LIP

HFCYCLISTS RESPONSE TO THE LBHF DRAFT LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN [LIP]

COMMENTS ON THE LBHF DRAFT LIP, AND THINGS WE CONSIDER SHOULD BE IN AN EFFECTIVE LIP

THE LIP

This is how LBHF will implement the Mayor's Transport Plan. We would like to see major changes in the Borough that will make cycling a safe and enjoyable choice. At the moment we have Hammersmith Gyratory, Hammersmith Bridge and Shepherds Bush Green, all of which may be described as uninviting to all but the most confident of cyclists. And cycle lanes that are used for parking. We believe that an effective LIP that encourages cycling will also have many far reaching health and environmental benefits. Under the Strategic Environmental Assessment LBHF needs to have regard to the objectives set out in the other mayoral strategies.

THE CYCLING STRATEGY AS PART OF THE LIP

The LIP is based on the Cycling Strategy, [see 5.92, p70] and we believe that the Cycling Strategy has some weak or unspecific targets. These targets are missing in the published draft LIP. [See separate comment on these targets and indicators at end]

A SPECIAL EFFORT BY PARKING CONTROL TO KEEP CYCLE LANES CLEAR

"You put the lanes in but seem to do nothing to keep them clear," is a comment often heard.

Most of the lanes are advisory, and it is through parking regulations that they can be kept clear at certain times. At 7.10 it talks about hit squads to keep bus lanes and main roads clear. We urge that you include giving a high priority to keeping cycle lanes clear.

ABANDONED BIKES should be removed from railings and street furniture, hopefully to be recycled.

It would need a warning, perhaps giving a time period of say 3 weeks or a month in case people are away or on holiday, and the DSO [Direct Services Operations] would be involved. It should not be done in the winter as a damaged bike or one with a wheel missing may not be fixed up until the spring. Effort should be made to recycle the bikes to an appropriate scheme or charity.

SOME ON ROAD CYCLE PARKING TO BE PROVIDED

Cycle parking is often not allowed in communal areas of houses divided into flats. Sometimes the space on the pavement is insufficient to install cycle stands. We urge that you consider replacing some car parking bays with cycle stands. This would be in accordance with encouraging a modal shift away from car use, and encouraging cycling.

HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE - 20MPH

The roadway of Hammersmith Bridge is considered particularly threatening by many cyclists, especially as it is on the route taken to get to several schools. We urge that a 20mph limit be imposed. It would also help maintain the life of the bridge. A study by TrL for TfL advised that all Thames bridges should be made 20mph, so that should be a help there.

HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE CYCLE PRIORITY/ NO OVERTAKING BETWEEN NARROWINGS

In the CRISP that took place on Hammersmith bridge it is believed that the consultants recommended restricting the width of the carriageway to that of the narrowest part for most of its length. This would be to avoid the problem of cyclists having to move out into the traffic flow at the narrowings.

A less drastic move which we would encourage would be to have and enforce a cycling priority zone, or a no overtaking cyclists zone, between each of the narrow parts of the bridge.

HAMMERSMITH GYRATORY 20MPH

We would particularly encourage a 20mph limit here as it is widely considered as a major disincentive to people considering cycling.

Copy of email from Derek Turner dated 12 February 2003

From: "Johnson Emma (TFL)" <EmmaJohnson@Tfl.gov.uk>
To: "'TRUEFEELINGS@BTINTERNET.COM'" <truefeelings@btinternet.com>
Cc: "Wetzel Dave" <Davewetzel@tfl.gov.uk>
Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 12:48 PM
Subject: SURFACE LEVEL CROSSINGS IN HAMMERSMITH

Our Ref: B1093

Dear Mr Griffiths

Thank you for e-mail of 13 December 2002 to Dave Wetzel. Please find below
my comments on the points you raised relating to Street Management. I
apologise for the delay in replying.

Cycle access through Broadway is presently under consideration as part of
the London Cycle Network Plus. This should provide safe, high quality,
demand led cycle routes through this area of Hammersmith. If it is not
possible to provide dedicated cycle facilities through this area of
Hammersmith, the implementation of a 20 mph speed restriction will be
considered, in order to allow the safe passage of cyclists.

I have spoken to London Buses regarding your point about buses leaving the
Hammersmith bus station at the southern exit. I understand that, with the
plans that are currently being considered for Hammersmith bus garage, it is
not yet clear whether the arrangements for buses will change. The new
garage may call for a different exit for buses. London Buses will be
keeping your comments in mind and will ensure that your views are
considered.

