Healthy Streets - Chiswick High Road walking and cycling changes
Request ID: FOI-0037-2324 Date published: 03 May 2023
You asked
Dear Mr. Macdonald
Re. yours of 20th March, headed "Healthy Streets - Chiswick High Road walking and cycling changes"
The above letter refers to a consultation on changes made to Chiswick High Road (CHR). I have a few
questions. I am asking these under the Freedom of Information Act.
You state "The effects of the scheme on cycling have so far been very positive. We've seen cycling
levels in 2022 increase by almost a quarter compared to numbers in 2021 ..." Please could you let
me have exact figures, complete with which months of both years these were obtained. I would like
numbers of cyclists, not simply percentages.
You also refer to roadworks in and around the CHR area, but fail to mention that a great number of
these were directly related to the installation of C9, its relevant traffic lights and new
crossings between CHR and side roads connecting with it. Please could I have a break-down of how
many instances of roadworks in CHR have been related to C9 over the last two years.
Your letter uses the word "experiment/experimental" a great deal. Please could you explain whether
"experiment" here refers to something temporary, or is meant to provide guidelines for similar work
in other areas (in other words, has Chiswick has been used as a laboratory animal). I am inclined
to believe that it is the former, since you go on to say "We will publish a report ... once the
London Borough of Hounslow has made a decision about what the future of the scheme should be."
Please confirm.
Under the subheading "What is the purpose of the consultation", you list "Any other matters about
the experiment you would like us to be aware of." I have filled in the consultation and will not
bore you with my points of view here, especially since I have learnt over the years that many Tfl
"consultations" are simply PR exercises to provide a dressing for decisions that have already been
made.
The changes made to CHR look neither temporary nor experimental.
One comment about the consultation itself. The phrasing of the questions make no allowances for
people who neither cycle nor walk as their main means of transportation. An example of this was "do
you cycle/walk more/less/about the same after the changes". Text of this nature automatically
excludes a large section of the population; this may or may not have been on purpose.
I am an elderly person who has never cycled in her life, and certainly have no intention of
starting now. I have found the introduction of C9, with all it concomitant features, to reduce both
my feeling of safety when walking and my safety when using public transport (bus stops in the
middle of active roads, which I understand was a decision made without any inspections of the
actual sites - information obtained through earlier request under Freedom of Information). So far
from these changes having "help[ed me] to talk and cycle" (page 1 of your letter) it has reduced my
enjoyment of my high street in a very serious way.
I am not naive enough to think that stating any of this will make the slightest bit of difference,
but for the sake of my own integrity, I feel it must be said.
I look forward to receiving your reply (or that of whomever is detailed to provide answers to the
questions raised under the FOi Act.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0037-2324
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request (attached) received by Transport for London (TfL) on 3rd April 2023.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we hold the information you require. Your requests for recorded information are addressed in turn below:
Question 1: You state "The effects of the scheme on cycling have so far been very positive. We've seen cycling levels in 2022 increase by almost a quarter compared to numbers in 2021 ..." Please could you let me have exact figures, complete with which months of both years these were obtained. I would like numbers of cyclists, not simply percentages.
Answer: The figure cited comes from an analysis that was completed looking at the increase in cycle volumes for Chiswick High Road, showing the increase in cycle kms, in the section of CS9 between Heathfield Terrace to Goldhawk Road. This compared the period July 2022 to November 2022 with an equivalent baseline period of July 2021 to November 2021. The data is as follows:
July 2022 - November 2022: Total cycle kms = 188,948 July 2021 - November 2021: Total cycle kms = 153,627
The increase in cycle kms observed is therefore 23%.
Question 2: You also refer to roadworks in and around the CHR area, but fail to mention that a great number of these were directly related to the installation of C9, its relevant traffic lights and new crossings between CHR and side roads connecting with it. Please could I have a break-down of how many instances of roadworks in CHR have been related to C9 over the last two years.
Answer: In 2022 TfL undertook essential maintenance and refurbishment works on the Cromwell Road Railway Bridge over the railway line that runs between Gunnersbury and Kew Gardens to improve the long-term condition of the bridge, road and pavements. Whilst the work was carried out there was a series of lane closures in both directions until late December on the A4 between Chiswick Roundabout and Hogarth Roundabout. There was also some full closures of the road overnight and at weekends. These works are likely to have displaced traffic along Chiswick High Road. TfL’s work to construct the temporary Cycleway 9 were completed as follows: Upgrades to the temporary scheme between Goldhawk Road and Chiswick Lane junctions - December 2021 to July 2022 Upgrades to the temporary scheme between Chiswick Lane and Heathfield Terrace junction - October 2022 to February 2023.
Question 3: Your letter uses the word "experiment/experimental" a great deal. Please could you explain whether "experiment" here refers to something temporary, or is meant to provide guidelines for similar work in other areas (in other words, has Chiswick has been used as a laboratory animal). I am inclined to believe that it is the former, since you go on to say "We will publish a report ... once the London Borough of Hounslow has made a decision about what the future of the scheme should be." Please confirm.
Answer: In December 2020, as an emergency response to the pandemic, we and Hounslow Council introduced a series of temporary improvements to help people walk and cycle on Chiswick High Road. The changes, which were installed between Goldhawk Road Junction and Heathfield Terrace, included providing a fully protected cycle lane and were introduced on a temporary basis (via an Experimental Traffic Order - ‘ETO’) to help people to walk and cycle more often whilst we monitored the impacts.
In July 2021 a decision was made by Hounslow Cabinet to make a series of improvements to the scheme, and to retain it with a new ETO. There was a six month public consultation on the revised experimental scheme which closed recently. Hounslow Council will need to make a decision on either removing, retaining or amending the highway layout based on the feedback and assessments.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
