If you don't like it, you can always move

On a local Streetlife thread which I started about Elmbourne Road a comment someone made, I thought worthwhile sharing to a wider audience.

The broad thrust of the comment made, was that if you don't like how the streets are in your area all you need to do is move somewhere else. The issue is that for many parts of the UK, our streets are dire from a pedestrian or cycling perspective.

As the commenter alluded to moving home, I continued with the analogy. When people move into a new home, often changes are made quite early on as a fresh perspective has been given to the property in question. Things are changed because:

Why did the previous owners have that?
Why did choose that colour?
Why did they put that wall there?

I think once we have changed our streets for the better, we too will look back at how our streets are today, and ask similar questions.

Why did they do that?
Why didn't they just have safe cycle routes?
Why did they just let people drive and park their cars almost anywhere they want?

Below is the actual comment made, and my response.

James commented:
when people moved to this area they knew what the traffic situation was like and after a period of time you dont like it and  wish to change it for your needs i'm sorry its not going to happen. It draws a comparison to someone who moves to a village with the loverly village church where the bell's ring when ever and it starts to get on your nerves. I'm sorry but you best start thinking again where you might want to live my friend.

This was my response:

Dear James,

That's a very good point that people when they move to an area know what it is like, if they don't like certain things they can move elsewhere.

To continue using a house or home as an analogy. When you move into a new home, or purchase a property, you know what it's like, and what's it's issues may be. 

Many people look to do home improvements just after they move in to a new place, because they have a different perspective, or have a fresh view on things. They see problems where the previous owners didn't, and generally look to fix or improve their new home.

I see the local area as my home. I see problems in terms of how our streets are managed, and from the growing numbers of people signing the different petitions that I'm running, I'm not alone in that view. I think we can make 'home improvements' to our local area to the benefit of all. 

Where those 'improvements' can be run as pilots, to ensure that they genuinely deliver the benefits that are claimed (and repealed if they don't work) I find it hard to understand why some people are so dead set against any change at any cost. 

Thanks for your comment, and hope you have a good weekend.

Elmbourne Road - roadworks, or trial road closure?

This afternoon coming back from Balham, I noticed these roadworks taking place at the north end of Elmbourne Road. Thames Water are doing some emergency works which has meant that the road has been closed at this point, but you can still walk or cycle past, and indeed park your car in front of, or nearby the properties adjacent to the works.

Approximate location of the works

Roadworks, or trial road closures are happening all the time, and we just adapt to them. That is why I don't believe that the fears of chaos caused by piloting low-traffic zones or home-zones will actually happen.

I'm looking for more support for the petition in the link below, which happens to be calling for a pilot in the very same area. If you live locally, I do hope you can support it.

Sign the petition here.

Back to School & the school-run nightmare!

Summer has clearly ended as lots of pupils went back to school today. I don't have any children of my own at the moment, but the conditions on local streets this morning was dire. Making it very understandable why people who own cars, choose to drive their children to school.

It also rams home part of the reason why 50% of car trips are 2 miles or less. Combine that with the main reason that parents are afraid of cycling, and understandably might not want their children cycling on the roads, fear of motor traffic and we have the perfect storm.

Download the full report here: http://t.co/vfsNd1LTXa

At this point, most people shrug their shoulders, and say well that's just how it is. Fortunately a growing number of us are no longer accepting the status quo as good enough. Frankly it's been horrendous for far too long.

I don't want people to not have a choice to drive locally. However, I don't see why the choice to drive should inhibit or drive everyone else away from being able to choose to cycle locally.

Again, I can hear the siren voices, "You still can choose to cycle, you do don't you?". Yes, I do cycle, but most people don't, and I along with everyone else have to put up with dangerous drivers who frankly shouldn't still be allowed to drive. Those are just the ones that have been caught!

So, what can we do? What can be done? 

Good news is that we can change things for the better. We are changing things for the better. However, the process is taking time and far too long in my opinion.

• Join London Cycling Campaign

The London Cycling Campaign is doing a fantastic job in lobbying and presenting the massive benefits of creating a people friendly city. They need our support, so if you aren't already a member please do join.

