people had written in response to Lambeth's consultation asking for drinking water fountains to be installed. I'd written this post and sent it around a bit.

Iwas told that this was the issue cited most often by respondents to the consultation on the Waterloo plans (which shows how few people generally comment) and the Project Manager told me,

I still have to go through a process on the Waterloo documents and expect to be able to publish the final versions in February. As it stands, my intention is to include something on drinking fountains to address the point you made.

Well done to all those who sent an email - let's hope we see free water, prominently positioned and delivered by tap rather than lorries, at Waterloo soon.

By coincidence I'm talking for 7 1/2 minutes about drinking water fountains at the next Movement for Liveable London Street Talks on 6th December.

An exciting tube project in Vauxhall (beyond the Northern line)

2011-11-28T10:42:00.000Z

The BBC reports today the Governments multi-billion pound investment programme, including the Northern Line extension to Battersea, saying the government will consider allowing local authority borrowing against the Community Infrastructure Levy to support the scheme, subject to a commitment from a developer to contribute and develop the site.

It's a different tube project that I want to talk about:

One of the most inspiring things I heard at the Vauxhall, Nine Elms, Battersea (VNEB) exhibition is the research undertaken into having the rubbish from all the new buildings removed by vacuum tubes rather than dust carts.

It sounds like science fiction but Sweden's Envac have 50 years experience of doing just this. And if it still sounds fanciful for this huge development project, they're working right this moment on a project of equivalent scale in Helsinki - with recycling thrown in of course.

How can this kind of scheme be encouraged and nurtured? The obvious starting point is to impose a limit on motor traffic, a vehicular 'gastric band'. That will bring this kind of imaginative thinking from pipe dream to pipe reality. Good grief, you'd even see drinking fountains and taps at railway stations as the sane replacement to lorry transported bottled water .

There's a load of guff talked by Boris about equality - giving people the choice to choose their mode of transport. The reality is that most kids and many other people would love to cycle to get to where they want to go but don't because the volume and speed of motor traffic,the lousy road layout, and the aggression of drivers make it an unequal option.

The way to liberate people to cycle and walk in the city is quite simply to throttle motor traffic and give the direct and easy route to the cyclist and pedestrian. Limit the capacity to the motorist, make them go around a maze or the M25 to get to their destination. But give the cyclist and pedestrian their desire line; give them cashpoints and drinking fountains, attractive shop frontages (or better, book and stuff library frontages) and riverside views. Put in loads and loads of hire bike docking stations.

Sure there'll still be a quantity of really unavoidable motor traffic but a lot will simply evaporate, as the dust cart example shows, and as the Netherlands have proven.

There are wider actions too, including making sure the planning regulations support local businesses, by providing affordable housing and workshop space alongside the swish apartments, rather than forcing them out of town resulting in vans and lorries trundling for miles and miles through residential streets just to get to inner London.

The plans for residential properties need to nurture active travel. If it's easier to jump in the car or in a cab than on the bike the design is failing.

VNEB can be the new Amsterdam.

A really good first action to implement in the next month or two with a bit of white paint and a couple of signs is for TfL take away one of the southbound lanes on Vauxhall Bridge from motor traffic so that the UNBELIEVABLY DIRE cycle lane becomes a delightful wide cycling boulevard instead. I've used the cycle lane twice recently on weekdays at 3.30pm and it made everything clench up. I can't believe that anyone responsible for roads could conceivably have cycled it and not immediately condemned it. What were the traffic 'engineers' who dreamt up such a monstrosity thinking, and why wouldn't a cycle friendly Mayor dramatically improve it immediately?

Bus stops rather than a bus station at Vauxhall?

2011-11-24T22:26:00.000Z

The Vauxhall, Nine Elms, Battersea exhibition at Market Towers tomorrow afternoon is worth a visit. In particular the presentation from Farrells Architects who Lambeth appointed to come up with a framework for Vauxhall. Farrells propose ten urban design principles:

1. Create a clear and legible mental map

2. Reconnect the place to the river

3. Something along the lines of good walking and cycling routes I think (dodgy camera work to the fore).

4 Simplify road junctions and create direct pedestrian crossings

5. Create a 21st Century High Street

6. Create a new urban square as a focus for activity.

7. A tall building cluster is being created without sufficient thought for the 'place'

8. Respect the existing property lines.

9.Bus Stops rather than a bus station.

10. Anticipate future two way streets

There's a very large model of the Vauxhall, Nine Elms, Battersea area. A small part of it, below, shows Vauxhall Bridge and to the left the aspirational, though seemingly very narrow, pedestrian/cycling bridge. There's no firm detail on the bridge but costings are being obtained and it's intended, should it happen, to be a landmark. I'm nervous that the designers will skimp on the width necessary to make it a really useful walking and cycling bridge. It wasn't known if it was intended to be shared space or segregated.

TfL were present with a chap who could win prizes for understatement, using language along the lines of 'not very good for cyclists' when describing the Gyratory and 'fairly poor' when describing the existing on-pavement farcility on Nine Elms Lane. They hadn't any plans to show what the cycling provision would be down the line but told me Nine Elms would have shared, but wider, bus come cycle lanes, and wider pavements but with no cycle lane on them; the Linear Park will be cycleable along the length, with shared use rather than a segregated lane for cyclists and it's not intended for commuter cycling; the Riverside Walk will also be for pedestrians and cyclists.

As for the Gyratory, there was still a clear 'Boris' message coming across of the need to allow all options equally rather than prioritising active and public transport over the private car. The TfL chap said they don't have models of the non-essential motor traffic but could easily do that. One to ask for.

It's clear to me that action to make the Vauxhall, Nine Elms, Battersea Opportunity Area great for cycling and walking must start right now, even in small ways while the grand plan is worked on. TfL has shut the shared use pavement under the railway bridge. Rather than helpfully reallocating the nearest of the multiple motor traffic lanes for pedestrians and cyclists to use, Vroom-Vroom TfL send you on a right old dog leg of a diversion. So last century, like the gyratory itself.

Loving London at night

2011-11-23T22:22:00.000Z

We had a terrific Pedal Power Kennington ride tonight up to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. None of the pupils, from Lilian Baylis and Charlotte Sharman schools, had been before and, as you'd expect, they loved it.

We had enough money for chips but not enough to have a go on the big rides

We did have a go at the Throw a Ring over the Glass and Box contest. Unsuccessful, of course, but fun.

On Tuesday we'd ridden to Covent Garden with a couple of the 13 and 14 year-old pupils who also came tonight. Though living maybe three miles away they hadn't been to Covent Garden before either. They loved the decorations, the smells in Lush, the Apple Store, the rules about throwing fruit from the original market, the huge Christmas tree baubles in the roof of the market

and the lights.

Colour choice for Cycle Superhighways

2011-11-21T00:15:00.000Z

I've just discovered that Mauve dye was invented on Cable Street, now part of CS3. What a shame TfL didn't pick up on that to personalise the paint on this route.

It reminded me that in January 2009, when the Cycling Superhighways were still an unknown thing that I wrote a spoof press release, for a cycling forum, which TfL may wish to refer to in their junctions review:

Details of first London Cycling Super Highway announced.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and Transport for London have announced plans for cycle highways - a set of twelve high-profile radial routes into and out of Central London that will concentrate cycle flows and provide a fast and efficient way into the centre.

Each route will have a clear identity, e.g. 'Docklands Cycle Highway' or 'Northern Line Cycle Highway', with consistent and easy to follow road markings and signs.

The first to be created is planned to be the Northern Line Cycle Highway, initially between Tooting Broadway in South London and Camden Town in North London. The ambition is that it will open in autumn 2009, with work commencing in the spring.

A spokesman said, "This can be implemented easily and cheaply. The Highway will take the existing TfL Red Route along the A24 from Tooting Broadway past Tooting Bec, Balham, Clapham South, to Clapham Common. It will then take the A3 Red Route past Clapham North to Stockwell.

From Stockwell the Highway will take the route planned for the Cross River Tram, which the Mayor and TFL stated last November will no longer be taken forward. It will follow the A3 through Oval to Elephant and Castle, then cross over Waterloo Bridge to Aldwych and up Kingsway to Mornington Crescent, Euston and Camden Town.
The proposed Cross River Tram was expected to carry 9,000 people per hour per direction in peak periods and the Mayor had committed to assess alternative solutions. The Cycle Highway is able to exceed the capacity of the Tram for a fraction of the cost. As well as conventional bicyles, electric bicycles and mobility chairs will be allowed to use the standard lane-width Highway to ensure the widest range of people can benefit."

In a radical departure from conventional cycle lanes, the Cycle Highway will have dedicated use of the central lanes of the road in each direction and these will be designated with coloured tarmac. There will be marked feeder lanes onto and off the Cycle Highway at each junction for cyclists to merge into the Cycle Highway traffic. All motorised vehicles will use the lanes adjacent to the pavement and will have to give way to cyclists using the feeder lanes.

To avoid lengthy delays at bus stops the old Routemaster buses will be reintroduced, pending delivery of the new design, allowing pedestrians to board and alight whenever the bus is stationary. As cyclists will not be filtering on the inside of the buses the Routemaster design is safe to use.

At most cross-roads motorised traffic wishing to cross the Cycle Highway will have to give way until a suitable gap exists to cross, as will traffic wishing to turn across the Highway. The intention is that cyclists will, with one or two exceptions, not have traffic lights hindering their progress.

Journey time for an average cyclist between tube stations is calculated to be similar to the time taken by tube and faster than existing road traffic.

Ambulances, Fire Engines and Police Cars responding to emergencies will use the Cycle Highway. Motorists will have to stop in their lane and cyclists stop on the edge of their lane or in gaps in the motorised traffic until the emergency service vehicle (which is limited to 30mph on the Highway) has passed.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, is understood to want to create original 'Grands Projets' in the manner of former French President Francois Mitterand. Cycling Super Highways, expected to be known colloquially as Bicycle Only Journey Options (BOJOs), are to be his first.

TfL have neither confirmed nor denied that it is intended that the Cycle Highways will have tarmac the colour of the matching tube line on maps. Specialist cycle clothing company Rapha are expected to be interested in sponsoring this first route if the official Northern Line colour can be changed to Metrosexual Pink, through a simple swap with the Hammersmith and City Line, and rumours are now circulating that Rapha/Condor could secure options on the sites of the former Woolworth stores along the routes in a bid to challenge dominant retailers Halfords and Evans. Wiggle were a possible source of sponsorship, as the Highway is likely to form part of the English side of the London to Paris cycle route. However it is now thought that this part of the route is too direct to suit their brand image.

Nov 24-25: Will Vauxhall be the new Amsterdam?

2011-11-19T22:45:00.001Z

Heads Up! Two open days are being held next week, about the Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea redevelopments, on 24-25 November (full details below). They say there's:

o A chance to learn more about proposed improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, and local public transport users.
o Information about planned improvements to existing streets and a new linear park.

