A church in West London is urging parishioners to pray against a proposed Cycle Superhighway.
Transport for London (TfL) is currently consulting on its plans, unveiled last month, for Cycle Superhighway 9 from Kensington Olympia to Brentford, with a future extension to Hounslow.
The two-way, segregated route would run along Chiswick High Road and past the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Grace & St Edward (the red brick building obscured by trees to the right of centre in this artist’s impression).
The call to prayer was spotted by Twitter user Darren Moore.
Gosh. This is very strange. Despite all the suffering in the World @OurLadyChiswick are praying every day against #CS9 #airpollution #safety pic.twitter.com/L1hVNUDUxd
— Darren Moore (@darrenmoore) October 5, 2017
On its website, the parish claims that “the pavement outside of the church will be reduced to about one third of its current size and the Cycle Superhighway would have right of way.”
It asks parishioners to consider the effect it would have on:
Sunday Mass congregations gathering on the pavement, the elderly, and families with children vs speeding cyclists
Funerals: no right of way for carrying the coffin
No right of way for First Holy Communion & other processions
Weddings: no right of way for Brides in their wedding dresses.
However, a map provided by TfL as part of its consultation reveal that there would still be a signal controlled pedestrian crossing on Chiswick High Road immediately outside the church and across the Cycle Superhighway.
Moreover, given its location on the corner of Chiswick High Road and Dukes Avenue, access for vehicles for services such as funerals and weddings should not be an issue.
The church itself comes under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster, which in 2011 announced that it was encouraging staff to cycle to its head office in Victoria.
At the time, a spokesman for the diocese said: “The aim is to spread the message that our lifestyles – whether at home, in church or in the wider world – influence the environment, and that our respectful and careful stewardship is vital.”
Caspar Hughes, a member of the organising group of Stop Killing Cyclists, told road.cc: “CS9 will reduce pollution and road danger for the congregation of Our Lady of Grace & St Edwards and the surrounding area.
“As we see time and time again speeding and distracted driving is a serious cause of danger to people.
“Creating an environment where cycling and walking are given priority will go some way to removing the dangers drivers present to us all.”
Anyone with an opinion about the proposed route may find it more beneficial to respond to TfL’s consultation on it, which remains open until 31 October 2017 and can be found here.
One church in London that is rather more welcoming to people on bikes is St James’s Piccadilly, which this Sunday holds its annual Blessing of Cyclists service, with tea and cake in the garden afterwards.
49 thoughts on “West London church urges parishioners to pray against Cycle Superhighway”
I hope they say a little
I hope they say a little prayer for me making my way through HGVs and buses if that scheme doesn’t go ahead.
It’s amazing what some people
It’s amazing what some people ask their god to help them with. It’s also amazing how un-Christian some Christians can be.
harragan wrote:
Christians are as Christians do, in my book.
If they’re praying for CS9 to be denied the go ahead, then that’s a Christian act. If they want ‘Christian’ to be a nice thing, they should perhaps act with a little more compassion.
harragan wrote:
Did you read the article? The last paragraph describes a Christian church holding a blessing for cyclists. Why only take the bad?
darrenleroy wrote:
Haven’t you just done exactly what you are accusing harragn of?
He said: “It’s also amazing how un-Christian some Christians can be”, this led me to assume that he was referring only to the space-fairy worshippers in Chiswick and not those in Jermyn St.
darrenleroy wrote:
And their blessings will be just as effective as their prayers…
darrenleroy wrote:
Because a ‘blessing’ is the religious version of a typical council or transport minister’s “target” or generic blurb about being entirely in favour of cycling in a general non-specific sense (before going on to do everything they can to suppress it in its real, particular, sense).
harragan wrote:
Haven’t you heard of the theology of prosperity? If you pray hard enough, God will reward you. And if you’re successful in life, it proves that you are a good person favoured by God (and if you are unsuccessful, clearly you are not a good person, or didn’t pray hard enough, and/or God is punishing you for something (which explains a lot of Americans attitudes toward the poor). Prosperity theology tends to be Protestant and not Catholic, mind…
The Rev Richard Coles is a
The Rev Richard Coles is a cyclist – wonder if he can have a word with God ?
Allahu akbar!
Allahu akbar!
Down with the anti-cycling infidels!
Are you sure that photo is
Is that photo Mark Williams from The Fast Show? Today I will mostly be opposing sustainable transport….
regalslip wrote:
It is, he plays the role of Father Brown in the daytime BBC TV priest/detective show based on GK Chesterton’s books (though the series was set in the 1950s, not pre-war).
When I lived in the Cotswolds, I’d sometimes happen across them filming while out on a bike ride, bit weird coming across a 50s film set at times.
BBC used to schedule it right before a quiz show he hosted, which was an interesting juxtaposition.
