Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Boris' boosts for biking
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Danzigger on
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Gee, thanks Boris. You don't get much for £111 million pounds these days, do you?
As far as I can see, the cycle hire scheme is going to be a bit of a flop. It has been very popular in Paris, but that is mainly because it was backed up by some severe restrictions on driving in the city. As far as I've read, that isn't going to happen here.
What's the deal with the cycle highways? Are they car free routes into and across the city? Are they glorified cycle lanes?
They might encourage a few more people to bike to work, but I worry that they will reinforce the perception that bikes aren't 'proper" traffic, and don't have equivalent rights on the road. Segregation doesn't foster good relationships.
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I'm very easy to please! I don't want much. In fact, what would make me really happy is simply to see mutual respect, courtesy and good manners amongst road users - cars, trucks, bikes and pedestrians.
Cost: nil
Chances of it happening: nil
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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To be serious- totally in agreement. Education and example will help.
It just seemed ironic that we've been agitating for years for more cycle paths / lanes, on the basis that they would increase safety by segregating cyclists from other traffic.
I too would like to see mutual respect, courtesy and good manners - generally, not only amongst road users
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Permalink Reply by Alison P on
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The company running the Paris scheme is having massive problems:
"Over half the original fleet of 15,000 specially made bicycles have disappeared, presumed stolen. They have been used 42 million times since their introduction but vandalism and theft are taking their toll. The company which runs the scheme, JCDecaux, says it can no longer afford to operate the city-wide network." (BBC)
More here
I'm a very keen cyclist but I am sceptical about the scheme, much though I'd love it to succeed.
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I don't understand the bike hire scheme. Who's going to use it?
"Whether you are a commuter, shopper, local resident, business traveller, leisure user or a visitor to London, the Cycle Hire scheme offers greater choice of transport as well as being an environmentally friendly and healthy way to travel." (from the TFL web pages about the scheme)
Commuters - yes, but only if you live and work in Zone 1, the only area covered by the scheme
Shoppers - again, you need to get into Zone 1 in order to start shopping, and unless you carry you own lock then you can't leave the bike outside a shop. And you can't get a lot of shopping on a bike.
local resident - of Zone 1
business traveller - who likes turning up to meetings a bit sweaty, clad in lycra
leisure user - not sure what this means. Perhaps there are people who like to cycle around central London for the sheer joy of it?
visitor to London - not terrified by the fierce traffic in an unfamiliar city
If the scheme allowed me to borrow a bike from somewhere close to home, and leave the bike in, say, Crouch End or Finsbury Park, then I'd use it when I was going out, or going shopping. Bike there, bus back. But having to pick it up and leave it in Zone 1 makes it pretty useless for most Londoners.
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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I'm inclined to agree with you Danzigger.
Paris is a small city in comparison to London (you can walk between main sites very easily) and does have quite a lot of people who actually live right in the heart of it.
The way London is laid out doesn't really lend itself to this scheme in the same way.
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Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on
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Of course, Danzigger, Boris knows that for commuters, shoppers, local residents, business travellers, leisure users, visitors to London, schoolchildren and even local councillors Zones 2 & 3 will have the courteous, well mannered, respectful, ever-flexible but never-bendy W1 BUS - coming to a doorstep near you soon. This is the only vote that matters over the coming three months. Given the W1's convenience, Alison, nobody will need to nick a bike.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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The online petition for the W1 is rather lacking in... signatures...
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/show-tfl-support-for-a-w1-bus.html
No chance we could have a fancy link at the top of the main page?
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Fully agree with that suggestion, John.
After five sorties of door-to-door petitioning on Wightman Road I have 155 enthusiastic signatures - across the age- and ethnic range. Just 10 residents have said 'NO' - one vociferously, three with very reasoned argument (including one lady who promises to campaign against me!), two who are moving out next week, one too hungover/stoned to focus on our bus, remaining three not really interested.
Tomorrow I go north of the Mosque and back by the Greek Church towards Hewitt Junction. Must say the enthusiasm is buoying me up and counteracting my dodgy knee's interaction with those multiple front steps. (Who'd be a postie? No wonder they excrete all those coloured rubber bands.) Only about 45 roads, an estate and New River Village to go.
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And now we should let the post continue back where we left it...
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I find traveling on a bus route much "safer" than on most other roads. When the bus stops, you can invariably get around it and find yourself in your own empty bit of road.
TfL "own" the road. Either they put a bus on it or they allow us to make it 20mph.
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