Yours sincerely

DEREK TURNER
MANAGING DIRECTOR TFL STREET MANAGEMENT

HAMMERSMITH GYRATORY - SURFACE LEVEL CROSSINGS

We would like to see surface level crossings on the south side of the gyratory. We have been proposing this for several years now. The priority strategic route for cyclists goes down a pedestrian subway, with dismount. This is not an acceptable solution. The use of the subway was as a temporary link. We want to see something substantial being done

THE TRAM

The choice of a tram over alternative modes for the West London Transit may have been made on faulty premises. It was decided largely on cost/benefit figures. But the present plans for the tram would appear not to work and more expensive solutions will have to be found to deal with the bridge at the H&C line station and at Shepherds Bush Green. In the original costings the disbenefit of traffic disruption to the east of SBG was ignored, and potential congestion at SBG may have been under-estimated.

We would urge the Council to press TfL to consider alternatives should the Tram prove unworkable, or not viable. It would be good to have a system that included cycling from its conception.

CYCLE PATH / LANE CLOSURES
Where work is being done and cycle lanes/paths are closed there should be warning and signing for alternative routes, as there is for routes for pedestrians and other vehicles.

POTHOLES
We are pleased that the Council repairs road surfaces rapidly when alerted. However there is often a long delay before a pothole is actually reported. We would like to see a system where Council workers such as traffic wardens or road sweepers could be given an incentive to report potholes.

LCC LIAISON/ CO-OPERATION AS WELL AS CONSULTATION.

At 5.119. We feel that liaison and co-operation and input and listening are important, not just us responding to Council proposals.

WHITE CITY BRIDGE,
Should be positive for cyclists p295, This proposed bridge over the railway and motorway spur, is both for pedestrians and cyclists.

WHY BUS LANES NOT POSITIVE FOR CYCLISTS? p291,292,
Should positive for cyclists

PI'S [PERFORMANCE INDICATORS]

Relieving traffic congestion - modal share target - maintain or increase - very weak p186, [should be increase, and perhaps give a figure]

Proportion of journeys to / from work made by non-car means - maintain or increase - very weak p187, [should be increase and perhaps give a figure] Also unclear as PI is to / from work, Target is for personal travel???

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR - NEW - for cycle lanes on bus routes and main roads, between any two adjacent junctions with side streets, that for 80% of the time, they should be completely clear of vehicles violating parking and loading regulations .

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS improving working of parking and loading.. p187, include a new PI, Cyclist satisfaction with fairness of enforcement of parking and loading regulations, ie the equivalent of "Business satisfaction with fairness of enforcement of parking and loading regulations, "

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - CYCLING TARGETS -
p189 can they be made stronger, especially if 40% already nearly reached?,

MEANINGFUL STATISTICS
We would like to see meaningful statistics being used to measure modal proportions and cyclist numbers. These should be done from actual counts. If there are variations due to weather on a particular day, the counts could be done on further day, or a factor put in to adjust for expected weather conditions. We suggest statistics being taken for Hammersmith Bridge and Olympia Bridge for the morning peak. These 2 places are fairly representative in the morning of commuter cycling. By restricting the details to these 2 places figures can be obtained which can be repeated easily if there is some anomaly. This is better than generally talking about cycling figures from different sources.

The following figures are for 2003 for 7am - 10am Hammersmith bridge and Olympia Bridge. Similar figures from 2001 data should be used as base line and specify levels to be reached. The Household data seems not to be a very reliable measure of real increases. See note at end. Note this measurement of mode is by vehicle, rather than by person travelling.

Hammersmith Bridge North bound. 24 June 03 dry
ped cycle all mode %
7 - 8am 135 1195 11.3
8 - 9am 296 1385 21.4
9 - 10am 168 1256 13.4
7 - 10am 599 3836 15.6

Hammersmith Road East of Olympia Way
Eastbound 19 June 03 / dry

ped cycle all mode %
7 - 8am 230 1029 22.4
8 - 9am 293 1094 26.8
9 - 10am 160 897 17.8
7 - 10am 683 3020 22.6

ie specify that the target in the PI is at least
a) the 7 - 10am figures for 2001 times 1.4 for the March 2006 figure.
b) the 7 - 10am figures for 2001 times 1.8 for the 2011 figure.

CLEARZONE
We would like to see the Clearzone at p36 spread to the whole of the Borough.
[also proposed by HFFoE]

WANDSWORTH BRIDGE ROAD
We would like to see a bus lane in Wandsworth Bridge rd. This would also help cyclists get through this area. [also proposed by HFFoE]

HOME ZONES
We would like to see a home zone at Sands End. [also proposed by HFFoE]

LCC MANIFESTO

LCC groups have been asked by head office to try and get the following manifesto included in LIP's. We support this.

All four of the mayoral candidates accepted the LCC cycling manifesto (copy below) in advance of the election last year. It follows that the points contained in the manifesto should be included in all boroughs' LIPs. Tom Bogdanowicz has asked Festus Agwu-Jones at Camden to issue that guidance to the boroughs.

The boroughs have to demonstrate in their LIPs how they will implement the mayor's transport strategy locally. Therefore if the mayor endorsed the LCC manifesto in advance of his being re-elected last year, his people (i.e. TfL CCE) should be issuing guidance to boroughs to ensure the LIPs all contain the ten points in the LCC manifesto...

