Cycleway 9 To Stay But Changes Planned

Route to be 'tweaked' to deal with additional delays to buses

Delays to buses on Cycleway 9 causing concern to TfL
Delays to buses on Cycleway 9 causing concern to TfL

Participate

TfL and Council Claim New Data Shows Cycleway 9 is a Success

Local Bus Driver Predicts Traffic Mayhem When Lockdown Ends

Temporary Cycleway 9 Opens With Little Fanfare

Traffic Lights Delay Chiswick Cycleway Opening

Local Cycling Campaigner Says Temporary Cycleway a 'Death Trap'

TfL Refuses To Disclose Level Of Local Support for CS9

Sign up for our weekly Chiswick newsletter

Comment on this story on the

Transport for London (TfL) has indicated that it remains committed to continue with the trial operation of Cycleway 9 (C9) although some changes are planned to the way the segregated cycle route operates. A consultation is to be held into the ‘tweaks’ being proposed as well as the long term future of the scheme.

It is acknowledged that there are longer traffic queues in some parts of Chiswick and this is leading to slower bus journey times. TfL give a figure of buses being up to 1.3 minutes per km slower in May 2021 than the average in 2019.

TfL says that it has looked in detail at traffic data and listened to the people who have raised concerns about C9 and in particular those who have suggested reinstating a left turn filter lane at the junction of Chiswick High Road with Chiswick Lane.

Other changes that are being considered are the reintroduction of an eastbound bus lanes between Netheravon Road and Homefield Road as well as a westbound bus lane between Airedale Vanue and Netheravon Road.

Also more bus shelters are planned along the section of the route running through the main shopping district of Chiswick as well as more places for taxis and other vehicles to drop off passengers with the aim of reducing the impact C9 has on elderly and disabled residents.

If Hounslow Council approved the proposals, these changes will be subject to a new consultation on the scheme with local people and other stakeholders. Any changes made will be part of the experimental introduction of C9 and the effects will be monitored.

The consultation will also be used to determine what the longer term future of the scheme will be.

Temporary C9 has proven controversial with opponents but TfL and the council issued figures this week that they argue show that has significantly boosted the number of people cycling in the area and made the roads safer for cyclists as well as improving air quality. In addition the claim is made that the scheme is popular locally. This interpretation of the available data is strongly contested by those opposing the scheme including One Chiswick and councillors representing local wards who say that the new arrangement is causing congestion and pollution, does not make cycling safer and is opposed by the vast majority of local people.

In a statement campaign group OneChiswick said, "OneChiswick has been trying to engage with Hounslow Council for several months to consider proposals for safe cycleways, both within and around Chiswick. OneChiswick has consulted two sets of traffic expert witnesses in the Judicial Review process. The traffic experts are still awaiting a response from Hounslow to their questions about C9(T).

"Despite being required by the Court’s Civil Procedure Rules that is should engage with OneChiswick, Hounslow Council has so far refused to do so. Instead, it appears to have accepted the flaws in its current C9(T) scheme, acknowledged that it was installed without adequate consideration of its public sector equality duties, and is seeking to start again with another “experimental traffic order”, through which it seeks to implement largely the same flawed scheme at further taxpayer expense."

In a statement the Hounslow Cycling Campaign said, "Seeing more families and children cycling to and from Chiswick High Road shows how important segregated cycle lanes are - allowing young and old to go to school, to work, shop and exercise. We are really pleased that safety data from the Metropolitan Police show that the cycle lanes have also made it safer, reducing collisions and injuries to people cycling.

"TfL has also released the findings of independent market research of residents that shows that there is a silent majority in support of the cycle lanes in Chiswick High Road. Despite heated local debate, this backs up our view that everyone who is using the cycle lanes is a voice of support that is greater than the often noisy campaign in opposition. We urge the council to think carefully about how they get a balanced view on active travel schemes rather than focusing on people who shout the loudest."

Comments and suggestions about C9 can be made by emailing haveyoursay@tfl.gov.uk.

Find Articles Like This Useful? Help Us Produce More

This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism.

Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets.

We’ve always done that and won’t be changing, in fact we’d like to do more.

However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do.

We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area.

A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site.

One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute.

If you do support us in this way we’d be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor.

For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you’d like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site.

 

 

July 11, 2021


Bookmark and Share