Forum Topic

"cycle" thread

I'd like to read it but with 106 postings it'd take an age for it to repopulate that many times. Is there nowt to done to make putneysw15 forum more user-friendly?

Simon Knight ● 2755d40 Comments

Yes of course there is, if we don't use it for a week like your car which will please some people then there won't be so many messages.

Barbara Stevens ● 2755d

We can also change the heading to help to show specific points - if we remember  :)

Philippa Bond ● 2755d

Simon, as a lot of posts are people being rude, insulting, etc I've given up on it anyway.

Michael Ixer ● 2755d

Agree, there is a real debate to be had about  our local streets  but instead we just repeat the same old personal attacks about cyclists (mostly). All the more mysterious as there is no real downside for motorists - the opposite .  I would like to see a discussion about how we can make our streets more people friendly - a lot of which is happening in other areas of London (and elsewhere) where unlike Wandsworth town and transport planning is not stuck in a 1980s time warp. There were glimmers of that in the Hammersmith Bridge and Extinction Rebellion posts, and even parts of the Dover House Red one.  Lots of interesting and constructive ideas.voiced there  - all doable within existing technology and budgets and would make such a huge difference .

Ruth Pates ● 2754d

Last night was on our way to a St.Georges night at the boat club, could not believe the cycle paths made by bus stops they jutted out a long way with a slope to ride up and a slope to ride down. If somebody was leaning forward to see if a bus was coming or about to get on a bus the bike would actually go onto the pavement by the side of the bus and knock somebody over. Also very easy for a car to catch the pavement that sticks out a long way and flip the car over. (A 3, branching off to Kingston Hill) the road all the way to Kingston is effected.

Barbara Stevens ● 2754d

To me,  this goes back to what do we want to prioritise, and then good design. If we want to see higher priority to moving people (as I do) then we need to ensure that this is designed properly. I don’t know anything about that particular bus stop, but there are many examples of good design for enabling bus travel, cycling, walking and slowing down motor traffic. This can work, it just needs the will to do it. All the know how is already there and has been done somewhere- in many cases decades ago

Ruth Pates ● 2754d

It's not one bus stop it's on both sides of the road all the way to Kingston. all of a sudden the pavement juts out. It's dangerous. At every bus stop.

Barbara Stevens ● 2754d

Ruth if you haven't driven to Kingston in the dark perhaps you should. I have just made a point and I meant it, it is DANGEROUS.

Barbara Stevens ● 2754d

Isn't that just a question of adapting driving style to conditions? As they say on skid pan courses at Brands and other circuits, there's only one reason for a car skidding: driving to fast for the conditions ... on a well let road in Kingston in a modern car with good headlights I'd have thought there's little chance of not seeing any obstacles whether it's a kerb jutting out or a drunk staggering across the road? But, must admit, not driven down there recently but doesn't sound more challenging than driving round the pooly lit backstreets of Athens or Florence ...

Michael Ixer ● 2754d

"too fast" - before the grammar police apprehend me :-)

Michael Ixer ● 2754d

Michael, not well lit and tree's . I wasn't driving my other half was who drives all the time.

Barbara Stevens ● 2754d

I agree Barbara, what Kingston Council has done with bus stops on Kingston Hill is not only ridiculous but  dangerous to all road and public transport users.Where bus stops were previously marked on the road, the Council has extended the pavement over it.  When buses stop there, the road narrows to a lane each way so the buses cannot be overtaken, hence creating congestion.  At the same time, the cycle routes go over the extended pavement bit, on the edge with the road.  So, I can see somebody moving forward to catch a bus, a cyclist not having time to break and, in the worst case scenarios, could fall in the path of the bus.  Very badly thought out!As far as seeing the extended pavements easily, particularly at night, they are not very well illuminated, at least not at the moment.  Initially, the extended pavements do come as a surprise, I must admit. You drive past one and think - "Goodness, why have they done that?".  You drive past the second and the penny drops - it will be extended pavements all the way up to Kingston.  So far, there are no signs indicating the narrowing of the road...

Ivonne Holliday ● 2754d

I suggest you go and ask the questions now to see if anything can be altered. Sometimes these works aren't even carried out as per the design and drawings.  It is a shame to have to waste money by works having to be re-done.  The end of the financial year can often be a problem.

Philippa Bond ● 2754d

Ivonne, thank you, I was sitting the pavement side telling the other half the pavement is sticking out again. all the way to Kingston.