• Support these local petitions

Locally in Tooting/Wandsworth, with the support of both Wandsworth Cycling Campaign and Wandsworth Living Streets I've been very active in pushing forward proposals for trials to take place which will, I believe create the safer streets, we need and deserve. I've got these petitions live, but I do need more people to sign them so that they can see the light of day. With the help of Joe Dunckley who blogs here, I now have this short video (on Smallwood Road) which tries to explain why I'd like your support.

Tooting Common - Dr Johnson Avenue

Clapham Common petition

Blackshaw Rd - Smallwood Rd - Fountain Road

All of the petitions above are 'just' asking the authorities to conduct trials. Let's give it a go! I presented a similar petition to the council last summer for Fishponds Road, and that has been approved by the committee we are currently waiting for dates as to when the scheme will go ahead. These petitions can and do work!

Let's make Mitcham Lane safe for all

This last one I'm hoping to get formally endorsed by Wandsworth Cycling Campaign. All being well that should happen too. If we don't ask, we definitely won't get. If you like what you see, spread the word. Together we can improve our streets, but we need to ask the powers that be to make it happen.

Mitcham Lane refreshed

It's been a busy month and summer!

In light of the comments received to my previous post about Mitcham Lane, I've started a new petition. I've also come across a new tool streetmix.net which is simply amazing!

Use Google satellite view and their measuring tool and you get a good estimation of the width of the road. If you zoom in below you'll get a good idea.


View Larger Map

Which I measured up at approximately 18m in places, and did this rough mock up of the street.

Then using the same width, I came up with these two options:

Granted neither of them are perfect, but then I'm not an engineer. It does however illustrate very simply that there is clearly the space for us to have high quality cycle tracks if we ask for them.

With that in mind, I've set up the following petition: Let's make Mitcham Lane safe for all

I'm hoping that Wandsworth Cycling Campaign will be able to endorse the petition. Thought that with already 49 people having signed it, perhaps you could help spread the word a little further.

Thanks,
Jon

Turning frustration into solutions - Tooting Common

Late last year Wandsworth Council did an initial consultation to (along with other improvements) remove the white lines along the paths where cycling is permitted on both Wandsworth and Tooting Commons. The council is currently doing a second consultation on that for, I believe, statutory reasons.

There is a petition doing the rounds implying that our council is seeking to remove the cycle lanes. For those of you who are local, you may know that it took 10 years to get approval to allow cycling on the specified paths over these commons. I took some pictures this morning as I cycled over the common:

8:10 - see how busy it is

Dr Johnson Avenue - now there's a potential cycle road (I'll get to that)

Yes those posts are very dangerous particularly if avoiding wandering dogs etc

No, it's not a cycle road, but hey that's how people pass each other if no-one is walking

More suspect posts - near the play area. In the afternoon busier with families, you have to cycle carefully here when children are around.

The dis-jointed traffic lights crossing. Cars just drive through, people on foot/bikes need to go a little further to ask permission to cross the road. Most just wait for a gap and go, might explain low "usage" numbers for the crossing.

Surface really needs doing, it's really quite bumpy.

Ok didn't take this picture at the same time, but you see there is a little issue with the white lines etc.

Here you negotiate with people, as you've just had to switch sides.

For the record, I'm completely in favour of segregated cycle tracks alongside main roads, and for there being proper provision provided so that people can choose to cycle any local trip of their choice. Looking at the local data (on Tooting Common) of recorded incidents (i.e. crashes) involving bicycles, as I understand it, the white line was a contributing factor in those incidents. When wet it is a slip hazard.

Those who argue that we should keep the white line as it's a bit of "cyclist" space, are I believe wrong. The path is too narrow as it stands to really have a separation between people on or off bicycles. There would be massive opposition at present to proposals to expand the path, as it would be seen as taking space away from the common. Before I'm slated for putting this across, this is what I understand from having been involved with local groups. If you follow my blog, and twitter feed, you'll know I'm very keen on getting tangible change to improve local conditions (particularly transport/environmental ones) for everyone.

