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| Cycle Super Highway |
If you want your voice to be heard, show up at the Town Hall on Monday 29th January 1t 7pm, when there is to be an "interim report" to the Council’s (snappily named) "Community Safety, Environment and Residents Service Policy and Accountability Committee".
Sounds dull? It might be, but it might also be a rare opportunity to have your say on the proposed new cycle route. You can see full details here:
What's this all about?
It's all about LBHF's new proposals for a "Cycle Superhighyway" that will run through Hammersmith and Chiswick and make it easier to cycle in to the centre of London from the Western Suburbs.
Why is the Hammersmith Society against it?
The Hammersmith Society supports the principle of safer cycling, but has concluded that this scheme is "potentially very damaging for the Hammersmith in particular, but also for Chiswick High Road".
Their main objection is to the speed of the cycle route: "Cycle Superhighways encourage high speed long distance commuter cycling", and that this would be "of no benefit to a town centre such as King Street". They also argue that "high speed cycling can be very intimidating to pedestrians and slower cyclists".
In addition, they argue that King Street is "already very narrow", and that the scheme "will involve further restrictions on footway widths for pedestrians and road widths (single lane) for buses and traffic generally. There will be no allowance for passing, stopping off, breakdowns and emergencies, deliveries and servicing to shops and banks or parking in King Street. This will almost certainly lead to regular traffic snarl ups in King Street and delay bus times."
Councillor Harry Phibbs has also come out against the scheme, arguing that LBHF are only supporting it because of the extra funds it brings from TFL. You can see his blog post here.
Isn't cycling a good thing?
Overall, more cycling in our city should surely be a good thing. Cycling means fewer cars on the road, and reduces congestion. But cycling in London's busy streets is dangerous, and proper cycle lanes surely help to keep cyclists safe. However, as ever, the devil is in the detail. Study the plans for yourself and draw your own conclusions.
Who can come to the meeting on January 29th?
The Committee is open to all, and the Hammersmith Society is "strongly recommending" that residents attend if they can.
The Shepherd's Bush Blog offers a personal view on life in Shepherd's Bush. If you would like to contribute a story about our neighbourhood, email us at shepherdsbushblog(at)gmail.com.
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