I’ll get me cassock …
regalslip wrote:
Boris Johnson in fancy dress
Praying is what people do
Praying is what people do when they can’t be arsed to actually do anything.
Eg. That scruffy old lady down the road could do with help getting herself washed and dressed each morning. It’s terrible, something should be done, but I can’t be arsed to do it myself so I will pray for her. When she has been found lying in her hall having been dead for a month, I’ll pray for her soul. I can’t be arsed to do anything for her, but praying lets me feel good about myself and superior to everyone else.
Even if they do pray hard
Even if they do pray hard enough to convince their god to smite the bike lane, I have it on good authority that both the Flying Spaghetti Monster and the Easter Bunny are pro-cycling. So, unless they can get Superman or Gandalf to fight on their side, that’s two-against-one bitches.
handlebarcam wrote:
And Santa must have delivered millions of bikes in his time, so that makes three against one…err..female canines.
Oh, magic sky wizard, please
Oh, magic sky wizard, please help us divert the evil Satan borne cycle highway so that your work of the created world may continue to be destroyed by traffic fumes and lead your flock to certain death by allowing them to access the busy road and play in the traffic. Amen etc.
As a practising Cthulhu
As a practising Cthulhu cultist, I shall be performing some ineffable rituals to fortify ALL cycle paths (and psychopaths as well – 2 for 1). Great Cthulhu is most interested in speedy food delivery and you can shift a lot more humans on bikes than in vehicles. Also, HE doesn’t like it when his food is coughing from all the smog and pollution – it masks all the mad screaming.
On an entirely unrelated note, does anyone have a good cheap supplier of goats?
hawkinspeter wrote:
But Cthulhu is obviously evil because he’s got a motor on that bike, and he’s got wings which are likely to aid him up the climbs.
DrG82 wrote:
Lord Cthulhu has no interest in human morality and has little regard for UCI regulations.
hawkinspeter wrote:
Hang on, that sounds like Pat McQuaid. Certainly would explain a lot.
hawkinspeter wrote:
I would imagine he has a R’lyeh bike, which might also conflict with the regs, owing to its non-Euclidian geometry.
FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:
Lord Cthulhu has no interest in human morality and has little regard for UCI regulations.— FluffyKittenofTindalos
I would imagine he has a R’lyeh bike, which might also conflict with the regs, owing to its non-Euclidian geometry.— hawkinspeter
Made by a frame builder in Dunwich, no doubt (makes you think about the *real* purpose of the Dunwich Dynamo, doesn’t it…?)
I’ sure that Didi could help
I’ sure that Didi could change their minds:
That is a seriously weird
That is a seriously weird rendition of a bicycle in the St James’s flyer.
I think they present some
I think they present some reasonable arguments for their case. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all in favour of improving cycling infrastructure but it must be done in consultation with locals and such concerns should be taken into consideration.
There, but for the grace of
There, but for the grace of God go I.
Have they even read the bible
Have they even read the bible?
Isaiah 40:3
Proverbs 15:19
Revelations 20:1
Genesis 33:13
Jeremiah 13:1
Jeremiah 18:15
Deuteronomy 2:27
Genesis 8:15
I expect this is a reflection
I expect this is a reflection of the elderly avarege age of their congregation and the numbers that will drive to service on a sunday.
There would be a solution for not losing any pavemnt space, but this would mean taking out the right turn lane eastbound and making it no right turn into Dukes Avenue (which I would expect the church and it’s congregation would complain about).
Chiswick is a lovely place, badly blighted by car traffic (Not helped by the M4 running through it). It badly needs more people on bikes and less in cars.
thereverent wrote:
Fewer in cars. But I get your sentiment and tend to agree. Chiswick could be so cycle friendly with a bit of effort. Hopefully we’ll see the results.
Yet another clueless, selfish
Yet another clueless, selfish type who’d rather people in his parish be subjected to the dangers of errant motorists some of whom will be within his ‘flock’, than allow the right to safe passage. How very unchristrian of him!
Also ignoring the fact that pollutants will be eroding his church and causing premature deaths in the locality.
Having had to put up with very inconsiderate parking from church goers in both town and village the past 30 years frankly he can go get lost.
It sounds from the comments
It sounds from the comments like the church in question has either experienced or naively bought into the #bloodycyclists and lycra lout myth that we’re all irresponsible speed obsessed yahoos. Maybe the local cycling groups could reach out and give them an opportunity to actually talk to a cross section of potential users to share (vent?) their concerns and engage in a myth busting exercise with them. I’d imagine that the CS is going to be busiest and most likely to be problematic to their way of thinking in AM & PM rush hours, which I suspect will not intersect too much with elderly outdoor congregations of people attending regular services at least and early AM is not a big time for funerals to be occurring if my experience of them is owt to go by.
Cynically tho, I’d rather they continue pray against the possibility of cycling infrastructure than petition or protest in more earthly ways.
