South Croydon Railway Station - CLOSED

Well you can't keep a half decent cycle facility for long in Croydon. It soon turns into crap.

This path has now been closed. The bottom end of the car park is now entirely given over to the storage of railway equipment, so at the point where you are supposed to get off the track in to the car park it is blocked.

(as it was when open)


And just to emphasise the point, the sign which was pointing in the wrong direction has been removed.

(before the sign was removed)


Google Earth Image

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cycling, cycle path, croydon

Climate Bike Ride 2008

Reaching the end of the Climate Change Bike Ride - Featuring Des Kay and his wonderful contraption.



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cycling, Des Kay

Bonkers Boris slashes cycle funding

From the Guardian

The Green party in the London assembly accused the Tory mayor of lacking "backbone" by putting £11.1m into traffic signals for London motorists while cutting the LCN+ budget.

Jenny Jones, one of two green party members on the London assembly, said Johnson's budget allocation would please motorists at the expense of cyclists.

"The mayor has cut £10m off the budget for cycle lanes in London and used the money to help fund a new £11m budget for traffic light rephasing. This might well please a few motorists who want to get through red lights faster, but it is a stab in the back for cyclists in London," Jones said.

"Local cyclists have spent the last three years working on schemes, often having to overcome the resistance of reluctant traffic engineers. What we needed this year was a mayor with some backbone and the desire to remove the physical barriers to cycling in London. The cycling mayor was meant to be on their side, yet he has now halved the funding for London's biggest cycling scheme."

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cycling

South Croydon Railway Station Car Park

Shock news, there's a new wide, tarmacked, well lit shared use cycle path in Croydon which isn't bad at all (well not that bad anyway).



It starts at Coombe Road, by the railway bridge, where the sign clearly shows it as a shared use cycle path to the railway station.

Shame the sign is pointing in exactly the wrong direction.



It is a wide tarmacked path, that looks more like an access road.



It is very well lit.



But rather strangely signed.



With no signs at all in the opposite direction



Bikes are then directed into the new, vastly enlarged 80 spaces car park, the real reason for the development.



And if you approach the path from the station direction, you could be forgiven for thinking there was no cycle path at all.



It is a great improvement to the footpath, but unlikely to be a particularly popular cycle path, and as for trying to cross Coombe Road, there is no crossing anywhere along this stretch, despite many years of campaigning from local residents.

Google Earth Image - taken before the path was built

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cycling, cycle path, croydon

Des Kay wins Critical Mass Legal Case

Des Kay and FoE deserve a vote of thanks for perusing this case all the way to the house of lords.



BBC "Impromptu cyclists win legal case"

Judgments -Kay (FC) (Appellant) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (Respondent)

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cycling, critical mass

"What Boris has against London’s cyclists?"

A great piece of analysis from Boris Watch showing how the mayor seems determined to make London less safe for cycling...

He hasn’t answered the question. He’s dodged, ducked, dived, dipped and then dodged again, for good measure. He’s not offered up any plausible explanation for what was either a direct lie or the result of listening to and believing someone who was lying. I wonder why.

As for the facts put forward, there’s a glaring lacuna in there that renders this answer not only evasive but actually misleading. Basically, you can’t compare artic and non-artic buses by vehicle kilometre and use the results unaltered. It’s intellectually dishonest and here’s why:

We’ve seen from the London Travelwatch document that in order to maintain passenger capacity on debendification you need 40-50% more buses (in fact 75 bendies become 117 non-articulated buses on the first three routes, for a total increase of 56%, because the 507 and 521 are special cases). Presumably, if the bendy casualty rate is really only 32-36% more, then scrapping bendies and replacing them with 56% more non-bendy buses will *increase* the casualty rate and be less safe for cyclists. Let’s do the maths on a simple example:

Say intensive non-bendy route X has 10 collisions with cyclists per year and intensive bendy route Y, with the same number of vehicle km operated, and according to the Boris Ratio, 13 collisions per year. Total: 23 collisions.

Now, we debendify route Y, increasing vehicle kilometres by 50%, but reducing the casualty rate. We now have 13/1.3*1.5 = 15 collisions per year, for 25 collisions in total, so we’ve made the bus network about 8 or 9% less safe for cyclists.

