If you've ever cycled to Westfield you will know the design chaos that awaits as you approach the multi million pound shopping mall. No expense spared for cars but bikes get treated to random planning events that switch on and off like psycho disco lights. So you might have thought the Olympics was a chance to build a proper cycling legacy for the DMZ that is Westfield? Not a bit of it.

It was a moment of crazy anticipation as I approached one of the most ludicrous cycle lanes in the country, when Westfield reopened its parking in September after the Olympics. Would this nutty cycle lane still be there?....oh yes! It's all of 5 bike lengths long. It's nestled under a bridge, by a fence, on a roundabout. It starts on the roundabout. And stops. On the roundabout. A few yards later.

Thank you planners. We are grateful.

This local treat has now been honoured by the internationally renowned Cycle Facility of the Month website. We are privileged to be listed in the Crap Cycle Lanes hall of fame for July 2012!

Things to bear in mind when cycling in London during the Olympics...

[This page will serve as a placeholder for all Olympic cycling restrictions and changes as we hear about them...]

Disclaimer: I have found that staff at various stations and facilities also seem confused about policy, so it may well be worth checking their site and taking a printout of the policy if you are relying on taking your bike on a train, for example. We will try to keep this as up-to-date as possible but please check also with the websites concerned... If you know of any changes please let us know.

See also: [LCC: Getting around during the Olympics]

• The towpath on the eastern bank of the River Lea navigation was fenced off just past Hackney Marshes, at the point where the A12 flies over it, all the way to Bow to the south. [Guardian Article re: Closure and demo]
• Greenway Closure: The Greenway is scheduled to reopen in December 2012 once temporary London 2012 facilities have been removed.
• Canal Towpath Closures include: From the Eastway ramp to the Bow Flyover. These will affect not just those cycling to the Olympic games but also those who regularly use the routes. This restriction is being put in place as it is seen as a security risk. [London Cyclist: Cycling to the Olympics]
• Olympic and Paralympic Route Network (ORN and PRN) Cyclists risk £130 fine for being in the Olympic lanes during operation
  See: The "Cycling" section at http://www.getaheadofthegames.com/things-you-should-know/changes-roads.html
  Claims that "Disruptions to cyclists should be minimum as 95% of closures will be on the far side as opposed to the bus lane."
• Total ban on non-folding carriage by train companies: [Original Article: CTC] :

  Both First Great Western and Southern, serve Dorking, which is the town closest to Box Hill, the focal point of the race. A special timetable, with 6 trains per hour, will run from Waterloo and Victoria in central London to Dorking, calling at Box Hill & Westhumble station.

  The ban on bikes throughout the summer was proposed by both Southern and South Eastern. However, in the last few weeks, they have both quietly backed down from that position and bikes will be allowed on in the period between the Olympics and Paralympics

  • First Great Western trains from Reading to Redhill, passing through several stops close to where the race will go has a ban on cycle carriage throughout the weekend of the 28/29 July.
  • Southern operates between London and Brighton and also operates trains to the stations closest to Box Hill.  Restrictions will apply from 27 July to 12 August and 29 August - 9 September.
  • Southeastern operate trains between London and Kent, they are proposing a total ban on non-folding bikes from 27 July - 12 August and again, for the Paralympics, from 29 August - 9 September
  • South West Trains serves parts of the race route, the cycling time trial and Wimbledon. Non-folding bikes are not permitted on trains serving Dorking during the cycle race events on 28/29 July
  • C2C services to Southend and Shoeburyness during Mountain Bike events, 11-12 August
  • London Overground: "During the 2012 Games additional restrictions are on trains timed to depart in either direction Monday to Sunday all day between Clapham Junction / Willesden Junction and Stratford and between Highbury & Islington and New Cross/Forest Hill." (A rather long-winded way of saying bikes are banned at all times, in almost all of zones 1-3!)
  • ATOC Cycle Rail Policy - including Olympics updates [pdf]
• Cycle Hire / Docking Station Suspensions: A number of Cycle Hire docking stations will be suspended at various times.
  The nearest docking stations are around 15-20 minutes walk away from the Olympic Park.
• Emirates Air-Line Cable Car: Unknown
• Thames Clippers River Service: Unknown
• Bicycle Parking: Expect bike parking facilities to be more limited as more Londoners are expected to commute by bike. At London Bridge station, some of the cycle parking has been removed "to make more space" - Some additional temporary cycle parking...
  [LCC: Paid attendants required for cycle parking facilities in the Royal Parks]

