Crap Cycle Lanes of Croydon

New Artwork on South Croydon's Roads

2009-09-26T23:26:00.005+01:00

Some fresh council graffiti in the area, this one is a left turn only, shame I always want to turn right here - lots more to follow.

View Larger Map

Satellite Image

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cycling, cycle lane, croydon

Bollards in the Road - Old Town

2009-07-05T18:08:00.007+01:00

Have you ever seen cast iron bollards placed in the middle of a road?

I doubt it.

But the sight of a bollard in the middle of a cycle track is commonplace.

The reason is that the people who plan these sorts of routes don't care about the safety of cyclists - most of them don't even ride bicycles.

This particular example is a footpath conversion on a route called Old Town.

Satellite Image

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cycling, cycle path, cycle track, croydon

Works Delayed - East Croydon Station

2009-07-05T11:21:00.007+01:00

The cycle related works to the east of East Croydon Station have been delayed yet again.

However, the black plastic bin liners have now degraded and fallen off the signs to reveal the routes, and they are not too encouraging - I strongly suspect there will be dismount signs at the crossing, and the rest of the route to the station will be on a busy pavement.

It has even been the subject of an exchange of letters in the local papers, with the council making some pathetic excuses about unexpected problems. However, since it is not that long since the building of the tram tracks in the area this excuse does not hold water.

Satellite Image

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

http://croydon.cyclestreets.net/

2009-07-04T22:55:00.005+01:00

A project originating from Cambridge Cycling Campaign, arriving in Croydon.

It's only in Beta form at the moment, but it looks promising.

http://croydon.cyclestreets.net/

Funny what you come across at Open Tech...

The best news for this site is the ability to add photos of crap cycle facilities :)

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cycling, croydon, open tech

More secure cycle parking a must for London

2009-06-30T21:40:00.002+01:00

from http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release_a.jsp?releaseid=22598

More secure cycle parking a must for London

Report available at http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/transport/stand-deliver-cycle-parking-report.pdf

The Mayor wants to see a million journeys made by bike every day in London by 2025, but a lack of secure cycle parking will hold Londoners back from getting on their bikes, a London Assembly report today warns.

‘Stand and deliver: Cycle parking in London’1, by the London Assembly Transport Committee, assesses cycle parking provision in London – at stations, in public areas, and in residential developments - and finds it falls far short of demand.

A survey2 of Londoners conducted as part of the investigation also revealed that the security of parked bikes remains one of the most serious concerns for cyclists3. Almost three-quarters (71%) rated the security of cycle parking facilities in London as poor; only 2 per cent said it was good.

Poor security is contributing to the tens of thousands of bikes stolen in the capital each year. The number of bike thefts reported in 2008/09 was just over 18,000 but research4 indicates only one in four thefts is reported, making the real annual figure likely to be more than 70,000.

Although Transport for London (TfL) has installed over 53,000 new cycle parking spaces across London since 2000, the number of trips by bike has almost doubled over the same period – and the Mayor wants to see the rate double again by 20255. He is making £2 million available to fund an increase in secure cycle parking – but even TfL is concerned this might not be enough.

The report calls for TfL to publish a clear strategy that covers every aspect of cycle parking provision in London, including an assessment of demand, proposals for new locations, and how available funding will be allocated.

The Committee’s survey asked Londoners for their views on how easy it is to find somewhere to park their bike at a range of locations. More than three-quarters (77%) said there was not enough cycle parking on the high street, and almost 70 per cent said Tube stations have inadequate facilities. Over half said the amount of cycle parking provided in new developments is insufficient.

Joanne McCartney AM, who led the investigation on behalf of the Assembly’s Transport Committee, said: “In virtually every area I looked at, from new residential developments to mainline stations, the situation was the same: there is not enough secure cycle parking in the right places to meet the soaring demand in London.

“Boroughs, Transport for London, rail operators and the private sector need to work together to find innovative solutions to increase cycle parking, or the wheels will come off the Mayor’s commendable aspirations to encourage more Londoners to cycle.”

Specific findings and recommendations:
The report makes a number of recommendations to improve provision, including calling on boroughs to conduct cycle parking audits and for Transport for London (TfL) to publish a cycle parking strategy for consultation by the end of the year.

