Press release from Bikes Alive 19-2-12. TfL is making things worse!

"PRESS RELEASE -- from Bikes Alive
Sunday 19 February 2012


TRANSPORT FOR LONDON RESPONDS TO KINGS CROSS JUNCTION BIKE SAFETY
CONCERNS - BY MAKING IT WORSE


Bikes Alive, the recently-formed network of cyclists who are taking
non-violent direct action to defend themselves against traffic
violence, returns to the lethal road junction outside Kings Cross
station at 6.30pm on Monday evening, 20 February ... as Transport for
London (TfL) starts work to change the junction for the worse.
Cyclists and pedestrians will enforce another one-hour go-slow at the
junction outside Kings Cross station.

Work to re-align some kerb lines and remove a traffic island will
increase the flow of motor vehicles through a key part of the
junction, introducing new dangers for cyclists. (For more detailed
information on this, see the discussions on these two web pages:
kingscrossenvironment.com/2012/01/07/why-did-tfls-killer-junction-not-
measure-up-to-tfls-own-london-cycle-design-standards
kingscrossenvironment.com/2012/01/09/tfl-improvements-may-make-things-
worse)

Bikes Alive - which works with other vulnerable, non-motorised road
users - is pledged to continue to take action until the balance of
power on London's roads is changed. Current policies of Transport for
London (TfL) prioritise the speed and volume of motor traffic over all
else, even though many of the cars on London's roads are there for no
reason other than the selfishness of the driver.

Councillors from both boroughs which cover Kings Cross (Camden and
Islington), and well as local cycling campaigns and community groups,
have been calling for safety improvements at Kings Cross for years.
The London Assembly has repeatedly called on mayor Boris Johnson - who
is in charge of TfL - to act. But all to no avail. Hence the need for
cyclists to take direct action to defend ourselves.

ENDS"

For further information, see the Bikes Alive website at
bikesalive.wordpress.com

On 20/02/2012 06:05, Doug wrote:



Work to re-align some kerb lines and remove a traffic island will
increase the flow of motor vehicles through a key part of the
junction,

Current policies of Transport for
London (TfL) prioritise the speed and volume of motor traffic over all
else,

See what Road Tax payers get?

--
Dave - Cyclists VOR. "Many people barely recognise the bicycle as a
legitimate mode of transport; it is either a toy for children or a
vehicle fit only for the poor and/or strange," Dave Horton - Lancaster
University

On Feb 21, 5:41*am, Simon Mason wrote:
On Feb 20, 6:05*am, Doug wrote:



Bikes Alive - which works with other vulnerable, non-motorised road
users - is pledged to continue to take action until the balance of
power on London's roads is changed. Current policies of Transport for
London (TfL) prioritise the speed and volume of motor traffic over all
else, even though many of the cars on London's roads are there for no
reason other than the selfishness of the driver.

So what ?
The average speed of London traffic is only around jogging pace, so
what harm can be done to people at such low speeds?
The more cars there are, the more tax the get fleeced for and the
safer streets become for everyone else.
Win/win as the late Matt B would have said were he still with us.

The speed of London traffic depends on the time of day and day of the
week and it is often much faster than jogging pace. I happen to live
on a 20mph rat-run where speeds often exceed 20mph due to a lack of
proper policing.

There can be little doubt that motorised traffic in London, and at
many other places, is prioritised over cycles and pedestrians despite
the danger posed to those vulnerable road users.

-- .
RoadPeace.
http://www.roadpeace.org/
For road crash victims.

Doug wrote:


snip quote

For further information, see the Bikes Alive website at
bikesalive.wordpress.com

see this quote about the flash ride.

"London Cycling campaign (LCC) – which means it's likely to involve a
lot of cyclists. (And which also means it's likely to be very brief, and
to avoid at all costs inconveniencing motorists … unless there are lots
of people who refuse to obey orders…) "

I was at the flash ride, what these campaines do not need is needless
agression, 1000 plus bikes as a protest cause enough clogging without
being delibrately so. and it serves no useful aim.

the flash ride was mostly normal cyclist only one idiot with a boom box
who had to be shouted to turn if off as he drowned out the folks trying
to speak, ie the point of the ride...

the cyclists I was with where (and are) concerned about these lot.

Roger