Centralised discussion space for TfL plans and cycling in London

@Velocio that's fine. move what you deem relevant. I'll check other places this evening and suggest any threads that would be appropriate

I wonder if this Gyratory thread be put here too please? @Velocio

Done

There have been discussions today (on Twitter) about the need for a centralised space to discuss TfL's plans for London's streets , infrastructure, road safety, campaigning, protests, police operations etc. accessible to the general public and perhaps not owned by a specific organisation. To some extent LFGSS is already being used for this as is evident from all these threads:

The Central London Grid

Police spotting (junction watch)

road safety?

London (Barclays) cycle hire

The Times cycling campaign

Blood on the streets

Sort of traffic that's messing your commute

Boris' new cycling advisor

Town planning for cycling aka bad junctions

Die in at TFL HQ

Space for cycling protest ride

Cycle campaigning

Shared road space

What do LCC think about cycle training?

The danger of dangerisation

Will I die while cycling to work?

New TfL HGVs can't see you for sh**t poster

Cycle superhighways east extension

20mph debate

Cycle lanes

...and many many more spread over a few sub forums here

Velocio thinks that once LFGSS moves over to microcosm then such a forum would be more accessible to people and LFGSS could host such a discussion space.

Is there a point in setting up a separate forum for these issues prior to microcosm?

Can we add a thread for north-south Superhighway plans?

The London Cycling Campaign is urging us all to show our support for the new cycle superhighways. Admittedly, they're not perfect (show me a plan that is), but many think they could be a game changer - big step towards transforming London's street into spaces that are safer and more inviting for cycling.

This and the east-west route are TfL's biggest gesture yet that they're serious about improving safety and increasing cycling numbers, so even if you won't ever use them, can I encourage everyone to try and get their workplaces to sign up in
support of the NS/EW proposals, as LCC/Andrew Gilligan have explicitly asked?

TfL actually want to do this and are longing for people to support them.

MOre here: http://lcc.org.uk/articles/stand-up-for-space-for-cycling-tell-tfl-why-you-support-the-new-cycle-superhighways-plans

There is a thread for the north-south and east-west plans Alex:
http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/254443/

Will keep an keen eye on this...interesting stuff. Had a look at the NS and EW plans today, and it's epic stuff, talk about a step in the right direction. Just a shame we won't see anything like it outside London anytime soon. Great that it's happening though.

One of the best things happening in London right now:

http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/consultations/loughborough-junction-public-space-improvements

Sorry, Lambeth, not TfL.

Cross-posting a request from General regarding support for the Waltham Forest Mini-Holland scheme. There's a predictable amount of whinging from drivers about how putting in some cycle lanes and closing a handful of roads will lead to Armageddon, and so there is a counter-petition that might hopefully help to assure people that these tedious NIMBYs are not the be-and-end-all of the debate:

http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/256028/#comment11862146

Yes the Lambeth plan looks great!

Area wide proposals

are definitely the way forward as has been proved in a certain north London borough. More of this needed across London to link the calmed areas

Just had a quick peek at the luffbruh junction proposals. I used to live on Flaxman Road, directly behind the station there and it's always been awful. Grim, run-down, miserable, terrible road surfaces, speeding, confused drivers trying to go in all directions at once at that big junction with Herne Hill Road. Always made me nervous riding through there east or westbound. The proposals for fixing it up look fabulous! They've even added a Quietway to the Cambria pub! Good for Lambeth.

I've been really impressed with the quality of loads of the new proposals for improved public spaces that have been put forward lately. Even if only half of them happen the city will be a much better place overall.

Has anyone mentioned the upgrade to CS2 yet? That looks like some srs bznz. I measured out 2 metres in my office and that seems enormous for a bike track, especially mono-directional.

2 metres isn't that enormous considering the number of people on the daily commute nowdays. 3 meters is much better for multi-stream cycle traffic which allows decent cycle-cycle overtaking room

Road.cc report that Gilligan says around 80% of respondents to the CSH E-W and N-S consultations were in favour: http://road.cc/content/news/135047-boris-johnson-must-get-with%E2%80%9D-building-cycle-superhighways-following%E2%80%9Ctidal-wave

That's a clear mandate to go right ahead, might spend a few weeks after it opens doing laps just to up the numbers...

