Boris cancels cycle superhighway 6

[Tim Lund]

This would have passed through Sydenham and Forest Hill, and provided a safe route to Central London for people cycling to work.



Source here

This is in spite of the growing popularity of cycling for commuting



and



Source here

This shouldn't just be an issue for cyclists, even though our numbers are growing. Cycling is a much more efficient use of road space than private cars, and far less costly, in terms of the road maintenance required. Many non cyclists worry about cyclists going on pavements, and motorists get annoyed by us seeming to weave all over the place, passing them in traffic jams. But the properly segregated cycles routes are how such conflicts can be managed.

I'm not aware of any petitions about this being organised by the London Cycling Campaign, or Lewisham Cyclists, so I'm just doing this bit of awareness raising here, hoping that others will take the opportunity to let their local councillors know that they too oppose this misguided economy.

[stuart]

I'm not aware of any petitions about this being organised by the London Cycling Campaign, or Lewisham Cyclists, so I'm just doing this bit of awareness raising here, hoping that others will take the opportunity to let their local councillors know that they too oppose this misguided economy.

It was discussed at the special Lewisham Cyclists meeting with Andrew Gilligan at the Civic Suite last September. Were you not there?

This, I think (I'm not a member), represents their current campaign position: http://lewishamcyclists.co.uk/lots-of-m ... or-action/.
In other words it was accepted that CS6 would RIP.

Stuart

[Tim Lund]

I was at that meeting, but I was just making the minor point that they are not using petitions to raise awareness of this issue.

Having looked at that link, I can't see a reference to CS6, although it mentions CS5, through Lewisham, causing "much controversy and dissent amongst local campaigners."

There's a good, straightforward bit of reporting on the Londonist site today

Cycle Superhighway Traffic Impact Times Released

including a link to this Cyclists in the City blog from yesterday

Major corporates, investors, London's hospitals and air ambulance are starting to support new Cycle Super Highways. There are clear business benefits and big benefits for all Londoners. But sources tell me Canary Wharf Group is briefing against London's new cycle network. You need to ask your employer to join the many who support this.

and here's the link to the briefing against

When most of corporate London is behind such postive environmental policies, what is to be done about such corporate dinosaurs?

[stuart]

Campaigns are about achieving a result which wouldn't have happened otherwise - aka there must be a chance of success.

CS6 was dead long before that meeting. The Sydenham Road improvement scheme was incompatible with it (specifically the area around the railway bridge). When Lewisham was challenged to go and speak to the CS planners - the report back was the CS planners weren't bothered and even uninterested in alternative routes.

Did Lewisham make a serious attempt at mini-Hollands? Is Lewisham the most car friendly borough in London? I think Andrew's message is they are going to spend their bike budget where locals (as in authority) want it. Lewisham in that respect is getting exactly what it deserves.

As for Sydenham - the Bell Green gyratory is surely the major road problem for us? We have been promised action for years but all that has happened is the white lines have been rubbed away making it an even worse free4all whether you are on two wheels or four.

Actually I don't think we have a cycle-friendly solution to even campaign for - which is perhaps our first step?

Stuart

[Tim Lund]

Campaigns are about achieving a result which wouldn't have happened otherwise - aka there must be a chance of success.

CS6 was dead long before that meeting. The Sydenham Road improvement scheme was incompatible with it (specifically the area around the railway bridge). When Lewisham was challenged to go and speak to the CS planners - the report back was the CS planners weren't bothered and even uninterested in alternative routes.

Did Lewisham make a serious attempt at mini-Hollands? Is Lewisham the most car friendly borough in London? I think Andrew's message is they are going to spend their bike budget where locals (as in authority) want it. Lewisham in that respect is getting exactly what it deserves.

As for Sydenham - the Bell Green gyratory is surely the major road problem for us? We have been promised action for years but all that has happened is the white lines have been rubbed away making it an even worse free4all whether you are on two wheels or four.

Actually I don't think we have a cycle-friendly solution to even campaign for - which is perhaps our first step?

Stuart

Happy to stand corrected on this one - I know you have followed this much more than me over the years.

I got a response from the LB Lewisham Cabinet member responsible for this, via my local councillor, but it was a bit motherhood and apple pie. Since one member of my family, whjo has just started cycling to work, was knocked off by a motorist opening a door in front of her last week, and another actually had a car driver put his wheel on her foot today (he hadn't noticed, and had to be told to reverse) it would a shame if we can't thnk of anything to show local cycists offering something positive.

[hairybuddha]

I'm afraid the Lewisham branch of the LCC are more interested in the roads around the Lewisham/Greenwich borders. Sydenham is completely ignored. And, despite appearances to the contrary, they don't really support what the centre is doing. For example, they gave their blessing to the designs for the road layout at Ladywell and have been utterly toothless in achieving anything at the Lewisham Gateway development.

If you have any campaigning energies you should direct them towards implementing the designs for the N-S and E-W CS in the centre. If we can make a success of those then useless boroughs like Lewisham will be forced to take notice.