Questions I have in mind include:
a) Given this scheme is second only to the Olympics as a London regeneration programme, how are they making sure they aren't making a Bow roundabout style cock-up at Vauxhall Cross?
b) Will the cycling infrastructure be going in ahead of the major developments or trailing after?
c) Will the linear park be designed as an adult and child friendly place with segregated, wide cycle paths linking all the developments along the line smoothly and efficiently.
d)Will Nine Elms Lane be a delight for families and commuters to cycle along?
e) Will the primary school being built have cycle parking for its pupils at ground floor level?
f) What percentage of children in year 6 and above at local schools have undertaken on-road cycle training. When do they expect to hit 90%?
g) What percentage of the spend on the tube line extension is being spent on cycling?
h) Are the developers requiring their building contractors to sign up to the Mayor's Freight Operators Recognition Scheme (FORS) and ensure that all their freight drivers have undertaken TfL's Safe Urban Driving Course which includes on-road cycle training for drivers?
h) What residential (resident and visitor) and commercial/retail cycle parking is being provided? Is it convenient, secure and sufficient?

FULL DETAILS FROM LAMBETH:
The multi-million pound redevelopments that make up Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea, or VNEB, form one of London’s largest regeneration programmes – second only to the Olympic site. Over the next twenty years major investment will transform the area bringing with it new businesses and jobs, public spaces, homes and leisure facilities.

This is a complex and long term project with different types of improvements taking place over a number of years. The open days on 24 and 25 November will bring the key people from each area of expertise into one location, making it as easy as possible for local people and local groups to find the information that interests them most.
The VNEB open day events are free and open to all and a great chance to discover:
o The most up-to-date information about the VNEB redevelopments.
o An update on the Northern line extension that will link the whole area to the Tube network.
o A chance to learn more about proposed improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, and local public transport users.
o Information about planned improvements to existing streets and a new linear park.
o A 3D model of the whole VNEB area.
o An opportunity to discuss proposals with the VNEB strategy board.
The open days will be held between 3pm-8pm on Thursday 24 November and 8am-6pm on Friday 25 November at Market Towers, 1 Nine Elms Lane, Vauxhall, SW8 5NQ.

The nearest tube and rail station is Vauxhall. Market Towers is the tall building on the south-western side of the Vauxhall one-way system. Use Exit 6 from Vauxhall tube station and it is the first building across Nine Elms Lane.

For more information visit: www.lambeth.gov.uk/vneb
If you would like to be added to, or unsubscribe from, the VNEB email update list please email us at this address: vneb@lambeth.gov.uk

Ferry across the Thames

2011-11-17T20:29:00.001Z

This Wednesday's Pedal Power Kennington ride, with a trio of Lilian Baylis pupils, took a twisting backstreets route (stopping to check out the fencing in Tabard Street made from wartime stretchers) to suddenly emerge by the Thames, equidistant between Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf

The riders were really looking forward to taking the ferry across to Canary Wharf so we continued along National Cycle Network route 4, stopping briefly by the Brunel Museum above the Thames Tunnel, the first tunnel under a river anywhere in the world.

We went through the foyer of the Hilton Hotel opposite Canary Wharf to the jetty for the Thames Clipper ferry. The view of Canary Wharf from the ferry (which easily had room for all our bikes) is fantastic, as is the short crossing itself.

(photo Hamish2k under Creative Commons)

Our route home was along the bizarre Cycling Superhighway 3, followed by the usual getting lost through the City of London en-route to Cycling Superhighway 7 and back to base.

Once again all the riders really enjoyed the ride, amazed and delighted to discover the wonders within easy pedal power from Kennington.

Boris and TfL: Lack of will or institutional malaise?

2011-11-16T08:42:00.001Z

The deaths of two cyclists at the Bow roundabout cycle superhighway within a month has forced questions about how far TfL will go to facilitate the safe movement of cyclists.

Not very far was the answer when they repainted the existing but unsigned Elephant and Castle bypass to make it a cycling superhighway.

Recently I commented on the needless mingling of HGVs and cyclists at the approach to the E&C cycling bypass. It shouldn't have been beyond the capacity of TfL to make a short section of bus and cycle lane 24/7 rather than 7am - 10am weekdays; instead general traffic can legally gatecrash the lane for 92% of the week. TfL chose to keep the emphasis on general traffic and not make the change.

Below is another example of general traffic having priority over safe routes at E&C:

On Saturday's Tour du Danger we wanted to experience the Elephant & Castle northern roundabout, rather than the cycle superhighway. We turned off the roundabout into London Road, which has a useful and popular bus and cycle lane that runs towards Blackfriars Road.

The dismal truth is that you can't use the cycle superhighway (Princess Street at this point) to turn into the bus and cycle lane on London Road because, as the photo above shows, this desirable left turn is not allowed from the superficialhighway!

What's the reason for having cyclists brave the roundabout rather than use the cycling bypass to enter London Road? According to TfL (my bold):

The reason is that the cycle phase and (pedestrian) crossing phase operate at the same time here, and left turning cyclists would be in conflict with peds crossing on green man. We looked at changing this, as the northbound left turn is a popular one. But unfortunately the southbound lanes on London Rd are still open to general traffic, and get very congested at peak times, meaning that running a ped phase and cycle phase sequentially rather than concurrently would mean traffic backs up and blocks the bus stops, affecting journey times unacceptably for bus passengers and motorists.

In fairness to TfL's cycling superhighway team they wistfully hope for better years down the line:
I would hope that when the plans for E&C north roundabout come to fruition in years to come, that this can be changed.

The powers at the top of TfL can't be allowed to prevaricate like this. They need to build proper superhighways NOW, not years down the line, and accept that providing safe space for those who wish to cycle means reducing the huge amount of space and preference currently given to the CO2 emitting, polluting, noisy, and space-wasting motorist.
Please reserve Saturday 17th March in your diary now for the 2nd Tour du Danger when over 1000 cyclists, adults and children, will cycle to the Olympics to press TfL for proper not superficial space for cycling across London.

Hundreds turned out for the Tour du Danger

2011-11-13T22:26:00.001Z

Saturday's 'Tour du Danger' had an amazing turnout of people who want to be able to ride their bikes without fear and, more importantly, want a London where those who currently daren't ride a bike will be able to do, feeling and being safe - something the Cycling Superhighways are signally failing to deliver currently.

It was a peaceful ride and pedestrians took photos, clapped, smiled and voiced their support. I loved the smartly dressed female tourist standing in the middle of the Strand repeatedly saying 'Fantastic, Fantastic, this too is just starting in Valencia'. We'd clearly made her day.

The throng of cyclists behind me meant I was relaxed enough to be able to cycle one-handed and take a photo, albeit not a good one, over my shoulder as we left Hyde Park Corner and entered Park Lane - something I wouldn't conceive of doing in its normal race track mode.

Bravo to all those who took part - we hope it will encourage the politicians and Transport for London to step up their efforts to create a London where children will enjoy cycling to school and visit friends, and where their mothers will feel confident in letting them.

Bring your kids on Saturday and tell Boris to have a reality check

2011-11-10T14:35:00.003Z

I'm leading a ride for Cyclists in the City and I bike London bloggers on Saturday at 10.30am, from St Mark's Church on Clapham Road opposite the Oval tube station, around the ten locations with the highest number of collisions involving cyclists - the Elephant and Castle northern roundabout being top of the list. I urge you to come along, bring your kids and your grannies - As Boris said yesterday in Mayor's Question Time, "If you keep your wits about you, Elephant & Castle is perfectly negotiable."

He also said, ""I want people to feel confident. The cycle superhighways are about building confidence."

As an experienced motorist, cyclist, cycling instructor and trainer of cycling instructors I'd like to say that the E&C and the majority of the Cycling Superhighways are bloody awful for cycling - which is why you hardly see any secondary school children, especially girls, cycling there.

Most of the motorists I know dislike many of TfL's roads and junctions, and they've undergone loads of training and a test! So what are the odds of your average soft, squidgy person who can't drive merrily pootling around these roads on bikes? Bugger all, and around here a huge number of households don't have a car. The Guardian recently reported that, nationally, the percentage of 17- to 20-year-olds with driving licences fell from 48% in the early 1990s to 35% last year. I bet it's nearer 20% locally so it's pretty damn optimistic for Boris to think that these people are going to be confidently cycling around the gyratories.

Does Boris really believe it's just lack of confidence that has the Head of Notre Dame secondary girls' school on St George's Road refusing to let her girls cycle to school? Or do you think it's because this is the road on which the school has its entrance?

Does Boris think the Head of Lilian Baylis Technology School on Kennington Lane, the edge of the congestion zone (below mid-morning) as it leads into the Vauxhall Gyratory, is completely deluded when he tells me that he suspects the challenge of these roads acts as a major barrier to his pupils cycling and their parents permitting it?

The off-road cycle option for the Vauxhall Gyratory is fragmented, obscure and takes forever to use. The semi-decent bit, if you can get to it, is used each day as a parking bay for the Tesco metro there (like the driver below today) and I bet no-one has ever been fined for it.

In the world of Boris, is London Nautical secondary boys school on Stamford Street (above today) wrong in preferring that their pupils don't cycle over the Thames bridges to school? Can Boris really believe it's not an issue that the cycle lane on Waterloo Bridge disappears due to a pavement build out just as people zoom downhill to the roundabout?

Does he really consider the alternative route to avoid the foul Imax roundabout to be adequately signed?

And is the entrance to Waterloo Bridge off Upper Ground obvious to cyclists?

I know the teenage kids at these schools. Like any teenager they'll take the quick and easy option, not always paying total attention and sometimes being awry in their estimation of speed, position or intent.

In the Netherlands they work really hard to make the route for cyclists friendly, obvious, direct and safe, subjectively and statistically, because they want their children to cycle and they recognise their vulnerability.

Here Boris just tells the boys and girls to grow some cojones and jump in front of the HGVs.

What a buffoon.

Please join the ride to protest against his arrogance and TfL's apathy. And see if you can drag along one of our Councillors, none of whom have replied to my invitation. Finally, check out and share this short BBC newspiece

Anti-social behaviour in Kennington

2011-11-10T00:38:00.000Z

Above is a picture of Gilbert Road tonight with, I think you'll agree, any amount of space to park if you're not too worried about single yellows. It's just around the corner from the police section house in Renfrew Road where lots of the police that I saw protecting the bankers today (see previous blogpost) are staying. The police found the permitted spaces outside the section house were full, so did they park on the road around the corner? Did they heck. They just stuffed their vans all over the pavements.

Kennington takes on the City

2011-11-10T00:08:00.001Z

I don't know whether the marches in London today scared the parents but today's Pedal Power Kennington trip in search of gold in the City of London had just two pupils, one regular and one whose bike we'd fixed on Monday at a Dr Bike at his school.

I'm pleased to say both pupils had a fabulous time.

Our first port of call was the Bank of England Museum to pick up a bar of gold. We arrived within their opening hours but they had locked the doors early to prevent us (or anyone else) from entering, apparently out of their fear that the students' march today turning nasty. There were an incredible number of police throughout the city though we saw no students.

With the bank shut to its customers we decided to nip down to the Monument, where the staff were pleased to see us and let us in. The views from the top of the 311 step tower are fantastic

I got a little nervous on the spiral staircase three quarters of the way up when I saw this sign

We managed to make our way down safely and were given certificates

We then moved on to One New Change which has a wonderful view of the adjacent St Paul's Cathedral from its roof terrace

We then meandered past more van loads of police to see the tranquil tent city (where my photographic skills deserted me), before returning to Lambeth via Southwark Bridge and the superficial highway 7.

Do dogs belong in the cabs of Cement Mixers?

