tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post8227670207753042178..comments2024-03-29T04:56:21.385+00:00Comments on The Ranty Highwayman: Quicker By CycleThe Ranty Highwaymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-46138352340680388552016-02-26T16:04:06.586+00:002016-02-26T16:04:06.586+00:00Thanks for the kind comment - much appreciated.
...Thanks for the kind comment - much appreciated. <br /><br />I have just been reminded that one of the things I am trying to do is to find routes which extend from one side of the page to the other. This is why the boundary area I identified on the map is somewhat larger than the one served by Waltham Forest's Mini-Holland scheme. The average journey distance in Copenhagen is 1.5km, it is true; but the Danish cycling culture is much more evolved than ours is. For the time being, people cycling to work are, I would argue, the most likely to give a more immediate return on investment. <br /><br />It says here in <i>Cycling: the way ahead</i>, "According to its specific features and its resources, each town will have to choose its priorities or specific actions to take. Reproducing apparently effective action taken elsewhere could have negative consequences if the concerted and coherent programme on which such actions have been based is not taken into account. On the contrary, it is preferable to draw inspiration from known examples with due caution."<br /><br />At the last count, the modal share for cycling in Waltham Forest was 0.8%. Probably the number of people cycling there would increase as a result of the Mini-Holland scheme, but for me that is somewhat beside the point. It ultimately comes back to the idea that high-engineered solutions are best undertaken within the framework provided by a functioning cycling network.<br /><br />The case is, it wouldn't take that much more work. To give you an example, <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5653136,0.0052752,3a,75y,58.59h,77.53t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sD8RLZdYQCYUieM6DVu8F2Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DD8RLZdYQCYUieM6DVu8F2Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D345.3186%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en" rel="nofollow">this cycle path</a> is a little bit further on than the Ruckholt Road route.<br /><br />Regards, Simonbikemapperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16902775699101288384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-34710090776643523502016-02-21T11:46:17.961+00:002016-02-21T11:46:17.961+00:00That is a fascinating map; certainly shows how thi...That is a fascinating map; certainly shows how things are starting to fit together in WF. I think the area approach rather than individual routes seems to be working in WF (an early stage of course); I could see main road protection being the big scale grid with neighbourhoods filtering our traffic, but providing cycling grids. I'll be back at WF later in the year.The Ranty Highwaymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-26660529871493096412016-02-21T11:35:08.323+00:002016-02-21T11:35:08.323+00:00I've been reading about trial layouts in the U...I've been reading about trial layouts in the US and they really can pay quick dividends; plus if there are issues, they are easy to tweak!The Ranty Highwaymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-47723750418823414312016-02-21T11:33:32.249+00:002016-02-21T11:33:32.249+00:00Yes, I think area-wide schemes like this will show...Yes, I think area-wide schemes like this will show the value of opening up quiet "grids" for cycling. I really hope this experiment goes in.The Ranty Highwaymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-75020295944611613782016-02-21T11:32:23.731+00:002016-02-21T11:32:23.731+00:00I think there are lots of places where really toug...I think there are lots of places where really tough decisions need to be taken. I'm glad I'm not a politician!The Ranty Highwaymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-33414878104824629572016-02-17T00:11:56.603+00:002016-02-17T00:11:56.603+00:00I was interested in your comment about Waltham For...I was interested in your comment about Waltham Forest's Mini-Holland project. I haven't looked at it before now, and naturally I was curious to see if this was a model that is worth replicating in other London boroughs.<br /><br />You mentioned that you would talking about this some more, so I'll be interested to read what you have to say. In the meantime, I have prepared a map for you (<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=z0uEE_bBiBeY.kG-Ef9t4MnsM" rel="nofollow">here</a>). bikemapperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16902775699101288384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-16118975922434184282016-02-14T20:48:12.396+00:002016-02-14T20:48:12.396+00:00Twickenham centre's a lot trickier. "Just...Twickenham centre's a lot trickier. "Just" get rid of the on-road parking along the A313 & there's loads of room. <br /><br />But a quietway in the Teddington area? What on earth for? People cycle where they want to cycle on an already quiet network off the High Street. Sure, find out where you can put in more filters etc on a borough/ward basis (as Garmon says), but please don't imagine people will bother with the routes. Too many won't find them convenient to use. Didn't work with the LCN, won't work here."We'll *make* it work this time"? Meh. Good luck. PS I'm not getting at you -for me at least, quietways are some sort of bizarre unproven chimera of unravelling modes and access road treatment.<br />Jitensha Onihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13977971109066956363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-91230511769677480122016-02-14T20:09:47.231+00:002016-02-14T20:09:47.231+00:00This is an exercise I regularly do with the town I...This is an exercise I regularly do with the town I live in in my head.particularly when I can't sleep...