The good news, is that lots of people both use the paths as a cycle route, and are keen to see improvements locally too. I hope that you'll be able to support a number of petitions that I'm running locally.

Regarding Tooting Common, I've set up this petition, asking support to do a trial, and see if Dr Johnson Avenue could become a walking/cycling route. Check out the petition in full here, and I hope you'll support it.

UPDATE: 17th Nov 2014

A public enquiry ensued following the difference of opinion between local users and the petition calling for the white lines to remain.

You can view the letter from the inspector to the council here.

You can view the whole report here.

In short, the inspector has found in favour of the council removing the white lines.

Can we make Mitcham Lane safe for everyone?

Locals to Tooting, may have seen the #SavetheWheatsheaf petition which I set up last Saturday. Amazing the amount of support that has been gathered in less than a week. 

This has got me thinking about the possibilities of local campaigns on my more familiar territory of #saferstreets, and how I could promote this batch of petitions and others.

Thanks to Google for streetview image - I've tweaked it a bit as you can see.

I now live near Mitcham Lane, which for those of you who don't know it, it's an A road, and pretty wide as you can see (Original google streetview link). In fact so wide that you can have cars parked on both sides, a central reservation and there is still enough space for lorries, coaches etc to pass each way. 

Using Google's measuring tape, and the satellite view it seems to me that the road is at least 10.5m wide (not including the pavements). 

Crossing this road, on foot, or by bicycle is not straightforward. 

There is clearly the space for 2m wide segregated cycle routes to be placed on the roadway in both directions ensuring that people of whatever age or ability can choose to cycle locally. 

This would help reducing the school run effect on our roads, as providing safe infrastructure such as this would make it much safer for people of all ages to cycle locally (including pupils of our local schools). 

Yes, some of the on-street car parking would need to be removed, but that wouldn't stop access to off-road car parking which several properties have along Mitcham Lane.

The good news for the motoring enthusiasts amongst you is that as the road would keep most of it's motor traffic capacity so even the engineers who think roads are all about motor traffic could be kept happy. (i.e. we don't need to get those engineers to change their views in order for them to do this type of scheme)

Would welcome your views on this before I set up another local online petition. 

Our AM writes "20mph limit won’t necessarily work for Putney"

Over on the excellent PutneySW15.com website, our local London Assembly Member posted a comment earlier today.

Assembly Member writes " London-wide 20mph limit won’t necessarily work for Putney"

His perspective raised a number of queries, which I've put to him and have copied below:

Why would a London-wide 20mph speed limit in your view simply be unworkable? In the past 30mph was the default speed limit with differences for other major roads, how would a 20mph speed limit be different?

I quite agree (with our AM) that the speed limit if amended to 20mph should be done with local resident support. Why can't we follow the lead of other boroughs which are consulting borough wide as to what people's views are? 

With regards to policing and enforcement, stretched local police budgets have resulted in very little enforcement taking place of the current speed limits. Perhaps we could explore community-led enforcement options? 

Given that Wandsworth Council now has direct responsibility for public health, given the positive indicators of our local trials, would it not make sense to look to roll this out across the borough, with local support via a borough wide consultation? 

---------------------------

I've had a prompt response and the key factor according to our Assembly member as to if 20mph can be workable depends on enforcement, be that via the police, or using cameras. This view contradicts the locally gathered evidence in Wandsworth of the two trial 20mph areas, which have seen a drop in the average speed in those areas without (to my knowledge) any further enforcement than that which is done for the roads normally. 

Our council is working on a strategy on 20mph limits for Wandsworth at the moment. If you would like to know more, Wandsworth Living Streets are organising a public meeting happening this Wednesday 17th July, at The Alma Pub. Cllr Russell King (Cabinet member for Transport) will be speaking on a range of issues, so do come along if you are free:

Wednesday 17 July, 7.30pm

The Alma Pub, Upstairs function room, 

499 Old York Road, 

SW18 1TF

See more at: http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/blog-post-a-20-mph-strategy-for-wandsworth