2 Billion to encourage Walking/Cycling?
2 Billion to encourage Walking/Cycling?
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Discussion

ZX10R NIN

Original Poster:

30,128 posts

149 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
I don't see this one I understand the reasoning but why not also encourage those that live further out to ride scooters/motorcycles as that will also help with congestion.

Johnnytheboy

24,499 posts

210 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
I have absolutely no issue with encouraging walking/cycling, as long as what it translates in to isn't "discouraging driving".

grumbledoak

32,413 posts

257 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
I don't think they care about congestion. They are just desperately scrabbling for the silver lining in the clusterfk that is their response to this cold.

ZX10R NIN

Original Poster:

30,128 posts

149 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
beer I completely agree, as I said I have no problem with encouraging it, but for me 2 billion on one part of a transport network makes no sense to me.

For me the government should be working on a cohesive plan rather than targeting one thing or the other.

jonindorset

1,077 posts

268 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
I'm guessing the vast majority of London commuters live greater than a credible cycling distance anyway. In the Netherlands you're allowed to ride mopeds/small scooters in the cycle lanes and it seems to work very well. I can't see the London transport system beginning to work unless there is mass antibody testing and a huge increase in parking provision for motorbikes, mopeds and scooters.

survivalist

6,112 posts

214 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
It’s a nonsense distraction from the fact that they government don’t want to say anything. Part of this 5bn measure agreed before CV19 was a news item, brought forward slightly.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/...

WJNB

2,637 posts

185 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
OH no! the Lycra Louts will love this, they already think they have priority possession on the road during this crisis as it is.

Justin Case

2,195 posts

158 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
If as reported people are wary of returning to public transport, especially in cities, because they believe that there is still a risk of infection travelling closely packed with other people, wouldn't it make sense to use some of this money to convert what will now be surplus bus lanes into cycle/foot paths?

grumbledoak

32,413 posts

257 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
Justin Case said:
If as reported people are wary of returning to public transport, especially in cities, because they believe that there is still a risk of infection travelling closely packed with other people, wouldn't it make sense to convert what will now be surplus bus lanes into cycle/foot paths?
Turning all the bus lanes into cycles lanes would be a good idea. It would rid our cities of the worst polluting vehicles overnight *and* get the lycratwerps out of the way of the cars.


ChocolateFrog

34,954 posts

197 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
They need to completely remodel junctions to prioritise cycle lanes over roads otherwise they'll just build more cycleways that no one wants to use, with motorists continuing to moan that cyclists aren't using the lanes.

Nothing worse than seeing a cycle lane that stops every 200m to prioritise a side road while cars carry on.

I love driving but in cities it should be much easier and more convenient to cycle than it should be to drive and it just isnt.

ChocolateFrog

34,954 posts

197 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
grumbledoak said:
Justin Case said:
If as reported people are wary of returning to public transport, especially in cities, because they believe that there is still a risk of infection travelling closely packed with other people, wouldn't it make sense to convert what will now be surplus bus lanes into cycle/foot paths?
Turning all the bus lanes into cycles lanes would be a good idea. It would rid our cities of the worst polluting vehicles overnight *and* get the lycratwerps out of the way of the cars.
Would make more sense to reduce or remove the normal traffic lanes and increase the congestion charge, or better still rename it to something covering all powered vehicles over 250W.

I dont think the long term answer is to make it easier for cars to in to cities.

gazza285

10,918 posts

232 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
WJNB said:
OH no! the Lycra Louts will love this, they already think they have priority possession on the road during this crisis as it is.

V8fan

8,073 posts

292 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
Come a British winter, you won't see many of those commuter cyclists, if they're new to it. Good intentions will fritter away.

Edited by V8fan on Saturday 9th May 21:17

Ian Geary

5,402 posts

216 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
I worked a few years with highway engineers, who got annual funding from Transport for London.

It was always a struggle to plan, design, consult, procure and deliver highway works in 12 months.

Sure some scheme were multi year, but I would be surprised if any meaningful delivery of large scale schemes will be seen before 2021, if not 2022.

It does certainly seem like a 2 bit magic act trying to distract attention...

J4CKO

46,039 posts

224 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
Stop moaning, imagine if more end up working from home and cycling to work the roads may well be a bit quieter.

Everyone in the Uk should be encouraged to own and use a bike, it isnt actually bikes you spend that much time sat behind, despite going apoplectic in .3 seconds of spotting a group of roadies, its other cars, trucks and whatever you spend more time behind.




Dg504

342 posts

187 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
grumbledoak said:
Turning all the bus lanes into cycles lanes would be a good idea. It would rid our cities of the worst polluting vehicles overnight *and* get the lycratwerps out of the way of the cars.
Eh? Bus lanes are already shared with cycles (and taxis for a lot)???

frisbee

5,510 posts

134 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
J4CKO said:
Stop moaning, imagine if more end up working from home and cycling to work the roads may well be a bit quieter.

Everyone in the Uk should be encouraged to own and use a bike, it isnt actually bikes you spend that much time sat behind, despite going apoplectic in .3 seconds of spotting a group of roadies, its other cars, trucks and whatever you spend more time behind.
Sshhh your interrupting their homoerotic Lycra fantasising.

PeteinSQ

2,346 posts

234 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
In 2018 the government spent almost £5bn on roads so a one off expenditure of £2bn to encourage more active transport is probably long overdue.

Generally speaking people should not be driving into city centres. I know there are exceptions to this so dont shout at me if you're a plumber or something.

Majority of commutes are under five miles which on a bike is doable in 20 minutes each way. If cycling was made safer I'm sure more people would do it.

Winter is a major challenge and could well see people getting back in their cars. In the past I used to commute by bike 5 days a week 52 weeks of the year and winter was pretty tough.

I drive now as its 15 miles each way and I need to get home for young children.

ChocolateFrog

34,954 posts

197 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
J4CKO said:
Stop moaning, imagine if more end up working from home and cycling to work the roads may well be a bit quieter.

Everyone in the Uk should be encouraged to own and use a bike, it isnt actually bikes you spend that much time sat behind, despite going apoplectic in .3 seconds of spotting a group of roadies, its other cars, trucks and whatever you spend more time behind.
That's the thing that gets me. I doubt you're actually held up behind cyclists for more than a minute a year on average, even when it feels like ages it's usually 5-10 seconds.

And even then you see the irate drivers who squeeze past you only to brake because there's a lorry 300m up the road which they can't get past anyway.

ChocolateFrog

34,954 posts

197 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
quotequote all
V8fan said:
Come a British winter, you won't see many of those commuter cyclists, if they're new to it. Good intentions will fritter away.

Edited by V8fan on Saturday 9th May 21:17
Nothing like lung full of salt to get you invigorated for the work day ahead.

You're right though, freezing rain trickling down your back or a preheated car and Radio 2, it's not a difficult decision, and I like cycling.