It can be seen from this that no matter how the figures are dressed up and spun, the extra casualty rate on bendies has to be below the replacement bus rate, otherwise you end up injuring more cyclists.

I ask myself what Boris has against London’s cyclists? He seems to favour a lot of projects that actively harm them.

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cycling

Croydon Council Are Truly Crap

Back in February I wrote an optimistic post titled Sign of Improvements..., regarding this sign.



Six months later the roadworks were still "underway", and Jim managed to get this sorry story of delay and incompetence into the Croydon Advertiser.


Now we are reaching the end of the year and the scheme has simply ground to a halt. It seems that Croydon Council has just given up, and the faded sign may sit here, along with the roadworks, well into the new year.



Satellite Image

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cycling, croydon

Climate Bike Ride 2008

Saturday 6 December 2008

Assemble 10.30 am Lincolns Inn Fields for a mass bike ride around Central London joining up with the National Climate March at Grosvenor Square.

There will be three stops on the route:
• Outside Greenergy, 198 High Holborn – for an agrofuels protest organised by Biofuelswatch
• Outside E.On 100 Pall Mall – for a speaker on NO NEW COAL
• Outside the Department of Transport – for a speaker on sustainable transport

All welcome.

Decorate your bikes. Bring whistles. Bring music.

Web site

Southville Roads and other gems

A couple of recommendations from the web...

Southville Roads is a fresh look at parking - particularly the art of pavement parking in the Southville area of Bristol.



This came via The Green Bristol Blog which is helping fight the desecration of the Bristol to Bath cycle path.



It is such a shame that Croydon lacks the radical activism found in places like Bristol and Brighton, mind you that would be no guarantee of decent conditions for cycling...

Cycling is safer on the Streets

From Principles of cycle planning by John Franklin

A statement by the Austrian government makes the point: "Most bicycle accident victims are older people and children. They are put at risk by the complexity of cycle paths on the one hand and on the other hand by their over-confidence that their safety on cycle paths is substantially greater than on the road.

At the international Velo City conference in Munich this year, a Swiss delegate described how there has been a major shift in his country from accommodating cyclists separately to mixing cyclists with traffic, with changes to the road environment as necessary. This has led to big increases in cycling. The mayors of Munich, Brussels, Copenhagen and Paris each explicitly stated how they wanted cycling back on their streets. And even a speaker from the Netherlands defined 'cycle-friendly cities' as those with as few special facilities for cyclists as possible.

We don't need cycle facilities, we need streets which are safe for cycling.

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cycling, cycle lane, cycle path, cycle track

"East Croydon roadworks inflame cyclists"

Back in February I wrote an optimistic post titled Sign of Improvements..., regarding this sign.



Six months later the roadworks are still underway, and Jim has managed to get this sorry story of delay and incompetence into the Croydon Advertiser.

East Croydon roadworks inflame cyclists

07:00 - 16-August-2008



Cyclists have lashed out at "farcical" roadworks which started at the beginning of the year and have no end in sight.

"Cycle network improvement works" started in January at the junction of Addiscombe Road and Cherry Orchard Road.

They were meant to take only three months yet eight months on are still carrying on.

Satellite Image

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cycling, croydon

Crap New Road Markings

These road markings have appeared between Church Road and Mill Lane on a route I use from time to time both on a bike and in a car.



The markings make no sense. From a car they look more like a speed bump, the shiny green paint mostly obscures the white cycle symbol. From a bike they are just crazy.

Is this a very short mandatory cycle lane in the middle of the road?

It seems that this is another original piece of road artwork from Croydon Council.

A source from TfL has confirmed that

The cycle symbol and arrow are authorised (legal) signs and use like this is rexcommended, see LCDS Annex C S1 & S2.
Green can be used, no legal significance.
White line around outside is not legal and should not be used!

Which has sparked yet further debate about local road markings, since if the box around the cycle marking is not legal, what is the legal status of the white boxes the council have painted round local speed bumps?



Satellite Image

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cycling, croydon

The No Cycling Cycle Lane - Park Hill Road

This is a temporary art installation from November 2003.



It is one of the most outrageous pieces from the artist best known as the Croydon Council (Anti-)Cycling Department.



It was swiftly removed, following unfavorable publicity, and it was later claimed that this was the result of a contractor's error. However, it is a clear illustration of the lack of care taken by the council in these matters.