<br /><br />I think the key point is that it could be really easy and cheap to trial and refine really quite big projects in cones, paint and concrete barriers. Then "permanise" them when the design is right. <br /><br />For example, Big roads where cycle infrastructure doesn't actally remove road capacity (just makes vehicle lanes narrower) could have segregated lanes put in with bolt down kerbs in a matter of hours. But in theory even complex junctions could be trialled. <br /><br />The attractive thing about this approach for councils is that they could follow the New York model and promise that the changes are 100% reversible if they don't work or people really hate it. <br /><br />It needs a really switched on Councillor in the local council to put the correct team together for this.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17975368914871536934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-65335836668092873022016-02-14T11:09:45.679+00:002016-02-14T11:09:45.679+00:00That kind of bike will be my next day to day model...That kind of bike will be my next day to day model. I have a really big Specialized which is nice and upright, rack, mudguards, chain-guard, double stand, 7 gears (twist) and city tyres; of course it has that spec because I customised it! I couldn't justify changing it at the moment as it runs pefectly; mind you that's just *one* of my bikes. I have a folder (luggable rather than refined) for the train/ car boot, a Christiania box-trike and an old (but perfect) steel racer which I am going to tinker with in the summer (a swap with a friend for my old hybrid). Yes, bikes!The Ranty Highwaymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-13558499842270233092016-02-14T07:04:19.563+00:002016-02-14T07:04:19.563+00:00Hey Ranty, have you ever gotten yourself an omafie...Hey Ranty, have you ever gotten yourself an omafiets? It's the kind of bicycle that the Dutch ride each day, 95% of them in fact use one. Enclosed gears, brakes, chain, lights, dyanmo powered, bolted to the frame, upright position, rear rack that if you get panniers with and a front rack and crate, could hold around 70-100 litres of volume and up to maybe 50-100 kg of mass, and is very visible in the dark? 300 pounds sterling per year will easily pay off such a bike in 2 or 3 years. Multiparty Democracy Todayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359081992141220593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-32341304050524708462016-02-13T23:31:50.592+00:002016-02-13T23:31:50.592+00:00Great post. Hackney are currently consulting on ju...Great post. Hackney are currently consulting on just such a scheme that would bring benefits and improving the liveability on numerous streets around London Fields area (rather than having the focus exclusively on one 'quietway' street. <br /><br />Usual arguments against from car owners, mixed in with completely spurious scare stories that pollution would increase and that streets with no through traffic are dangerous. <br /><br />Need ppl to reply to the consultation choosing Option 1 as the more examples of successful schemes, the more likely similar new schemes will be introduced elsewhere. Details here :<br /><br />www.enjoylondonfields.org Garmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14576168287257627533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-40997040205792230802016-02-13T22:17:22.345+00:002016-02-13T22:17:22.345+00:00Just been on a group looking at the best route for...Just been on a group looking at the best route for a quietway. The problem is Teddington High Street - a secondary route with buses and a fair amount of traffic but it also has shops, library , pool etc that people might want to cycle to. Ideal solution - move the traffic elsewhere - but there is no suitable road to displace it onto failing knocking down a lot of houses. Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13475664960071838835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-48140150269768953052016-02-13T19:33:36.765+00:002016-02-13T19:33:36.765+00:00You should classify roads as through roads, roads ...You should classify roads as through roads, roads intended for traffic at medium-high speed at fairly high volumes, access roads, slow traffic at low volumes, and distributor roads, the roads that connect them. This makes it simpler to determine which roads get what treatment. <br /><br />Those shortcuts really help, and especially can get rid of side conflicts along distributor and through roads. Make sure they're at least 3 metres wide and there is at least 1.5 metres on either side of the barrier if present, and they will work well. <br /><br />And here is something else that people don't realize. By removing more and more traffic lights, and especially creating bypasses around light controlled pedestrian crossings and for the always allowed by bike left turn and single stage simultaneous green intersections and low waiting time two stage protected junction right rights, this improves your average speed hugely. Add in bus stop bypasses assuming you have the right geometry, and boom, another major improvement to your average speed and more efficient use of your energy. Add in the cycle track or sometimes wide cycle lane that lets you filter through traffic safely, so you don't get stuck in the congestion that motor traffic does. And by providing these safe and pleasant and fewer stop journeys, it makes you feel like the ride is shorter than it is. 1 km of riding in Assen let's say is very pleasant, while 1 km of riding with the heavy motor traffic is very scary and feels like it lasts ages, kind of like school tests.<br /><br />Don't forget about urban roundabouts. If you add a protected cycle track around it in the non annular style, you get safety and another set of traffic lights removed. Multiparty Democracy Todayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359081992141220593noreply@blogger.com