In line with Transport Secretary Lord Adonis’s comments earlier this week, the report found there is a woeful lack of secure cycle parking at mainline stations. This is despite the efforts of some operators, including First Capital Connect, South Central and South West Trains, to increase provision. The eleven central London mainline stations share a total of 1200 spaces6 for the half a million people they serve each day. The report says that improving cycle parking at stations will require conditions to be built into train operating companies’ franchise agreements.

Central London Tube stations present a significant challenge because of space constraints. The report notes TfL’s plans to install cycle parking in carparks at six outer London stations, but urges them to bring work forward at further locations.

Secure spaces at new office buildings also fall short of demand. Developers are typically required to install one cycle parking space for every 25 employees - while at some businesses one in five employees is already cycling.

To accommodate the growth in cycling, the report notes that the number of spaces required at new developments, including residential, will need to be increased from those in the current London Plan. As well as numbers, specifications should cover design, layout and security standards so boroughs can more easily apply and enforce the guidelines when considering planning applications for new developments.

New standards should be developed in advance of the revised London Plan, which is due in 2011: TfL should produce a draft standards document for boroughs by the end of this year and publish agreed standards as supplementary guidance by the end of June 2010.

Other opportunities to increase cycle parking are also highlighted in the report. These include the Velib docking stations which, when introduced, could incorporate general cycle parking if designed appropriately. Vacant underground car parking spaces may also have the potential to be converted to cycle parking. The report urges TfL to explore both of these possibilities.

Notes to Editors

1. The embargoed report: ‘Stand and deliver: Cycle parking in London’ is available at: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/transport.jsp#cycle-parking
2. The survey results are available in full as Appendix 1 of the report (p.29)
3. Research by Steer Davies Gleave (for TfL), Cycling in London, May 2008, p. 32, showed that the security of parked bikes is one of the two biggest cycling-related concerns, along with availability of spaces.
4. Evidence from Bikeoff at a stakeholder meeting on 25 March 2009.
5. Mayor of London, Way to Go!, November 2008, p. 24. This would mean journeys increase from the current rate of 1.6 per cent of trips made in London, to 5 per cent
6. See table on p.22 of the report for cycle parking by station.
7. The report will be considered for formal agreement at a Transport Committee hearing on 8 July 2009.
8. Joanne McCartney AM, who led the investigation on behalf of the Transport Committee, is available for interview. See contact details below.
9. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more details, please contact Dana Gavin in the Assembly Media Office on 020 7983 4603/4283. For out of hours media enquiries please call 0207 983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit, Greater London Authority, on 020 7983 4100.

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cycling

Bike Mounted Advertising

2009-05-17T18:28:00.006+01:00

Seen by East Croydon Station...

not in a fit state to ride home though.

Not that this is a new idea...

...this was the bike I left in North End back in 2005.

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cycling, croydon

April Fool Debate on Public Photography

2009-04-08T20:50:00.003+01:00

No doubt nothing will come of this...

Westminster Hall debates
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
Photography (Public Places)

..and the police will continue to harass innocent photographers following the other events on the same day.

Suburban cycling cut to pay for central London cycling

2009-04-01T22:58:00.002+01:00

News from Jenny Jones: Suburban cycling cut to pay for central London cycling

Analysis of new figures released by Transport for London shows how the Mayor is planning to spend £57m on a Velib style cycle hire scheme in central London whilst spending less on schemes which would benefit cycling in outer London. New figures show that out of a total of 383 schemes which have not been funded in the coming year, 260 are in outer London boroughs.

A provisional breakdown of the £111m cycling budget for 2009/10 has been sent to Jenny Jones. TfL have allocated nearly half the money to cycle hire and £12m to the cycling superhighways, which are fast commuter routes into central London. However, nothing is specifically allocated in the coming year to cycling hubs in outer London and the total spent on the pan London Cycle Network will be just over a third of what it has been this year.

Jenny Jones said:
“I think that the cycle hire scheme is brilliant and so is the idea of cycling superhighways, but the London mayor is paying for these high profile schemes by cutting hundreds of local schemes which would make cycling safer in London. We have a zone one cycling mayor who is giving far less money to the London Cycle Network in outer London, despite the advice from experts who tell him that four fifths of the potential new cyclists come from the suburbs.”

Notes to Editors

1. Analysis of the money provided to the boroughs for the LCN+ shows that a total of 383 schemes have not been funded in the coming year, 260 of them in outer London boroughs, see attached table based upon Question to the London mayor No: 2698 / 2008.

2. TfL’s cycle hire scheme is aiming for 55,000 cycling trips per day by bike. At present there are around 540,000 cycling trips.