2011-11-08T22:03:00.000Z

I doubt anyone would agree that having large construction vehicles, often with time-critical deliveries, sharing roadspace with cyclists is ideal. This in however the case in London today, even needlessly and ludicrously on the cycling superhighways.

Where all road users are required to share the same road space I expect an extremely high duty of care to be laid on the operators of the multi-tonne vehicle in respect of more vulnerable road users, given the high likelihood that a person hit by a large vehicle, even at low speed, will be maimed or killed. Cement mixers, tipper trucks and skip lorries are involved in a high percentage of cyclists' deaths from collisions in London.

It is clearly dangerous to drive a cement mixer that is two tonnes overladen and has an unrestrained dog in the cab. For these combined dangerous actions a penalty of, say 120 hours of community service would seem appropriate.

Let's say that the driver of this cement mixer was to switch lanes and in the process strike and kill a cyclist, and then plead guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, what would an appropriate sentence be?

Today's Standard reports,
The widow of a civil servant run over and killed by a cement mixer as he was cycling home said today she had been cheated of justice after the driver walked free from court.

Father-of-three Everton Smith, 48, was cycling home to Fulham when he was hit by Paul Joseph's truck near Vauxhall Bridge when the driver switched lanes in May last year.

Joseph, 45, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. At Southwark crown court he was sentenced to 16 weeks' jail, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 120 hours of community service.

Court News today reported,
A cement mixer driver who killed a cyclist while carrying an excessive load and an unrestrained dog in his cab has been spared jail.

Neither report says whether a driving ban has been imposed on the driver.

Will our local Councillors join the collision hotspots ride?

2011-11-04T16:33:00.000Z

We live within a couple of miles of seven of the top 10 collision hotspots for cyclists in London. Cyclists in the City and I bike London have arranged a ride to review them on Saturday 12th November, starting at 10.30am by St Mark's Church, where the Oval Farmers' Market is, opposite Oval tube station.

You'll see me there in a Hi-Viz top at the front of the ride, as I've agreed to lead it (gulp!). There'll be at least 100 cyclists on the ride and, given that over 2000 turned up on Blackfriars Bridge recently, I hope there'll be even more to keep us company so please come along if you can. The route takes us through some of the most multi-lane motor-centric junctions in London, many of which have no clear, cycle-friendly and convenient alternative.

Just over a week ago I emailed the three Lambeth Councillors in Princes Ward, which has part of the Vauxhall Gyratory within it, and the three in Bishops Ward, which has the Imax roundabout in it. I invited them to join the ride or to speak to cyclists at these points about the actions they're working on to improve them for cyclists.

A week isn't a long time in politics and none of the Councillors have yet been in touch.
There's still a week to go and I'm sure we'll get at least one local Labour and one local LibDem Councillor along (nudge, nudge).

If you'd like to invite a Lambeth Councillor along their contact details can be found here.

Dead curious and curious dead things

2011-11-03T18:08:00.001Z

Yesterday's Pedal Power Kennington Ride, on All Soul's Day, saw us reflecting on the dead, our version of Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead.

Our first port of call, in the nick of time before the 5pm closure, was the Grant Museum of Zoology. This is a fabulous, free museum which houses not one, but two sets of Dodo bones - they're scarce given that the bird became extinct around 1700, following the Dutch arriving in 1638 in the birds' island home of Mauritius.

We then hopped on our bikes for a quick ride to the British Museum to check out the Egyptian Mummies, c2686 BC-AD 395, before that museum shut at 5.30pm. (photo by Klafubra, under Creative Commons)

From the British Museum we headed back to UCL to see the Auto-Icon: a wooden cabinet containing the preserved skeleton of philosopher and jurist Jeremy Bentham (1748 - 1832), dressed in his own clothes and nowadays with a wax head - the original being looked after in a safe!

On our journey home we happened upon a projection on, I think, the University of London in Malet Street. We were dead curious, but didn't have time to find out more.

Next week, all things being equal, we're be going with the pupils to The Monument and to the Bank of England to pick up a bar of gold.

County Hall reconsidering the options in Belvedere Road

2011-11-03T16:54:00.000Z

Shirayama, who own the former County Hall and the part of Belvedere Road behind it, started to install bollards recently as their plans showed. It was unclear from the plans where cyclists are intended to be, though it seems likely it's the narrow road section you see being used by the pedestrians above, and the workers unloading the van below.

A week ago I wrote to Phil Ardley, who I understand to be the responsible person for Shirayama, and, on chasing him yesterday, was told that "we are currently in consultation and will update you on any developments." I believe work has now stopped on site. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the bollards will be removed.

Here's the letter I wrote. I'll let you know the answers I get.
I have been sent the illustration attached by Lambeth Council. Can you please clarify for me:
a) the approach from / exit to Westminster Bridge Road seems unalterered, though this is considered poor by local cyclists, particularly for a National Cycle Network route. Are there plans to improve this to avoid potential pedestrian/cyclist conflict on the County Hall side, and are there plans to improve the gap between the planters on the side nearer Yo Sushi and determine a way to avoid the necessity of cycling on the pavement there? The illustrations suggest there are not - if not, why not?
b) Where are cyclists expected to go in relation to the bollards being installed? If cyclists are intended to go in the 2m wide space (which seems very narrow if two way cycling is envisaged there) how will they emerge/get in at the Westmnister Bridge Road end? Will any of the bollards have chains between them? What is the purpose of the bollards? Will cyclists be permitted to use either side?
c) The approach from / exit to Chichley Street seems fundamentally unaltered in the drawing, though the barrier is shown down and bollards are shown on the pavement. Will the barrier generally be up? When it is down what is the approach/exit? Will the gap to one side of a planter nearer the County Hall side be maintained?
d) Are there plans to install any publicly visible and accessible cycle parking on the Shirayama owned land?

Dugard Way developers against active travel

2011-11-03T16:22:00.001Z

Given that both Lambeth and Southwark Councils are keen to promote walking and cycling, and that some half of all households here don't have cars, you'd think that new developments here would be at the vanguard of active travel. As the Dugard Way development, on a former NHS property, shows, the reverse is the case.

This development provides the only non A-road link between Lambeth and Southwark at this point (and in fairness, one that didn't exist recently, though a convenient alley was in place further along a few years ago). This should be the perfect route for local pedestrians and cyclists to avoid the traffic, noise and pollution of Kennington Lane, the inner ring-road around the congestion zone.

Dugard Way in Kennington is a little semi-gated enclave where the developers seem set against nurturing active travel. The ever-shut pavement door has the toughest spring closure you're likely to encounter, while the on-road entrance is unobstructed during the day. A pavement has just been painted the other side of the door, and a ridiculous zebra crossing added that I doubt I'll ever see being used.

As far as I can see the express purpose of the crossing is to try to get pedestrians to walk further than they need to and to seek to absolve responsibility from drivers in a 5mph cul-de-sac should they manage to run someone over, like the bloke in the photo below who is using the logical pedestrian route to enter the enclave unless you want to use the door for muscle building as a Bullworker alternative.

Rather than a wide, gentle ramp to provide a link for pedestrians and cyclists, a flight of steps and a narrow, twisting ramp with a blind corner has been installed. Given the foul A-road alternative it's hardly surprising that a number of cyclists take this calm back route, though it clearly hasn't been designed for this purpose.

The pavements are very narrow given such a volume of available space. I wouldn't consider the ramp, shown above which descends to the pavement in the photo below with a dropped kerb some way along, to be very wheelchair friendly.

As you've probably guessed by now, there's absolutely no short-term/guest cycle parking.

All in all, it's a pretty dire example of a 21st century inner-London development.

Tell Lambeth not to pussyfoot around the Vauxhall Gyratory

2011-11-02T23:47:00.000Z

Lambeth's Core Strategy, published in January this year, had this statement of intent:
highway improvements throughout the Vauxhall area particularly seeking the removal of the one-way traffic system

Lambeth's Labour group have now published a draft 'manifesto' for Lambeth which has a watered down version, with leader Steve Reed saying, "We will support residents who have asked TfL to remove the gyratory to create new open spaces and improve the area for pedestrians and cyclists."

Please email vnebmanifesto@gmail.com by 15 November telling them to stick to the Core Strategy statement rather than a wishy-washy statement on backing up the locals.

Elephant and Castle - write now!

2011-11-02T23:13:00.000Z

I gave a heads-up about the concerns I had with the Heygate Estate development here and the weakness of strategic cycle route development. Now I hear that the cycle bypass to the East of the E&C gyratory should form part of Cycling Superhighway 6, but this appears not to be reflected in the current proposals.

Please take a moment to follow this link to Cyclists in the City, which has an excellent post, and write an email as they ask.

As for the roundabout plans themselves, TfL's Cycling Superhighways team have been shown some early layouts for the E&C C northern roundabout and I've been told:

Although far from ideal, the positive points for cyclists as far as I can see are the full signalisation of the RAB, ASLs on the RAB, and the closure of London Rd to general traffic in both directions. Of course, we have said that ideally we would have a "Hyde Park Corner" style treatment where cyclists can cross on and off the middle of the RAB from all arms. But such an arrangement would be likely to mean movement of general traffic falls outside the parameters of the scheme.

The bit I've marked in bold suggests to me that this is another sensible idea to facilitate sustainable travel that is scuppered by the Mayor's insistence on forcing as much motor traffic through central London as he can by means of Smoothing the Traffic Flow

Day of the Dead and other rides for local pupils

2011-11-01T22:57:00.001Z

Pupils from year 6 in local primaries and from local secondaries (esp yrs 7 - 9) are invited to join in the Pedal Power Rides at 3.45pm each Tuesday (Slow and Easy) and Wednesday (Further and Faster) at the Sports Pavilion by the pitches in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park. I can't speak for the pupils but I'm really looking forward to this series of rides:

Wed 2nd November – All Soul’s Day / Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Visiting mummies, dodos and other dead curious things

Tue 8th November – Fire! Climbing the Monument to the Great Fire of London
Wed 9th November –City of London, stopping to pick up a solid gold bar

Tue 15th November – Along the river towards Battersea
Wed 16th November – Canary Wharf, taking a ferry across the Thames

Tue 22nd November – Covent Garden
Wed 23rd November – Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and Harrods

Tue 29th November – Tower Bridge and St Katherine’s Dock
Wed 30th November – Riding away to the circus in Hoxton

Tue 6th December – South Bank meander
Wed 7th December – Regent Street and Oxford Street Christmas Lights

Tue 13th December - To be determined
Wed 14th December – A marathon ride to the Olympic Site

It's always entertaining checking the route in preparation. Our 'Day of the Dead' ride tomorrow could have had that literal outcome without a pre-check. The return route from Montague Place behind the British Museum would normally feature a right turn onto Russell Square, following the 'No Right Turn except cyclists' sign above. The sign remains but the cycle facility it leads to has been removed during roadworks and you'd be cycling into oncoming traffic. We've rerouted for tomorrow's actual ride.

Update Camden Council have rapidly replied to my email re Montague Place:
I can confirm that the no right turn sign with except cycle plate at this location is correct. Unfortunately the associated road-marking has not been laid to compliment this and so there is potential for confusion.

Arrangements have been made for the markings to be laid tomorrow (Friday) to highlight where traffic is expected to be.

Thames Clippers - economical with the truth

2011-11-01T15:22:00.000Z

I want to arrange a ride to Canary Wharf shortly, ideally using the Thames Clipper ferry service to cross the Thames from the Docklands Hilton.

