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news
Blackfriars Bridge barriers (William Hulley via Twitter).jpgBarriers on London’s Blackfriars Bridge widened for cyclists
The gaps between security barriers on Blackfriars Bridge in London have been widened following reports of huge queues of cyclists at peak times. London Cycling Campaign welcomed the change, while a former Scotland Yard officer suggested that “the recent surge in moped-enabled crime could mean that terrorists will adopt this tactic.”
The barriers had previously only left room for cyclists to pass in single file at the north end of the bridge, but have now been repositioned to allow a better flow of cycle traffic.
Good to see that the barriers at the north of Blackfriars Bridge have been changed (thanks @williamhulley for pic!)https://t.co/hOy10UvZQs pic.twitter.com/nqhVT8rxow
— LdnCyclingCampaign (@london_cycling) June 28, 2017
The city’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, commented: “We recognise that the barriers the Met installed to increase security have affected many of the cyclists and pedestrians who use London's bridges.
“That’s why TfL and I are working with the Met, local councils and others to deliver short-term improvements that maintain the security of all road users, such as these changes to Blackfriars Bridge, as well as longer-term solutions.”
David Videcette, who was in the Met’s counter-terror unit for six years until 2010, told the London Evening Standard: “These bollards may stop large vehicles from entering the bridge, but what about mopeds? The recent surge in moped-enabled crime could mean that terrorists will adopt this tactic.
“Even though motorbikes would perhaps not cause as much damage as a car or van, a knifeman on a bike would.”
He said that if barriers were widened “too much,” the public would be open to further attacks.
“If a vehicle of any kind is able to get through – they are useless. The Government needs to be more forward-thinking in its approach to prevention as terrorists are flexible and they will find a way around the measures already in place.”
London Cycling Campaign responded: "It’s obviously vital that the Met Police can continue to protect all Londoners from terrorist attacks with necessary security measures.
"But it’s also vital that those measures don’t put people crossing the river on bike at risk. It’s positive to see the barriers, which were put in quickly, being tweaked and adapted to improve safety day-to-day for everyone."
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
Latest Comments
- rogerwb 4 hours 53 sec ago
Generalisations are valid in this case; there are enough boomers with negative attitudes to young people to be able to block good things like this....
- mattw 8 hours 59 min ago
This risks turning me into a hanger and flogger....
- wtjs 12 hours 59 min ago
In SE London, psychopath riders are the majority of people on bicycles Oh dear! another festive stealth anti-cyclist ☃️
- wtjs 13 hours 4 min ago
Well, you know the BMW drivers' saying: knock that house (hospital, social housing, care home, hospital...) down, could save 30 seconds on the trip!
- Spangly Shiny 14 hours 39 min ago
I had the pleasure of owning two of the featured builders here, in my history. When I joined the Army in 1971, I took with me my curly Hetchins:...
- Username 15 hours 44 min ago
Could Siobhán paint it red and noone would notice it?
- Spangly Shiny 1 day 6 hours ago
To paraphrase Field of Dreams, "Build it right and they will come: and use it!"
- Rendel Harris 1 day 8 hours ago
And a Happy Christmas to you, road.cc staff!
- Rendel Harris 1 day 9 hours ago
The odds of not being able to find a single pedestrian - just one, note, "any pedestrian" - in an area containing more than about ten of them who...
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14 comments
Anyway, "former Scotland Yard officer". Scotland 0.9144 metre surely?
So while the surge in moped related crime could mean terrorists adapt this tactic (helmets off to stop police chasing them - 'ealth 'n safety innit
) they could also adopt the tactic of targeting the billions miles of unprotected pavement in a car instead, unless they wanna look super cool and hard on their mopeds?
Is there something in the Terrorists' Code of Conduct that says they can only drive shit at people who are on bridges?
No, impressively economical and competatively well-specced urban SUVs are also acceptable.
I don't think David can have been entrusted with that much responsibility at Scotland Yard surely? There are footways everywhere, cretin.
Reminds me of Judge Death's logic.
Surely a bottleneck of cyclists is an easy target for any terrorist , whether on foot or moped?
Reducing that bottleneck will surely mitigate for such a scenario...
Oh wait - what about a crowded road, slowly moving stream of traffic and a van laden with explosives?
Or perhaps a suicidal 'helicopter hire'...
I'm just being silly now AMN'T I? (sic)
Yeah, block the pavement and cycle paths just in case terrorists use them. Not much we can do about the roads though, where every other attack has come from. We should only sell rubber knives. That'll stop em'
What if they've got a peice of fruit? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U90dnUbZMmM
Aaah! Life imitating art, a favourite skit.
Well said, look forward to other reasonable responses to tragedies - should there be big barriers in the river to prevent errant speedboats?
Oh can we have some barrage balloons too please
I thought terrorists drove hire vans? Maybe stricter id checks on van hire instead of blocking the cycle lanes when the terrorists can you know just drive on the road [
you fucking morons]Fuck this guy. Clearly not sincere with his thoughts and just hates cyclists. The old system caused a huge bottleneck of stationary cyclists. If he's worried about terrorist attacks, surely that'd be an easy target?
If you were to ask me to imagine the least effective weapon/vehicle combination, it would almost certainly be a knife wielding person on a motorbike. Would be funny to watch though
Christ - good point! What if terrositsts use cycles? Best narrow them to at lest 1/3 average Q factor.
At the police officer quoted about mopeds: but what about criminals and terrorists who walk? Probably best to block all the footpaths too, just in case...