| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Proposals for new cycleway in Brentford | |
| Posted by: | Raymond Havelock | |
| Date/Time: | 09/01/22 10:29:00 |
| I use the A4 all the time in preference to the proposed route. It is not perfect but is far safer, easier and journey times about the same. I am not a fast or long distance cyclist although in my early working years in my first job at Hatton Cross, cycled there in summer months. I cycled to college and night school for 3 years and it was easy and safe. You are of course only as safe as you can possibly be for yourself, that is to ride with due care and in a proficient manner and be able to control your machine properly.. in exactly the same way as any other responsible and diligent operator of a vehicle is supposed to be. The only difference is they are tested and examined and insured. So the onus is on the individual to be confident that they are safe and proficient enough to ride at night, in crappy weather and have spacial awareness at all times. There are flaws on the A4 routes which have been caused by bad road planning impeding on the existing cycle track that have made it less safe for cyclists in places and lack of thought or concern. It is a shame that many schools very close by did not push a deaf council on the impeding of the route as long back as the 1970s. But there are many improvements that can rectify this and way enhance and won't cost anything like the cost on trying to cam in a route which is an artery road and at a cost to public transport and commerce and increased pollution in an over developed area from delayed and artificially created congestion. Which has been the general outcome of TfLs designs and works to date. The GW road route is easy to access all the parts of the Borough north and south and to various points of Central hounslow with ease. As for the cafes and restaurants, there are hotels, restaurants, cafes, take aways on both sides of the road and many within 100m off many junctions. As I mentioned it's not perfect. But with little but deft improvements it could be by far the best cycle route in London. Some vegetative shielding was promised 5 years before the Olympics but has never materialised. Dutch style Cycle/ Pedestrian LED lighting pioneered in Holland some 15 years ago never even trialled. Clear signalling at Junctions, Anti slip surface and simple local signage. It's only in a few places. Removal of badly placed signs splat in the middle of the cycle road way and painted black or dark grey, what idiot approved that? It's all basics but properly enhanced serves many large residential districts and can run all the way from Hammersmith to Heathrow and Staines and to West Drayton. Not that I will ever manage that distance! Fact is it is 98% in place, not updated or enhanced in 60+ years and won't impede on traffic that keeps people in livelihoods. If money can be blown on a Zebra crossing to " Make a statement" then surely money can be blown on a few markings to make a junction safe for all? |