London cycle paths

http://www.citiesofthefuture.eu/lond...superhighways/

Two new segregated bike paths will crisscross the city and open up
speedy, safe cycling that will ease pollution and traffic for
everyone, non-cyclists, too, Boris Johnson says.

London is a big huffing puffing city, so Mayor Boris Johnson’s success
in pushing ahead with his plan to build cycle superhighways right
through the heart of it seems nothing short of a small miracle.

They won’t be finished before May of next year, but the concept, as
Boris Johnson said in March at the inauguration of the building, goes
far beyond simply smoothing the ride for cyclists: “Getting more
people on their bikes will reduce pressure on the road, bus and rail
networks, cut pollution and improve life for everyone, whether or not
they cycle themselves.”

The “Crossrail for the Bike” will be 21 miles long and almost
completely separated from motor traffic: 18 miles travelling east-west
(from Barking to Acton) and 3 miles running north-south (from King’s
Cross to Elephant and Castle). When completed in 2016, it will be
Europe’s longest segregated bike path.
London Pushes Through Stiff Resistance to Cycle Superhighways
Artist’s impression of London’s new Cycle Superhighway – Transport for
London

Transport for London’s superhighways are not without their detractors,
however. The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) had threatened
legal action, but ultimately backed away when it became apparent that
a judicial review of TfL’s plans would simply delay rather than stop
the new routes. Property firm Canary Wharf Group had also been vocal,
producing an anonymous briefing (which it later acknowledged) that
called the planned route “extremely damaging for London.”

Their complaints hinged on concerns over gridlock, increased
congestion, restricting delivery vehicle access and adversely
affecting business in general.

Also, some of London boroughs have been fierce opponents only caving
under huge pressure and, in one case, threats to seize control of its
roads, says London’s cycling commissioner, Andrew Gilligan, who
characterized the city as “still in the foothills” of being cycle
friendly.

Although Johnson has been a huge booster of cycling in London, putting
£900 million ($1.4 billion) toward the project, the original idea has
been a long time in the making. His predecessor Ken Livingstone, who
became mayor in 2000, was vocal and active in pushing the cycling
agenda and in 2008 announced £400 million ($624 million) in
initiatives. Even before that, there was a long and steady campaign to
raise the profile and the possibilities for cycling in the city.

On 11/27/2015 6:39 AM, somebody wrote:
http://www.citiesofthefuture.eu/lond...superhighways/

Two new segregated bike paths will crisscross the city and open up
speedy, safe cycling that will ease pollution and traffic for
everyone, non-cyclists, too, Boris Johnson says.

London is a big huffing puffing city, so Mayor Boris Johnson’s success
in pushing ahead with his plan to build cycle superhighways right
through the heart of it seems nothing short of a small miracle.

They won’t be finished before May of next year, but the concept, as
Boris Johnson said in March at the inauguration of the building, goes
far beyond simply smoothing the ride for cyclists: “Getting more
people on their bikes will reduce pressure on the road, bus and rail
networks, cut pollution and improve life for everyone, whether or not
they cycle themselves.”

The “Crossrail for the Bike” will be 21 miles long and almost
completely separated from motor traffic: 18 miles travelling east-west
(from Barking to Acton) and 3 miles running north-south (from King’s
Cross to Elephant and Castle). When completed in 2016, it will be
Europe’s longest segregated bike path.
London Pushes Through Stiff Resistance to Cycle Superhighways
Artist’s impression of London’s new Cycle Superhighway – Transport for
London

Transport for London’s superhighways are not without their detractors,
however. The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) had threatened
legal action, but ultimately backed away when it became apparent that
a judicial review of TfL’s plans would simply delay rather than stop
the new routes. Property firm Canary Wharf Group had also been vocal,
producing an anonymous briefing (which it later acknowledged) that
called the planned route “extremely damaging for London.”

Their complaints hinged on concerns over gridlock, increased
congestion, restricting delivery vehicle access and adversely
affecting business in general.

Also, some of London boroughs have been fierce opponents only caving
under huge pressure and, in one case, threats to seize control of its
roads, says London’s cycling commissioner, Andrew Gilligan, who
characterized the city as “still in the foothills” of being cycle
friendly.

Although Johnson has been a huge booster of cycling in London, putting
£900 million ($1.4 billion) toward the project, the original idea has
been a long time in the making. His predecessor Ken Livingstone, who
became mayor in 2000, was vocal and active in pushing the cycling
agenda and in 2008 announced £400 million ($624 million) in
initiatives. Even before that, there was a long and steady campaign to
raise the profile and the possibilities for cycling in the city.

I always love the watercolor sketches that go with these plans.