3. Money spent on LCN+ was £33m in 2008/09, but drops to only £12m in 2009/10. These total figures are divided up between borough roads and the Trans London Road Network (TLRN). The LCN+ expenditure on the borough roads drops from £20 to £10m, whilst the LCN+ spending on the TLRN drops from £13m to £2m.

4. The London mayor has the target of a 400% increase in cycling, but the Transport for London report which proposed this target showed that 80% of the new potential cyclists would have to come from outer London.

For more details please contact the Green Party Group Press Officer - Ian Wingrove on 0207 983 4424, 07967 205 330 Ian.Wingrove@london.gov.uk

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cycling, croydon

South Croydon Station and Seltrans..

2009-03-29T14:00:00.005+01:00

I'd never heard of Seltrans till today, but it turns out that they are responsible for the works at South Croydon Station.

from the Autumn issue of the Seltrans newsletter.

South Croydon Update

We are pleased to announce that the final allocation from TfL for stage 1 of our holistic “station access scheme” has been approved. The major part of the scheme involves a joint cycle pedestrian access link to the station from the near by A212 and its neighbouring LCN route. This scheme has been delivered on time within budget, with the help of our partners from BRB, Network Rail and Southern Railway. The industry has complemented the Seltrans scheme with a refurbishment for not only the station building and the car park but they have also created a new station forecourt designed for passenger/pedestrian safety. This innovative scheme includes elements to remediate the heavy engineering required. This includes the provision of nesting boxes, too enhance bio-diversity and future funding is being sort to provide solar panels that will deliver a carbon zero project. We are hoping to invite our Seltrans partners to a formal opening ceremony in the very near future. Our thanks goes out to all the stakeholders that have been involved in delivering this relatively complex scheme.

Watch this space!!

I occasionally use this station, and have never noticed any information about this scheme or any information about Seltrans.

Satellite Image - pre-new carpark

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cycling, croydon

South End Dual Use Cycle Lane

2009-03-14T18:15:00.005Z

Croydon's anti-cycling department are known for their innovative approach to cycle facilities.

This example is a combined car parking space and cycle lane. A dual use facility. It allows Croydon Council to claim a few metre's more cycle lane without inconveniencing drivers.

Satellite Image - with a car in the parking space

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cycling, cycle lane croydon

South Croydon Cycle and Ride?

2009-03-14T17:52:00.003Z

A nice new cycle parking shelter has been installed at South Croydon Station.

It is in a prominent position at the entrance to the car park, a deterrent to bike thieves, and has capacity for 8 - 16 cycles. The design is bright and modern, and of a quality you might expect in the Netherlands, so maximum points on this one.

However, I have yet to see a single bike parked here. The surrounding road network is pretty dreadful, access to the station by bike is not easy, so sadly cannot imagine this well designed facility getting much use.

Satellite Image - pre-instalation

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cycling, croydon

Shoddy road repairs

2009-03-14T16:49:00.006Z

Of course, although nobody comes to fix most of the rubbish road surfaces, sometimes when they do try to repair them, they make such a shoddy job of it that they probably shouldn't have bothered but they'll have to return soon to make a proper job of the repair.

The photo below is of the A232 on Duppas Hill Road (taken on Wed 11 March '09), a TfL road, not a Croydon Council one! This is what I call a "tarmac which fell off the back of a lorry" repair. A bunch of highway cowboys (but expensively hired by TfL) turn up with a lorry, cone off a bit of road, dump some tarmac in the holes/hazards, press it down a bit with a small steamroller (pushed by hand - and which also arrived on the back of their truck), hoist the steamroller back onto their truck, remove the cones, and drive off to their next shoddily-performed assignment. TfL should be ashamed of themselves. This sort of repair may not cost or delay traffic as much as a proper job, but it's never going to last as long and they'll have to keep coming back to do these useless repairs.
The photo below is of a large hole around a sunken manhole cover in Whytecliffe Road South in Purley (taken on Fri 13 March '09). They have attempted to repair this with some tarmac but they have covered over the manhole cover so it can't be seen whose it is (water, gas, electric, etc.) and is probably difficult to lift/remove. The patched surface around the manhole cover wasn't done properly so it has sunk again with all the buses and other heavy vehicles which pass over it (you can see a bus at a Bus Stand in the photo). You can also see the cycle lane on the LHS of the photo, but because of debris in the cycle lane (near where the photo was taken from) sensible cyclists will be nearer the middle of this one-way road until they need to swerve left to avoid the abortion in the photo!

