News for Lycra Lovers

If you have not visited London for a while you will notice at least one change next time you come. Dedicated cycle lanes are being constructed to encourage people to cycle and to make them safer. They are painted blue. I wonder why, and if they may be re-painted in red by the new Mayor of London?

The map shows the intended routes not all of which are open yet. Generally speaking the east and south of London are further ahead than the west and north. The routes have been numbered radially like the numbers on a clock which is a nice touch. But before you reach for your bicycle clips and pump up the tyres this well intended scheme has some drawbacks.

First it has been more complex to build than was thought when the concept was given the go-ahead. Road junctions, roundabouts and bus stops are the main bugbears. Kensington and Chelsea opposed the plan and have only recently been talked round. Surprisingly they objected to the blue paint. They also didn’t like the “floating” bus stops. When you have a designated cycle lane, bus stops have to be put on islands between the cycle route and the road. This means passengers have to somehow get across the cycle way and then be careful not to stand in it. These islands either have to have gaps or be positioned where no vehicle access is needed, say to a car park or garage.

Route CS9 runs along Hammersmith Road, not far from me. Here is what it’s supposed to look like.

Here is what it actually looks like. (Always fun to share a cycle lane with buses.) The building in the background is the Olympia exhibition centre.

Well, now it’s all on its way to completion, it’s ding-a-ling and chocks away? Not quite. I have anecdotal evidence from two friends; one a driver the other a cyclist. The driver has noticed that the roads with cycle lanes are noticeably more congested, since they are so much narrower on the part for vehicles. The cyclist used one of the blue routes to go from the City to Battersea. It was early evening and he was going in the same direction as most other cyclists. However, they were going much faster and could not overtake if there was anyone coming the other way. He reckons the real pedal-heads will get so frustrated that they will use the roads again. He also thinks there will be more cycle-on-cycle accidents.

I used to cycle in London but gave up after two accidents. I reckoned the risk reward ratio was too unfavourable. I was considering dusting down my Brompton but now I’m not so sure.