Svitlana’s family have expressed their shock that the driver of the vehicle that hit her last November at Bow roundabout will not face criminal prosecution and as members of the local cycling community we share that response.

Having sat through her inquest on 2nd May at Poplar Coroner’s Court we feel that there was sufficient evidence to go to a jury on a charge of causing death by careless driving.

Mr Shergill's own evidence is that during his journey he was on the phone to his father, making travel plans, and that he failed to see Svitlana cycling along the road as he passed her.  All the other vehicles’ witnesses saw her. He then saw what he thought was a pedestrian on the pavement but when they ‘disappear’ does not take measures to check their whereabouts in relation to his vehicle before moving off, still talking on his hand-free phone.

The police evidence is that this was Svitlana moving her cycle past the stationary traffic to the lights.  She placed her bike in the space of about 8 feet between the front of his lorry and the kerb.  Neither Mr Shergill nor other witnesses could say that he was indicating the left turn and it could be that she assumed from his position that he was continuing his journey westward. Tragically this led to the collision that killed her and coroner’s narrative verdict of a traumatic road death.

We are sad that Mr Shergill did not apologise at the inquest to her mother and sister for her death. We hope that he spends the £150 on fitting the ‘blind-spot’ safety mirror that may have saved her life.

A few days ago, I was made aware via several people, of a Blog Post by Palletline Logistics' chief Bob Russett, calling for Cyclists to be banned from the roads in city centres for their own safety.

I did submit a response, (which never appeared) but today the blog post has been mysteriously pulled, without further comment from the firm.

The original posting was cached at Google, and can be still be seen here. Mr Russett stated:

"Bicycles should be banned from the roads in city centres for their own safety ! About 18 cyclists die in road traffic accidents in London alone each year and the number is rising. Cyclists appear to think that they are exempt from the rules of the road and they pay for this misapprehension with their lives.

We have all seen them weaving in and out of traffic, ignoring red traffic lights , going up one way streets the wrong way and terrorising pedestrians on the pavement. They have little or no appreciation of how much room a truck needs to manoeuvre or the fact that when they are in close proximity there are areas where the driver can not see them in his mirrors.

If a car or tuck flouted the law as cyclists do they would be prosecuted and possibly banned from the roads. Why doesn’t this happen to cyclists? If there is an accident invariably the cyclist comes off the worst but the driver can suffer from severe trauma for a long time. This is unfair on someone that is paying a lot of money in fuel and road taxes to use the road while the cyclist pays nothing and has large areas of road space specifically for their use and then refuses to abide by the rules of the road."

As you can imagine, the responses (from both Cyclists and LGV drivers!) might not have been what Bob had expected.

In my response, I had pointed out that:

• He is quick to tar all cyclists with the "Jumping red lights/disobaying rules of the road" brush. Not all cyclists behave this way. (In the same way as not all LGV drivers behave the same.) In fact, I am of the opinion that if a cyclist behaves in a way that motorists can reasonably anticpiate their actions, this considerably reduces chances for conflict .
• It's a bit of give and take on both sides. We have been campaigning for: Cycle Training, LGV awareness events, exchanging places, and support Cycle Training for Lorry drivers by many local authorities and firms, as well as supporting simple safety equipment that can be added to vehicles such as safety lenses, enhanced mirrors and monitoring systems to alert the driver to the presence of something in a blind spot prior to turning. LGV drivers have a hard job, with a lot to concentrate on, so there is no doubt that these systems can save lives. *
• Sitting in the cab of a lorry is an eye-opening experience for cyclists when they realise the massive blindspots these vehicles can have and just how little can be seen.
• "Road Tax" - This old chestnut... Since 1937 there has been no direct relationship between the tax and government expenditure on public roads. Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is based on vehicle emissions. We all pay for the roads through our council tax.