Rubbish road surfaces and shoddy repairs

2009-03-14T16:34:00.003Z

Crap cycle lanes are made worse by dreadful surfacing. Road surfaces weren't helped by Croydon Council's negligence in never gritting or clearing snow from ANY side-roads or pavements so that snow remained lying on surfaces for nearly 2 weeks.
The "elephant trap" below (luckily, elephants aren't often seen in Croydon so it won't matter if they're not looking where they are putting their feet!) is at Reeves Corner (trams cross from right to left at the top of the photo).

Satellite Image - EDIT!

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

Gaps in Croydon's Cycle Network

2009-03-04T21:38:00.003Z

The map to the left shows Croydon’s cycle network. Croydon has more connections north-south but there are major gaps in the north-west and eastwest directions. The proposed cycle routes do not fill these gaps. The proposed off-road cycle route south of the town centre will create a ring around it improving the connection to the east
but further links need to be proposed towards the west.

found via http://www.croydonthirdcity.co.uk/links/links.htm

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cycling, croydon

St James's Park follow up - LCN 5

2009-03-04T21:28:00.005Z

I've just found this rather out of date consultation on the Croydon Council web site, it is of interest as I was involved in pushing for the original scheme back in 2002.

St James's Park - Proposed Cycle Safety Scheme

with an associated map

I had thought the outcome would have been reported back to the Croydon Cycle Forum, but I can't find any trace....

Satellite Image

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cycling, cycle lane, croydon

Cycling in the news...

2009-02-28T11:50:00.002Z

I was rung up by the Croydon Advertiser to do a repeat of the Crap Cycle Lanes story of a couple of years ago, but I didn't feel I had enough new material to make a decent story. So to try and keep the interest alive I put the Advertiser onto Tom at LCC who passed them back to Jim. I had also mentioned that potholes were a very serious problem for bike riders at the moment, and the two came together to make this story.

Cycling groups slams Croydon Council over potholes

Perhaps I'll give the Advertiser a call when I've got some new material. If anyone has spotted new cycling facilities that have been put in over the past couple of years, please leave a comment below....

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cycling, croydon

Cycle paths: Boris Johnson discriminates against outer London boroughs

2009-02-24T21:10:00.001Z

Jenny Jones, from the London Assembly's Green Party, said: "We have a zone one cycling mayor who is giving far less money to the London Cycle Network in outer London, despite the advice from experts who tell him that four fifths of the potential new cyclists come from the suburbs."

Analysis of the money provided to the boroughs for the LCN+ shows that a total of 383 schemes have not been funded in the coming year, 260 of them in outer London boroughs.

Jenny Jones claimed: "The mayor would not be forced to make cuts in the budget for safer cycling schemes if he hadn't scrapped the plans for emission charging. Revenue from that would have paid for finishing off the LCN+. He has put the interests of the owners of 'Chelsea Tractors' above the safety of suburban cyclists."

Via Crap Cycling & Walking in Waltham Forest

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cycling

Gorman saddles up for stand-up tour ...travelling by bicycle

2009-02-24T21:03:00.002Z

Dave Gorman is to perform his first live tour in five years - cycling between venues.

The comic, who will be 38 by the time the tour starts at the end of August, will cover 1,500 miles over 32 days, performing at a different venue each night.

His trip works out at an average of almost 50 miles a day, and will take him from Lizard Point – the most southerly point in the British mainland – to Dunnet Head, the most northerly.

The schedule means he will play not only in 2,000-seat theatres but also 30-seat village halls, a barn, the odd hotel function room and a railway dining car. Not all of the dates in his Sit Down, Pedal, Pedal, Stop And Stand Up tour have been confirmed, but the schedule so far is here.

http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/tour/d/16847/dave_gorman%3A_sit_down%2C_pedal%2C_pedal%2C_stop_and_stand_up.

Gorman, who is described as 'not especially fit' is no stranger to bizzarre challenges, having previously traveled the world seeking out his namesakes, and in an adventure based on Googlewhacks, which formed the basis of his last tour in 2004. His new tour is a return to more traditional stand-up following his more documentary-style live shows.

