Great analysis of the TFL report - cycling increases to be welcomed. But I am going to talk about red lights - and I think there's a story about cycle infrastructure investment and a total lack of enforcement of how people on bicycles use it. Case in point is Lambeth Bridge - currently undergoing multi-million £s improvement to create dedicated cycling and pedestrian routes. It replaces what were apparently dangerous junctions on both sides of the bridge. I cycle over it daily and less than 5% of fellow cyclists pay any attention to red traffic lights and breeze through, which rather obviates the investment in safety. I guess my point is that carrots in the form of investment to get people on their bikes is good, but with that there needs to be some stick in the form of enforcement to get people using it correctly and safely.
The total lack of enforcement for red light jumping by speedy bikes is shocking. The real risk to pedestrians is there for everyone to see, all over London. Long straight roads like Fulham Road with the crossing by CandW hospital are the worst. I suspect that for many safe cyclists the fear of being rammed from behind if they do stop is contributing to this.
If these things can only be achieved by reducing car journeys, why not ban private cars for the able bodied inside the north circular and tell anyone who complains to get on a bus like a normal person.
Looking at those ULEZ protesters, and my god if you checked their hard drives you’d solve every single cold case sex murder since 1979 in an afternoon, you really would. Bunch of freaks.
You already pointed out that reducing private car journeys would improve road safety and increase air quality, but it would also likely address the bus journey time issue too. And yet another side effect would be more space to build more/wider bike lanes.
It's notable that this is such an obvious solution, but doing it is a place no current politician wants to go. What needs to change for this to be back on the table? Until then it feels like all anyone can do is tinker at the edges
If they want fewer motorbike accidents, then stop this business of getting L plates and being able to ride mopeds endlessly without any sort of test. I walk, cycle and drive in town and all three are badly affected by moped riders driving on the wrong side of the road, driving at me if I am walking, and forcing themselves between vehicles at dangerous junctions and riding in bike lanes. Don't get started on eBikes on throttles that are basically motorbikes, also dangerous and all over pavements and cycle lanes
As a regular commuting cyclist, I've been emailed about a consultation on the pedestrianisation of Oxford St. The sum total of its content regarding cycling is:
"...we propose that cycling would not be allowed on Oxford Street West. This would include e-bikes and e-scooters. Mobility scooters would of course be permitted access.
However, we recognise the need to provide high-quality alternative routes through the area. We will work closely with Westminster City Council to support the development of these proposals."
That's it. This is at best kicking the can down the road, at worst just means - tough. Try and find somewhere to lock your bike (almost impossible) and hope for the best. It is pathetic for an organisation that claims to support cycling. Anything to do with WCC reminds me of the wonderful DriveNow scheme that had electric cars you could drive for journeys in town. It had to leave the City because the councils could not get joined up on what sort of bays they could park in, and god forbid Mr Khan tells them to get their houses in order. Zip car don't do the same thing - you have to park 95% of them at the same place you picked them up.
Subjectively - I hate the tube as it screams, and the issue with buses is what used to be one journey with 6 buses an hour, is now 2 or 3 changes and each route running far fewer buses. Same journey takes 3 or 4 times as long and is punctuated by long waits at bus stops for the connection. That bothers me far more than the speed of the bus.
Huge fan of London Centric's work, so glad you exist :)
I simply want greater compliance with the system of cycling/ traffic control that ultimately helps people stay safer. If there were consequences for non-compliance (ie fines) that would persuade more people to at least consider the possibility of stopping at red lights.
I bet you have enough readers to use the app's live map as a sampled dataset, get readers in different areas of London to contribute screenshots at different times of the day and week...you'd be able to get closer to an idea of how many Lime bikes there are in London. It won't be exact but it would be something. You could make a vertical video too asking people to contribute. And er then GDPR the hell out of the responses obviously. But I think it could work!
Re car deaths. Europe-wide studies has shown the ballooning size of cars into giant SUVs, particularly high bonnet ones, are effectively reversing gains in safety for other road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists. Its a massive issue (in the literal and metaphorical sense) that is also causing congestion.
At least one bus route in London is now facing being permanently re-routed because the residential roads it has used for years are now too hard to navigate due to just how much bigger parked cars have become.
Thank you Jim, as always, for really good reporting and analysis. Great to see your stories being followed up all o ver the place, some even credited. On the emissions/cars front I think the mayor and others just have to be tougher and ban or price-out cars from the centre. That, as others point out, will get buses moving faster.
while Lime has stopped the beeping, they’re still discarded everywhere unlike Forest bikes, because it seems Uber like to be cheap and not have a physical circle lock that immobilises the back wheel. would be interesting to know if my intuition is right — that in the boroughs that have deals with Forest and Lime and that require parking spots, Forest ones are generally in the parking spots and Lime ones are generally all over the shop.
