| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Cycle Race Road Closure 4th August 2013 | |
| Posted by: | Ivonne Holliday | |
| Date/Time: | 06/08/13 12:38:00 |
| Dave, I think you are being a bit difficult here. Closing all of London twice a year for a bike ride. A romantic idea but not practicable, based on Sunday's experience. For one, many people DO work over weekends (carers, emergency plumbers, transport staff) to name but a few and they need to get to work. Eleven bridges closed for the whole day is not a helpful idea. Another thing, during the Olympics, the race was announced nationwide. I do not think that was the case for the "anniversary" race. Many people returning from holidays or visiting on that day were unaware of events. I do know this, we live on Medfield Street and the amount of baffled non-Londoners was a telling story. The traffic chaos started in earnest about 2.00pm and cleared shortly before 7.00pm. A third bit, there was a horrible accident between a cyclist (not on the race) and a pedestrian on Roehampton Lane, which caused it to be closed from Upper Richmond Road to Priory Lane.... The ambulances coming from Kingston could not get through.... Detailed planning from a road and traffic management point of view was clearly lacking because "London and Surrey have been informed". The British isles are bigger than this geographical area and their local news would not have carried information on the anniversary cycle race. Have more races, by all means, but organize it better and the closure of bridges and roads should be staggered as needed. By the way, I watched the race on TV as it went past Wimbledon and Putney. That was in the afternoon. According to the map, I believe in the morning they crossed the river over Kew Bridge????? |