Pity I can't join in... :(

Found on Real Cycling

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cycling

Motorbikes in bus lanes has made cycling more dangerous

2009-02-21T14:39:00.002Z

From the Independent

James Daley: 'Facts suggest that letting bikers sidle up alongside cyclists in bus lanes is a recipe for disaster'

Cyclo-therapy Saturday, 14 February 2009

For more than a month now, cyclists in London have been forced to share most of the city's major bus lanes with motorcyclists – the bright idea of Mayor Boris Johnson who, in spite of his self-professed love of bicycles, seems to be doing everything he can to make life more difficult for those of us who share his alleged passion.

Allowing bikers into bus lanes has – as predicted – made the experience of cycling in London just that little bit more dangerous. One motorbike on its own is not usually too bad. But when you get a gaggle of them racing up alongside you – after they've being released from a set of traffic lights behind you – it can be mildly terrifying. Especially if you're trying to move out or change lane.

Until last month, bus lanes were one of the few sanctuaries where cyclists could shelter on London's biggest roads. Admittedly, we still had the buses and taxis to contend with, but given that the drivers of these depend on their licences for their livelihood, they're much less inclined to floor it when they see a clear stretch of road. Unlike motorcyclists.

Quite why Boris went ahead with this trial scheme is still a mystery to me. Why encourage carbon-emitting, noise-polluting motorbikers on to our roads, at the expense of eco-friendly, health-conscious cyclists?

Although bikers make the claim that such a move will help to reduce accidents, the evidence to support this assertion is still somewhat thin on the ground. What we do know, however, is that scooters and motorbikes are about 50 per cent more likely than cars to be involved in an accident which causes serious injury to a cyclist, and about 200 per cent more likely to be involved in an incident that results in a cyclist fatality.

Furthermore, a recent study showed that when motorbikes are allowed to travel in bus lanes, their average speed increases – with many travelling at speeds of more than 40 or even 50 mph in built-up areas.

These facts alone are enough to suggest that letting bikers sidle up alongside cyclists in bus lanes is a recipe for disaster.

Add in the environmental statistics (motorbikes emit 11.3 times more methane than cars – and an infinite amount more than cyclists, who emit nothing), and you have to question the wisdom of implementing such a scheme. Nice work Boris.

j.daley@independent.co.uk

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cycling, bus lane

Bad Science on Bike Statistics

2009-02-07T16:36:00.007Z

The rather wonderful and very entertaining Dr Ben Goldacre has used his column in the Guardian today to rubbish a crap piece of PRabout new cyclists from the insurance company LV.

The Guardian,
Saturday February 7 2009
Ben Goldacre

Like a lot of people who spend their time thinking about evidence and risk, I’ve always fantasised that the insurance industry must possess a vast repository of useful data: the experience of centuries, carefully tabulated by actuaries into secret commercial databases containing a truth about human behaviour and risk which most epidemiologists and social scientists would kill for.

Read and enjoy. LV aren't just wrong, they are scaremongering. Cycling is actually getting safer.
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cycling, bad science

The Problem with Sustrans

2009-01-27T21:27:00.003Z

From On the Level

You would think Sustrans would be very eager to engage and work with cycle path advocates who are keen to work to improve the NCN. Yet each time I’ve tried to volunteer with Sustrans, I have been met with indifference at best and at worst, naiveté, ignorance, laziness and incompetence.

See also Sustrans – Good or Bad? a critical review

via Sustrans Sussed

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cycling, sustrans

The Disappearing Sign

2009-01-25T17:13:00.004Z

There used to be a sign on Coombe Road, by the railway bridge, for the new shared use cycle path to South Croydon railway station. It was, however, pointing in exactly the wrong direction.

The path was closed over xmas for railway works, as the carpark was used for storage and the sign was removed.

However, despite the path re-opening, the sign has not been replaced.

Google Earth Image - taken before the path was built

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cycling, cycle path, croydon

MP's gift of a motor vehicle

2009-01-25T16:26:00.007Z

LOONY Lib Dem Lembit Opik has been busy plugging the Segway stand-on scooter.

Not only was he on GMTV yesterday promoting it, he also held a debate on it in Parliament.

Why is Lembit going on and on about this strange device?

A closer look at the list of gifts he has recently received shows that he accepted a free Segway Personal Transporter only two months ago. Voila!

What the Sun didn't tell you was how he has previously claimed that he risked arrest for using his (free) Segway, but there is a report on Indymedia that was involved in the arrest of a nearby protester, so he could plug this idiotic motor vehicle on TV.

Why can't somebody buy him a £7,000 bicycle instead?

