Helen -“...So the buses can all go to the front of the queue the ones from Isleworth and Hounslow then we have anything from 6 to 8 buses pushing out in front of the cars…” - eh, yes, that’s the idea - those buses have lots more people in them than your car and they represent a better use of scarce road space.“... also the buses that are parked at the top of Commerce Rd waiting for a driver to turn up there you go another gridlock.” - no, the new scheme will provide more space for other traffic to pass stationary buses.“What is needed is a better incentive for people to use the buses like taking away free travel for kids who are left to run riot so passengers wont travel from fear of feral brats because they have nothing better to do…” Is it really a major issue, and if so is it any different from youths (and others) roaring around in cars with stereos up loud annoying and endangering everyone else because they have nothing better to do?“…cheaper fares than the Oyster gives at the moment for people that need to go to work early and come home…” not sure what you mean but the Oyster gives a 50% discount on bus fares.“As for the 20 mph roads you are lucky to reach that speed even on motorways.” Sorry, I’ve got to agree with Joe on that one, although it has already been pointed out that there are a few cases where the speed humps are only really necessary (e.g. in cul-de-sacs) to comply with Dft regulations for 20mph zones.Joe – “ Not many people replied to the consultation and those that didn't like the scheme didn't really understand it....... just a bit patronising don't you think? Just what was the point of your consultation if you can so easily dismiss an unfavourable result?”Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound patronising. My point was that the consultation response rate was very low in this case and those that did respond were more or less evenly split for and against. It may well have been different if there had been a very high response rate showing strong opposition. I read every response at least twice - once as they came in to get a flavour of the public feeling and to see whether any changes could be made to the scheme at the earliest possible stage, and again after the consultation closed, when I went through them all with my assistant and we agreed on how each response should be categorised and which ones we should quote as representative of the various viewpoints. In fact I recall that we made at least three changes to the scheme in response to the consultation, including the widened cycle lanes. In the end, it’s my job to manage these projects, including the design of the schemes, the funding and the consultation, and to report objectively to the Area Committee, who make the decisions. As I said previously, they discussed this scheme at some length before approving it.Paul – “I replied to the consultation and I understood it. I also asked why we needed the bus lane to be 24 hours (a concept which has always puzzled me) and you advised me that 'most people don't notice if it's not 24 hours and this causes resentment' (or words to that effect). Another example of pandering to the lowest denominator…”I don’t have my response to you in front of me but I would have said that the vast majority of London motorists are now conditioned to staying out of bus lanes at all times, and that part-time lanes tend to encourage a small minority of motorists to “undertake”, often at quite high speed, which can lead to road rage and also to accidents at junctions when pedestrians or turning traffic do not see the cars in the bus lane. Also, in this case, what is the point of bringing two lanes of traffic up to the point where the road narrows at the embankment – no-one gets through any faster and, apart from the problems mentioned above, we lose the bus priority on those occasions when for some reason (such as roadworks or an accident further downstream) there is a long delay to all road users.“I don't buy the argument that traffic is backed up every day and I drive AND take the 237/267 to work in Chiswick…” Perhaps you have been lucky, but from many observations (personal, colleagues, bus drivers etc), I know that the traffic does quite often back as far as Syon Lane or even Busch corner, in both peaks, and this is only likely to get worse as more and more development takes place in Brentford over the coming years and especially if the Inspector gives the okay for a major residential envelopment at Commerce Road.“This money would have been better spent doing something like tidying up Brentford High Street or fixing the ludicrously dangerous pavements in Chiswick High Road. “ Sorry, but it couldn’t. This scheme was funded from a TfL programme (yes, I know its still ratepayer money…) ring-fenced to bus priority. By designing holistic schemes the Council has, however, managed to gain improvements to pedestrian facilities including footways from this programme – for example extensive footway replacement on Chiswick High Road west of Acton Lane and east of Chiswick Lane. At the moment it looks like we will be able to stretch the budget for the current scheme to substantially improve the footways at Brent Lea.Helen - “Has anybody in "Traffic management" got half a brain, I think not they must all use buses.”Not sure what that says about bus users but I hardly think you’ve scored a point for motorists with that statement.
Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6656d