| Topic: | Re:FOLLY OF CS9 ON CHISWICK HIGH ROAD. Ruth Mayorcas | |
| Posted by: | Ian Taplin | |
| Date/Time: | 20/03/19 14:19:00 |
| Dear Richard I seem to be joining this conversation late having just seen the tread discussing the plans for the new cycle highway through Chiswick. My daily cycle commute is just over 30 miles per day, the final part comes through Chiswick to Hammersmith. I've been doing this journey for 23 years so have got to know the route pretty well! I can see the arguments from both sides so my contribution may not be of great help, all I would say is that in the last 3 months I've switched to using the path beside the A4 rather than Chiswick High Road as it seems safer and the journey is quicker because of fewer stops. I appreciate the concern about air quality beside the A4 but I think it is also pretty terrible along Chiswick High Road having spent years following slow moving buses, taxis and trucks. I wear a pollution mask, though am not conscious of the route beside the A4 as being any worse. I would imagine it would cost less and would result in less inconvenience to Chiswick businesses if this route was upgraded for cycling, rather than a building a dedicated cycle lane beside the Chiswick High road. Again, not wishing to been seen as someone against encouraging more cyclists on the roads, I would point out that some pedestrians struggle with grasping the rules for cycle lanes. Just last night I had to swerve round a lady who was looking at her phone when she stepped into my path on the new cycle route through Boston Manor. Further along my commute I use a lane beside the Uxbridge Road and often have to brake sharply or swerve into the road to avoid passengers stepping off buses and wandering into the cycle lane. I understand they are not expecting to be stepping into flowing traffic as they get off a bus but it's happened to me so many times! I tend to use the roads where I can as there are are so many pitfalls on the cycle lanes, especially the ones that combine with pedestrians. I would emphasise I'm 101% behind encouraging more people to get around on bikes and realise many people are nervous about riding on the roads, however for this particular discussion the wide path beside the A4 seems a good alternative to the upheaval a cycle route through the centre of Chiswick may cause. All the best. Ian |