Barbara Stevens ● 2754d

Spoke to a couple of bus drivers at the end of my road and asked them if any drive the 85 route, but they said the 85 comes from Tolworth Bus Garage, if this is true. I wonder how they get on driving Kingston Hill.

Barbara Stevens ● 2753d

A positive article on bicycles from the BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47954850 and value to the economy.

Ruth Pates ● 2751d

Ruth what has your article got to do with Kingston Hill. Drive up there and see for yourself.

Barbara Stevens ● 2751d

Barbara. It is important that people who notice these things give feedback.  This is something you perceive as new and potentiously dangerous.Tell the Council what you think.  There used to be a very good website called Fix My Transport but in the absence of that why not try www.fixmystreet.com.  It is easy to use and sends a message to the correct authority.  Maybe the local paper would also warn people of changes.  We do need to make changes but maybe we could all be better warned?  Or the changes tweaked to improve them?  Or maybe they haven't been built as per the design for some reason?  You see I'd have a terrible conscience if I'd noticed and not spoken up.

Philippa Bond ● 2750d

The Wandsworth sister forum has switched over to a new format. Not sure why Putney remains on the older version but you can use the new version as well — it is on new.putneysw15.com. Any message posted appears on both versions.

Barry Elms ● 2750d

Thanks for the tip.  Am sending this message from the new version of the website — much easier to use.  Maybe they should retire the older version and redirect people to this one.

Ruth Pates ● 2749d

Yes, thanks. Can upload images ....Looks far better. And it has password security!

Michael Ixer ● 2749d

Ah beautiful pusscat!😻Is that Felicity? xx

Sue Hammond ● 2749d

TestLily and Harvey

Sue Hammond ● 2749d

Three lovely cats - thankyou.

Jane Carter ● 2749d

Thanks. Yes, that's Felicity, all 19 years of her, just woken up. Having to make an important decision: do I go back to sleep? Or do I tell the staff to get my next meal?Lily and Harvey look like fine felines.

Michael Ixer ● 2749d

Lol. 😸 As Terry Pratchett once said "“In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this." So true.Sadly I lost Harvey on 22nd February. I am still heartbroken.😿

Sue Hammond ● 2749d

🙂

Michael Ixer ● 2749d

I am really sorry to hear that, Sue. I know how heartbreaking it is. Our beloved Whisky died years ago and I still miss him. Hope Lily doesnt miss her companion too much.

Jane Carter ● 2749d

@Jane 23.03Thankyou Jane. xx

Sue Hammond ● 2749d

Very sad about Harvey.  Losing feline family members isn't easy.

Michael Ixer ● 2749d

Sorry Sue, very sad.xx

Barbara Stevens ● 2748d

Thanks Barry.

Simon Knight ● 2748d

I've registered on the new site but it's even slower than the original one.  Maybe it's my browser? (Windows Internet Explorer 11)

Jonathan Callaway ● 2748d

Thankyou Barbara. xx

Sue Hammond ● 2748d

Thankyou Michael. xx

Sue Hammond ● 2748d

I came back on an 85 bus from Kingston to Putney on Sunday. The pavement extension at the bustops are obviously to provide continuity of the cycle track. I can see there may be contention between cyclists and pedestrians boarding/disembarking from buses but I'm sure there's instructions for them? It looks easier for bus drivers: no contention pulling out from bays into traffic or danger of hitting cyclists pulling into bays. Can't see any issues for motorists: if they're not infringing cycle tracks they'll be clear of the bustop islands. I'm not a professional driver but from some circuit training I did at Brands Hatch and Snetterdon I'd say no competent driver should have an issue with this. What's dangerous about Kingston Hill if one's driving appropriately? Getting stuck behind buses might cause frustration but if it leads to an accident then that's just poor driving because of inappropriate overtaking? Accidents only happen because of poor driving or excessive speed for the conditions ...

Michael Ixer ● 2747d

Have a look at the pictures of Edinburgh car free day. Inspiring stuff.

Ruth Pates ● 2746d

Ruth why have you a fixation with Edinburgh. We are Putney.

Barbara Stevens ● 2746d

My other half went up on the pavement on the way to Kingston Hospital last Monday it's stupid. They must be thinking about it has they have signs stopping bikes going up onto the pavement.

Barbara Stevens ● 2735d

Have you done anything about it apart from complain on here though?What about www.fixmystreet.comIt's really easy to use.

Philippa Bond ● 2734d