POLICE are issuing safety advice at some of Hounslow’s most dangerous junctions this week following a spate of cyclist deaths across the capital.
Officers have been stationed at the junction of Bath Road and Vicarage Farm Road, in Hounslow West; Apex Corner, in Hanworth; and Hogarth roundabout, in Chiswick.
They offered safety tips to cyclists, drivers and pedestrians, and handed out on-the-spot fines for offences including driving while using a mobile and cycling without lights.
A total of eight officers were stationed at the junctions during morning and evening rush hours from Monday (November 25) as part of the London-wide Operation Safeway, which was launched after six cyclists died on the capital’s roads in a fortnight. The initiative is due to continue until Christmas Eve.
Chief Inspector Jon Kennedy, who is leading the operation in the borough, said officers issued four fines to cyclists without light and five to motorists using mobile ones or driving without seat belts during the first day alone. They also offered advice to more than 100 road users.
“Hounslow has low numbers of serious cycling injuries and deaths but we’re taking positive action to ensure all road users know how to stay safe and help others do the same,” he added.
Brian Smith, coordinator of Hounslow Cycling, said: “The laws are out there but they need to be enforced. To actually get the police onto the streets to be seen and give advice to cyclists and motorists is a very good thing.”
He said other cycling danger black spots in the borough included: the junctions of the A4 with Sutton Court Road, Ealing Road and Gillette Corner; the A315 by Watermans Park, Brentford; the junction of Goldhawk Road and Chiswick High Road; and Waggoners roundabout, on the A4 in Cranford.
Mr Smith said the group was in talks with Hounslow Council about improving safety at some of these sites, including a possible toucan crossing at Waggoners roundabout, but found it harder to get action when it came to roads managed by Transport for London (TfL).
As for his own cycling safety advice, he said cyclists should:
* get training, available free or discounted from Hounslow Council, even if you’re an experienced cyclist
* make eye contact with other road users wherever possible
* wear bright clothing
* always look over your shoulder, especially when turning
* when turning left be very aware of other vehicles, especially lorries and buses. If there’s a lorry or bus, hang back and let them go ahead
* check out the safety tips in the free cycle guides available from TfL.
If you know of a hazardous spot for cyclists in the borough, you can let Hounslow Cycling know via Twitter (@HounslowCycling) or at their meetings, held on the last Wednesday of the month (possibly excluding December) at the Express Tavern, by Kew Bridge, from 7.30pm.
* A free guided cycle ride from Hounslow to the West End Christmas lights is being led by Hounslow Cycling this Sunday, December 1.
The tour will leave from the Express Tavern, by Kew Bridge, at 1.30pm sharp, before picking up extra riders in Chiswick at 2pm prompt.
People of all ages are welcome to take part in the ride, which is due to return at 6pm. It will be followed by an optional Christmas dinner at the Express Tavern, costing £10.
WHAT IS HOUNSLOW COUNCIL DOING TO PROMOTE CYCLING IN THE BOROUGH?
Work on the keenly anticipated Cycle Superhighway 9 from Hounslow to Hyde Park has been deferred due to concerns from Kensington & Chelsea Council, according to bosses at Hounslow Council.
But the council is pressing ahead what it describes as a new 'cycling spine' between Hounslow and Hammersmith, following the proposed route of CS9.
The route will include extensions from Hounslow to Feltham, Bedfont and Heathrow, which the council hopes will encourage airport workers to go by bike.
The council also plans to create a 10km network of cycle routes around Feltham, linking up parks and open spaces, as part of its Greenways project.
These are just some of the measures it hopes will help double the number of cycle journeys made in the borough to 30,000 a day - one of the most ambitious targets in London.
As for safety, the council runs a free training scheme for freight operators, allowing drivers to see the roads from a cyclist's point of view, in a bid to reduce the number of cyclists killed by lorries.
It also provides free urban driver training at the Civic Centre, in Lampton Road, Hounslow, where the next courses with availability will take place on February 26 and March 26 (call Cycle Confident on 0203 0316730 or e-mail transportplanning@hounslow.gov.uk to book or for more information).
There is also free cycle training for children and free or subsidised training for adults of all abilities (www.cycleexperience.com/cycle-training-adults.php).
Councillor Colin Ellar, deputy leader of Hounslow Council, said: "The mayor of London clearly needs to re-think the cycle superhighways to see if there is any feasible way to make them safer – which includes segregating cyclists from other traffic as far as possible. However, this will inevitably cost more and mean difficult choices to be made around parking, capacity for other vehicles.
"In the meantime, we are doing all we can to make cycling more popular and safer in Hounslow, which includes offering free or highly subsidised cycle training for adults and children and a number of improvements to our network, including our plans for one of the most ambitious greenway projects in London around Feltham.
"Frankly we cannot wait to get cracking and start implementing these projects to make cycling safer and better for current and future cyclists in Hounslow."