Shouldbeinbed wrote:
Yeah, old farts who believe stone age silliness were never going to make the most progressive, critical thinkers.
remember, this is the same
remember, this is the same old church that hanged and burned thousands of inocent people for no reason and gave power to thousands of evil people ,again, for no aparent reason.. cyclists road is none consiredred to them… they don’t like it for no reason, they will pray for it to leave…
Religion annoys me. It turns
Religion annoys me. It turns respectable intelligent people (doctors/accountants/solicitors) into crazy folk with an imaginary friend. Their obvious intelligence fails them when applying common sense. They dont believe in Father Christmas because that would just be crazy but some other mythical being for which there is no physical evidence is ok.
Selfish cunts.
Selfish cunts.
It’s always amused me how few
It’s always amused me how few cyclists are religious. I suppose the Sunday Club Run is our Church.
The church’s position on
The church’s position on their Facebook page is a bit more naunced:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1445435135552642&id=300823800013787
There are some very good and thoughtful replies by Hounslow Cyclists.
Classic NIMBY tactic on their
Classic NIMBY tactic on their Facebook of agreeing with the sentiment of having the CS but that it just isn’t practical where it is proposed to be routed; all crafted as a debate to imply that really they are onside and sympathise while actually totally opposed to anything that’s makes a difference.
So does this church believe
So does this church believe that funerals, brides, and first communion processions (?) all have “right of way” at present? Would they care to test that by walking out into the motor traffic which currently fills the road next to the church…?
Well everyone knows that
Well everyone knows that cyclists are godless speed maniacs intent on dominating the roadway to the exclusion of all other road users
a few times I’ve thought “for
a few times I’ve thought “for Jesus sake can’t you take some space away from motorised vehicles”
obviously my freelance praying isn’t effective as the design above includes a dedicated right turn lane (the Lord tells me that is to meet the heavenly requirement to reduce congestion) – get rid of the right turn lane – maintain the pavement width – build a dedicated cycle facility were it should be in the road space not the pedestrian area Oh and the christians can gather in the side street by the new parking spaces and thank the Lord that they don’t cycle to church
Nothing to be concerned about
Nothing to be concerned about, they’re paying to “god”, and being there’s no such entity their action can have no effect on the outcome
As proposed here:
As proposed here:
https://twitter.com/RantyHighwayman/status/915998808265261056
The answer appears to be a network level change to fully close Dukes Ave between Chiswick High Rd and Bourne Place. This means the the track can pass the other side of the trees because the right and turn lanes into Dukes Ave are no longer required. This means the junction signals could be removed in favour of a zebra across Chiswick High Rd (make it humped); space would be freed up outside the Dukes Ave entrance to the church which could be made into a really nice bit of public realm for photos etc.
There would also be space to create a bay to be used by principal wedding and funeral cars (which can be reserved by traffic order). As a matter of fact, the wider area could be filtered into traffic cells because through traffic from Chiswick High Rd and the A4 could be accommodated via Sutton Court Rd & Heathfield Terrace for example. We get the cycle track, filter an area, create more of a setting for the church, provide a dedicated bay for the church and save on several sets of traffic signals. Seems like a winner.
Will never happen though – far too sensible.
dottigirl wrote:
Will never happen though – far too sensible.
I’ve just pointed the church twitter account to Ranty HIghwayman’s suggestion. Anyone going to the meeting might take a copy of dottigirl ‘s compilation and ask the churchpeople a) if they’ve read it (and if not why not, and “let me read it out to you” etc) and b) what objections they might have to this alternative.
Much hatred and abuse
Much hatred and abuse directed at an out- group here. If only us marginalised oppressed cyclists could practice what we preach, eh?!
700c wrote:
I personally take the view that if they are happy to dish it out, then I expect it to be understood when thown back. And if they don’t like it thrown back, they know what to do.
They don’t like it up ’em!
It’s a lovely church, I’d
It’s a lovely church, I’d really rather they kept the pavement, which could be done by reducing the space for motors down to seven meters wide or so. Cars would still have most of the space on the street! This is why we’re having arguments about cyclists vs pedestrians, because of the ruckus people getting stuck behind buses or deliveries would cause, when they should probably be on the great west road.
It does narrow quite a lot in front of the church in the plans, especially towards the junction. If it does go ahead as is maybe tfl could close of a bit of the side road next to the church and create a plaza-type thing there?
Dear Holy Trinity (God, Jesus
Dear Holy Trinity (God, Jesus and… er, is it Robin Hood?)
I know you couldn’t be arsed to intervene to prevent the Holocaust, Black Death, slave trade, rape, disease, famine, paedophilia, murder, suicide etc, but do you think you could help out in shifting a cycle route in London that me and some of my fellow parishioners imagine could be mildly inconvenient for us? Maybe deliver some leaflets or something?
Also, the back steps could do with a bit of a sweep.
Cheers mate
Amen