TFL Cycle Superhighways

It's nasty to skid on that blue, though the newly painted loose bits add a bit of excitement.

Always look on the bright side of life whistle

I guess we know why the're blue now...

I ride from Tooting Broadway to Elephant & Castle every day on Barclays Cycling Superhighway 7, so I have had a good chance to evaluate the progress so far, taking all the factors into account.

I must admit I was a bit cycnical, thinking we'd just get fobbed off with inadequate cycle lanes putting us in danger, then abandoning us when anything tricky (like a junction) came along. And I thought it would just be a chance for motorists to ghettoise us, and yell 'Get in the f***ing cycle lane!' if we dared stray out of the gutter.

But no. Boris's vision is much greater than that. You see, these aren't just shitty dangerous cycle lanes, they are blue! See? Blue. Makes all the difference.

I guess we know why the're blue now...

Jesus christ.

oh has it been announced?

Well the good thing is they are resurfacing the roads and found fresh shiny tarmac between Balham and Clapham South.

I got almost wiped off by a HUGE 4x4 this morning who wanted to do a u-turn and used the petrol station to do his turn. He overtook me and bang turned left right in front of me. Luckily my sixth sense had kicked in and I had slowed down. I had to go and see him and asked "didn't you see me?" he said no so I told him to check his mirrors and that blue lane was for cyclists so to take care around it.

So safe superhighways fail.

It's grim to ride on when it's fresh - loose blue shit flies everywhere. Seeing a lot more painting lorries on the Merton-City route now, I think they are about to do the Oval/Kennington Road bit which should be entertaining.. I also saw what looked like some sort of road/path being created on the Walworth/Kennington E& C roundabout this morning - not sure what (if anything) is going on there..

There is something going on at the bottom of Southwark Bridge Road where you cross the lights by the Minisry. They have closed that cycle lane and there are signs about the Super Highway

Is that Barclays thing for real?

Lord have mercy on our souls...

Nobody said they were going to be "safe"
Nobody said they were going to stop drivers doing stupid things.
Nobody said they were going to stop pedestrians walking into the road.
Or did they?

The blue lanes are purely to indicate to cyclists a busy route into town and back out again.

I don't understand TFL's idea of putting all road users on the same routes, if I cycle I tend to use the quiet roads which have no special provision for cyclists but often are not used by motor traffic because of speed humps, barriers and one ways. For most trips an "as the crow flies" route can be made up quite well using these roads and can reduce journey times far more than getting stressed out dicing with every other user on some main road.

Of course, you won't get "spotted" on those roads, nobody will see your "sweet trackstand" at the lights because there often aren't any light controlled junctions, you won't get a chance to look cool in front of all those adoring pedestrians, on your "fixie" with your "messenger bag" because there won't be many pedestrians around.

Try that strange little book called the A to Z of london and chain your inner hipster to the radiator.

Is that Barclays thing for real?

As a sponsor, not why they are blue. The netherlands started the blue superhighways, we copied.

Nobody said they were going to be "safe"
Nobody said they were going to stop drivers doing stupid things.
Nobody said they were going to stop pedestrians walking into the road.
Or did they?

They use 'safe' in the campaigns. From TfL website. The lane I used this morning is no way 1.5m!

Barclays Cycle Superhighways will be safe, fast, direct routes from outer London into central London.The first two routes open on 19th July 2010 with ten more opening by 2015.

Features

• Direct and continuous with easy to follow, clearly marked routes.
  
• New signage, journey information and links to other cycle routes.
  
• Improved road surfaces so you can pedal more comfortably.
  
• Easy to find - Will have a clear and unique identity.
  
• Blue surfaces will also increase driver awareness.
  
• Safe - Will be at least 1.5m wide and provide continuous cycle lanes at junctions, advanced stop boxes, and signals.
  

I think theyre building a barclays cycle hire home down my road

Looks to me like an advertising campaign first and a road safety initiative second.

I feel totally dejected seeing that.

Is that Barclays thing for real?

Oh Jesus Christ on a fucking bike
Nooo

Mr Brother in law works for Barclays, he's a twat.

It's a white blue elephant

Is that Barclays thing for real?

Yep.
Says so on the tab.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/11901.aspx?lid=switcher

wtf?
What next?

Pret a Manger sponsored compulsory helmets?

Cheapest Chop ever:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/images/general/albert-embankment-fullsize2.jpg

Of course, you won't get "spotted" on those roads, nobody will see your "sweet trackstand" at the lights because there often aren't any light controlled junctions, you won't get a chance to look cool in front of all those adoring pedestrians, on your "fixie" with your "messenger bag" because there won't be many pedestrians around.

Try that strange little book called the A to Z of london and chain your inner hipster to the radiator.

What are you going on about?! Ok, we get it, you have a problem with 'hipsters', you're a proper cyclist, fine, good, whatever.

You can't get spotted on the superhigways anyway cos they're fast.

What are you going on about?! Ok, we get it, you have a problem with 'hipsters', you're a proper cyclist, fine, good, whatever.

The irony being Repetitive Moan makes his income from cycling...

sense of humour fail children?

What are you going on about?! Ok, we get it, you have a problem with 'hipsters', you're a proper cyclist, fine, good, whatever.

You're a tit. Use the ignore button if you bite so much.

I love the new cycle superhighway, it actually benefit me so much, I end up taking a different route back home.

Instead of going through E&C to South Wimbledon which is the quickest route, I took the route from South Kensington, Fulham, Putney and then Wimbledon, it's a couple miles longer but infinity time nicer.

1+ on Cycle Superhighway.