Naturally I visited the Thames Clipper website to find out what cycling provision they do or don't have - and I couldn't find a single mention on the site, or their linked PDFs, about taking bicycles on board or not.

I then emailed them and got this absurd reply:

Bicycles are permitted on board. Due to safety regulations we do have a maximum number of bicycles permitted on board, but this is dependent on the size of the vessels and number of passengers on board, which is why we are not able to publish this information, as the number of bicycles we can accommodate varies in accordance with the amount of stowage space available to ensure safety in the event of an evacuation.
Rather than just pretend that bicycles don't exist, why on earth don't they include on their website a statement along the lines of, "A small number of bicycles can normally be carried, dependent on the size of the vessel and number of passengers on board. During peak times (typically X to Y) you are likely to need to wait for a later ferry."

Presumably Thames Clipper have some kind of funding agreement with TfL - I'd hope (though not expect) that TfL would require some cycle carriage and a clear statement about it.

Vauxhall Square - opportunity seized or squandered?

2011-10-31T12:57:00.000Z

CLS Holdings have new plans for Vauxhall. Go along and comment on the developer's plans (illustrated with the vogueish image of cyclists standing by their bikes - maybe because they're not allowed to ride them or because there's no cycle parking?) this Thursday from 5 - 8pm or Saturday from 11am - 2pm at 80-84 Bondway SW8 1SF.

Reading on there's much about pedestrian improvements but nothing about cycling. Hmm...

This is what they say has changed since their last exhibition (note the final point)
Following ongoing consultation with local residents, community groups, Lambeth Council, The Greater London Authority and English Heritage, the design has changed as follows:
• Elevated ‘skywalk’ has been replaced with wide ground level pedestrian crossings
• Existing terrace of houses (including the Grade 2 listed buildings) on Wandsworth Road are now to be retained and integrated into the scheme
• Wendle Court on Wandsworth Road is now to form a part of the scheme – or affordable housing and the replacement of the hostel
• Design along Miles Street has developed to include a second student housing building and a new community play space/square
• Design of hotel along Bondway has been increased in size to form a strong edge to the new public square and frontages to Bondway
• New office building has been developed to respond better to the street layout of Wandsworth Road
• Design and strategy for all of the public spaces and streets has evolved to create a cohesive improvement to the local public realm.

They go on to say
Benefits:

• Major employment opportunities – more than doubling jobs on site
• High quality and safe public spaces focusing on a busy new public square and a community play area
• New pedestrian routes through the scheme linking Vauxhall Park through to the proposed linear park
• Provision of a much needed leisure and retail heart for surrounding residential and commercial community
• Sets the standard for public open space and acts as a catalyst for further improvements around the transport interchange

What improvements would they like to see. What do they expect Transport for London to do at Vauxhall? How hard do they feel Lambeth are pushing for returning the gyratory to two-way working as they state in their Core Strategy?

Will Vauxhall remain a traffic sodden abomination in the heart of London?

The most expensive second-hand bike shop?

2011-10-28T16:48:00.000+01:00

The sign on the door at Recycling, at the back of the Elephant & Castle shopping centre, put a smile on my face but the prices the shop charges for unexceptional second-hand bikes quickly wiped it off. I can't recommend purchasing a bike from them at their prices, however witty the wording on their labels.

Three examples:
a) A Btwin Elops 3, available brand new today from Decathlon at Surrey Quays for £169.99 (and a lovely town bike for short distances in my opinion)

b) A Carrera Subway, available brand new today from Halfords for £239.99 (but £60 more from next week)

c) Raleigh Superbe, with rod brakes, on eBay now between £20 and £60

More rides starting locally

2011-10-27T09:27:00.001+01:00

Friday 28 Oct, 6.30pm - Critical Mass
On the last Friday of every month you can enjoy London as it should be, cycle the streets with a carnival atmosphere and show the world what life could be like. This ride has happened on the last friday of every month since April 1994 without being organised by anyone.
Cyclists meet from 6pm under Waterloo Bridge, South Bank. Critical Mass rides off about 6.30pm.
Check:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=london+critical+mass
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass

Sunday 30 Oct - The Country Retreats of South London
Lambeth Cyclists Architecture Ride
We'll be looking at several big houses on our journey from Streatham to Mitcham via Wimbledon; houses that were once country retreats. There's more than one might expect!

We start in Brockwell Park: the house there will be our first stop, then on to Streatham Common, Furzedown, then on to Mitcham, where we'll have a pub lunch.
After lunch, we will look at a house on the south side of Mitcham next to the Wandle, then Morden Hall and Morden Park, and then perhaps finish with a glance at a house on Merton High Street.
Meet: 10.00 am (for 10.15 am start) by Brockwell Park, Herne Hill gate
Those who wish can return by train (SW Trains or the District Line) from Wimbledon Station.
Ride will finish about 4.00pm. Some hills, overall distance no more than about 10 miles, but at a fairly leisurely pace.
All welcome - no need to register - make sure your bike is roadworthy!
Sunday 30 Oct - Southwark by Land and Water
Discover Southwark's former waterways, now transformed into cycle routes. Approx 3 - 3.5 hours.
Starts at 13.00 from Emma Cons gardens, opposite the Old Vic, The Cut, SE1.
One-star easy ride, led by Colin Wing (cw@colinwing.me.uk or 020 7828 1500)
A Central London CTC ride

Sunday 30 Oct - In search of Lutyens
Passing through Thursley, the birth place of Sir Edwin Lutyens we get glimpses of some of the houses he went on to build.
Meet Waterloo 08.30 for 09.00 train to Godalming, arrive 09.55.
Moderately paced ride, led by David Vines (dvines1971@btinternet.com or 07787 718707)
A Central London CTC ride

Wednesday 2 Nov (and weekly to the end of term) - Pedal Power Kennington Ride
Pupils from Years 6 - 9 from Charlotte Sharman, Walnut Tree Walk, Crampton, Archbishop Sumners, Lilian Baylis and Notre Dame schools are invited to join in this weekly ride exploring London
Meet 3.45pm at the Sports Pavilion (to the left of the Imperial War Museum as you face the entrance) in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park. Ride returns at 6.30pm.

Sunday 6 Nov - Mixing it with the Veteran cars to Brighton
Time again for that most curiously British of events, the London to Brighton veteran car run. As has been the practice for the last four years, a motley crew of cyclists will meet and follow the ride to the coast…. This year the ride is a collaboration between Lewisham Cyclists and Southwark Cyclists.
Meeting outside Lambeth North tube station at 7.15 for a quick getaway

Saturday 12 Nov - Tour of TfL's Top Ten Cyclist Collisions Hot Spots
Kennington residents live within a couple of miles of seven of TfL's top 10 collision hotspots, according to a recent response at a Mayor's Question Time. The Cyclists in the City blog is arranging a tour - please read his blogpost and join in
Meet by the stairs at the front of St. Mark's Church, The Oval, Kennington, SE11 4PW at 10.30am

See and hear Big Ben up close - Lambeth Cyclists December ride

2011-10-26T20:39:00.000+01:00

Lambeth Cyclists’Architecture Ride

Friday 9 December 2011

Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860) &Augustus Pugin (1812-1852)

Lambeth Cyclists offer monthly Architecture Rides (there's one this Sunday) which have an excellent reputation.

I'm leading one in December which offers an exceptional opportunity to join the very few who have climbed the 334 stone spiral steps in the Houses of Parliament clock tower to see and hear Big Ben strike the hour right up close! (I did this for Pedal Power Kennington last year, see the photo above, and the teenagers loved it, but the adult ride leaders loved it more).

Sir Charles Barry was chosen as the architect to design the new Houses of Parliament after the fire of 1834, and he selected Augustus Pugin as his assistant.

Starting at Clapham Common Bandstand, we’ll ride to Portcullis House for the Clock tower tour, then ride to look at other works by Barry and Pugin, and have lunch, before returning for a tour of the rest of the Palace of Westminster.

10am meet Clapham Common Bandstand
10.50 Arrive Portcullis House
11.15 Clock tower Tour starts
12.30 Clock tower Tour ends
12.30 - 3 Ride to view other Pugin/Barry buildings and lunch
3.10 Arrive PofW Visitors' Entrance
3.45 Palace of Westminster tour
5.00 Tour and Ride ends

Booking no later than Sunday 20 November is essential for security clearance.
Please only ask for a space if you are CERTAIN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND ON THAT DATE. There are only 16 places on the tour so book early! You MUST return the security clearance info below on requesting your place, and we will contact you to confirm your place.

For security reasons, it is the House of Commons' policy to obtain security information on all visitors wishing to tour the Clock Tower. All visitors must have a full UK address at which they permanently reside. Children under the age of 11 are not permitted to participate in the tour. The booking information will be passed to the Police for vetting. Tours of the Clock Tower cannot be provided to overseas visitors.

Each visitor (aged 18 or over) should bring two forms of identification, one with their home address, the other with photographic ID. Passport, driving licence, utility bill or official letter. Owing to the nature of the tour, it is not suitable for all visitors and requires a certain degree of good health and fitness as you will be required to climb 334 stone spiral steps.If you are in any doubt about your ability to participate in the tour you should consult your doctor. Sensible shoes must be worn.

Please email the following information to charlie@palaceofvariety.co.uk no later than Sunday 20th November to book your place (1st come, 1st served).

TITLE, FULL FIRST NAMES, SURNAME
ADDRESS, BOROUGH, CITY, POSTCODE
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH (TOWN , COUNTY COUNTRY_
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (for me, not the security services!)

Needlessly mixing in cars and HGVs on a Cycling Superhighway

2011-10-25T19:15:00.002+01:00

There's a nicely segregated bus lane come Cycling Superhighway 7, just after the junction of Kennington Park Road and Kennington Lane, as you approach the turnoff from the thundering A roads into calm Churchyard Row to avoid the upcoming E&C gyratory.

Suddenly other vehicles, especially those driven by impatient drivers, start to cut into the lane:

Check the signage and you'll see they're allowed in - the bus lane and cycle superhighway is suddenly only in place between 7 and 10am Monday to Friday. Given the tiny distance between the segregated area and the Churchyard Road turn-off the question has to be asked - why is the Bus Lane come Cycling Superhighway not 24/7 for these few metres? Is smoothing the motor traffic flow more important to TfL than avoiding cyclist/motorist interaction here?

How will the kids cycle to the swimming pool?

2011-10-24T22:14:00.002+01:00

The Masterplan for the Heygate Estate is out for consultation - deadline 1st November - and this plan shows the cycle access:

Blue – signed cycle lanes on busy routes

Purple - recommended cycle routes
Dotted light blue – Further routes available to cyclists

The big building, that you can't cycle to, on the left of the railway lines is the Elephant & Castle shopping centre. Further to the left of that, over the main roads, is the leisure centre imminently (at last) to be redeveloped as a shiny new swimming pool. Why on earth doesn't the Masterplan have a quick and easy cycle path from the new Heygate via the shopping centre direct to the pool, allowing kids to safely make their own way their (or cycle with granny if the kids aren't allowed to swim without an adult)?

I also understand that currently no crossing is planned to facilitate the, currently banned, right hand turn from the Walworth Road into Elephant Road (that runs parallel to the shopping centre and forms the obvious cycle bypass).

