The Loony File

Those few cycle facilities that exist in Westminster  have not been won without significant opposition from entrenched pro-car elements, as the quotations opposite illustrate.

September 2005

Draft Local Implementation Plan 5.63.2

It is less likely that LCN+ route sections will be implemented on sections of road that would necessitate the removal of road safety measures, bus priority measures, residential parking bays and some visitor meter parking bays that generally prioritise over segregated cycle routes.

25 April 2005

Transport and Infrastructure Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

The City Council should abandon its area traffic calming programme.

23 June 2004

Transport and Infrastructure Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

The Council will need to review its transport policies and it may be appropriate to firm up policies such as "No more traffic calming measures will be implemented unless they form part of a local safety scheme", in response to concerns about their proliferation and effect upon emergency services.

The Council will not introduce any 20 mph speed limit zones because of the limitations of police enforcement camera technology.

May 2001

A W8 resident writing to the Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens about the experiment to allow cycling through Kensington Gardens:

Why should they [i.e. cyclists] have a privilege of a short-cut?  They already get to their destination faster than car drivers or those of us that use public transport.

April 2001

From the cycling policy in the proposed Interim Local Implementation Plan for 2002/03:

“The car still has an important role to play, even in Central London, and the City Council does not believe that the implementation of measures to aid cyclists should unduly disadvantage car drivers or indeed other road users.”

2001/02

City of Westminster estimates:

23 May 2000

Various members of the Transportation & Highways Operational Sub-Committee:

“I know someone who was nearly run down by a cyclist on the pavement."

"I wouldn't spend a brass farthing on assisting cyclists until they learn how to behave."

"We don't want to become a corporate member of the Cyclists’ Touring Club because we don't want tourists to start cycling through London."

"Cyclists should be licensed."

"Can we ask the LCN group to make insurance compulsory for cyclists?"

"Cyclists shouldn't be allowed to turn where other people can't. They should be subject to the same regulations as everyone else."

16 February 1998

Paul Murray of The Project Centre replying on behalf of the City Council to an objection to increasing car parking in St James’s Ward:

“The City Council has an overall strategy which seeks to restrain the use of cars.  Within this strategy, it is Council policy to provide for the essential parking and loading needs of the City and the provision of additional parking space may be appropriate.”

21 January 1997

A council member on our proposal for a contraflow cycle lane in Brook Street, opposite Hyde Park’s Victoria Gate:

“I also feel that a contraflow for Brook Street is incompatible with the intention to progress the LCN (London Cycle Network) as a package of low-cost measures which do not have a significant impact on other road users.”

12 September 1992

Councillor Martin Jiggens, chairman of the Traffic & Works Subcommittee, on the proposal for a cycle crossing at Hyde Park Corner:

“It would not be feasible to provide a waiting area for cyclists between the stop-line of traffic approaching from Grosvenor Place and that approaching from Knightsbridge … The provision of such a cycle crossing would also encourage pedestrians to cross at surface level rather than use the subways, resulting in an increased risk of pedestrian accidents.”

5 September 1984

A.J. Cryer, City Engineer, on the GLC’s proposal for a signal-controlled pedal cycle crossing of Park Lane:

“The proposed signal scheme will inevitably lead to conflict between motor vehicles and cyclists, and delays to Park Lane traffic. Pedestrians may also be tempted to cross, which could be hazardous.”