I wish Simon would just stick to making valid and pertinent points rather than call names. To disagree is one thing, but at least Cllr Lambert engages. Where are all the others who are permanently silent and evasive but vote and are supposed to be public figures?I'm a bus user, car driver, motor cyclist, once had an HGV licence and have always and still ride a push bike.One thing is clear. No improvements to cycling will be positive unless there is absolutely no degradation or compromise in the ease and safety of pedestrians and Public transport services and users.A Bicycle is a machine and it can inflict damage and is only ever as good as it's rider.Just like a Motor cycle, a car, a Van , A bus , A light truck or A full size HGV.There is just one difference. Only one wheeled mode does not require any form of testing to see that both machine and rider are fit and proficient for road use.Even E-Scooters require a provisional driving licence ( Just how do so many kids ride unchecked on E-Scooters and E-Bikes? )The standard of Cycling is absolutely dreadful. Worse now than it's ever been.No spacial awareness, no proper control of the machine, Machines that are not road legal, riders who cannot ride one handed so never signal, never look and worst of all total arrogance and lack of etiquette of respect.You do get motor vehicle drivers who are the same. But they are few and can easily be reported.Cyclists and scooterists are not even responsible for their own actions.And it's pedestrians who are the main victims.There are just way too many riding badly. If it were fare evading it would be a crisis and clamped down with vigour.But fare evading is not putting people in danger. Diligence evading is.With Cyclists I now find myself in a tiny minority who ride with the same diligence as if driving an HGV. I find it almost shameful to ride a bike now.What is the point of spending £millions if the very basics are not in place?And yet motor vehicle users are forced into zero tolerance for the most trivial of road regulation breaches. One rear light out gets a potential fine. even when there are 3 or 4 others still working.No lights, wearing black and wearing ear buds? Running red lights, riding on the wrong side of the road or on the pavements ? Not even stopped and talked to.And there is one other. That of Kerb drill and pedestrian diligence.But you have to bear in mind that in the category of pedestrians are those great many unseen and unheard people who have ailments or reasons that prevent them riding a bike, or driving a vehicle.According to the Mayor of London, who was being grilled about the amount of ULEZ affected on low incomes, he claimed a huge figure of people on the outer London Boroughs who do not own a car and have no choice but to use Buses ( of which services have been quietly cut back .( As usual percentages with no actual number of people).If that's the case, then why are they also being forced into dangerous and third rate situations exampled by Chiswick High Road where the bus island is lethal and at best daunting.?Clearly, this and other features ( including from a Cycling perspective ) are badly flawed and yet it's seen better to waste a chunk of taxpayers money on a half baked ideal rather than actually get it right.It's the stampede for funding rather than pure common sense and yet again, deeply flawed consultation, ignoring when it does not suit, and too much from activists who do not speak for all cyclists, far from it.Sorting out the potholes, bad pavements, poor signage and making quiet roads better lit and easier to Cycle avoiding the commercial traffic that keeps us all, one way or another in employment would be a better use of funds at a time when so many are really getting stuffed over and so many businesses are looking to leave the Greater London area.
Raymond Havelock ● 405d