I think the Masterplanners need to get back to the drawing board / Apple. Constructive comments can be emailed to heygate@soundingsoffice.com before 1st November.

Work starts on new cycling provision at County Hall

2011-10-22T20:17:00.001+01:00

Cyclists have long been unimpressed by the cycle route (National Cycle Network route 4)along Belvedere Road, which is owned by Japanese company Shirayama, owner of County Hall.

Work has just started on some changes here. The photo above shows holes being dug for bollards by Forum Magnum Square. The end result will look like this, viewed from County Hall:

The approach from Chichley Street (i.e. the London Eye end) will look like this:

and the Westminster Bridge Road end will look like this:

As the land is privately owned Lambeth Council has limited powers to get the kind of quality they'd like (and I'm damn certain they won't reckon much to this), even though a condition of planning consent was S106 funding (see below), to mitigate the impact of the development locally.

I can't work out exactly where cyclists are intended to be from the plans I have and have asked to meet the County Hall management to find out more. I'll let you know how I get on. In the meantime if you know directors of tenants or other people of influence on the landowner please consider discussing this with them. If you use the County Hall restaurants and visitor attractions you may wish to consider whether to continue to do so.

------ S106 detail ------

There are two relevant S106 obligations, both of which specifically mention cycling. I understand there was and still is an obligation on the developer of County Hall (Shirayama Shokusan Co Ltd) to submit and implement a scheme for Belvedere Rd, under the S106 Agreement signed in 1993 (Legal ref 342/L/S106):

A traffic management scheme for the closed section of Belvedere Road incorporating a) taxi drop off points, b) coach parking bays, c) a cycle lane, d) car parking restrictions, e) alterations to the junction of Westminster Bridge Road and Belvedere Road. Plus tree planting scheme for Westminster Bridge Road and Belvedere Road.

There is also a similar obligation on the developers of the North and South Block Belvedere (Frogmore Developments Limited – now Galliard Homes) signed in 1996 (legal ref 23/L/S106)

To formulate in conjunction with the adjoining property a traffic management and landscaping scheme for the closed section of Belvedere Road and its junctions with Westminster Bridge Road and Chichely Street incorporating a cycle lane on or immediately adjacent thereto. Once Final Scheme has been approved by Council, to implement along with neighbour.

Lidl - quality or crap?

2011-10-22T18:24:00.000+01:00

No doubt that it's crap at the Old Kent Road branch. I normally just say 'Tsk' to myself here and like nearly everyone else lock my bike to a convenient railing or other informal but secure parking spot. But today I couldn't help wondering if a lurking adult was debating whether they fancied 90% of a bike that I suspect belongs/belonged to a recent convert to cycling. The lurker could have been another cycling blogger I suppose.

I suspect the store manager will tell me there isn't much theft from the cycle racks, ignoring the reality that the vast majority of cyclists wouldn't dream of using it in the first place.

Let's hope the local police will lean heavily on the store manager to replace this thief magnet with sheffield stands.

TfL - pointing in the wrong direction?

2011-10-22T17:58:00.000+01:00

Is this TfL 'cycle facility', approaching the Bricklayers Arms from the Old Kent Road,
a) TfL's contender for the 2011 most redundant use of paint contest
or
b) meant to be drawing the attention of cyclists to the dropped kerb which may have been intstalled to permit access to a shared use pavement?

12 Nov: Kennington start for tour of TfL's collision hotspots

2011-10-21T20:35:00.000+01:00

Kennington residents live within a couple of miles of seven of TfL's top 10 collision hotspots, according to a recent response at a Mayor's Question Time. The Cyclists in the City blog is arranging a tour - please read his blogpost and join in:

A tour of Transport for London's 10 most dangerous junctions for cycling in central London - in honour of Elephant & Castle roundabout
10.30am Saturday 12 November
Meet by the stairs at the front of St. Mark's Church, The Oval, Kennington, SE11 4PW

Here's the question to the Mayor, TfL's response and my comments in brackets and italics thereafter:

Question No: 2996 / 2011 Valerie Shawcross:

When asked at MQT about the 9.2% increase in cycling accidents in the previous year you referred to the TfL Cycle Safety Action Plan. Has TfL identified within the Cycle Safety Action Plan where and when collisions involving cyclists are most likely to occur? Please publish a table showing the ten most dangerous locations to cyclists in London, say which is the highways authority at that location and what actions TfL are taking to reduce the dangers to cyclists at each?.

Written response from the Mayor :

The locations with the highest number of cycle collisions in the GLA area between 2008 and 2010 are shown in the table below. These are on some of the busiest cycle routes in London and, as such, the number of collisions is generally proportionate to the number of cyclists in these locations. No fatal collisions occurred at any of these locations and at least 85 per cent of the collisions at all ten locations resulted in slight injuries, which did not require hospital treatment.

The table below indicates the specific infrastructure improvements which are taking place at each location. However, infrastructure improvements alone are not enough to improve cycle safety as collisions involving cyclists are not always concentrated at particular locations. TfL is therefore working with the London boroughs and the Cycle Safety Working Group to deliver other safety improvements such as education campaigns, better vehicle safety technology for freight vehicles and cycle training.

Location Borough Highway Authority Action being taken

1. St. George's Road/London Road/ Elephant & Castle Junction Southwark TfL An alternative route for cyclists was implemented at this location as part of Cycle Superhighway 7. (The alternative route implemented was a repaint of half of the existing but inadequately marked cycle bypass. If you want to test your urban orienteering skills try to get from Newington Causeway to Walworth Road on the eastern half of the bypass. It's a disgrace that this wasn't upgraded as complimentary works to CS7. Appallingly, the Heygate consultation plans don't show a significantly improved route.)

2. Clapham Road/ Kennington Park Road/ Camberwell Road Junction Lambeth TfL Safety improvements were introduced at this junction as part of Barclays Cycle Superhighway Route 7 (CSH7). Barclays Cycle Superhighway Route 5 will run east-west through Oval junction on the A202, and will deliver further safety improvements for cyclists. (My views haven't changed since I wrote this )

3. Strand/Northumberland Avenue/Whitehall Junction Westminster Borough Westminster City Council has identified £878,000 of Local Implementation Plan funding for safety schemes throughout Westminster. I have asked TfL officers to engage with the borough to ensure that this location is considered for improvements. (TfL and Westminster '30mph' Council - I'm not holding my breath)

4. Waterloo Road/ Stamford St/ York Road Junction Lambeth TfL Plans are being developed to improve signage in this area in order to provide cyclists with information about safe routes to Waterloo station that provide an alternative to navigating the roundabout at this junction. (The alternatives are so convoluted you'll need a quality of signage I've yet to see in London.)

5. Mansion House St/Princes St/ Threadneedle St Junction City of London Borough The City of London has three funded programmes in its Local Implementation Plan which will contribute to improving safety for cyclists throughout the ‘Square Mile’. I have asked TfL officers to liaise with the City of London to determine whether this location should be prioritised for improvements.

6. Elephant & Castle/Newington Butts Roundabout Southwark TfL Works to convert the roundabout to a signalised junction were undertaken between June 2010 and May 2011. Advance Stop Lines, Toucan crossings and shared use pavements were provided on all arms of the junction. (This has definitely been an improvement. I haven't explored all the shared use options, but for example, turning left from Walworth Road to Newington Butts you can simply hop onto the pavement and then off again to bypass the traffic lights)

7. Hyde Park Corner Westminster TfL As part of the Barclays Cycle Superhighways (CSH) Programme, cycling improvements are being considered at Hyde Park Corner, which will see Route 9 terminating at the roundabout. These proposals are still in the early stages of planning and are not yet confirmed. (Working on one route that terminates there is hardly sorting out every exit. Removing the filter off the gyratory to turn left to Constitution Hill so cyclists and pedestrians can cross to the middle from Green Park in one, rather than two, goes would be great. I understand TfL have ruled that out in favour of multi-lane motor traffic flow.)

8. Millbank/Lambeth Bridge Junction Westminster TfL CSH 8 has been implemented on Grosvenor Rd and Milbank, and mandatory cycle lanes installed on entry and exit at the Millbank arm with Lambeth Bridge to improve cycling safety at the roundabout. In addition cycle measures were incorporated in the recently resurfaced Lambeth Bridge. These included widening the westbound mandatory cycle lane. (CSH8 onto the roundabout is hardly helpful if you want to turn right over Lambeth Bridge. The cycle measures introduced on the bridge were done following pressure from outside and ignored most recommendations)

9. Clerkenwell Road/Farringdon Road Junction Islington TfL Cycle measures have been implemented at this junction primarily by London Borough of Islington catering for the heavy east to west cycle movement.

10. Albert Embankment/Kennington Lane/ Wandsworth Road Junction Lambeth TfL CSH 5 will run through Vauxhall Gyratory on the A202 and will provide a safer route for cyclists. Planned improvements include new sections of cycle lane, blind spot visibility mirrors, and changes to traffic islands and kerblines to reduce traffic speeds and improve safety. (We'll wait and see. It's not going to be much use if you want to go from Vauxhall Bridge down South Lambeth Road, or from Kennington Lane to Nine Elms Lane)

One final thought - do you ever see teenage girls and boys cycling on their own at any of these?

Upper Ground Update

2011-10-21T18:43:00.001+01:00

I emailed a link to yesterday's blog on the Upper Ground detour to Lambeth's Road Danger Reduction Manager, Norma Fender, and received the following detailed response:

Sorry you came across an unexpected diversion when you were cycling with a group of children recently.

There are currently major works on Upper Ground behind the Royal National Theatre, accommodating 5 utilities plus Lambeth's own works, which has meant that we have had to authorise a road closure for all vehicular traffic (including cycles) from Cornwall Road to the up ramp to Waterloo road from 10.10.11 until 05.12.11. The road will have to be closed again for another period for more works in the new year.

The provision made for cyclists during these works is that they should dismount and walk their bikes on the footway past the works site for the short distance involved and then remount to continue their journey. At the moment there is no signage to this effect, but this signage (asking cyclists to dismount) will be installed, and this will make it much clearer to cyclists what is expected.

I'm sure you are aware that Lambeth is keen to promote considerate cycling on shared space for pedestrians and cyclists where appropriate (such as on the Thames path) but this is not always appropriate in places where there is a very high density of pedestrians, for example, the Vauxhall foot tunnel, where cyclists are also asked to dismount.

This is not the ideal situation for cyclists or pedestrians, however, major roadworks do require temporary road closures and diversions and less than ideal road situations until the works are completed.

It'll be interesting to see how the road works develop over the coming months and whether, for most of the time, there would be space for a cycle path, rather than a requirement for cyclists to dismount.

Lambeth diverting cyclists to TfL crash site

2011-10-20T18:19:00.000+01:00

Today I took a class of children to cycle the backstreets of Lambeth, only to find that all traffic, cyclists included, is being diverted off Upper Ground, the quiet National Cycle Network route 4, by the National Theatre, onto Stamford Street to tackle the the Imax roundabout junction that rates 4th on TfL's list of locations in London with the highest number of cyclist casualties. And this might continue for 18 months!!
On 11th October I wrote to Lambeth's Cycling Officer saying,
"This week's 'Lambeth Weekender'has a Lambeth Council advert about Temporary Road Closure permitted for upto 18 months on Upper Ground for the National Theatre to carry out works. It appears to be for information only with no contact given to comment.

