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Tuesday is the deadline for cyclists to ask for a better deal at King’s Cross – where Transport for London’s plans have been widely condemned as “not good enough”.
King’s Cross is well known as one of the capital’s worst cycling blackspots; it was here that Min Joo Lee was killed by a construction lorry in October 2011. TfL’s proposals are focused on small improvements to the existing on-road cycle lanes, including a solid (mandatory) white line on the outside, and space taken from the pavement.
However, London Cycling Campaign and prominent London cyclists have criticised the plans for their lack of ambition. LCC said:
“It will not be possible to go through the junction in any direction without being exposed to unacceptable levels of danger. Some sections do not even meet the old cycle design standards set out a decade ago.
“Even the lorry driver, Terry Gibbs, exclaimed that the Mayor should take out one of the traffic lanes and put in a proper bike lane. We agree with him; so did the coroner.”
Instead, LCC believes that TfL should build “connected and continuous protected cycle lanes, for safe passage through the junction in every direction”.
Writing at ibikelondon, blogger Mark Ames said that cyclists were getting a raw deal.
“The entire surface of all the carriageways in the redevelopment area will be resurfaced – all on the back of the cycling budget. You might find yourself on a terrible pavement cycle lane, whilst motorists glide smoothly past on beautiful new tarmac paid for with money set aside to supposedly make you safer. You couldn’t make it up.
“We've all been enticed by the images of protected cycle lanes and the mock ups of cycle tracks yet to be built, but when it comes to proposing actual work, this is what we are met with.”
TfL’s plans can be found here. The consultation, which closes on Tuesday 25th, can be completed online.
An awkward gap has been filled in Bath’s celebrated Two Tunnels cycle route with the reinstatement of a former railway bridge.
When the Two Tunnels Greenway opened, running south from Bath under the hills on the Somerset & Dorset Railway’s former route, there was just one fly in the ointment – the less than ideal route to get there. Cyclists were required to make their way across a narrow, one-way road bridge before climbing to the Linear Park through which the route runs.
Now, the former S&D Railway bridge has been resurfaced and opened to cyclists, providing a more direct and safer link to the Greenway. Further improvements this year will include a signalled ‘toucan’ crossing on the main Lower Bristol Road and new signs, completing the link from the riverside path which carries National Cycle Network route 4.
Jamie Edwards, Sustrans’ local manager, said:
“We are delighted to complete this section of the Two Tunnels Greenway. People can now access the route safely from the north side of the railway line and very soon from the Bristol to Bath path as well.”
Thanks to OpenStreetMap’s indefatigable contributors, the new bridge is already shown on cycle.travel’s mapping, and you can plan a journey over it.
A second person has been arrested following the death of charity cyclist Christian Smith near Whitstable.
A 19-year old man from Herne Bay was arrested this morning on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving; an 18-year old woman was arrested at the weekend on the same charge and for driving with excess breath alcohol.
Christian was aiming to ride 248 hours in 24 hours to raise money for Mind, the mental health charity. He had written:
“This is an attempt to cycle the full 24hrs and the full distance, largely unsupported (because nobody is stupid enough to volunteer!). So there are no motorcycle outriders, support vehicles or hot chicks to wipe my brow.
“It is going to be a tough course with over 11000ft of climbing in 248 miles. The route forms a pretty red line around Kent, into Sussex and back up past Tonbridge towards Medway, across to Swale and home. In time for tea and a slice of cake.
“As much as this being a physical effort, it will also be a mental struggle, enduring a long dark night alone, knackered. Not to mention the long training sessions ahead of me to prepare.
“So why am I doing this? In short I want to support the charity MIND, raise awareness towards the great support that they offer, and help bring an end to the stigma that is attached to those who suffer from mental health problems. I have had my own misfortune to suffer from a spate of poor mental health, which was unexpected and has been a real 'game changer' in how I now view the future. It has been a tough road to get to this point but I have been fortunate enough to have the support of my family and friends.
“There are those who are not so fortunate to have the same level of support and understanding. They suffer in silence and are alone. This challenge is for those people.”
Since his death at around 4am on Saturday, donations in his memory have reached almost £50,000. You can donate at his JustGiving page.
PC Jamie Woodhams of Kent Police said: “We are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward. In particular, we would like to speak to anybody who saw the Peugeot travelling along the road prior to the collision.” You can call PC Woodhams on 01622 798538.
In a statement, Christian’s family confirmed: “Christian Smith, of Boughton Aulph in Kent, was killed in the early hours of Saturday morning, while cycling to raise money for the MIND charity. Christian leaves a loving wife and three children.”
If you’ve ever had that sinking feeling while cycling home, Bristol’s new roadside bike pumps could be the thing for you.
Five municipal pumps are now being installed around the city centre, courtesy of local cycling promotion body Better By Bike. Funding for their installation comes from the West of England Local Sustainable Transport Fund, but the pumps will be completely free to use; maintenance will be supported by local businesses.
Bristol Cycling Campaign reports that the first one has been sighted outside the Roll for the Soul cycling cafe. Other locations are Temple Meads station, Clifton Down Shopping Centre, the M-Shed, the Watershed and Ashton Court Café.
Believed to be the first in Britain, the heavy-duty pumps are designed to withstand constant public use, with a robust stainless steel pump handle and an armoured air hose. Designers Cyclehoop say they needn’t be obtrusive, either, pointing out that the pumps “can be neatly incorporated into a row of bollards”!
Liverpool’s ‘Boris bike’-style hire scheme, the biggest outside London, will be known as City Bike when it launches next month.
The name was chosen following a public vote, beating off the shortlisted names ‘Pool Bike’ and ‘Pop Cycle’. Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for transport, Tim Moore, explained:
“If all those who took part in this vote show the same level of enthusiasm for using the bikes, we can look forward to the scheme being a great success! We’re now just weeks from launch and I’m looking forward to us finalising the City Bike branding, as well as the design and colour of our bikes, and unveiling them to the public in the very near future.”
The scheme will launch in April with an initial 100 bikes at 10 city centre stations. By July, there will be 500 bikes at 50 stations; with 1,000 bikes at more than 100 stations, across the city, by March 2015. The scheme will be run by HourBike, who are running or installing systems in Dumfries, Lincoln, Nottingham, Reading, Southport – and Moscow!
People simply need to pay an annual membership fee which allows them to take a bike from any station, ride it where they like, then take it back to any station, ready for the next person to use. No booking is needed and it’s self-service – just turn up and go. Cyclists can register immediately by phoning through their card details. As in London, bikes will be free to members to use for the first half hour.
It is expected that the cycle hire scheme will quickly expand to become a long term facility for employees, residents and visitors. Following the initial investment, the council hopes the scheme will become financially sustainable after three years. Funding comes from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, allocated by the Department for Transport (DfT); Liverpool has received £2.8m from the fund, of which £1.5 million is going to the cycle hire scheme. The rest is being spent on cycling and traffic signal improvements, and sustainable transport initiatives in different parts of the city.
Made in the Cotswolds. Published by Éditions Système D Ltd.
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