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Pay
and Dismay EALING COUNCIL
Transport Department angered Southall cyclists at the beginning
of April 1999 by removing two-hundred metres of cycle lane and installing
in its place, pay and display parking bays. The lane, on the West-bound carriage-way of the Uxbridge Road in the heart of Southall was removed without any consultation with local cycling or environmental groups. It also contradicts council policy. Ealing's Transport Policies and Programme (TPP) for 1999/2000, makes specific reference to the Uxbridge Road. In that document, the Council plans "to create a new balance between road space |
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provision for
bus and cycle as compared to provision for car use, in order to
facilitate the use of sustainable transport as an alternative to
ever-increasing traffic congestion". In plain language this
means making more room on the highway for cyclists and buses at
the expense of cars. It's difficult to see how removing the cycle
lane achieves this. However, the
Transport Services department isn't just ignoring its own policies.
In November last year an independent survey carried out for the
Council reported that the cycle route on this part of the Uxbridge
Road was frequently obstructed by illegal parking. It recommended
as "urgent action" the installation of a coloured surface
on the cycle lane and effective enforcement of waiting restrictions.
Numerous complaints
have reached the Transport Department over this decision. When pressed
on why there was no consultation, the Council replied that local
shopkeepers had been consulted. In May 1999,
Ealing Cycling Campaign staged a protest, to reclaim the cycle
lane. (see photo, and article in the Ealing and Southall Gazette,
June 3 1999 p3) Further protests are planned until it is re-instated.
The parking bays cause a serious obstruction and hazard to cyclists,
and on safety grounds alone should never have been installed. As far as we
know this is the first case in the country of a cycle lane being
removed to make way for cars. New Cycle
Map of Ealing and West London A new cycling
map of Ealing and West London is launched this month. The map, sponsored
by Glaxo Wellcome, was surveyed and compiled by Cycle City Guides
of Bristol with help from members of Ealing Cycling Campaign. Unlike
previous maps of the borough, it shows cycle routes beyond the borders
of Ealing. It forms the western part of what is hoped will become
a nine-map set covering the whole of London. Different standards
of route are indicated in different colours - official cycle routes
in blue, recommended routes in yellow and off-road routes in green.
It also marks on bike shops - useful if your bike breaks down. While Glaxo
Wellcome have paid for the initial print run, there will still be
a charge for the map as the aim is to make it self-supporting. The
money will go into a central fund to pay for future editions. In
this way it can be continually updated as (hopefully) more cycle
routes and improvements are made to our roads. The maps will
be on sale at our Dr. Bike stall on 12 June '99, or by post from
London Cycling Campaign. (see back of London Cyclist magazine, or
Error! Bookmark not defined.). Council
Liason News Ealing council
are making great progress in many areas of cycling. A Safe Access
to Leisure Sites and Amenities (SALSA) scheme has won funding from
Europe to improve access to Gurnell pool from nearby estates. The
team involved visited Odense in Denmark, which has one of the best
cycle networks in Europe, to learn first-hand how it should be done.
Work continues
on developing plans for the cycle route to Elthorne Park school
near Boston Manor, though at the time of writing funding still wasn't
available. The Uxbridge
Road in Ealing was surveyed in November 1998 and numerous improvements
including Advanced stop lines and proper enforcement of parking
infringements were recommended. Unfortunately
it's not all good news. Several recent road 'improvement' schemes
have ignored the needs of cyclists. In the area east of Northfields,
humps have been installed instead of speed cushions, and when we
measured the humps we found that they were steeper than recommended
for cyclists in DETR guidelines. Roads are still being blocked off
without allowing access to cyclists, and the conversion of the cycle
lane in Southall into parking spaces simply beggars belief. New
Co-ordinator Glenn Stewart
followed Alison Judah as our Error! Bookmark not defined. at the
AGM this year. Many thanks to Alison for her hard work for the group.
Glenn works
for the NHS in health promotion, and has always felt that cycling
should be promoted as a practical, efficient and quick means of
transport. He first became interested in cycling issues whilst working
in Kent where he successfully campaigned to quadruple his employers
cycle mileage allowance. Glenn aims for
the group to have input on any project that will affect cyclists
or potential cyclists in the borough of Ealing. He also promises
not to concentrate solely on the Uxbridge Road even though he travels
on it twice a day getting to and from work. BUGS One of the aims
of the LCC is to set up bicycle user groups at all large and small
employers. This has proven to be one of the best ways to improve
cycle facilities at your place of work, and to encourage other prople
to cycle. But first someone has to get the ball rolling. Angela
Style at Ealing Council is happy to give advice on setting up a
BUG, so give her a ring on 0181-832 6294, or send her an e-mail
at Error! Bookmark not defined. Future
Meetings We meet on the
first Thursday of every month at Perceval House, next to the Town
Hall on the Uxbridge Road. (see Error! Bookmark not defined.) Cycle
round to the back entrance where secure cycle parking is available.
Everyone welcome, but because you have to be let in by security,
please ring Glenn on 0181- 992 9107 (Error! Bookmark not defined.)
to let him know you're coming. Bike
Week Events Saturday 12
June Dr. Bike. Bigger
than ever this year. The new cycling maps of Ealing and the surrounding
area will be on sale. Bring your bike for a free check-over and
have the frame security stamped with your postcode. On the grass
outside the Photographer and Firkin Pub, High Street W5. 10am to
5 pm Sunday 13 June
Ride to Richmond Park Bring a picnic
lunch and join hundreds of other cyclists on this Sunday Critical
mass ride around Richmond Park. We leave Ealing Town Hall at 12.30
cycle down the back routes to Kew, then along the river to Richmond
where we meet up with other feeder rides coming from all over London.
[If you want to make your own way there, the ride around the park
leaves Richmond Gate (opposite the Star and Garter Home) at 2pm.] Wenesday 16
June Cyclists Breakfast Celebrate "Bike
to Work" day with free croissants and orange juice for anyone
on a bicycle. From 8.30 to 11 am, outside Ealing Town Hall. Wednesday 16
June Evening Ride Our annual 8 mile family ride around the greener parts of the Borough. This is always a good ride to meet new friends, and the pace is gentle. Meet at Ealing Town Hall at 6.15 pm. |
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