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@pastry_bot
Skully: I think it is worth fighting for. The Thames path is a long one which as you say is an established shared use path which also forms part of the national cycle network (or some such) which extends in both directions. Although I shall not employ the slippery slope argument and say that a ban here (effectively what they are trying to shoe-in, illegally) will mean a ban elsewhere along the route, it does not set a good precedent. And why shouldn't there be continuous cycle routes along the thames? It's what tourists come to see - it's iconic - and is a great leisure route into the country past erith. The Thames path as a leisure route should be promoted, not discouraged.
The worst part is the alternatives that Kate Hoey, in particular, has suggested. Instead of taking the Thames path, she suggests people take the Lambeth Palace road / Vauxhall. I may be speculating, but for an inexperienced cyclist/commuter that it is a shit route, and one that probably seems quite intimidating at the very least. It is this aspect which irritates me most - the effective discouragement of inexperienced cyclists. As a complete novice, I wouldn't fancy the Vauxhall interchange every morning, and although that might not be a necessary part of an alternative for everyone using that path, I suspect it is for a high number of people coming from that direction, and it's one of the least bike-friendly intersections in London. As a noob I'd probably say "Fuck it, I'll get the bus" instead, unless I was a confident white male aged 20-44 etc...
And yeah, maybe people should get cycle training, become more confident riding on roads with four lanes of traffic, but for someone who might have just bought a bike in London, I doubt this is the first thing they would plan to do with their bike.
So screw Kate Hoey and her silly south bank business consortium, or whoever the fuck these narrow minded squabs are. Poo.
Edit: Needs pics. The Thames path is lovely in the summer. This is why it's worth fighting for, among other things: