Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Cyclists and Wightman Road
Hi all,
Is it just me or has Wightman Road now become an absolute death trap for us cyclists with the jutty out bits that enrage car drivers who swerve into us to avoid oncoming cars...?
Thinking a cycle track on part of pavement could be an answer... We don't take up as much space as a car parking half way across the pavement as it used to be...
Nemone
Tags for Forum Posts: cycling, cycling safety, harringay traffic study, traffic, wightman road improvements
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Nemone Mercer on
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Hi Catherine,
Thanks for your info. I will sign up too.
Personally I think the best solution for Wightman Road and cyclists now is to mark a small cycle area along the pavement. For years and years the cars were previously parked on there obstructing pedestrians and buggy users. A narrow cycle lane could use up less of the pavement than the parked cars did and not be an ongoing obstruction to pedestrians.
Is there a way we could work with Living Streets to draw up a petition and start the process of lobbying our councillors for one? Even crowd fund to raise money to implement it?
Cheers,
Nemone
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Permalink Reply by AndrewAW1 on
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I don't think that's a good idea at all.
As a cyclist I don't want to be on the pavement, going slowly, avoiding pedestrians and having to stop at every side road.
As a pedestrian I don't want to be watching out for bikes on what is a narrow pavement.
The solution should involve taking space from cars, not pedestrians.
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I agree, cyclists should be on the road. The pavement isn't wide enough for a bike and a pram to pass safely.
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but there is now no room for cyclists on Wightman Road unless we cycle as if we are cars and go in the middle of the lane...?
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Agree with that too. Something more drastic would need to be done to make it work for cyclists and pedestrians.
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Permalink Reply by Laura on
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The safest way to get along Wightman Road - as a cyclist - is to stay in primary position the whole time. This is called "vehicular cycling" and yes, you cycle as if you are a motor vehicle. You claim your space. It takes *****, but it's the only way to move along this road. Look back A LOT and show the vehicle behind you are aware they are there. It's not for all people on cycles. Thank you LB Haringey!!!
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Permalink Reply by Alice Mezzo on
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Catherine, thank you for all you do! I completely agree with this and like most normal people have no idea how to do this, so always appreciate your advice and guidance!
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And by the way, change will only happen if people stand up to those interested in staying the past, or rather maintaining the status quo. If NO-ONE on the Council has any bollocks then we are doomed to have the same thing year after year after year after year. Meanwhile around us and nearby - Waltham Forest - councillors had the bollocks to stand up to people too stupid or backward-looking to get with the programme. See the coffin carried by protestors https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/13720251.grand-opening-of-mi...
Those using Wightman Road and Green Lanes (both possible sites for a protected cycleway) gather evidence.
Change will not come without huge conflict. Motorised traffic has been prioritised for generations and generations and people are used the inequality. The social injustice is normalised but it's not fair or right. Go and look at Green Lanes and Wightman Road and allow your anger to surface.
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Ha, the response of shop owners in Waltham Forest was cited by Haringey Council as a reason why they're increasing parking on Turnpike Lane.
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Insane. The shop owners were wrong about customer's transport modes, and that fact is available from the same survey!
Shop owners think 60% of their customers use a car, shoppers say it's 20%. Who's right?
Haringey is a parallel universe where facts die.
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I feel a separated cycle lane on Green Lanes would cause us to blend in to the pedestrians from the point of view of vehicles turning in and out of the numerous side streets on GL. Being in a bus lane makes you far more visible to vehicles approaching from behind, ahead and from the side streets.
In my opinion permanent bus lanes without parking on both sides would be faster, cheaper, benefit more people (public transport users) along with being safer. When riding down GL in the morning using the bus lane I've very rarely felt unsafe - except where there are parked cars. When the bus lane is closed, or when it's not respected (such as 6pm every evening) that's when it's mayhem.
I'm not saying separated cycle lanes are never a good option, just in this particular case I don't think it's best.
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