I would like to invite Palletline Logistics to respond in a postive and informed way, and Wheelers and LCC will be only too pleased to help.

• Perhaps Palletline Logistics would like to be involved in, and sponsor, training and awareness events?
• Maybe join the discussions on Safer Vehichle and Safer Junction Design?
• Maybe make the case for their LGV members and drivers
• Create a driver training and accreditation scheme?

* Indeed, many will recall how Cemex now supports these measures after a mother, Cynthia Barlow, whose daughter Alex was tragically killed, purchased a share in the company, turned up at the firm's AGM, and campaigned for safety measures.
An example of how it's possible to turn a tradgedy into something positive.

If Cemex and other firms can do this why not Palletline Logistics?

Seems Palletline Logistics just closed the discussion down when it started to look like a PR disaster. They could still recover...

Letters will be written...

UPDATE: Response 30 MARCH

Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:41:02 +0000
From: Robert Russett
To: robl@wheelers.org.uk
Subject: Blog

Thank you for your response to my blog.   Boring blogs don't get read or commented on which is
why I was deliberately contentious.

I am very serious about road safety for all road users including cyclists and think that the
initiative you speak of is excellent and should be promoted and spread throughout the country.
Truck drivers do need to learn more about the needs of cyclists as cyclists need to know how much
room a truck needs to manoeuvre and how little vision the driver has exactly as you said of your
own experience.  We all share the roads and must learn how to use them safely together.

Regards

Bob

.....And?

Nice reply, but I'm more interested in what it doesn't say...

• Why still nothing on the Palletline Logisitics web site stating their commitment to safety, what they are doing to support inititives and 'promote and spread throughout the country' or the training they are giving their drivers...?
• Bob should practice what he preaches, and maybe blog positive messages about what palletline logisitcs are doing. They should be leading the way and setting an industry example, instead of ranting negatively about cyclists.
• Bob should put his money where his mouth is, and promote safety measures, and sponsor awareness events and training...

UPDATE: 15 MAY 2012

I have been asked to clarify that Palletline plc is not the same company and is unrelated to Palletline Logistics:

"Robert Russett is involved in Palletline Logistics (Birmingham) which IS NOT Palletline plc. Though sharing a similar name, Palletline Logistics is a separate legal entity under separate ownership and not a division of Palletline plc."

There were some references to just "Palletline" in this article, which may have been ambiguous, although we were referring to, and dealing with, Palletline Logistics. (Which was always in the original article title and web links.)

For the avoidance of doubt, I have changed all instances of "Palletline" to read "Palletline Logistics", and removed the reference to Palletline London / FORS.

Apologies for any conufsion.

The Tower Hamlets Women's Cycling blog has evolved from the Fieldgate Bike Project, set up by Sarah Hammond in 2011.

Working with women and young people on the Fieldgate Mansions Estate in Whitechapel, East London, the aim of the project was to help them discover the joys of riding a bike and provide cycle training.

The social and physical benefits of cycling have also been a focus, as many women within the community experience isolation, as well as illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes.

The blog has been set up as a hub where local women, especially Asian, can access information about rides, where to receive training, cycle safety and how to buy a bike. Contributors from the cycling community will also be on hand to respond to questions and comments.

towerhamletswomenscycling.com

For more information contact: Sarah Hammond or Annabel Leathes.

Wheelers are looking forward to getting involved with the blog project starting with helping to organise a Women's Ride on Sunday, 1 April.