Perhaps they are in a report from ‘Dr’ Rachel Aldred? The fact is figures are manipulated, exaggerated or simply made up to suit a narrative. Percentages are the default stat of the cycling zealots, as 80 percent ofnot very many looks better than, say, five more people were seen on bikes this week.What Lambert and his chums always ignore is what constitutes the traffic in and around Brentford. A vast amount travelling through on the A4, and it stays on the A4 if it’s not snarled up with yet more roadworks. Most of it is people going to or from employment, thus keeping the economy of London going (including curry houses no doubt).Locally there has been a massive increase in service vehicles, including delivery vans from the likes of Amazon and supermarkets, as well as Ubers. Even TfL admitted this in its reports over the years. Car ownership has remained relatively static, despite the big increases in population densities in Hounslow, Ealing and elsewhere. More people equals more demand for things to be delivered, and it ain’t all coming by bike.Air quality is affected by many things. The latest TfL Travel in London report showed that NOx levels in outer London were well below the recommended limit, apart from on major arterial routes and, of course, Heathrow. Those limits aren’t going to increase by private car ownership since diesel and petrol vehicles are on the way out.What Lambert always ignores is the impact of development on air quality. Dust from demolition, emissions from plant and HGVs. He’s in cloud cuckoo land or just another big fat liar.
Simon Hayes ● 459d