Will cyclists be obliged to divert via Stamford Street and Waterloo Road (A Roads) during these times or will there be a shared pedestrian/cyclists route on Upper Ground or a dedicated cycle diversion route on Upper Ground? Are the contractors undertaking the closure given obligations to provide clear signage relating to this?"

Lambeth's Cycling Officer replied, "Nobody seems to know anything about this."
This is just not good enough for a council that prides itself on pursuing Road Danger Reduction rather than Road Safety.

Lambeth's Core Strategy for Vauxhall

2011-10-20T08:47:00.001+01:00

The Vauxhall Society reports that, "Lambeth councillors have hired an extremely-expensive architectural practice, Farrells, to make up planners’ and councillors’ minds for them on whether Vauxhall Cross is to be a ‘centre’ (i.e. fit for people) or an ‘interchange’ (what we have now)."

But Lambeth Council has already made up its mind - their Core Strategy, adopted this January, includes the following about Vauxhall:
"Overall, development will be supported to provide at least 3,500 new homes and 8,000 jobs in the Vauxhall area and appropriate community and public transport infrastructure improvements will be sought.

This will be achieved by:
(a) Active ground floor frontages being provided in development throughout the Vauxhall area, with a mix of uses including Central London Activities with local services and facilities serving the predominantly residential areas to the east of the railway viaduct. A focus of new retail uses will be promoted around the transport interchange to create a district centre.
(b) Developing an accessible, legible and permeable pedestrian and cycling environment, including creating public spaces, promoting public art, with key landmarks, quality streetscape, strong linkages to the River Thames, between public spaces, and connections from east to west between Albert Embankment and the primarily residential areas beyond the railway viaduct and ensuring that a high quality riverside walk is maintained.
(c) Seeking substantial improvements in the quality, access and capacity of public transport in the Opportunity Area as a whole and in particular
Vauxhall underground and rail stations, bus services, enhancement of the quality of public transport interchange, highway improvements throughout the Vauxhall area particularly seeking the removal of the one-way traffic system and transport links to the wider area."

I hope that Farrell's have been appointed to show how this strategy, including the removal of the one-way traffic system, can be achieved.

Cycle forum: London cycling as public transport?

2011-10-19T22:53:00.000+01:00

City University have a lively panel discussion, open to the public, about London's current cycling trends on Wed 26 October at Rm A130, College Building, 293-201St John Street, London EC1V 0HB, UK. To reserve a place email environment@city.ac.uk

Panel discussion 15:00-16:30
Networking reception to follow from 16:30-17:30

With the number of cyclists growing by the day in London, and due to rise even more as we move towards the Olympics 2012, it begs to ask the question - are the current provisions (such as Barclay's Cycle Hire, Cycle Superhighways and cycle-to-work schemes) enough? What are the risks associated with having so many cyclists on the roads? How do London's motorists feel about the increase in cyclists? A number of cycling experts will be on hand to discuss these issues and more. Following a brief presentation from each of the speakers, the floor will be opened up for Q&A with the audience and panel members.

Speakers:
(Chair) Professor Richard Verrall, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Strategy and Planning, City University London
Tom Bogdanowich, Campaigns & Development Manager, London Cycling Campaign
Dr Colin Black, Transport Consultant, Contemporary Transport
David Dansky, Head of Training & Development, Cycle Training UK
Dr Liza Schuster, Lecturer, Sociology, City University London (and City cyclist)
Alexandra Goodship, Cycling Delivery Planning Manager, Transport for London

This event, in association with the City Collaborative Transport Hub, forms part of City University London's third annual Green City Week activities.

Lawn Tennis, Mozart, Fossils and Kayaks

2011-10-19T22:14:00.001+01:00

Today's Pedal Power Kennington was, by request, to Chelsea. We nipped over Lambeth Bridge, past the home of the Major who wrote the rules of Lawn Tennis to the new Pimlico Academy (stopping to admire their climbing wall), and then just south of Sloane Square where we admired the house Mozart lived in when he wrote his first symphony.

Next stop was a shop specialising in crystals and 140,000,000 year old fossils, selling for £220,000!

We went past the Royal Hospital for the Chelsea Pensioners and turned to cycle down the Kings Road, stopping for some chips from McDonalds. We made our way down to the Thames at Battersea Bridge and took the lovely shared use pavement along the river past Albert Bridge to Chelsea Bridge where we admired the Kayakers in the small dock, before making our way back on Cycling Superhighway 8 to Lambeth Bridge and home. It was quite a long ride for our Year 6 cyclists, coping with some proper London traffic at dusk. They did really well.

Road Danger Reduction lecture at LSBU

2011-10-18T08:28:00.001+01:00

Lambeth has a Road Danger Reduction policy rather than a Road Safety policy. The emphasis is on ways of reducing the danger that larger, faster vehicles can cause by limiting them and making their drivers mind out, rather than putting the onus on the more vulnerable road users to limit their journeys and mind out. There's a great chance to find out more from an expert on Thursday 27th October at London South Bank University.

Faculty of Engineering, Science and the Built Environment, Department of Urban Engineering: Extra-curricular transport lectures series

“What’s wrong with the ‘road safety’ industry?”
A lecture by Dr Robert Davis
Chair of the Road Danger Reduction Forum

Thursday 27th October 2011 12.30pm to 1.30pm Room LR375 LSBU London Road Building, Building Number 11 on the map at http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/about/maps.shtml (Access via London Road only)

Synopsis
Dr Davis will argue that the ideological and institutional basis of what is officially known as ‘road safety’ is actually part of the problem of danger on the roads. A radical reappraisal of the theory and practice of ‘road safety’ is necessary to formulate a civilized approach to safety on the road – for real road safety – for the 21st Century.

Biography
Dr Robert Davis is a founder member and now Chair of the Road Danger Reduction Forum www.rdrf.org.uk, set up in 1993 after publication of his ‘Death on the Streets: Cars and the mythology of road safety’. He has worked as transport planner in local government the last 25 years.

If you would like to attend, please inform Professor John Parkin so that your name may be added to the list for access purposes (j.parkin@lsbu.ac.uk, )

I love my trailer

2011-10-16T18:56:00.000+01:00

I wish Carry Freedom would get together with the billboard owners on Kennington Road to have huge posters of their trailers in use, replacing the tedious adverts for cars.

In the meantime, here are a trio of photos from trips I've made in the past few days with my Carry Freedom trailer. I have the wide Y-frame trailer with the extended arm, and most of the time I have a box on it, which is actually a cupboard that was fortuitously dumped near our house just when I started looking for a box.

Taking bikes to a community event - it's more stable than it looks!

Picking up a garden table that I found dumped in a skip.

Taking garden and household waste to the recycling centre.

An attractive and prominent drinking fountain

2011-10-16T17:57:00.000+01:00

Researching a ride for Pedal Power Kennington I immediately spotted these magnificent fountains either side of the front entrance to the British Museum, though, as arguably befits a museum, they're dry as a bone and just for show these days.

This is exactly the kind of location that our public building (and I include railway stations) should place attractive, working fountains.

The British Museum has a modern drinking fountain hidden in the basement, at the entrance to the toilets (eurgh), but the water flow is so feeble you'd be forgiven for thinking you might die of thirst while waiting for a group of thirsty school children taking turns to sip.

Hell's Belles! London's first Ladies Bike Polo tournament

2011-10-15T14:48:00.000+01:00

The London Ladies’ Hardcourt Bikepolo Club have the first Ladies (Majority) Bike Polo Tournament taking place this weekend at Newington Gardens, Harper Road, SE1 (just t'other side of Elephant and Castle from Kennington). Details here.

I dropped down this morning and there were loads of matches taking place. Bike Polo is a great spectator sport and I really recommend checking it out. If you can't make it along this weekend or want to find out more about the sport have a look at this lively forum.

The unspeakable arrogance of Tesco

2011-10-14T19:08:00.000+01:00

SE11 Action Team reports that a Tesco Express is coming to the former bingo hall near the Texaco garage on Kennington Road in 2012, and publish Tesco's press release which says,
'Not only will it keep people shopping in the area but is extremely convenient for residents and workers and those people who have no transport or those preferring to shop on foot. We believe it will benefit the area by encouraging people to shop locally and also cut down on car journeys to other shopping areas.'

This is only true if you want to shop at Tesco, which I don't.

It's becoming a struggle to do otherwise locally though as the new Tesco will be a stone's throw from their large Kennington Lane store, and near their Kennington Park Road, Elephant and Castle shopping centre, and Vauxhall Cross St George's stores.

The density of Tesco shops are likely to put other local shops out of business and dissuade another supermarket chain from moving in. The consequence, contrary to the spokesdroid's statement, is that I'm likely to be forced to shop further afield to find stores I'd choose to use.

Check out plans for the Heygate Estate at E&C

2011-10-13T21:01:00.000+01:00

Drop into the Concept Masterplan Exhibition for the Heygate Estate next week on the following dates:

Wednesday 19 October 11am - 6pm
Thursday 20 October 11am - 8pm
Friday 21 October 11am - 6pm
Saturday 22 October 11am - 6pm
at
The Consultation Hub, 182 - 184 Walworth Road, SE17 1JJ

The exhibition will show the next stage in design development of the new masterplan for the Heygate Estate. Members of the masterplanning team will be present at the exhibition to answer your questions.

An interactive workshop, to explore the concept masterplan further, will take place on Saturday 29th October, 11am-5pm. If you would like to take part please email heygate@soundingsoffice.com or call 020 7729 1705.

For more information on the regeneration check http://www.elephantandcastle.org.uk/

From small acorns..

2011-10-12T23:00:00.000+01:00

We had a small Pedal Power Kennington ride today with four pupils (three regulars, one new). We cycled over Waterloo Bridge to Covent Garden, for the Apple store, market and street entertainers. Then over to the law courts and chambers (unfortunately Ede and Ravenscroft were shut so we couldn't ask to try on a judge's wig). Returning via Blackfriars Bridge, one moment we were hemmed in by taxis, cars and vans, the next we were a small group amidst the thousand plus cyclists attending the LCC Flashride. The children were gobsmacked. I suspect there'll be more attending the next ride!

Why don't these pupils cycle to school?

2011-10-12T11:03:00.000+01:00

A few days ago I spoke to 120 year 7 pupils at a local secondary school to promote a forthcoming Pedal Power Kennington 'Dr Bike' session there, with an optional after-school ride. Most of the pupils said they had bikes and there was enthusiasm for the events. I subsequently talked to a class from year 8. Letters were given to all 240 year 7 and 8 pupils to take home.

Yesterday I arrived with a mechanic at the school to undertake the Dr Bike on a warm autumnal day. There were 9 bikes, from the whole school, in the bike racks - how many might one find on a day with no cycling events?

Mind you, the school is a hundred yards or so from TfL's local collision centre, the Vauxhall Gyratory, and slap bang on the 'Berlin Wall', as Val Shawcross described Kennington Lane at Monday's Kennington Association AGM.
The Berlin Wall being the inner ring-road around the Congestion Zone from Vauxhall Gyratory to Elephant and Castle.

Photos like this demonstrate that the Mayor and TfL need to pull their respective fingers out to improve conditions for active travel, which is why I'll be on Blackfriars Bridge this evening at 6pm.

Who drives over Blackfriars Bridge?

