Forum topic: "Mini-Holland" - be positive, please

I just want to agree with you about the importance of gathering data about how shoppers are travelling to Palmers Green High Street.

This 2012 report for London councils is relevant:

Tyler et al. (2012) The relevance of parking in the success of urban centres: A review for London Councils www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/policylobbying/transport/parkinginlondon/parkingurban.htm

Its main findings included:

 Shopkeepers consistently overestimate the share of their customers coming by car. In some cases, this is by a factor of as much as 400%. In London, as well as other cities, the share of those accessing urban centres on foot or by public transport is much greater. Walking is the most important mode for accessing local town centres; public transport is the most important mode for travel to international centres, such as Oxford Street.

 Car drivers spend more on a single trip; walkers and bus users spend more over a week or a month. In 2011, in London town centres, walkers spent £147 more per month than those travelling by car. Compared with 2004, spending by public transport users and walkers has risen; spending by car users and cyclists has decreased.

I posted this on the LYDS Facebook page where it wasn't taken very seriously . I think it's essential that Cycle Enfield gather accurate local data on this.

Unfortunately using evidence to convince someone of a view opposing their own isn't at all effective. Many business owners are staunchly set in their opinions.

Today I stumbled upon (probably weeks after everyone else) a parking scheme organised either for or by (or perhaps by both) local Green Lanes retailers which refunds the cost of parking in the vicinity of the shop. Fine, a good initiative encouraging people to shop locally you might think. On the other hand it encourages people to drive at a time when the council is promoting cycling for short or shortish journeys in order to reduce congestion and improve air quality.

Personally I think this scheme is an approach from a different age when streets were not threatened by gridlock, and as a society we didn't understand the effects of poor air quality on peoples health. On the other hand if retailers had been prepared to provide a delivery service for heavier items that would be a different matter - one van can replace quite a few cars.

It seems to me that the mere idea that such a scheme can be contemplated shows just how divorced from the realities of too many cars in insufficient space drivers/retailers are. Clearly the council has 'got it', ditto London's mayor, whilst the fact that the government funded Boris's Mini-Holland scheme suggests that it has 'got it' too, even if it doesn't want to say so.

Outline details of the scheme can be found on the N21Online website. Apparently the council was approached about setting up such a scheme, but unsurprisingly it declined.

Boris Johnson writing in The Times as the outgoing Mayor of London “warned against vehement anti-cycling groups”. He said, “There will be some people for whom no compromise, no length of consultation is acceptable; all they want is for the scheme to be scrapped. So you also have to listen to the majority who want these schemes.” Adding, “The majority of people who benefit from cycling aren't cyclists.”


The Federation of Enfield Residents’ Associations (FERAA) have taken a public stance in the local press against Enfield’s cycling plans, curiously viewing it as the implementation of bus lanes with adjacent cycle tracks, and calling for residents to “vote carefully for a responsive administration on May 5th”.


The only mayoral candidates who have not signed up for the London Cycling Campaign’s pledge to make cycling safe and enjoyable for everyone, to include a “Mini Holland” for every London borough, are those from the British National Party; Britain First; and the Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol Party.


Apparently FERAA have been losing affiliations over recent years.

www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2016/jun/14/lessons-from-londons-failing-quietways-scheme

I've just seen this article in the Guardian, which charts the sinking of planned 'Quietways' (quieter sections of road for cyclists to use) in the Capital. The Quietways are failing because local councils lack the political will to close side roads which feed into the 'Quietway'. Instead they are narrowing the road slightly, which doesn't make it particularly attractive for cyclists, possibly more dangerous.

The blogger points out that one of these schemes, in Hackney, has been diluted even though the number of active motorists is about 30% of the population.

I quote a sentence from the article:

There is a wider issue here: how much longer do politicians permit noisy objectors to veto or delay changes which probably make a town or city more safe.

It does have parallel with the experience of Mini-Holland in Enfield.

Bill Yates

The sinking of the 'quietways 'in Hackney was a result of public consultation which Hackney Council failed to do the first time around.

A number of middle class residents , including MP Diane Abbot, decided to close off their own roads and divert the traffic into poorer areas including next to a primary school. This would have raised their house prices by approx £50,000.

Fortunately local residents got wind and public meeting organised. Diverting pollution to already polluted areas does not solve the problem .

Until this issue is addressed by people who do not have a personal agenda , and that includes the aggressive cycling lobby at County Hall, this problem is never going to be resolved.

These people who have made the decision of making a Mini Holland should take consideration the safety aspect and not to have the cyclist riding on the same route with buses, cars or long vehicles mixed all in one route this will cause so many deaths and injuries think if this was your member of your family how would you feel if they were riding their bike with large vehicles, I am very sure this will make you anxious for their safety! ,so please take the money and spend more on this Mini Holland and make a separate route just for cyclist, you do realise bikes are flimsy they are easily crushed so what do you think it will do to a human on them image the severe impact it will create! this will also cause so many pedestrian to have injuries OR deaths and this will be the responsibility of those wanting to scrimp and save money that does not even belong to them, taxpayers have a say too! it would be respectful if we were listened too for a change, if your going to do something for the people and for the environment make it the best and stop making slapdash decisions, we are known for in London that we do create poor quality developments, etc, let's give a damn about people's lives! keep cyclist away from the vehicles!