Wimbledon Hill bus lane consultation

Merton Cycling Campaign objects to the proposed removal of the Wimbledon Hill bus lane primarily on the following road safety grounds:

• the removal of a safe haven for cyclists conflicts with TfL, LBM and MCC aims to provide a safer environment for cycling;

• it will make conditions more hazardous for pedestrians, giving them three heavily-trafficked lanes to cross instead of two;

• it will bring a heavily trafficked lane much closer to the footway resulting in further increased danger to pedestrians;

• it is a steep downhill section so two lanes of traffic is likely to result in risky overtaking and speeding, just as traffic enters the 20mph central Wimbledon area, heavily thronged with vulnerable road users.

MCC also notes that:

• more space for private motor traffic will result inevitably in more private motor traffic, and consequently more road danger, higher air pollution, greater congestion, and rising CO2 levels;

• heavily trafficked lane closer to the footway will result in pedestrians exposed to higher noise and pollution levels;

• it is disingenuous to suggest that the removal of the bus lane will improve the flow of traffic - it certainly won’t improve the flow of bus traffic or cycle traffic;

• only private motor vehicle traffic will benefit from this scheme - in the short term;

• in the long term, as noted above, more private motor traffic will be induced by making more roadspace available to cars.

If the scheme does go ahead despite MCC objections above, please note:

• the proposed new 'left turn only lane' from Wimbledon Hill into Alexandra Road shows a minimal (between the lanes) lead-in cycle lane to the Advanced Stop Line which may be just OK when traffic is on a red light.  However when cyclists are part of moving traffic though these lights it will not be easy for cyclists, who want to go straight on, to take the position away from the now prescribed left turn. This makes it even more important that the traffic proceeds at the supposed 20 miles an hour.  Therefore it should be an essential part of this proposal that a proper and statutory 20mph 'gateway' is installed at the bottom of Wimbledon Hill, with proper signs on both sides of the road, so that everything possible is done to instil 20mph into the minds of motorists and reduce the risks to vulnerable road users;

• MCC supports the proposed entry into Belvedere Grove for emergency vehicles only, provided contra-flow cycle provision can be included in the scheme.  This would help to make local journeys around the village more convenient by bike than by car.

In summary, the proposed short-term improvement for private car use will be at the expense of bus users, cycle traffic and pedestrians.  Buses, bikes and walking are much more space-efficient and less polluting modes than the private car. This road leads directly to Wimbledon town centre and the last thing Merton should be doing is encouraging more people to make short journeys by car.  In a congested urban environment, how can there be any justification to re-allocate roadspace in favour of one unsustainable mode against three sustainable modes? 

Richard Evans

Merton Cycling Campaign

September 2008