=================

A CYCLING MANIFESTO FOR LONDON

A 10-point plan for London's Mayor and Assembly candidates to promote cycling, so as to reduce dependence on the car and improve the health and well-being of all Londoners

Guaranteed funding to deliver the full TfL London Cycling Action Plan, including the London Cycle Network+

20mph as the standard speed limit in all streets where Londoners live, work or shop, and a radical expansion in the number of home zones

Free cycle training for every London schoolchild, including on-road training

Safe routes to school for all London's children, with sufficient secure cycle parking at all London schools by end 2006

Sufficient secure cycle parking at all major London rail, tube and bus stations by end 2005, and as a legal requirement in all new developments

A major campaign of action on cycle theft, with cycle theft reduction targets for all London boroughs and a London-wide database of stolen cycles

Enforcement of all cycle lanes, cycle gaps and advance stop lines by a Green Route Patrol, including using the same decriminalised enforcement as currently exists for bus lanes

A concerted action plan in conjunction with all other relevant agencies to prevent cyclists' deaths from HGVs and skip lorries

A dedicated programme to open up cycle corridors across key green spaces and along London's waterways

A major programme to reallocate road space and priority to cycling and walking, including the upgrading and widening of cycle lanes

Central London has seen a 30% increase in the number of cyclists since the introduction of the congestion charge. Now let's unlock cycling's full potential.

The London Cycling Campaign <http://www.lcc.org.uk/> (LCC) represents the interests of the 650,000 people who cycle regularly in London.

January 2004
*****************

HAMMERSMITH AND FULHAM CYCLING STRATEGY page 20

TARGETS AND INDICATORS

Number /Target /Indicator

1
Increase level of cycling in the borough by 80% (of 2000 level) by 2010

Proportion of all journeys in the borough made by bicycle (LATS/Citizens Panel/Borough Household Survey)

[COMMENT: Target is level, Indicator is proportion??? Perhaps this has arisen as in the draft Strategy Target was "Increase modal share for cycling in the borough to
10% by 2010" Not clear how this statistic for all journeys will be derived from figures obtained. Also the indicator on page 189 of draft LIP is 80% increase of 2001 by 2011]

2
Increase the proportion of borough residents who use a bicycle at least once a week to 25% by 2005 (from 17% in 2002)

Proportion of residents cycling at least once a week (Citizens Panel/Borough Household Survey)

[COMMENT: Do not understand the validity of this survey. Summer or winter figures? What cross-section of residents? This target ending in 2005 not very useful for a 5 year plan starting in 2005.]

3
Reduce number of cycling accidents / casualties

Annual cycle casualty figures (LAAU)

[COMMENT: remove word accidents - just use casualties. Word accident implies that that it was not the responsibility of someone]

4
Increase the proportion of Council staff cycling to work

Council Green Travel Plan Surveys

[COMMENT: by how much?]

5
Complete the LCN+ in the borough by March 2006

Proportion of LCN+ in the borough that is completed

6
Complete planned borough cycle route network by March 2007

Proportion of borough cycle route network that is completed

7
Review and improve existing LCN and borough cycle routes, including signing by March 2008

Proportion of existing cycle routes reviewed and improved

8
Increase the amount of public cycle parking in the borough from 1000 to 2000 stands by 2010

Number of public cycle stands in the borough

9
Review all signal-controlled junctions and provide advanced stop lines where appropriate, by March 2009

Proportion of signal-controlled crossings in the borough with advanced stop lines

10
Increase number / proportion of children given cycle training at primary schools

Number / proportion of children given cycle training at primary schools
[COMMENT: by how much?]

QUESTIONS ABOUT ADEQUACY OF USING CITIZENS PANEL FIGURES

The use of the Citizens Panel may be useful, and require no further effort to obtain figures, but it may not give very reliable information.

For example at
http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Our_Borough/boroughprofile/transport/cyclilng.htm
it says "while 1 in 10 work journeys by Borough residents are by bicycle", perhaps for 1991

The draft LIP at page 20 gives census figures for cycling to work as less than 5% for 2002 and 1991.

The panel may not be truly representative of the population. To join the panel there are notices in HFM magazine, at http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Our_Borough/hfm/hfm_29_01_04/html/news.htm

Have your say
Would you like to join the Citizens' Panel and air your views on life in the borough? You will be sent two questionnaires a year and may be invited to attend meetings or focus groups - we will pay all expenses. And, as an extra incentive, all panellists are entered into a regular prize draw with a top prize of £100. For further details or to join, contact Mira Mangara….

John Griffiths
chair/co-ordinator hfcyclists / Local branch of London Cycling Campaign.
122c Edith road
W14 9AP
020 7371 1290 / 07789 095 748
john[at]truefeelings.com
www.hfcyclists.org.uk