"Look! There will hardly be any cars on the road - only six cars per
block! There will actually be more bicyclists than motorists, see? All
the parking spaces will be empty!"

It reminds me of the typical TV ad for cars. No matter what model they
advertise, the message is: "Buy this car and all other cars will
disappear from the road. You can drive as fast as you like, just like
in our little video!"

--
- Frank Krygowski

On 11/27/2015 9:27 AM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 11/27/2015 6:39 AM, somebody wrote:
http://www.citiesofthefuture.eu/lond...superhighways/

Two new segregated bike paths will crisscross the city and
open up
speedy, safe cycling that will ease pollution and traffic for
everyone, non-cyclists, too, Boris Johnson says.

London is a big huffing puffing city, so Mayor Boris
Johnson’s success
in pushing ahead with his plan to build cycle
superhighways right
through the heart of it seems nothing short of a small
miracle.

They won’t be finished before May of next year, but the
concept, as
Boris Johnson said in March at the inauguration of the
building, goes
far beyond simply smoothing the ride for cyclists:
“Getting more
people on their bikes will reduce pressure on the road,
bus and rail
networks, cut pollution and improve life for everyone,
whether or not
they cycle themselves.”

The “Crossrail for the Bike” will be 21 miles long and almost
completely separated from motor traffic: 18 miles
travelling east-west
(from Barking to Acton) and 3 miles running north-south
(from King’s
Cross to Elephant and Castle). When completed in 2016, it
will be
Europe’s longest segregated bike path.
London Pushes Through Stiff Resistance to Cycle Superhighways
Artist’s impression of London’s new Cycle Superhighway –
Transport for
London

Transport for London’s superhighways are not without their
detractors,
however. The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) had
threatened
legal action, but ultimately backed away when it became
apparent that
a judicial review of TfL’s plans would simply delay rather
than stop
the new routes. Property firm Canary Wharf Group had also
been vocal,
producing an anonymous briefing (which it later
acknowledged) that
called the planned route “extremely damaging for London.”

Their complaints hinged on concerns over gridlock, increased
congestion, restricting delivery vehicle access and adversely
affecting business in general.

Also, some of London boroughs have been fierce opponents
only caving
under huge pressure and, in one case, threats to seize
control of its
roads, says London’s cycling commissioner, Andrew
Gilligan, who
characterized the city as “still in the foothills” of
being cycle
friendly.

Although Johnson has been a huge booster of cycling in
London, putting
£900 million ($1.4 billion) toward the project, the
original idea has
been a long time in the making. His predecessor Ken
Livingstone, who
became mayor in 2000, was vocal and active in pushing the
cycling
agenda and in 2008 announced £400 million ($624 million) in
initiatives. Even before that, there was a long and steady
campaign to
raise the profile and the possibilities for cycling in the
city.

I always love the watercolor sketches that go with these plans.

"Look! There will hardly be any cars on the road - only six
cars per block! There will actually be more bicyclists than
motorists, see? All the parking spaces will be empty!"

It reminds me of the typical TV ad for cars. No matter what
model they advertise, the message is: "Buy this car and all
other cars will disappear from the road. You can drive as
fast as you like, just like in our little video!"


I rode last evening in a light drizzle, no wind, and had a
very nice ride virtually alone on the roads; not one other
bicycle, no buses, vanishingly few cars, one parked police
cruiser. Virtually my own private pavement.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On 11/27/2015 3:39 AM, somebody wrote:
http://www.citiesofthefuture.eu/lond...superhighways/

Two new segregated bike paths will crisscross the city and open up
speedy, safe cycling that will ease pollution and traffic for
everyone, non-cyclists, too, Boris Johnson says.

London is a big huffing puffing city, so Mayor Boris Johnson’s success
in pushing ahead with his plan to build cycle superhighways right
through the heart of it seems nothing short of a small miracle.

New York City has an excellent greenway in Manhattan that greatly
facilitates bicycle commuting. Hopefully London can get this done.

On Friday, November 27, 2015 at 6:40:03 AM UTC-5, somebody wrote:
http://www.citiesofthefuture.eu/lond...superhighways/
snip
The "Crossrail for the Bike" will be 21 miles long and almost
completely separated from motor traffic: 18 miles travelling east-west
(from Barking to Acton) and 3 miles running north-south (from King's
Cross to Elephant and Castle). When completed in 2016, it will be
Europe's longest segregated bike path.
snip
I'd love to try this route.

