• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Tickets

Cycle Safety, Anarchy and The Ineffectual Nature of Blue Paint

September 4, 2015 by Alexander Parsonage Leave a Comment

Boris's Cycle Super Highway Shared with Bus Lane

Boris’s Cycle Super Highway Shared with Bus Lane

Slightly off topic from theatre this week. But knowing how many of my fellow theatre makers cycle to work I think cycle safety is a serious issue for the theatre community. Or at least as the adrenaline is still ebbing away after several busses and a taxi tried to kill me on the way into rehearsal today it certainly feels like a serious issue.

I just cycled 475km through France. I’d say 85% of my time cycling, through large cities, country side and everything in between, I was on dedicated cycle paths. On my 9km commute to work through London there is a grand total of 3 meters of dedicated cycle path which isn’t shared with motor vehicles. I would say in my whole time cycling in France I feared for my life once, when I accidentally missed the cycle path and ended up on a dual carriage way in the rain. Whereas in London I would say every commute I make there’s at least two near misses when I’m almost hit by motor vehicles. It’s disgusting. I have no idea why or how Boris Johnson thinks painting the edge of a bus route blue turns it into a ‘cycle super highway’ if it’s still shared with busses, taxis and the occasional lorry. I presume the blue colouring is simply to help emergency services spot body parts when another cyclist goes under a bus or lorry wheels. It’s been 8 so far this year, last year it was 13.

The cause of this horrific death toll is obvious – terrible terrible road design. The provision for cyclists is an after thought at best, non existent at worst. In every other European country I’ve cycled in the solution is simple and obvious – you need physically segregated cycle paths which aren’t shared with other types of vehicle. We have three widely different types of traffic on our roads, each with very different needs. Pedestrian traffic, pedal powered traffic and motorised traffic.You wouldn’t expect an HGV to share the pavement with pedestrians safely, so equally you shouldn’t expect a cyclist to share a path with a bus without accidents. It’s not an issue of space in London; the vast majority of my commute to work is along 4 lane roads with wide pavements. There would be plenty of space to do what the Germans do and carve out some of the pavement as segregated cycle routes. There would equally be plenty of space to do what the French do and carve out some of the road as dedicated cycle paths. It’s a choice not to. Boris Johnson and TFL have chosen not to allocate the funding to do it – and as a result every single death is on their hands.

But as Boris Johnson and TFL stand idly by – or even worse proclaim to be tackling the problem by painting more bits of busy road blue – the animosity between different types of road users is hitting horrific levels. Just read the comments on any TFL safety campaign on social media and you’ll see sickening comments from both drivers and cyclists wishing all manner of horrible things on each other. I would classify the current state of relations on London’s roads of being one of genuine anarchy. Both sides have decided that the other has forfeited any right to care or respect. And I completely sympathise with both – as a driver I get that when you’ve been cut up by the third or forth bike on a journey, or seen a cyclist jump the lights every time you stop – you just give up all respect for them and treat them as an aggravating and potentially dangerous nuisance. But equally from the other side – by the third or fourth time a car or bus has tried to kill you on the same journey, I fully understand why as a cyclist you start thinking the rules of the road are clearly not there to protect you, so you shouldn’t pay attention to them. The problem actually is that both sides blame each other for what is in fact an issue of poor design and road layout. Of course they get angry with each other – their needs are almost diametrically opposed – and they should never have been sharing the same road in the first place.

The good news is that we can do something about it. Pretty much every other capital in Europe has. So we can as well. We just need TFL and the Mayor of London to take the problem seriously. These deaths and injuries are 100% preventable – it is a choice we make not to prevent them.

Author: Alexander ParsonageAlexander is an award winning theatre director and documentary maker based in London, England. He writes on arts policy, funding and theatre development.
T: Twitter F: Facebook

Filed Under: Opinion

Join the discussion Cancel reply

INTERVIEW / Paul O’Donnell talks about his new show Dia-Beat-Es

This February, performer Paul O’Donnell is premiering his new autobiographical show Dia-Beat-Es. Bringing to the stage his own personal experiences [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Plain Heroines talks SCRATCHES at VAULT Festival 2023

We spoke to director Gabrielle Bird from Plain Heroines about taking part in VAULT Festival 2023 with their show SCRATCHES   Tell us [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Anthony Clark on SHE

Anthony Clark is the writer of SHE, a new show interweaving the stories of 14 different women in their twenties, [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Thick ‘n’ Fast talks General Secretary at VAULT Festival

We spoke to co-writers and performers Cassie Symes and Georgina Thomas about taking part in VAULT Festival 2023 with their [Read More]

NEWS / Too Much World at Once tour announced

Set against a backdrop of the climate crisis, the debut from Papatango shortlisted writer Billie Collins is a lyrical coming [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • Does Small to Mid Scale Theatre Touring Actually Work?
  • Paul O’Donnell talks about his new show Dia-Beat-Es
  • The Design Process of David Farley
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • Alice Christina-Corrigan talks Past Life
  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • Amit Lahav - Artistic Director of Gecko Theatre
  • Birthday Suit at the Old Red Lion Theatre
  • Is this the real location of Ambridge?
  • Joseph Grimaldi Clown Memorial Service
  • Alexander Parsonage
    Editor

  • September 4th, 2015
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • Facebook2TweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2023 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!