Forum Topic

Bike sheds, haven green

Why has it taken over 6 months to build a couple of bike sheds next to the taxi rank? Meanwhile the taxis are obliged to queue in double lines back up the the roundabout causing at traffic pinch point with parked buses. In the meantime, we poor pedestrians have for years had to wade through the the pavement puddles across the road outside Ladbrooks, another pinch point with the bus shelter. I am sure there are more pedestrians around Ealing Broadway than self righeous cyclists. Tony Millier.

Anthony B Millier ● 5018d19 Comments

Ben,  I fully understand cyclists taking the 'centre line' and leave them plenty of room.  Seeme to me the worst bit is betwen the rail bridge and Cherington Road.It's bad enough in a car let alone with a saddle 'up yer ***!' :-)

Nigel Brooks ● 4926d

Thanks, Nigel, for the mention of Church Road towards Greenford Avenue. Since I use this stretch of road almost daily, I have repeatedly asked for the road to be resurfaced, but nothing ever gets done.Church Road is bad going north to south, but massively worse when you travel south to north. The smoothest part of the road in both directions is in the middle, so please can I ask all drivers to give cyclists a break if you see us (me!) cycling in this part of the road. Since I haven't been able to get what I want from the council for the last 12 - 18 months, I progressed it by asking my local councillor, Colm Costello, to push my request upwards. It greatly helped that Colm agrees with me - and now us -,  as he cycles using this route too on a regular basis.He tells me he has asked, but no news yet of when the road is going to be resurfaced.

Ben Owen ● 4926d

I was rather bemused by the choice of Chandos Avenue (and others) for resurfacing a couple of years back - a relatively lightly used road in reasonable condition it seemd to me - when there were roads in a far worse state.

Tony Colliver ● 4927d

Thanks for that Bud. I have studiously avoided the road as it was shaking my car to bits.Greenford Avenue heading up to Church Road convinces me that I have a puncture every time I drive on it.

Nigel Brooks ● 4927d

Hi Nigel,You're clearly not aware then that the Ruislip Road from the Argyle Road roundabout up to the lights at the bottom of the Greeford Avenue is currently being resurfaced. Much needed and long overdue!! Not sure if there are plans for same on Greenford Ave though.

Bud Richards ● 4927d

Car drivers, cyclists....what about the majority of us - PEDESTRIANS.Like the people who broke limbs in recent years walking up and down the unsalted/ungritted slope outside The Feathers/Town House when inconveniently surprise snow turned to ice.Like those innocently returning to West Ealing and Ealing centres late on the evening of 8 August 2011 to be confronted by an unPoliced raging mob. And like those who have fallen on/been knocked down the stairs at Ealing Broadway Station during Rush Hour in what Network Rail described in 2009 as the third most dangerous Railway station in England.

Eric Alan Leach ● 4927d

Worse yet (I feel a 'worst road surface in Ealing' thread could be started) is the patchwork quilt that is Ruislip Road from Gurnell to Greenford Avenue or Church Road/Greenford Avenue which are both doubtless shortening the life of car suspensions.

Nigel Brooks ● 4927d

If the council wants to encourage cycling the first thing they should do is to increase the amount of money allocated to road resurfacing to the level which was allocated by the previous administration.  I am not surprised that cyclist use pavements, as some roads are now getting in such a state that it is quite dangerous for cyclists to use them. Have you tried to drive/cycle from the roundabout at the junction Argyle Road/Ruislip Road East to the next one (Scotch common/Argyle road?  Not that pavements are any better around here as well!

Rosa Popham ● 4927d

Stories are leaking out that every day taxi drivers near the new bike sheds see villains arrive with powerful bolt cutters; pick the most expensive bike; cut through the lock; remove the bike and throw the bike into their van and they are off.

Eric Alan Leach ● 4929d

Whatever mode of transport you use, bike, train, bus, car etc. you still end up as a pedestrian. That was my point about the poor state of the pavement near the Broadway station - narrow and full of puddles - and in urgent need of some T.L.C. Perhaps, when the bike sheds are finished, 'they' could organise some remedial works??

Anthony B Millier ● 5012d

Whilst it's being done it's kind of BAU but they are also parking by the roundabout by Haven Green and causing congestion there. When it's finished, it'll be same as I believe.

Bud Richards ● 5017d

Where are the poor taxi drivers going to sit whilst waiting for a fare?

Simon Wycombe ● 5017d

James,Perhaps, but they've been faffing around with the sheds themselves for way too long now. It's taking too long!

Bud Richards ● 5017d

It's taken six months as some of the utilities were renewed at the she time which makes sense.

James Rogers ● 5017d

It's taken six months as some of the utilities were renewed at the same time which makes sense.

James Rogers ● 5017d

Tony,Not sure that this is apt for cyclists bearing in mind that the idea behind this is to promote cycling. A modern facility is required and it appears to be shaping up nicely, if not slowly (contractors must be on a daily rather than job rate). What does wind me up about the current facility are the amount of cyclists who ride over Haven Green in amongst the pedestrians. Cycling is for the roads and not the pavements. I have had to take evasive action for bolshy cyclists on more than one occassion and have had words with the people in question as they lock their bikes up.Also, can someone explain to me why cyclists cannot appear to distinguish between a red and green traffic light and have a phobia at stopping at zebra crossings ? OK, I know it's not all of them, but the few that do this give the rest a bad rap...

Bud Richards ● 5017d

Ben,People park their cars in 'hidden car parks'. CCTV can be installed in hidden car parks. Goodness gracious me I can remember when hidden car parks were supervised by human beings!!!Part of Haven Green has been lost providing these bike sheds. If demand outstrips supply perhaps you will be happy to see more of Haven Green covered in bike sheds.Let's see how these new bike sheds work out and believe me I do hope the volume of bike theft drops dramatically.

Eric Alan Leach ● 5017d

Eric,It is known that if you want to encourage people to cycle to the station instead of taking their car then there must be provision for safe(r) cycle parking. The bike hub does this. There is CCTV throughout the shelter. The locks in the shelter allow one to lock both front and back wheels to the frame. It has overhead lighting and has a clear sightline to a busy road, so people can feel confident that their bike will be there when they return. All of this is put together to deter thieves.The council wants to encourage people to cycle, but if there are no secure stands and in a location at journey's end it is highly predictable that people will be out off from cycling. Placing bike stands in a hidden car park isn't clever at all! I wouldn't lock my bike in a hidden car park if you paid me, Eric! I'm astonished that you really do think that cyclists should be parking their bikes in the same place as cars, but if this is not a wind - up then the next time I park my bike outside W H Smith on the Sheffield (cycle) stand I will be thinking of you!Finally, Tony, cyclists are not self righteous. The problem that all cyclists have is that motorists think we are! 

Ben Owen ● 5017d

Still beats me why bike racks couldn't have been installed under cover in Springbridge Road car park. Motorists are expected to walk from the car park to the station - so why not cyclists?

Eric Alan Leach ● 5018d