Pedal power

re- 7th December.
The pilot cycle superhighways have no effect on bus times.
Your Mum is statistically more likely to be killed by a speeding car than any type of cyclist.
Blue paint on the road is quite a lot cheaper than a new, underground concrete tube line.
Cars do all the antisocial things you say cyclists do, but with tonnes of deadly metal.

Re: comment on 3rd December. Please educate yourself about helmets. You are implying that they are an important contributor to cyclists' safety, while all the evidence says that they are not. The general health (and other) benefits of cycling far outweigh the tiny risk that not wearing a helmet might pose, and anyone who doesn't cycle because they don't have a compulsory helmet will lose these benefits. Few accidents involve hitting the head, helmets only protect up to about 12mph, and there is evidence that cyclists behave more recklessly while wearing helmets, as well as motorists putting them in more danger.

So, again, please don't be so naive: life isn't nearly as simple as you think. The London Cycling Campaign is neutral on helmets, and it ought to know!

Oh, and I do happen to wear a helmet when cycling. It is my choice, and it should be everyone else's choice.

but they are doing CS8 as we speak! It's a lethal route! A stupid route! A route on a freight road! A route on a bus route - which will slow thousands down for one or two cyclists! It's a route people don't take because it is stupid and slow. They won't improve the routes people do take. They put it in without consultation. I could show you half a dozen lethal points. This will be horrible for our community. I don't know what I'll do if one of these evil cycle commuters attacks my mum as she goes around the neighbourhood. the street furniture won't change, the cylists will be arrogant and stupid, they won't understand how we live. they'll break the law and go past stopped cars at 20mph (max 5mph speed difference and space allowed) they'll get killed by lorries. they will kill children crossing the road. they'll wizz passed side streets where cars are moving out through a yellow box, the cyclists won't look or ring their bell - just silently - woosh, be there, hitting something. The law won't be maintained. They'll pull out blind, they'll undertake. Cyclists shouldn't be on the main motor routes. The old cycling routes should be improved and education for everyone on what this means. But it's ridiculous and 3rd world. Efficient public transport (new tube lines) is greener than a bicycle which is powered by steak and costs a washing machine load each day. The worst thing is the tyranny - the lack of consultation. You didn't even talk to the Red Route Wardens about how to implement. It's shocking! I wrote to TFL and they consescended with the pro-forma response.

The scheme is flawed in that it does not ensure that people hiring the cycles have helmets, or are adequately insured for personal injury to themselves or third parties.

I fully agree with the points raised on the 30th November.
The blue paint seems to have fudged the already grey area of keeping both cycle-lanes and ASL's clear if cars. If anything, motorists seem more determined than ever to claim the roads for themselves. I have NEVER seen a motorist pulled over for abusing the cycle-zones, even though it deprives cyclists of the scant protection they can have on our roads.

The suggestion that hirers shold be incentivised to ride to docking stations where there is a shortage misses the point. People generally don't just "go for a bike ride" - like any transport medium they use it as a means of getting to a particular destination. If I'm going to St Pauls, I won't be persuaded to go to the Barbican instead.

AS for the superhighways, all they seem to have done is devalue the importance, (as perceived by motorists) of every existing cycle facility in London, whilst providing no clear benefit to those whose route happens to follow one of the blue lines. In particular, the abuse of advance stop lines, in particular by bus and taxi drivers, seems to be a matter of no consequence to the authorities.