Quietways: Thoughts

Everyone has an opinion about cycling.  Having worked in jobs involving the implementation of cycling infrastructure one way or another for  the last fours years or so, it's something I talk to people about a lot, I read about a lot and I write about a lot, it's something that has a big impact on my life.  Quietways are in by TfL's definition different to their previous attempt at large-impact, Super Highways:

"Quietways, will be lower-intervention and mainly on streets with less traffic."

The most common thing people say to me is, "I love cycling."  The second most common thing people say is, "Isn't it dangerous?"  However, there aren't many people who say both of them.  Now this leaves us with three types of cyclist:

• Lovers: people who cycle for commuting, for getting around London, for pleasure or for a mixture of all three.  Cycling works for them - so not really city planners' problem.  Yes, infrastructure could be improved, there could be more showers, more cycle parking and motorists could be more considerate - but essentially converted cyclists.
• Danger-fearers: people who don't cycle but could be convinced to.  This is perhaps the kind of cyclist who could be encouraged to cycle if a safe, back-street route which passed close to their home and place of work could be built effectively.  A target audience for Quietways?  Yes.
• Occasional cyclists: people who both love cycling but are scared about doing it regularly because of the barriers that exist to allow them to do it whilst feeling secure.  Again, if reliable, easy to follow routes existed for these users then they would feel safer cycling more often and might encourage their friends and family to cycle to.  This type of cyclist would probably use a combination of cycle super highways and quietways to broaden their knowledge about routes around London and to feel more secure.   

So, this is why I read with interest the plans for the Central London Grid.  The Mayor's first stab at the detail behind his cycling vision.

This outlines a number of routes around central London, both existing Cycle Super Highways and new along with a series of Quietways.  Now, it's not certain what form these will take or how they will join up with the rest of of the London cycling network, or even how much of it will be implemented but it is certainly ambitious!

What's This All About Then?

I'm a thirty something, white male on a mid-to-average income and I like to ride a bike around central London for commuting and recreational purposes.  This makes me very average when it comes to being a cyclist in this city [insert clever reference here].

I, however, do something which most cyclists don't do and that's work in cycling infrastructure. We're hopefully going to deliver some positive improvements for people who would like to cycle around London.

This blog will be an insight and sounding board for the problems, issues and questions which I encounter over the next year or so.