Forum Topic

LTN claims it's first casualty

....and it's a cyclist.Badly hurt when he got caught in a purple barrier and smacked into the black and barely visible bollard.His Bike damaged and his ankle twisted, knee and leg cut.Plenty of witnesses and he brought the barriers down with him at Ealing Park Gardens.Apparently just a regular cyclist out doing a voluntary delivery and he eventually carried on to complete it!

Raymond Havelock ● 1906d16 Comments

"In other countries you can only drive your car every other week or day etc if you are allowed to at all."Sounds a bit Draconian, which countries are these?

Rosco White ● 1893d

The money isn't offered and available from this govt for all the other things it is needed for.  Central Govt now specifies what the money can be used for and it depends on what Central Govt offers grants for which often have won by bidding.  Then there is often a time limit for putting it into place or you lose the money.  It is a very cynical way of flexing power and avoiding Govt criticism and unpopularity to make changes that everyone should realise are necessary.  In other countries you can only drive your car every other week or day etc if you are allowed to at all.

Philippa Bond ● 1893d

Whilst costing the community in additional costs, the refuse additional costs and damaging the ability of Volunteers who are now incurring additional mileage costs that many do not claim.The unseen price on damage to the hidden parts of local community is too high.In the real world outside taxpayer funded organisations staff are redeployed to where they are needed even if out of their comfort zone.Theres so much that needs doing here and in most places, that making best use of an otherwise idea workforce becomes necessary. That's the way it is with my employer so why not for a council.

Raymond Havelock ● 1893d

It is likely that Ealing, like many councils including Conservative ones, feel they have no choice but to bid for these schemes. As there are no permanent changes most of the project cost will be officer time. Most major permanent projects have been cancelled so the transport team would otherwise be sitting around doing nothing. Laying people off costs money in the short term so isn't really an option.These projects, even if they are scrapped six months on, will have covered some of the ongoing costs of employing people. It may be that without them the money would have to have been found from other departments possibly even reducing the amount available for key services.

Andy Jones ● 1893d

Baffling that this is only " to Get Funding"Funding for what? Some poor quality planters that are leaking oily wood preservative all over the road making it slippery for those of us on two wheels,  hidden bollards and signs?Well done for making some of the easiest and quietest routes for cycling in the whole borough now riddled with hazards.Why is it that it's Labour so keen to accept money from their nemesis?Hardly the best use of taxpayers money.This is an administration full of warped idealism and yet a total inability to deal with actual problems so it creates problems to detract from it's less obvious failings and it's back door activities.It cannot manage to clear the summer leaf fall which now soaked is treacherously slippery and a hazard to all, whether on foot, two or four wheels.It cannot manage to ensure all over 12s who are being encouraged to cycle to school from next week are in possession of a Cycling proficiency certificate. ( Something that was Mandatory in Both Ealing and Hounslow 40 years ago and excellent.For Excellence in Council Speak, read IncompetenceFixing the lumps, bumps and potholes on quiet streets and sorting out the dire pavements would be a good use of funding.But like so much, It's so much easier to waste money when it's not yours.Bu

Raymond Havelock ● 1894d

I have read that many local authorities upand down the country are not implementing LTNs. They have listened to residents objections. Interesting that Hounslow and Ealing, two labour boroughs, have been quick to grab money from a conservative government for useless projects when so many other council services need urgent attention. Shame on you Labour.

Elizabeth Price ● 1894d

As I understand it  from the witness who told me, the gap left to cycle through was rather narrow and the bike clipped the back or something fouled the rear wheel bringing down his bike and the whole barrier on top of him. He is still injured and bike quite damaged. I understand legal action is being taken so cannot really comment on someone else situation.There's since been other incidents at locations in Junction road, with moped riders and deliveroo cyclists coming unstuck trying to ride through the gaps with those boxes on their backsNow most Moped deliverers are riding up and round via the pavements as are  scooter riders. After tonight I think I will be joining them although I really do not approveWhilst out Cycling tonight in the rain have found that the bollards are completely obscured and no clear right of way. You emerge onto traffic that no longer has a clear right of way for whom?  More to the point the gaps are so narrow that you have to keep an eye so as to not clip a planter or the bollard but also to see if a vehicle is approaching. They cannot see me until I emerge through the gap. I cannot see them and keep an eye on the gap. But what really baffles me is why cyclists are all of a sudden not keeping to the left but choosing to pass through the gaps on the wrong side of the road?Twice this week I have had to stop dead for another cyclist coming through on the left side of the blockades.  Why? It's as tricky either side but this is so illogical.

Raymond Havelock ● 1895d

As a resident of the LTN area in Northfields, a cyclist and a car driver, I am confused. I have seen the purple barriers, they are quite hard to miss. The photo I saw of the accident appeared to be in daylight. I have every sympathy for the injured cyclist, I do wonder what he was looking at prior to crashing into the barrier...

James Putland ● 1895d

Junction road is never a road to whizz down as it has lots of junctions. You have to ride or drive with care and those local certainly do.

Raymond Havelock ● 1900d

For any cyclist who used to happily whizz down the length of Junction Road, this scheme must be a retrograde step, with several unlit obstructions to navigate and traffic no longer giving way as it comes in from the various side roads.

Peter Evans ● 1901d

Perhaps a lawsuit might focus LBE's minds. Kneejerk usually doesn't pay.

Terry Freestone ● 1901d

Sorry but the gun was actually found in Hayes when they searched his flat. Headline a bit misleading there.

Terry Freestone ● 1901d

A shame that the geezer with the gun in Walpole Park wasn't near the scene of the bike accident.  It would have made for a nice Quentin Tarantino moment.  Ahh, Ealing 'Queen of the Suburbs'. RIP.

Tony Heath ● 1901d

A second cyclist was injured at the same location yesterday. LFB Ealing has also inspected the junction and have confirmed that even with the central bollard dropped a standard engine cannot make the turn into Junction Road.
How long before the first tragedy?

N V Brooks ● 1901d

  😁 👍

Rosco White ● 1901d

Who would have thought blocking off dimly lit roads with bulky dark objects and little notice would have led to accidents? (Irony warning for Rosco)

Gordon Southwell ● 1901d