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Permalink Reply by Tom Sheldon on October 6, 2015 at 13:04

There is currently a campaign against this scheme by local businesses who think making Green Lanes less of a car park, and more friendly to cyclists and pedestrians, will damage business as people won't go there to shop. 

I get those concerns but I think they are wrong.  The whole area needs an overhaul, it is constantly choked with cars and deserves modernising.  If it was a nicer place to go I would go there more myself – as it is it’s a terrifying place to cycle and an unpleasant place to walk.  I can't believe we can look at this area as it stands and think ‘that's the best we can do’.  This scheme will radically redesign, green and regenerate this important commercial area.  We have a £30m pot to spend; if we reject it, it will just be spent somewhere else.

There's an article in some depth about it here, by a cyclist so it’s naturally biased, but I think he makes good points:

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/oct/05/bike-lane-blues-londo...

You might disagree with me/him on every point!  But whatever you think it’s important the consultation gets a good response from a cross section of the community.   So please do share this widely with your friends and neighbours and fill in the consultation before Friday!

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Permalink Reply by Tamara Coyle on October 13, 2015 at 12:39

I think you are right the whole area needs a complete overhaul to get the commercial and community balance a vibrant community like Palmers Green and its surrounds deserves. Given the budget pressures the council is under though, I am really not sure cycle lanes will help anything or anybody except a minority of keen cyclists. I have lived in the area since 2001 and have only seen about 3 cyclists until now along the cycle path stretching down the a406. So.... Green Lanes is desperate for some change which isn't going to be easy never is - but is a cycling path really going to do anything to alleviate the issues of 

• better businesses
• a wider range of retail and shops
• tackling anti-social behaviour
• improved pedestrian facilities for families such as communal outdoor eating areas/covered stalls

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