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Boardman makes clarification following latest revelation over "scrapped" Westway cycle superhighwayChris Boardman (via YouTube).jpg

Boardman makes clarification following latest revelation over "scrapped" Westway cycle superhighway

British Cycling policy advisor, Chris Boardman, defends Mayor's team support for cycling and suggests Mayor's office meet with former cycling commissioner Andrew Gilligan...
by Laura Laker
Thu, Nov 17, 2016 13:20
7

Chris Boardman has clarified his part in discussions with London’s deputy mayor for transport, Val Shawcross, following reports a protected cycle route on the Westway are to be cancelled.

Boardman, who is British Cycling’s policy advisor, defended Shawcross and the Mayor’s commitment to cycling, but said he was concerned about plans to re-route an extension of the East-West cycle superhighway from the Westway flyover.

Following talks between Boardman and Shawcross, former London Cycling Commissioner, Andrew Gilligan, wrote on his blog this week raising concerns of running the route on roads controlled by Kensington and Chelsea, a borough which previously opposed proposals for a segregated cycle route between Hounslow and Hyde Park.

Westway cycle superhighway plans scrapped

In a written statement on British Cycling’s website Boardman wrote: “In response to media reports regarding a meeting I recently had with London's deputy mayor for transport, I want to clarify mine and British Cycling's part in the discussion.

“It was clear from my meeting with Val Shawcross that the Mayor's team is committed to cycling, but I expressed concerns about the new plans for the east-west extension.

“The new route, mainly on local borough maintained roads, presents challenges and I advised in the meeting that there needs to be a back-up plan if it is not of sufficient quality or takes too much time to deliver.

“The consultation for the previous route along the Westway received over 70% support and - while not perfect - would have been on Transport for London controlled roads, provided a direct route through west London, and could be started promptly.

“In the spirit of providing continuity on the significant progress made by the previous administration, it would be a good idea for the deputy mayor and the previous cycling commissioner to meet and compare notes regarding all aspects of cycling policy before any decisions are made.”

Andrew Gilligan steps up pressure on Sadiq Khan to deliver cycling infrastructure

Gilligan has been critical of long delays without Khan’s cycling and walking commissioner being appointed, a situation he previously warned would play into the hands of cycle scheme opponents.

“We could have had the Westway superhighway by next year,” wrote Gilligan. “But a rerouting will mean perhaps two years’ delay for new designs, new traffic modelling, and a new consultation that will make the row with the local nimbies over CS11 look like a child’s tea-party.”

Val Shawcross this week tweeted the route itself isn't cancelled, and the mayor is "totally committed" to the East-West route.

Today, in the Guardian, Gilligan reiterated his concerns over the route: "To partly make up for the loss of the Westway, Khan will need to persuade Kensington & Chelsea council to accept segregated tracks on Kensington High Street, not something we managed in my time. Then – an even taller order – he’ll have to get them to stick with it after the inevitable nimby backlash. The rest of the route won’t be easy, either." 

chris boardman
Val Shawcross
Andrew Gilligan
British Cycling
Westway
Cycle Superhighway
London
Laura Laker

Laura Laker is a freelance journalist with more than a decade’s experience covering cycling, walking and wheeling (and other means of transport). Beginning her career with road.cc, Laura has also written for national and specialist titles of all stripes. One part of the popular Streets Ahead podcast, she sometimes appears as a talking head on TV and radio, and in real life at conferences and festivals. She is also the author of Potholes and Pavements: a Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network.

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7 comments

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P3t3 | 8 years ago
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Can anybody tell me why they cancelled the westway project?

Avatar
ibike replied to P3t3 | 8 years ago
1 like

P3t3 wrote:

Can anybody tell me why they cancelled the westway project?

Lack of political leadership. Andrew Gilligan nails it in his latest summary:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2016/nov/17/five-london-cycling-tests-for-sadiq-khan

Avatar
severs1966 replied to P3t3 | 8 years ago
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P3t3 wrote:

Can anybody tell me why they cancelled the westway project?

 

Because the Mayor is only pretending to be pro-cycling. Once his acolytes and followers and lay believers swallowed his lies, and he gained power, he has no further use for the promises he made.

This is normal for politicians, I'm surprised you had to ask.

Still better than Zac, though, i suppose, who would have ordered the removal of the cycle infrastructure that had already been built.

Avatar
Carton | 8 years ago
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Two steps forwards, one step back: that's just the way these things go.

Avatar
rct replied to Carton | 8 years ago
3 likes

 

Carton wrote:

Two steps forwards, one step back: that's just the way these things go.

I see this as two steps back!

From a purely selfish and personal point of view I want to get into town quickly and directly which the Westway route would have offered, not potter around Kensington avoiding tourists and other pedestrians drifting into the compromise of a segregated lane in ten years.

Avatar
escalinci replied to rct | 8 years ago
1 like

rct wrote:

From a purely selfish and personal point of view I want to get into town quickly and directly which the Westway route would have offered, not potter around Kensington avoiding tourists and other pedestrians drifting into the compromise of a segregated lane in ten years.

I used to live in Acton, not anymore but the Westway route would have been very useful for me too. I have to see on the other hand though that it would have had a bit of a ceiling in encoraging more cycling. Shorter journeys would be less attractive around Notting Hill with the lack of junctions, and the less fit would be discouraged after going up the slip road.

If they don't end up building the segregated route on kensington high street it won't matter, but incursion of pedestrians in cycle lanes matters less to new cyclists who will be going slower, and if pavement and lane are both wide and well distinguished as on Mile End rd, it's a good solution for everybody. In the long term, the schemes that attract the most people to cycle will increase political clout, making a network where you can avoid the busiest streets and still not have to mix with heavy traffic more likely.

Avatar
rct replied to escalinci | 8 years ago
0 likes

escalinci wrote:

rct wrote:

From a purely selfish and personal point of view I want to get into town quickly and directly which the Westway route would have offered, not potter around Kensington avoiding tourists and other pedestrians drifting into the compromise of a segregated lane in ten years.

I used to live in Acton, not anymore but the Westway route would have been very useful for me too. I have to see on the other hand though that it would have had a bit of a ceiling in encoraging more cycling. Shorter journeys would be less attractive around Notting Hill with the lack of junctions, and the less fit would be discouraged after going up the slip road.

If they don't end up building the segregated route on kensington high street it won't matter, but incursion of pedestrians in cycle lanes matters less to new cyclists who will be going slower, and if pavement and lane are both wide and well distinguished as on Mile End rd, it's a good solution for everybody. In the long term, the schemes that attract the most people to cycle will increase political clout, making a network where you can avoid the busiest streets and still not have to mix with heavy traffic more likely.

Ist that what the quiet way initative is for, sure the CSH network should be about fast direct routes and connecting with outer London, which from what I've seen all 3 mayors to date think stops at  the NCR.

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