See Nick Maini substack for great analysis in detail of Hammersmith Bridge and its impact on transport in SW London across the Thames. Restricting car journeys must be the way forward to get buses moving faster. Any mention of delivery driver impact and the growth of cycles for deliveries and tradesman?
So “Boris Bikes were actually Ken’s idea” is one of those things I hear a lot. But whenever I’ve looked into it, I feel it doesn’t really check out beyond some very early work.
And in terms of the proper segregated cycle lanes, that really was a second term Boris thing. Or at least his advisers while he plotted a return to parliament.
Now if you’re talking about Boris taking credit for cutting the ribbon on a vast number of other Ken-era projects, I’d back you.
My impression and (remote, from Edinburgh) was that the initial planning work started under Ken Livingstone....but I'll ask my cousin(who has worked on cycling for Camden/Islington Councils for decades)...I'll get back to you:)
The central line does seem to be a bit less busy that it was, but that seems to be offset by the ongoing failed motors issue? Which TFL seem to have gone quiet about, at least as far as I've seen. They used to send regular updates on the maintenance work, but then changed the timetable, which has some pretty big gaps on eastern loop.. and apparently all is well!
I find the decline in trips Londoners are taking dispiriting. Perhaps as someone who moved to London just before the 2010s, it seems like (another, symbolic?) sign that what made the city so appealing then is dying. Or maybe I'm just getting old.
(Also some of it might be… fine! You don’t need to pop to the post office all the time to do paperwork that’s now online, or spend half your day travelling to some tedious meeting with someone who now suggests a zoom.)
great analysis of the tfl report. very noteworthy that bosses are dragooning workers back to offices in greater numbers and yet bus use is still low. A daily TFL commute comes up to being about £250/month, which is £3,000 a year. are the workers getting a £3,600/year raise (factoring in tax) to stomach this cost? I am doubtful.
regarding buses it is my guess that TFL put a bet on a surge in bus fare sales to make their financial margins more healthy in the aftermath of them failing to implement road user charging, and as we can see, it hasn't worked.
Great analysis of the TFL report - cycling increases to be welcomed. But I am going to talk about red lights - and I think there's a story about cycle infrastructure investment and a total lack of enforcement of how people on bicycles use it. Case in point is Lambeth Bridge - currently undergoing multi-million £s improvement to create dedicated cycling and pedestrian routes. It replaces what were apparently dangerous junctions on both sides of the bridge. I cycle over it daily and less than 5% of fellow cyclists pay any attention to red traffic lights and breeze through, which rather obviates the investment in safety. I guess my point is that carrots in the form of investment to get people on their bikes is good, but with that there needs to be some stick in the form of enforcement to get people using it correctly and safely.
The total lack of enforcement for red light jumping by speedy bikes is shocking. The real risk to pedestrians is there for everyone to see, all over London. Long straight roads like Fulham Road with the crossing by CandW hospital are the worst. I suspect that for many safe cyclists the fear of being rammed from behind if they do stop is contributing to this.
what is the problem you are wanting enforcement to solve, given you say '95%' of cyclists are ignoring the light?
If these things can only be achieved by reducing car journeys, why not ban private cars for the able bodied inside the north circular and tell anyone who complains to get on a bus like a normal person.
Looking at those ULEZ protesters, and my god if you checked their hard drives you’d solve every single cold case sex murder since 1979 in an afternoon, you really would. Bunch of freaks.
You already pointed out that reducing private car journeys would improve road safety and increase air quality, but it would also likely address the bus journey time issue too. And yet another side effect would be more space to build more/wider bike lanes.
It's notable that this is such an obvious solution, but doing it is a place no current politician wants to go. What needs to change for this to be back on the table? Until then it feels like all anyone can do is tinker at the edges
If they want fewer motorbike accidents, then stop this business of getting L plates and being able to ride mopeds endlessly without any sort of test. I walk, cycle and drive in town and all three are badly affected by moped riders driving on the wrong side of the road, driving at me if I am walking, and forcing themselves between vehicles at dangerous junctions and riding in bike lanes. Don't get started on eBikes on throttles that are basically motorbikes, also dangerous and all over pavements and cycle lanes
As a regular commuting cyclist, I've been emailed about a consultation on the pedestrianisation of Oxford St. The sum total of its content regarding cycling is:
"...we propose that cycling would not be allowed on Oxford Street West. This would include e-bikes and e-scooters. Mobility scooters would of course be permitted access.
However, we recognise the need to provide high-quality alternative routes through the area. We will work closely with Westminster City Council to support the development of these proposals."
