Council Says RideLondon Organisers Have "Lessons to Learn"
And asks for traffic plan to be reviewed with ballot set to open for next year's event
Hammersmith and Fulham Council are asking the organisers of RideLondon, which saw 15,000 enthusiasts cycling through Hammersmith & Fulham on Sunday, to review their traffic plan as they begin to work on next year's event.
RideLondon, dubbed the "marathon on wheels" was the UK's largest ever mass participation cycling event, according to the organisers, with thousands of eager cyclists following a similar route to last year's Olympic road race.
It is now set to be an annual event, with next year's event set for August 9 and 10.
H & F COuncil says that while t housands of people enjoyed the race, motorists also complained of significant delays as roads and bridges were closed to non-race traffic for much of the day.
Cllr Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, H&F Council cabinet member for transport and technical services, says: " Thousands of people enjoyed taking part in or viewing RideLondon at the weekend.
" But we also know many people were seriously inconvenienced by the traffic disruption – despite the repeated advanced warnings.
" For example, we know there was a problem with a bottleneck of traffic around Wandsworth Bridge which had a knock-on effect in south Fulham.
" There are lessons to be learned and the organisers need to review their traffic plan so we can understand what went well and where they can improve things for next year.”
Among the riders were Rugby World Cup winner Matt Dawson, Olympic champion sprint hurdler Sally Gunnell and two-time Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell who was the first celebrity over the finish line.
The charity-raising amateur race was followed by a professional race, called the RideLondon-Surrey Classic, with 150 of the world’s best riders.
Both races set off from the Olympic Park and followed a route through central London, along the A4 and over Hammersmith Flyover before venturing over Chiswick Bridge into Hounslow, Richmond upon Thames and Kingston upon Thames. The cyclists then headed into Surrey before returning via Putney Bridge and New Kings Road and eventually finishing on the Mall.
Transport for London (TfL) and local councils along the route issued warnings months in advance to encourage residents not to "get caught out" by planning alternative routes.
The event was organised by the Mayor of London, TfL, London & Partners and the London & Surrey Cycling Partnership (LSCP). Mayor Boris Johnson, who finished the course in just over eight hours, thanked the "good Samaritan" who fixed his puncture, and said: " He said: "This is a great day for cycling, and for this city.
Next year's race will be on the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, August 9 and 10. The ballot for next year’s Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 opens online on Monday August 12 .
August 6, 2013