It might be funny, but for the fact that these no cycling signs were supposed to be placed along the Fairfield Path. Now, five years later this steep narrow twisting footpath is under threat from the Connect2 project. Croydon Council now want to turn this busy section of the footpath into a cycle route.

Satellite Image

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cycling, cycle lane, cycle path, cycle track, croydon

Boris buggers up bus lanes for cyclists

Motorbikes to be allowed in bus lanes, says Boris

But Tom Bogdanowicz of the London Cycling Campaign said that TfL's first report was "wrong".

He told the Standard: "LCC advises against making any snap judgement on putting motorbikes in bus lanes based on what TfL has said. TfL says the data showed potential 'dis-benefits' to pedestrians and cyclists. Many cyclists find bus lanes a refuge from high-speed and unpredictable motor vehicles."

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cycling, bus lanes

Useless Cycle Lane Blocked by Bollard

You have to hand it to the traffic engineers of croydon, they really know how to make the laughable into the ludicrous. Remember "X" marks the spot - the useless cycle lanes by West Croydon Station?



Well, because many of Croydon's car drivers can't read road signs and obey them, Croydon Council have added two bollards to make it quite clear which way they should go.



Only they've put one of the bollards where it blocks the entry to one of the cycle lanes!

Not that any sane cyclist would ever use these cycle lanes, but the council could at least admit defeat and remove this useless cycle facility.


View Larger Map

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cycling, cycle lane, croydon

And again

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cycling, croydon

In the News Again

Croydon Advertiser 4th April



Shame there was no mention of the cycle lane problems I was trying to cover.

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cycling, croydon

Cycle Training doesn't increase cycling

There is a continual push from people who do not understand the issues towards measures like cycle buddies and adult cycle training.

I've seen this kind of thing come and go over the past 20 years and they have never made a significant difference to the level of cycling on our roads.

Training benefits a small number of individuals. For them it can be very effective, but the number of people who want cycle training is very small.

The major increases in the levels of cycling are all caused by external factors which make cycling more attractive than the car or bus or train. The major examples in London over the past few years are the congestion charge and the bus and tube bombs.

The best way of increasing the levels of cycling in Croydon would be to bring in a congestion charge for the major access routes and the A23.

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cycling, croydon

The London Programme ITV 21/3/08

"Death by Lorry" was a very good programme and well worth catching if it's repeated. Sadly I can't find a version of it online.

It featured 50 seconds of shots of crap cycle facilities in Croydon, including

Tamworth Road/Ruskin Road
[Edit: having taken a closer look whilst out shopping, it's clear that the lane does not go into a one way street as the programme stated, but is part of a plug no entry and signs show the road to be two way from the end of the cycle lane]

South End

High Street (clear shot of Leon House)

and the classic post in the cycle lane at Reeves Corner

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cycling, croydon

Watch Tory leader David Cameron flouting laws of the road

Tory leader exposed.




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cycling, tory

Addiscombe Road - TfL remove the lane

This post is dedicated to the two friendly, young policemen who stopped and searched me under the Terrorism act whilst I was trying to take these photos. Sorry guys I can't remember your names, but if you'd like to add a comment then it would round out this post nicely.

An email from Jim notified us that the cycle lane had been removed, as predicted by another cyclist. The cycle lane now suddenly stops some distance from the junction, at the point where the traffic is directed into two lanes.



The advanced stop line still exists, and has now been painted green.



However, the ASL box is completely useless as not only is it almost impossible to get to in heavy traffic, without going round the outside, it is also technically illegal to enter the box on a bicycle because there is no cycle lane giving entry.



Satellite Image

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cycling, cycle lane, croydon

Bristol and Bath Railway Path

Nothing like it in Croydon...

Satellite Image - EDIT!

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cycling cycle path

More traffic free cycle paths under threat

Whilst visiting Ambleside today we bought a Lancaster Guardian and I was horrified to read of yet more stupid suggestions to turn Sustrans cycle paths into busways. The piece Put buses on the city cycle paths says that Faber Maunsell's report to the Lancaster district "Vision Board" recommends "buses using the district's cycle paths to cut journey times."

Satellite Image - Lancaster's cycle only bridge over the Lune

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cycling, cycle path, lancaster

Addiscombe Road - now it's dangerous!