2011-10-11T19:01:00.000+01:00

There are people who argue that the only motor traffic in central London is 'essential', that there is no possible way they can use a form of transport friendly to other people and the environment.

Of course, if splendidly convenient, safe car parking is provided in abundance then use of the car is even more likely to become 'essential'.

Tucked away in discrete coutryards behind Unilever House at the Blackfriars Bridge junction, where LCC are flashriding tomorrow night, are the lawyer's chambers of Inner Temple. Here are a couple of pictures, looking one way:

and looking the other:

An additional reason (should one still be needed) why I'll be on Blackfriars Bridge tomorrow evening from 5.45.

London Cyclists show TfL the future of Blackfriars

2011-10-10T09:59:00.000+01:00

London Cycling Campaign has produced fantastic images and animations showing how the junction at the northside of Blackfriars Bridge can be dramatically improved for pedestrians and cyclists. If you cycle in London (or want to but daren't) you absolutely should check these out.

Please join the Blackfriars Bridge flashride this Wednesday to push the Mayor and TfL into action. The ride meets at 5.45pm by Doggett's pub on the southside.
It's also well worth while checking out this Cyclists in the City blogpost.

E&C 'most dangerous' spot for road injuries

2011-10-06T23:01:00.000+01:00

http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/5570

What can you say. The road layout is a 20th century abomination, like Vauxhall Gyratory (cyclist seriously injured a few days ago), the Aldwych (cyclist killed a few days ago) and the other multi-lane motorway style roads in central London that carry loads of motor traffic that needn't and shouldn't be on in our inner city.

Lambeth North to Brighton with the veteran car rally

2011-10-06T19:12:00.000+01:00

Sunday 6th November Mixing it with the Cars to Brighton

Time again for that most curiously British of events, the London to Brighton veteran car run. As has been the practice for the last four years, a motley crew of cyclists will meet and follow the ride to the coast…. This year the ride is a collaboration between Lewisham Cyclists and Southwark Cyclists.
Meeting outside Lambeth North tube station at 7.15 for a quick getaway, we should see the smaller vehicles and those mobile coal scuttles that have passed through Croydon before we would have joined the ride.

We will then follow the ride down to East Croydon to meet anyone who has been unable to join us at the start, meeting outside East Croydon Railway Station at 8.15

Always a great atmosphere. Lots of spectators to cheer everyone on. This will be a fast ride, as we sprint to overtake cars, only to stop again and watch them go past, while waiting a little for others to catch up. However there will be others who wish to make it a more leisurely day, and will follow the cars at their own pace.

Start planning your butties for our Crawley stop where we’ll pause with the cars. Then another pause at Ansty where beer and snacks are usually available. But do bring food and a good lock to share should we rest a while in Brighton. (Late news suggests the Ansty pub may be no more…watch this space)

Neither First Capital Connect or Southern have published their engineering works timetable for November yet, so fingers crossed for a normal service and no repeat of last years detour to Haywards Heath.

Tom Crispin will be arranging a slower family orientated excursion; details will be found hereabouts soon http://www.britishschoolofcycling.com/rides/extreme/cars.htm

Full details of the Veteran car run here http://www.veterancarrun.com/

Details of feeder rides and other stuff will appear here
http://lewishamcyclists.co.uk/eventsrides/ and here
http://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/calendar

We’ve only had one wet ride, weather usually cold and misty damp to start with the sun making an appearance from mid morning. Get the date in your diary now!

Albert Embankment - Ambulance & Cyclist

2011-10-06T18:36:00.000+01:00

I know nothing about the incident reported in today's Standard about an Ambulance flipping onto its side apparently to avoid a cyclist beyond the reality that the Albert Embankment is horrible for cycling along.

Given the Vauxhall, Nine Elms, Battersea developments happening, all with thousands of cycle parking spaces, can we please have some assurances from the Councils and TfL that there will be a splendid, child and commuter cyclist friendly route along the south side of the Thames to Tate Modern and beyond sooner rather than later?

Join the Blackfriars Bridge protest 12/10/12 5.45pm

2011-10-06T18:14:00.001+01:00

London's bridges remain appalling for cyclists. The police and security services can't stop ice-cream sellers in Westminster Bridge's cycle lane and it has grim approaches either end. Waterloo Bridge has free parking in its cycle lane of an evening. Chelsea Bridge has just been Superhighwayed unbelieveably awfully. Lambeth Bridge has grim approaches either end and feels nothing like the Greenway it's meant to be.

Please click the link to find out more about this important action and take part in the ride.
http://lcc.org.uk/pages/blackfriars

How will BT react to an 80mph speed limit?

2011-09-30T20:42:00.000+01:00

Given that this sticker is on a number of BT's vans for environmental reasons I trust it won't be changed to 80 if the speed limit changes.

Will the VNEB Planning Framework postdate the decisions?

2011-09-29T22:38:00.001+01:00

I'm starting to believe that the Vauxhall, Nine Elms, Battersea Opportunity Area Planning Framework will only be published once all the mega schemes have had planning approval.

I've no idea whether the feedback that I and other members of the public made to the draft have been incorporated and what the big vision is. It doesn't make commenting on plans any easier.

Anyway, the latest scheme to be seeking consent before the Planning Framework is finalised is Nine Elms Parkside. The site is the former Royal Mail site off Nine Elms Lane and the pretty illustrations reflect the delusional belief of 21st century developers that a bicycle is a contemporary walking accessory. Just as members of a household tend to share one dog to take for walkies, the plans suggest that each of the 1,860 homes will each have just one bicycle parking space. I hope each parking space will be long enough to at least accomodate a tandem.

I've got no idea if we'll able to cycle along the Thames Path, or along the Linear Park (or whether it'll be wide enough in places to have a cyclist going each way), or whether there'll be family-friendly cycling infrastructure on the Nine Elms Lane expressway. Will this area be London's tower block version of Amsterdam?

Maybe the developers will know. You can ask them between 2 and 6pm on Fri 30/09 and between 10am and 4pm on Sat 01/10 at All Saints Church, 100 Prince of Wales Drive, London SW11 4BD.

Meanwhile check out the vistas of canyons between tower blocks at
http://www.nineelmsparkside.com/

Tyers Street Linear Park - get stuck in!

2011-09-20T18:39:00.000+01:00

Your early thoughts are sought by Cllr. Mark Harrison and Chrys, secretary of VGERTA (Vauxhall Gardens Estate Residents and Tenants Association) on the possible conversion of Tyers Street into a long, narrow (hence linear) park. There may be opportunities for new green spaces, cycle routes, artwork, play areas, allotments and fountains. I'm immediately sold on the idea!

Tyers Street runs from Kennington Lane, past Vauxhall City Farm, to Black Prince Road, adjacent to the Beaufoy Centre.

Email your suggestions and support to MHarrison@lambeth.gov.uk and vgerta.secretary@gmail.com

A fresh approach in Lambeth

2011-09-20T18:29:00.000+01:00

At last night's Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Forum there was an introduction to Lambeth's new approach to traffic improvements. Rather than approach one street at a time they're taking a wider area and looking at a range of linked improvements to be made across it.

The first of these, if I read the map correctly, is centred on Stockwell, going up to Kennington Oval and Camberwell New Road. It will be a two year project, starting initially with invitation to the local community to identify changes they'd like to see.

To kickstart the process a model/map of the area had been taken to Stockwell Festival and was at the meeting with a range of tags (eg Make 20mph Zone) you could pin to the map. Others could stick pins into the tag showing support or opposition.

Over the coming months there'll be a number of events and ways to feed in ideas, with detailed planning following then the work being undertaken by the end of the second year.

Encouragingly 20mph zones, cycle parking, cycle routes and tree planting were the sorts of things that were being dotted all over the map. Let's hope it stays this way.

Get off and push

2011-09-20T09:22:00.001+01:00

Presumably the sign's put in place on the laughable assumption that cyclists using Cycling Superhighway 7 aren't accomplished at riding in the general traffic. The reality is that, roadworks or not, the superficialhighway requires you to do this for much of the time as part of its compromised design.
This photo was taken a couple of days ago by E&C. Here's another example

Tour of Britain final this Sunday in Westminster

2011-09-17T09:40:00.000+01:00

This Sunday just over Westminster or Waterloo Bridge you can see a Time Trial in the morning (route A), from 11 - 12.30, and the Circuit Race (route B) in the afternoon, from 3.45 to 5.45.

Full details here

Lambeth Bridge and gutter cycling

2011-09-15T16:38:00.000+01:00

I've finally had occasion to nip over Lambeth Bridge and back. I much prefer the wider cycle lane, shown above, going towards North London over the unbelievably narrow predecessor. It's a shame that TfL couldn't take the opportunity to improve the approach to the cycle lane, though I suspect it'd be a larger project than could be encompassed in a resurface and repaint.

However I think TfL could have done better going towards south London. To achieve a wider northbound cycle lane they've removed the southbound one, which was also stupidly narrow. The Bus Lane going south gives a useful space for cyclists. So far so fair. Lambeth Cyclists saw the draft plans for the layout and made the following comments:

GOING TOWARDS LAMBETH

a) The bus lane to be the correct width to discourage buses from trying to squeeze past cycles.
b) The Bus Lane marking must be amended to Bus and Cycle Lane, and should have cycle logos in the middle of the lane to encourage cyclists to take the lane rather than hug the pavement. The cycle logos are particularly important where the private motorist can enter the nearside lane towards the end of the bridge, reminding drivers that they must not squeeze in on cyclists in their lane.
c) We applaud not having a feed in lane to the ASL.

We look forward to your feedback on the points we have made.

Despite chasing TfL, Lambeth Cyclists didn't receive any feedback or revised drawings before the work was undertaken.
The works are done but there are no cycle logos (on this cycling section of the Jubilee Greenway!) encouraging cyclists to 'take the lane'.

though riding in the gutter may encourage an unpleasantly close pass by a bus or taxi

Towards the end of the bridge the bus lane ends and general traffic can enter the lane. Here TfL have painted cycle logos over the red lines encouraging cyclists to approach the roundabout on the far left even if going straight on or right and suggesting they should be out of the way of motorists joining their lane.

Lambeth Cyclists believe the cycle logos should be in the centre of the lane reminding drivers that they are entering a lane where they can expect to find cyclists continuing from the Bus Lane.

Finally, below shows why this is not the place that a cyclist going straight on or right wants to be when the lights change. This van driver is indicating left, but a worrying number of left-turning drivers don't bother.

I think these works graphically demonstrate how TfL marginalises cycling when they should be going full-out for modal shift towards it.

For geeks, below is the correspondence history that suggests TfL's original resurfacing plan didn't even include widening the northbound cycle lane.
--------------------------------------------------------

Shortly before Christmas 2010 I heard that Transport for London intended to resurface Lambeth Bridge between Christmas and New Year. I quickly emailed London Streets at TfL saying, "Please can you let me know whether the works will include widening the cycle lane on the northbound carriageway? If not at this time, is there an intention to do in the very new future?"

I received a quick and encouraging reply, albeit one which suggests it wasn't in the original plan, "It now appears the predicted temperatures will be too low for us to carry out the resurfacing works on Lambeth Bridge as planned. We will re-programme this work for when the weather has improved, and we will include the replacement of the failed expansion joints within a re-scoped scheme instruction.

We now have a little time in which an assessment of the possibility of a slight widening of the northbound cycle lane can be carried out. We are not currently able to give a date, but if it proves to be possible, we will adjust the width of the cycle lane as part of the resurfacing works."