I would also like to know where the longer segregated routes to which the article alludes are. (We have multi-use paths that are longer, but they are not exclusive use and one is always manoeuvring around pestedrians.)
--
Andrew Chaplin
SIT MIHI GLADIUS SICUT SANCTO MARTINO

On Fri, 27 Nov 2015 12:12:56 -0800 (PST), wrote:

On Friday, November 27, 2015 at 6:40:03 AM UTC-5, somebody wrote:
http://www.citiesofthefuture.eu/lond...superhighways/
snip
The "Crossrail for the Bike" will be 21 miles long and almost
completely separated from motor traffic: 18 miles travelling east-west
(from Barking to Acton) and 3 miles running north-south (from King's
Cross to Elephant and Castle). When completed in 2016, it will be
Europe's longest segregated bike path.
snip
I'd love to try this route.

I would also like to know where the longer segregated routes to which the article alludes
are. (We have multi-use paths that are longer, but they are not
exclusive use and one is always manoeuvring around pestedrians.)

That sounds like the "multi-use" roads in the U.S. which are not
exclusive use and the automobiles are always maneuvering around the
bicycles" :-)

--

Cheers,

John B.

On 27/11/15 12:39, somebody wrote:
http://www.citiesofthefuture.eu/lond...superhighways/

Two new segregated bike paths will crisscross the city and open up
speedy, safe cycling that will ease pollution and traffic for
everyone, non-cyclists, too, Boris Johnson says.

Is it just me that thinks from the artists impression, that cycleway is
a *ridiculous* width.

Op 28-11-2015 om 10:47 schreef Tosspot:
On 27/11/15 12:39, somebody wrote:
http://www.citiesofthefuture.eu/lond...superhighways/

Two new segregated bike paths will crisscross the city and open up
speedy, safe cycling that will ease pollution and traffic for
everyone, non-cyclists, too, Boris Johnson says.

Is it just me that thinks from the artists impression, that cycleway is
a *ridiculous* width.

It is a two way bike path. Considering people ride both ways two abreast
and you want some room to pass it is not ridiculous wide.
We have a lot of two way bike paths here in The Netherlands that are
narrower. They are not my favorite places to ride when it is busy...

Lou

On Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 5:12:40 AM UTC-5, Lou Holtman wrote:
Op 28-11-2015 om 10:47 schreef Tosspot:
Is it just me that thinks from the artists impression, that cycleway is
a *ridiculous* width.

It is a two way bike path. Considering people ride both ways two abreast
and you want some room to pass it is not ridiculous wide.
We have a lot of two way bike paths here in The Netherlands that are
narrower. They are not my favorite places to ride when it is busy...

Lou

I don't know if they ever changed it but in the 1980s in Toronto, Canada the Martin Goodman Trail in many areas ran right beside Queen's Quay and further west ran beside Lakeshore Boulevard. Both those roads were very busy roads. The planners of the narrow Martin Goodman Trail put the westbound lane of it RIGHT NEXT to the eastbound Queen's Quay or Lakeshore Blvd. lane. The bike lane and the traffic lane were sparated by ONLY a painted line. Thus if a westbound bicyclist veered right to miss anything, they 'd be outside of the bike lane and heading west in the eatbound traffic lane. I know of at least a few instances when that happened and the bicyclist was struck by a car. It could also happen if an eatbound b icyclist bumped a westbound bicyclist and caused that westbound bicyclist to veer into traffic.

Cheers

Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 5:12:40 AM UTC-5, Lou Holtman wrote:
Op 28-11-2015 om 10:47 schreef Tosspot:
Is it just me that thinks from the artists impression, that cycleway is
a *ridiculous* width.

It is a two way bike path. Considering people ride both ways two abreast
and you want some room to pass it is not ridiculous wide.
We have a lot of two way bike paths here in The Netherlands that are
narrower. They are not my favorite places to ride when it is busy...

Lou

I don't know if they ever changed it but in the 1980s in Toronto, Canada
the Martin Goodman Trail in many areas ran right beside Queen's Quay and
further west ran beside Lakeshore Boulevard. Both those roads were very
busy roads. The planners of the narrow Martin Goodman Trail put the
westbound lane of it RIGHT NEXT to the eastbound Queen's Quay or
Lakeshore Blvd. lane. The bike lane and the traffic lane were sparated by
ONLY a painted line. Thus if a westbound bicyclist veered right to miss
anything, they 'd be outside of the bike lane and heading west in the
eatbound traffic lane. I know of at least a few instances when that
happened and the bicyclist was struck by a car. It could also happen if
an eatbound b icyclist bumped a westbound bicyclist and caused that
westbound bicyclist to veer into traffic.

Cheers


We have a few lanes like that in Quebec. They're also fun when they end
with the rider dumped into a lane of oncoming traffic. I don't use them
when I would be going against traffic.

--
duane