Once it's done I'll be jumping on the train to come and ride it all! Very exciting, needs to happen in London quick so it can filter out to other areas too.

That's a good point, London has to be the trail blazer for the rest of the country.

Summer 2016 is the reported completion date for about 50% of the tracks planned...

I'll believe it when I see it...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-30268345

This is momentous:

http://road.cc/content/news/169802-motor-traffic-other-buses-be-banned-londons-bank-junction

The City and TFL have been looking at that junction for a while, I guess their model gives enough slack in the surrounding roads...

I get the impression temporary closures are the new flavour of the month as Camden are going ahead with closing half of Tavistock way to motor traffic soon for a 6 month period.

Some good examples of de-engineering going on:

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/white-road-markings-removed-from-london-roads-to-slow-down-drivers-a3171601.html

The same thing has also been done on the A10 The Roundway, as I noticed recently.

Continuous line markings/central hatching give drivers a visual guide along which to accelerate without crashing into oncoming drivers. Removing that reduces speeds.

Tfl rock. Changing built environment is a tough call
meanwhile over in parliament square the usual repeats on benefits of cycling are being rerun by another range of MPs who will do barely nothing
The only thing to do is lead by example other wise you'll be waiting a lifetime for Blighty to actually get people travelling actively

this looks promising, lots of support for new superhighway plans... http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/massive-business-support-allows-tfl-to-push-ahead-with-cycle-plans/019034

also good for a giggle is where the article lists some of the 'opposed' comments

OPPOSED

Paddington Residents' Active Concern on Transport (PRACT)
“Believes the proposal will result in longer journey times and local environmental damage.”

West London Residents' Association
“The majority should not face extra costs due to delays to benefit a minority … To make it more be equitable, cyclists should pay an annual yearly fee.”

Mayfair Residents' Group
“Enforcement should ensure cyclists use the route and do not take short cuts. Cyclists in other areas should also be kept to designated paths.”

London Clubs International
“The impact on commuters greater than benefits for cyclists.”

London City Airport
“Concerned the reduction in road space could increase congestion.”

Association of Professional Tourist Guides
“ …does not take into account its affect on tourist coaches and London’s tourism industry.”

Canary Wharf Group
“Supportive of the principle of an East-West Cycle Superhighway, but expressed major concerns … Chosen route affects a “uniquely important” arterial road, on which Canary Wharf and other key central and east London businesses rely.”

Personal and RTRWorldwide
“ … benefits are far outweighed by the disruption and costs. Cyclists only use roads travelling in and out; the proposal would delay other traffic at all times. Cyclists make no direct contribution to financing the road network … In addition to delays, the proposal would increase pollution and business costs, and damage inward investment and tourism …”

Collins Builders
“Most traffic on the route is commercial; the economy would suffer to benefit ‘summer’ cyclists.”

AVEVA
“ … anything that slows traffic is damaging to business and bad for London’s reputation. Improved safety could be achieved by educating cyclists on road safety.”

Motorcycle Action Group
“Inadequate consideration of the impact of a possible link between cycling and prostate cancer on the proposal’s costs and benefits.”

RAC Foundation
“ … there is insufficient evidence to form a view, but believes many road users face a substantial adverse impact.”

Automobile Association
“Recognised the value of the proposal in encouraging cycling and making it safer but concerned at the reallocation of road space leading to longer journey times for other road users …”

Kent Frozen Foods

“Opposes as it is heavily biased in favour of cyclists.”

Inadequate consideration of the impact of a possible link between cycling and prostate cancer >

Excellent point from our powered 2 wheeler friends who's machines vibrate constantly between their legs. What about infertility too?

That would be the same Kent Frozen Foods whose articulated lorry I saw being driven by a guy on the phone?

What's the best way of lobbying for a small change in road design in London? Who's best to contact?

Cyclists make no direct contribution to financing the road network

Go on, Personal and RTRWorldwide, just say it - you know you want to.