At this point I wrote to Lambeth and Westminster Cyclists, and Lambeth Council suggesting they push for improvement to be made, adding, "I favour getting a full width lane northbound by removing the southbound cycle lane and moving the bus lane across. The southbound cycle lane is dangerous in my view because it too is narrow but also it encourages cyclists going straight on or right at the roundabout to approach in the cycle lane where they are at risk of being left-hooked by vehicles turning left to South Lambeth Road.

This bridge forms part of the Jubilee Walking and Cycling Greenway so it is crucial that it is made very cycling friendly."

Lambeth Council's Transport Policy Manager wrote to TfL saying, "Lambeth would very much support the comments he has made" and received a reply in late January saying, "The resurfacing project will include amendments to the road markings over the bridge, to improve the width of the northbound cycle lane. I attach for your information the current proposal, which is currently being safety audited (which again suggests it wasn't in the original plan)."

That proposal was discussed by Lambeth Cyclists who were particularly perturbed that, while wider, the new northbound cycle lane was shown as Advisory (dotted line) where the existing lane (solid lane) was Mandatory. Mandatory, by the way, in this context means motor vehicles are not allowed in it rather than cyclists have to use it.

Lambeth Cyclists wrote to TfLraising the following points:

1. Can we check that these works are relatively small scale remedial and resurfacing works to the bridge and not part of a full redesign of the bridges layout? Our recommendations are made on the basis of a minor rather than major fix on this understanding. We note the significant increase in cycling traffic across all London bridges (http://cyclelondoncity.blogspot.com/2011/02/2011-more-bicycles-than-cars-will-cross.html) and the need to nurture modes of transport that are greener and less space consuming per head.than the private car. In the near future it is important that the problems with the roundabouts at each end of the bridge are also resolved.

2. Provided that these are only remedial works and not a redesign that a MANDATORY 1.5m cycle lane is installed on the upstream side of the bridge going towards Westminster, and going towards Lambeth the current cycle lane is removed and the bus lane becomes a 24 hour bus and cycle lane

GOING TOWARDS WESTMINSTER:
a) The cycle lane towards Westminster MUST remain Mandatory rather than be changed to Advisory as shown. It is absolutely unacceptable for this to become Advisory given there is no frontage (shops, houses), no parking requirements, plus adequate general lane width.

. b) Consideration is needed on how to to prevent motorists cutting into cyclists at the entrance to the bridge as they do at the moment. At the start of the1.5m mandatory cycle lane at the Lambeth end of the bridge a tiny bit of segregation is required. The exact length needed can be seen from the length of the current mandatory line that has been worn away by motorists driving over it.This could either be physical segregation or time segregation via the traffic signals having a cycle phase.

c) We would like to see the plans showing where the line between the cycle and general traffic lane ends and how the merger of the two is facilitated. The faciliation is needed to avoid the tendency of cyclists to continue to hug the left towards the roundabout; to facilitate cyclists turning right; and to counter the assumption motorists tend to have here that they have right of way over cyclists wishing to merge here. Is there a policy on 'merge lanes' markings within DfT/TfL?

GOING TOWARDS LAMBETH
a) The bus lane to be the correct width to discourage buses from trying to squeeze past cycles.
b) The Bus Lane marking must be amended to Bus and Cycle Lane, and should have cycle logos in the middle of the lane to encourage cyclists to take the lane rather than hug the pavement. The cycle logos are particularly important where the private motorist can enter the nearside lane towards the end of the bridge, reminding drivers that they must not squeeze in on cyclists in their lane.

c) We applaud not having a feed in lane to the ASL.

We look forward to your feedback on the points we have made.

Despite chasing TfL, Lambeth Cyclists didn't receive any feedback or revised drawings before the work was undertaken.

How well does Vauxhall Cross function?

2011-09-12T20:39:00.001+01:00

Last November John McNulty, TfL's Head of Interchange, spoke to Future Vauxhall about remaking Vauxhall - a key transport interchange. One of the points Mr McNulty was keen to make is that TfL considers Vauxhall 'functions well in traffic terms'.

Today I learnt that Vauxhall Cross (red circle on TfL's map below) is TfL's top priority node in Lambeth on the basis of 'Sites with the highest collision rate when compared to the average for Central' (presumably inner London). In the 36 months to December 2010 there have been 43 collisions, with seven killed or seriously injured.

Job Creation the NHS way

2011-09-12T17:12:00.000+01:00

'Please Give Blood' is the appeal on the back of this NHS van (MK59 LZU) parked on Tooley Street outside London Bridge Station with its hazard warning lights on shortly before 4pm today, enticing cyclists to nip out into the general traffic lane.

The van's in the mandatory cycle lane ('You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation' - Highway Code 140) on a red route marked with double red lines ('no parking at any time').

There is no driver in the van.

It may be that the NHS has special dispensations that permit its vehicles to be parked in such a way as to encourage cyclists to mix it with the lorries and taxis. Even if they do I bet there's somewhere else the van could sensibly be parked at London Bridge that doesn't place the vulnerable road user at risk.

Maybe that's the intent though - the NHS wish to increase the demand for their services by upping the numbers Killed and Seriously Injured while also discouraging others from healthy lifestyle options that put health care professionals out of work?

Belated floral display

2011-09-09T15:14:00.000+01:00

I've not been in London much this summer and missed the Festival Hall's floral ride (not to mention the long-awaited changes to Lambeth Bridge's cycle lane, which I haven't yet had cause to visit).

I think I made some amends for missing the floral ride today as I picked up some plants from New Covent Garden Market to deliver to a school down Nine Elms Lane.

The trailer is laden with plants en-route to the school's baskets, while the pannier is laden with flowers discarded at the market to adorn our house.

Fietshangar arriving in Bonnington Square today

2011-07-22T16:39:00.000+01:00

Demand drinking fountains at Waterloo

2011-07-21T11:44:00.000+01:00

94,000,000 litres of bottled water are sold in London each year with a clear knock-on effect on traffic volume and pollution that drinking fountains and taps don't have.

Lambeth Council has two planning/development policies for Waterloo Station and area out for consultation, both ending this Friday 22nd July at 5pm and you might consider dropping the council an email, such as the draft below, asking them to build in a requirement for prominent free drinking water fountains/taps to reduce the dependency on bottled water.

The email, with your name and address at the bottom, should be sent to MTrevethan@lambeth.gov.uk

Please can the Draft Waterloo Area Supplementary Planning Document and the Waterloo Station and Interchange Draft Development Brief be amended to ensure the prominent and abundant provision of freely available drinking water (fountains or taps) within Waterloo to reduce the traffic, waste, pollution and expense associated with bottled water. It is appalling that Waterloo Station has no public water fountains/taps, given the number of tourists and commuters passing through. Equally the entire South Bank appears to have no working water fountains/taps for public use. Please build in a condition that these taps are not hidden away but are positioned and promoted to the standard that the bottled water manufacturers and retailers achieve.

Guerilla Signage on Horse Guards Road

2011-07-19T17:50:00.000+01:00

or the Big Society in action? I doubt they'll withstand the rain but at least it's a temporary fix.

Sh! There's a cycle lane on Horse Guards Road

2011-07-18T17:38:00.000+01:00

The radio presenter woke me up this morning with a reminder that Horse Guards Road is shut as of today. The Royal Parks Agency hadn't let me know the results of their attempt to find a way to retain cycling and the road certainly looked shut:

But those who ignore road signs are rewarded here as it turns out that provision has been made by the Royal Parks for cyclists. I'm delighted, firstly, that the Royal Parks have taken on board the logic of facilitating cyclists and, secondly, that they've found a way to do so. I'm sure that in time they'll sort out the approach signage too. You never know, we may even hear radio presenters reporting, "XYZ Road is closed to motor traffic but not cyclists."

Lambeth Cabinet approves Transport Local Implementation Plan

2011-07-12T22:14:00.001+01:00

The draft Transport Local Implementation Plan (LIP) was accepted In June's Lambeth Council Cabinet Meeting and was submitted to Transport for London. The Head of Transportation highlighted that this was a twenty year plan but that it also contained two year projects to design and develop community level plans.

A copy of the LIP and the results of the Public and Stakeholder Consultation on the first can be found as item 5 in the meeting papers

I find the results from the Consultation very encouraging, not least because a lot of people responded.
1600 questionnaires were sent to a sample of properties in each of Lambeth’s 21 wards and a total of 762 were returned. There were also 243 online responses making a total of 1005 responses.

The feedback was as follows:
The response to Lambeth’s Road Danger Reduction policy (by reducing the number and speed of motor vehicles) was positive with 89% expressing support.

The response to Lambeth’s new ‘neighbourhood’ approach (that introduces a range of improvements to public spaces rather than single measures to individual streets) was also positive with 82% supporting the policy. Those who provided comments felt that it would help the council to deliver better value for money and show that the council viewed Lambeth’s streets as community spaces and not just a ‘transit zone.’

In the main there was a high level of support for the TRANSPORT OBJECTIVES in the draft LTP with between 90 and 94% support for all of the goals, as follows:

Improve air quality 94%
promote sustainable healthy travel 94%
Reduce real and perceived danger on Lambeth’s roads 91%
Improve the condition of principal roads 90%
Reduce CO2 emissions 90%

All of the DELIVERY ACTIONS set out in the draft LTP received majority support with improving public transport, tackling inconsiderate driving and promoting sustainable transport being the most popular.

Improve public transport via TfL 95%
Tackle inconsiderate driving 93%
Promote sustainable and safe transport 93%
Improve public spaces for pedestrians 89%
Educate motorists to the danger they pose 86%
Improve cycle access 83%
To reduce and slow traffic 80%
Provide secure cycle parking 80%
Promote cycle training 79%
Tackle inconsiderate cycling 79%
To promote use of electric vehicle 63%
Increase the use of Car Club bays 59%

Four key priorities emerged from the general comments received.
1. Cyclists and those wanting to ride should be made to feel safer through dedicated cycle lanes, giving cyclists priority on the road and better promotion of cycling.

2. The condition of principal and secondary roads should be improved to reduce road danger and to encourage more residents to walk and cycle.

3. Traffic in the borough should be reduced and slowed particularly in residential roads. However, alternative methods of speed management other than physical traffic calming measures should be considered

4. Public transport fares should be reduced to make public transport a viable alternative to motor vehicle travel.

A nice walk in Green (Car) Park

2011-07-12T18:58:00.000+01:00

The policeman who approached me as I was taking photos told me that he had never seen as many cars at a Royal Garden Party as there were today, which is no doubt why they'd taken over Green Park itself.

Of course giving 8000 guests free car parking in central London slap bang by their destination, where no buses run, is one hell of an inducement for these worthy recipients of the Queen's largesse (National Trust and RSPB members no doubt) to drive rather than take public transport. I wonder what incentives are given to encourage these day trippers to use sustainable transport - free or discounted rail fares? A special shuttle bus from the London Terminii? Bugger all?

Anyway, what's the royal protocol on where you put all these cars? First of all you appropriate the cycle path.

When that's full you take over the park itself.

What you don't permit on any account is on-road parking on the multi-lane Mall.

Blimey, the police have kept that clear. They've clearly failed on Horseguards Road though where you can rely on the Aussies to take a stand in favour of climate change.