RideLondon director warns Surrey will miss out on millions if it withdraws support for event

Agree on most of the points here. My understanding (fourth hand) is that they were asked to redesign the route so it would reduce road closures and be available/safe for training & leisure cycling year round too (ie. avoiding the busier roads), but didn't come up with substantial changes.

"alienated local residents who live on the route or want to use the roads that are closed for a whole day"

62% of people are believe that the roads are too hostile to consider cycling on, because they are scared of the traffic. Source: Cycle Infra Design LTN 1/20.

I'm pointing out that drivers prevent people using the roads on bikes 365 days a year. That won't even occur to the people complaining about the event.

They think they are Mahatma Ghandi or Mother Theresa, fighting for a higher cause. They are not. They are 100% selfish.

HarrogateSpa wrote:

"alienated local residents who live on the route or want to use the roads that are closed for a whole day"

62% of people are believe that the roads are too hostile to consider cycling on, because they are scared of the traffic. Source: Cycle Infra Design LTN 1/20.

I'm pointing out that drivers prevent people using the roads on bikes 365 days a year. That won't even occur to the people complaining about the event.

They think they are Mahatma Ghandi or Mother Theresa, fighting for a higher cause. They are not. They are 100% selfish.

Absolutly agree. A comment often shouted around the time of the event, "you have had the road for a whole day, how dare you want for the rest of the year."

except its not even a day, the road closures are at latest till 7-7:30pm, most having been closed for no more than 12 hrs, central london is different but no one seems to mind about weekend road closures there, its just this Surrey lot.

what annoys me most about this is its letting the nimbys win again, and letting them treat the area as if its their own private fiefdom, just like the New Forest nimbys.

"Great you think, but not to people who have no interest in cycling and want to get to the shops. If they had used a diferent course every now again, that would have been helpfull."

No-one shops 365 days a year. In the context of the recent lockdown I'm wondering how these people who need to shop every single day have coped.

kevvjj wrote:

"Great you think, but not to people who have no interest in cycling and want to get to the shops. If they had used a diferent course every now again, that would have been helpfull."

No-one shops 365 days a year. In the context of the recent lockdown I'm wondering how these people who need to shop every single day have coped.

Ah, but they want to go shopping THAT day.

They are the ones in Trafalger Square claiming its a hoax.

However my comment was about people who wanted to get to the pub or cafe for their lunch. Perhaps to the papershop.

I live on the route in the Esher area, and some of what you say isn’t accurate for there.

“…and you are not even allowed to cross the course to get to the papershop or cafe. “

Where was that?  The marshals were letting cars across in batches in Thames Ditton last year during the 100, and pedestrians and people cycling had no problem in crossing the road from Kingston to Oxshott (the bit I went along to photograph). Maybe you need to tell your local people to address this issue.

“…plus the huge numbers of cyclists who want to practise on the course leading up to the weekend. “  That’s a problem because? Again round here, a) there’s always been loads on those roads in good weather ever since the Olympics, regardless of the Ride London event itself , and b) for the whole of this summer, when the event wasn’t run, there were at least double the “huge numbers” on the route in North Surrey on most weekends compared with normal Ride London years, and large numbers on weekdays during lockdown.

OTOH some areas adjacent to the route in the far southwest of its extent are cut off during the hours of operation of the race, and I’d support reroutes there, possibly on a return cycle of seveal years, but over large areas there’s access to the A3 which allows free crossing of the route, albeit with some detours, and much of the route should stay.

Jitensha Oni wrote:

I live on the route in the Esher area, and some of what you say isn’t accurate for there.

“…and you are not even allowed to cross the course to get to the papershop or cafe. “

Where was that?  The marshals were letting cars across in batches in Thames Ditton last year during the 100, and pedestrians and people cycling had no problem in crossing the road from Kingston to Oxshott (the bit I went along to photograph). Maybe you need to tell your local people to address this issue.

Cars are allowed to cross at Byfleet too. But Ripley is a no go area. No parking and no crossing the road.

As for the locals, they don't want it, never wanted it, don't understand and get no benifit. They have addessed the issue - the event is being stopped.

Jitensha Oni wrote:

“…plus the huge numbers of cyclists who want to practise on the course leading up to the weekend. “  That’s a problem because? Again round here, a) there’s always been loads on those roads in good weather ever since the Olympics, regardless of the Ride London event itself , and b) for the whole of this summer, when the event wasn’t run, there were at least double the “huge numbers” on the route in North Surrey on most weekends compared with normal Ride London years, and large numbers on weekdays during lockdown.

Not a problem to  you or to me.

But a problem to Mr & Mrs Average Surrey Resident as they can't get to the supermarket in their 4x4. They blame the Olympics because the "Roads are now cluttered with Bradley Wiggins wannabes". 

And yes during lockdown cycling did increase much to the annoyance of residents all over the country, not just in Surrey. 

Where did all these multitudes of "annoying" cyclists come from?

Might they perhaps have been many of these same "residents" that you mention?

ktache wrote:

Where did all these multitudes of "annoying" cyclists come from?

Might they perhaps have been many of these same "residents" that you mention?

 

I seriously doubt that they are local residents*. Perhaps one or two maybe, but not enough to affect a vote.

I have a story from one local resident who cycles into Ripley (I do have a good contact their) who says that he feels inappropriatly dressed for cycling into the village as he has no lycra.

But to answer your question, where do they come from? Well a majority from South London as has been the tradition for the past 140 years or so. Goodness knows what the locals would think of the numbers that turned up on Whit Sunday in 1894.** Some drive into the area and park up somewhere to do the circuit. However I think that you may be missing the point. The locals, who read the Daily Heil, drive their 4x4's have no idea of local history and don't care for the roads being closed (they haven't had any LTN's yet) nor being stuck behind a pack of ferral cyclists. 

But the question remains, where is the Olympic Legacy that we were promised?

*It depends on what you mean by local. Within the parish (as I assume above) or within Surrey, or within 50miles?

**have a read of roads were not meant for cars by Carlton Reid.

“…plus the huge numbers of cyclists who want to practise"

worth mentioning that everywhere I cycle, I see huge numbers of vehicles 365 days a year. They are literally everywhere. Far more drivers than cyclists.

Many people don't even see them anymore. But I do

I'm sure plenty of cyclists play cricket and other sports and belong to other community organisations etc - therefore benefiting from the spending.

Fair comment, I do think it is a derisory amount for cycling though.

I will stop reading anymore of their website now I see 'key management personnel' had a remuneration increase of 17.4% in 2019 despite reducing from 9 members to 8.

Oh come on. Those keys don't manage themselves you know. The best talent can only be attracted if the proper salaries are on offer.