The recently refurbished cycle lane, LCN 75 westbound on Addiscombe Road, was looking like a real improvement over the previous road markings, with a lane wider than the usual Croydon crap which was mostly clear of traffic.

Not any longer, it is now looking pretty dangerous.



An extra line has been added to the junction to signify that the traffic should form two lines.
This pushes most of the cars into the cycle lane.



This is in response to the buses which turn right at this point.



The result for anyone trying to use the cycle lane is a disaster.









The TfL engineer responsible for this cock up should be forced to ride this junction repeatedly in heavy traffic until s/he gets the message.



Satellite Image

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cycling, cycle lane, croydon

Help Save the Bristol to Bath Railway Path

The Bristol to Bath Railway path was the very first Sustrans path. It is now in danger of being turned into an express bus route. The destruction of such an important cycle route would set a precedent which would make it easier for other cycle routes to be destroyed.

A campaign is now up and running - web site is http://www.railwaypath.org

Sign the petition via http://www.railwaypath.org/petition



Tags sustrans

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cycling, cycle path

Addiscombe Road - was it a cockup?

Just had this message from a Croydon Cyclist

"Make the most of those wonderful wide cycle lanes, for tonight they will shrink to the size you are more familiar with. Apparently the contractor made a mistake on the original dimensions."

If this is true it just goes to prove how fucked up cycle infrastructure design is in Croydon.

Satellite Image

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cycling, cycle lane, cycle path, cycle track, croydon

Addiscombe Road - half finished or half baked?

The recently refurbished cycle lane, LCN 75 westbound on Addiscombe Road, has been causing excitement amongst some Croydon Cyclists.



Not only is it 1.6m wide, twice as wide as some Croydon cycle lanes, but it no longer comes to a halt before the traffic lights several metres short of the Advanced Stop Line.



At the moment it is unfinished, and lacks cycle signs and green paint, but the really big advantage of the new road layout is that there is now only one lane of traffic. This means that the cycle lane remains mostly clear of motor vehicles. It is also remarkable in being one of the few occasions in Croydon where a significant amount of road space has been transferred from cars to cycles.

Not that some of Croydon's drivers have got the message about the changed road layout yet!



However, TfL have still failed to get the design right, and the lane falls short of the minimum standards for a good cycle facility. At 1.6m this lane is still below the 2.0m minimum set out by the DoT in "Cycle-Friendly Infrastructure: Guidelines for Planning and Design". It is also only an advisory lane, meaning it cannot be enforced by law. Mandatory lanes where motor vehicles are excluded have solid lines separating them from the carriageway.

So for want of a bit more white paint, placed only 40cm further from the curb, Croydon might have had its first good quality cycle lane.

The problem with advisory lanes was clearly illustrated by a group riding motorbikes down the cycle lane whilst I was taking these photos.





Motorcycles represent one of the biggest dangers to cyclists and pedestrians, after lorries and buses, because of the way in which they compete for the same road space as pedal cycles. They also are one of the biggest threats to local air quality because they are not subject to the same strict pollution controls as cars and are not subject to the Congestion charge.

Satellite Image - taken before the changes.

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cycling, cycle lane, cycle path, cycle track, croydon, TfL

Sign of Improvements...

..or just more public money going to waste?

At the moment the changes going on further east on Addiscombe Road are encouraging, in that a traffic lane has been removed to put in a wider (but still a substandard 1.6m wide) cycle lane.

I have not been able to find any plans on the council web site, but if anyone can find them please post the link.

However, I have found an old Cycle Strategy which suggests that these works are 18 months late.

3.1.6 Also, funding is to be provided by TfL for the construction of a junction improvement that will allow cycle access for the first time. The Addiscombe Rd / Cherry Orchard Rd junction was modified in 2000 to accommodate the new tram system and little provision was made for safe cycle access. As the junction forms part of two LCN+’s, BSP funding will allow the Council to introduce cycle measures here that will also assists other vulnerable road users. The programme construction start date is June 2006 and the total cost of the scheme (£320k) is being met by BSP funding. The main benefits of this scheme will be the provision of cycle access to East Croydon Station.

Satellite Image - of notice site

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cycling, cycle lane, cycle path, cycle track, croydon