That's it. This is at best kicking the can down the road, at worst just means - tough. Try and find somewhere to lock your bike (almost impossible) and hope for the best. It is pathetic for an organisation that claims to support cycling. Anything to do with WCC reminds me of the wonderful DriveNow scheme that had electric cars you could drive for journeys in town. It had to leave the City because the councils could not get joined up on what sort of bays they could park in, and god forbid Mr Khan tells them to get their houses in order. Zip car don't do the same thing - you have to park 95% of them at the same place you picked them up.
Subjectively - I hate the tube as it screams, and the issue with buses is what used to be one journey with 6 buses an hour, is now 2 or 3 changes and each route running far fewer buses. Same journey takes 3 or 4 times as long and is punctuated by long waits at bus stops for the connection. That bothers me far more than the speed of the bus.
Huge fan of London Centric's work, so glad you exist :)
I simply want greater compliance with the system of cycling/ traffic control that ultimately helps people stay safer. If there were consequences for non-compliance (ie fines) that would persuade more people to at least consider the possibility of stopping at red lights.
I bet you have enough readers to use the app's live map as a sampled dataset, get readers in different areas of London to contribute screenshots at different times of the day and week...you'd be able to get closer to an idea of how many Lime bikes there are in London. It won't be exact but it would be something. You could make a vertical video too asking people to contribute. And er then GDPR the hell out of the responses obviously. But I think it could work!
Re car deaths. Europe-wide studies has shown the ballooning size of cars into giant SUVs, particularly high bonnet ones, are effectively reversing gains in safety for other road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists. Its a massive issue (in the literal and metaphorical sense) that is also causing congestion.
At least one bus route in London is now facing being permanently re-routed because the residential roads it has used for years are now too hard to navigate due to just how much bigger parked cars have become.
Thank you Jim, as always, for really good reporting and analysis. Great to see your stories being followed up all o ver the place, some even credited. On the emissions/cars front I think the mayor and others just have to be tougher and ban or price-out cars from the centre. That, as others point out, will get buses moving faster.
while Lime has stopped the beeping, they’re still discarded everywhere unlike Forest bikes, because it seems Uber like to be cheap and not have a physical circle lock that immobilises the back wheel. would be interesting to know if my intuition is right — that in the boroughs that have deals with Forest and Lime and that require parking spots, Forest ones are generally in the parking spots and Lime ones are generally all over the shop.
See Nick Maini substack for great analysis in detail of Hammersmith Bridge and its impact on transport in SW London across the Thames. Restricting car journeys must be the way forward to get buses moving faster. Any mention of delivery driver impact and the growth of cycles for deliveries and tradesman?
One small gripe: much of the early cycle network planning inc. the "Boris bike" scheme was actually developed under Ken Livingstone.
So “Boris Bikes were actually Ken’s idea” is one of those things I hear a lot. But whenever I’ve looked into it, I feel it doesn’t really check out beyond some very early work.
And in terms of the proper segregated cycle lanes, that really was a second term Boris thing. Or at least his advisers while he plotted a return to parliament.
Now if you’re talking about Boris taking credit for cutting the ribbon on a vast number of other Ken-era projects, I’d back you.
Boris Johnson scheming and going on jollies while taking credit for other people’s hard work you say? Surely unprecedented.
My impression and (remote, from Edinburgh) was that the initial planning work started under Ken Livingstone....but I'll ask my cousin(who has worked on cycling for Camden/Islington Councils for decades)...I'll get back to you:)
Haha, I appreciate the reply Jim. And, yes, I'm probably buttering it with some wishful thinking. I bow to your more analytical research chops.
This is an amazing post! Please explain every policy to me!
The central line does seem to be a bit less busy that it was, but that seems to be offset by the ongoing failed motors issue? Which TFL seem to have gone quiet about, at least as far as I've seen. They used to send regular updates on the maintenance work, but then changed the timetable, which has some pretty big gaps on eastern loop.. and apparently all is well!
I find the decline in trips Londoners are taking dispiriting. Perhaps as someone who moved to London just before the 2010s, it seems like (another, symbolic?) sign that what made the city so appealing then is dying. Or maybe I'm just getting old.
You’re getting old hun xxx
(Also some of it might be… fine! You don’t need to pop to the post office all the time to do paperwork that’s now online, or spend half your day travelling to some tedious meeting with someone who now suggests a zoom.)
Certainly where I live, part of the reason for buses slowing down is the implementation of LTNs.
great analysis of the tfl report. very noteworthy that bosses are dragooning workers back to offices in greater numbers and yet bus use is still low. A daily TFL commute comes up to being about £250/month, which is £3,000 a year. are the workers getting a £3,600/year raise (factoring in tax) to stomach this cost? I am doubtful.
regarding buses it is my guess that TFL put a bet on a surge in bus fare sales to make their financial margins more healthy in the aftermath of them failing to implement road user charging, and as we can see, it hasn't worked.