Forum Topic

Cycling (Highway) Blues

It is a great pity that our Borough's processes led to the the Cycle Super Highway being cut cut back from its planned and publicised end at South Wimbledon Tube station. Because of this, Merton can only benefit from an amputated Cycle Super Highway, cut short at Colliers' Wood, and abandoning the circulation problems below the knee. This blunt surgery was done without even consulting anyone who rides a bicycle daily on Merton roads to live, to work, to learn . Why is it not essential that there is meaningful consultation with people who know what they are doing? It would save Merton and London local taxpayers a mint.Merton and GLA members and officers need to change their perceived mindset if they want to do anything more positive to grow cycling to match lovely soft warm words with a touch of reality. That would cut back on personal motoring costs, make living in Merton more enjoyable and reduce the bill for street maintenance.

Charles Barraball ● 4914d5 Comments

Totally accept that cycling is lovely in the Spring!(I'd  luckily bought ice-springs to clip under my shoes and ran through the snow on Wednesday to Motspur Park Station in three minutes! It used to take me two, once. They are lethal on wet shop floors,though!)But it was glorious today to make the most of having dug through snowdrifts and packed ice on the pavement outside my and my immediate neighbours', and the main roads (and CSH7) were clear. Merton LB have salted and the sun has dispersed most of the snow/ice on the roads and some of the cycle paths from KT3 and SW19 to CSH7. But do beware of substantial snowy/icy patches, especially outside Raynes Park Station, North side. There are still obvious areas there that should have had attention.Merton LB could do a better job of gritting pavements if we insisted the roads and gritters weren't obstructed by parked cars. Then our property values could rise by 15%, and our incomes effectively rise as the streets become safer places to walk and ride and grow and breathe in.Meanwhile surely it is not beyond our wit to speak to our neighbours, take up shovels and clear the pavements?Rode all the way to Alexandra Palace, training it back from Waterloo to Raynes Park.  I enjoyed the day - I hope you all did, too.Charles

Charles Barraball ● 4913d

I will start using the cycle Super Highway in the Spring if work allows but now is not the time to expect people to join in. My issue is getting to the routes as the last few days it is tough to walk anywhere, let alone cycle

Mark Parker ● 4913d

Take two...Well the first thing "they" could do is develop a "yes, we can" default approach when challenged to think outside the (white-lined?) box.Asked to consider cycle parking hoops with an immediate staff time/revenue/capital saving "they" utter "street-clutter" and set their face against the possibility, and then go off and put white-lines around speed-cushions, budgeting to re-paint,at your and my cost, in perpetuity.So not only are we paying extra for speed=humps that are ineffective, we are paying for white-lining, forever, for the daft intention to make it easier to drive faster! And that will kill people. Merton know it needs to make cycling and walking the default modes of transport for all who can. The activity will make us happier and more social and live longer.But no, we the electorate and they the elected/paid persist in our tunnel vision.Which could bring me to tears (sic/sick) and Lower Downs Road...I could go on...CharlesMerton Cycling Campaign Buddied Commuter RidesLocation: Wimbledon / Merton - and beyond!Street: 287 West Barnes Lane,City State Zip: New Malden, Surrey KT3 6JEPhone: 020 8949 0708 / 0759 0077445Notes:Meet any day or time by prior arrangement with Charles Barraball, Accredited Cycling Instructor,CRB checked, for an escorted (buddied) commute to wherever you wish.A quiet route Wimbledon to Waterloo can be gently done in an hour.All abilities. No charges.Bike Checks, advice and Bikeability training are also availablecharles@barraball.com Merton Cycling Campaign

Charles Barraball ● 4914d

I have just penned a reply - and it has fallen off the web/screen.All my verbal gems will be generated once more, if this works...CharlesMerton Cycling Campaign Buddied Commuter RidesTuesday December 7, 20108:00 am - 9:00 am(This event repeats every week.)Location: Wimbledon / Merton - and beyond!Street: 287 West Barnes Lane,City State Zip: New Malden, Surrey KT3 6JEPhone: 020 8949 0708 / 0759 0077445Notes:Meet any day or time by prior arrangement with Charles Barraball, Accredited Cycling Instructor,CRB checked, for an escorted (buddied) commute to wherever you wish.A quiet route Wimbledon to Waterloo can be gently done in an hour.All abilities. No charges.Bike Checks, advice and Bikeability training are also availablecharles@barraball.com Merton Cycling Campaign

Charles Barraball ● 4914d

I agree with you, Charles, that to get people cycling, the council has to tackle the difficult problems. Like joining up South Wimbledon with the cycle highway. Like cycling through Wimbledon town centre - provision of new cycle racks in the town centre development is great and sustainable transport plans for staff at the proposed new Waitrose is welcome. But if there is no safe way to get to the super-highway or cycle through the town centre, then people without nerves of steel are just not going to do it.

Joyce Pountain ● 4914d