Forum Topic

Why bother closing the road for sky ride?

In my area, the cyclist all use the pavement anyway even though there is a cycle lane on the other side.

Charles Campbell ● 5916d14 Comments

I could be very naughty and suggest that some of the cyclists don't know what a cycle lane is for. But I don't want to start an argment.

J Smith ● 5916d

I commute to central London regularly by bike. The real danger is careless car drivers & thoughtless pedestrians - and lack of decent provision for cyclists.

Simon Measures ● 5916d

Why cycle then?  Public transport facilities are available throughout Ealing.

G Lord ● 5916d

And vey good transport links they are. Cycling is all well and good and I commend those people who do it, but as has been said the public tranport services are very good.Re pedestrians on pavements and them not getting out of cyclists way - if its not a cycle path or a pavement split in two why should they? They have the right to walk on a pavement too - cyclists don't always stick to their side of the pavement and the same can be said for pedestrians.

J Smith ● 5916d

Cycling is cheaper and more often than not faster than public transport, especially if you are not going from outer to central london.  Plus you've less chance of catching something unpleasant on a bike.

Dan Wilkinson ● 5916d

But a higher chance of death?Is there something perhaps macho about cycling in London?I really don't know which is why I'm asking.

G Lord ● 5916d

I remember that on Top Gear they had one of their challenges to see which form of transport was the quickest. They started off in Kingston (I think) and were travelling during rush hour to Greenwich (Ithink). Hamster was cycling, James was going by car, Clarkson by motorboat and Stig in racing gear on the tube. Hamster won but not by much.The only thing that would worry me about cycling in London would be breathing in exhaust fumes - wouldn't imagine that is good for the lungs or heart.

J Smith ● 5916d

I didn't know that the Sky Ride was to be extended to one-way streets and pavements in central Ealing.As a pedestrian I was near hit by a c***t going the wrong way on Springbridge Road and a family of them on Haven Green this morning. And was there a PC or PCSO in sight? Of course not! Their presence along Uxbridge Road was greater than if Her Majesty (God Bless Her) were going along that route.

Alan Brainsby ● 5916d

Cycling is probably the most reliable way of getting around or into town: a puncture every three months or so compared with disaster on any tube/overground I happen to be on about once a week. Have been ejected spitting fire twice at Willesden Junction recently...I ask you Willesden Junction - almost impossible to get anywhere sensible.And if the roads are clogged, you can still make progress.On the other hand it's sweaty and fume-ridden actually doing the commute which is why I can't wait for Boris's bikes to hit cental London.

Sara Nathan ● 5916d

"why I can't wait for Boris's bikes to hit cental London."Um, it'll still be sweaty and fume-ridden, though.  They're also very much a Zone One development.  Also the reopening of the Western Extension to non-congestion charge-paying traffic is hardly going to help cycling from the west into town or air quality.

Thomas Barry ● 5915d

"Have been ejected spitting fire twice at Willesden Junction recently...I ask you Willesden Junction"...Don't spit fire then, Underground/Overground trains don't have fire extinguishers. Funnily enough, I never really thought of you as a dragon. :)Seriously though, Willesden Junction really is the backside of West London, and wouldn't exist except for the railway yards, now much reduced.

Alan Brainsby ● 5915d

consensus among children's friends/girlfriends/cousins is that "dragon" is a fair description!I can cope with being ejected at West Hampstead - not that it has happened - but they never choose the easy places or times for points failure somehow.

Sara Nathan ● 5915d

I am a safe and considerate,tolerant driver who has not been involved in an accident for some 26 yrs and find in my experience a minority,but still a significant amount of cyclists have a bad attitude to road usage.When will some of them learn to signal just a little before changing direction and if they can't use the road they should not be on the pavement?It is a sideWALK(the clue being in the name)and they should have to pass a test like other road user if they are not competent enough to use the road.T'other day I was overtaking prat on a cycle,ipod stupidly stuck in his ears,who suddenly decided he wanted to swerve as if making a u-turn.How I didn't total him I do not know and would have done but for standing on the brakes .He started wavinfg fists,shouting etc. as if I was my fault,so I got out gave him a piece and offered him the option.

Keith Iddon ● 5915d

All that aside it was a lovely community day enjoyed by my family and many others we met on the way.

John Perkins ● 5914d