One year on and counting

2009-01-24T18:05:00.009Z

I risked being stopped by the police to take the following pictures.

My MP didn't get away with it...

The problem is that the work has dragged on for over a year and there still isn't any sign of improvement.

The road works are still a mess. The vehicle lane improvements have been put in, but pedestrians are left to pick their way round holes in the pavement...

and the cycle facilities are still missing.

Sign of improvement?

More like evidence of incompetence!

Satellite Image

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

Tory MP on trial

2009-01-18T14:49:00.003Z

from CC&WW

A Tory MP is to go on trial accused of careless driving after allegedly knocking down a cyclist as he drove out of the House of Commons.

Simon Burns, 56, was driving a Range Rover when he allegedly hit the man, in his 20s, causing serious injuries.

The Opposition Whip was breathalysed by police, but was not over the limit.

from Mail on Sunday
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cycling

More Police Harrasment of Photographers

2009-01-15T21:45:00.002Z

Over at Crap Cycling & Walking in Waltham Forest are the pictures which the Metropolitan Police (in the shape of Police Community Support Officer JC 206) didn't want you to see.

It seems the Met police are simply out to bully photographers.

MP replies to my email - as predicted...

2009-01-07T20:10:00.003Z

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cycling, andrew pelling, cycle path, cycle track, croydon

Is My MP a Terrorist?

2009-01-06T20:28:00.002Z

Andrew Pelling MP stopped by cops for taking pictures of East Croydon cycle path

Well what a cock-up!

Maybe Andrew Pelling will finally get around to replying to my email about the way the Met Police are harassing photographers!

Satellite Image

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

South Croydon Railway Station - CLOSED

2008-12-18T21:25:00.004Z

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

2008-12-06T19:10:00.002Z

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

2008-12-03T18:48:00.003Z

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

2008-11-29T17:42:00.007Z

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

2008-11-27T21:37:00.003Z

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?"

2008-11-24T20:19:00.002Z

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

2008-11-23T21:28:00.004Z

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

2008-11-20T19:26:00.001Z

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

2008-10-14T21:27:00.002+01:00

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

2008-08-17T18:33:00.003+01:00

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"

2008-08-17T12:47:00.003+01:00

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

2008-06-15T14:16:00.005+01:00

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

2008-06-15T13:51:00.008+01:00

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

2008-05-22T23:23:00.002+01:00

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

2008-05-17T15:14:00.006+01:00

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

2008-04-11T23:00:00.000+01:00

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cycling, croydon

In the News Again

2008-04-05T12:27:00.003+01:00

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

2008-03-31T22:32:00.002+01:00

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

2008-03-21T23:00:00.004Z

"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

2008-03-21T19:27:00.004Z

Tory leader exposed.

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cycling, tory

Addiscombe Road - TfL remove the lane

2008-03-16T18:04:00.006Z

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

2008-03-15T23:43:00.001Z

Nothing like it in Croydon...

Satellite Image - EDIT!

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cycling cycle path

More traffic free cycle paths under threat

2008-03-14T20:41:00.004Z

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!

2008-03-01T18:02:00.009Z

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

2008-03-01T10:31:00.003Z

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?

2008-02-27T19:14:00.004Z

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?

2008-02-23T17:31:00.021Z

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...

2008-02-17T11:05:00.010Z

..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

You've seen the website, now buy the book.

2007-11-15T21:13:00.000Z

I've yet to check if the Croydon photos made it into the book.

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cycling, cycle lane, cycle path, cycle track

Yet More Press Coverage

2007-11-14T23:27:00.000Z

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

"X" marks the spot - North End

2007-10-21T12:02:00.000+01:00

This set of road markings are at the junction of North End and Tamworth Road/Station Road. It is an example of road markings which defy logic and safe roadcraft.

Worse than that the marked cycle lanes emerge from the pavement. If you are traveling east along Tamworth Road and want to turn right then you should already be on the right hand side of the tram tracks before entering the junction.

You can't see the full scale of this from the ground so take a look at the satellite image.

View Larger Map

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cycling, cycle lane, croydon

Uneven drain covers - Wellesley Road

2007-10-15T00:16:00.000+01:00

As featured in the LCC's magazine, London Cyclist, recently, these dire drain covers (see below) are in the centre of Croydon on Wellesley Road. As the variable surfacing around the drain covers shows, at least one unsuccessful attempt has been made to repair the problem, but that was some time ago, and the condition of the covers continues to worsen.

To identify their position more clearly, the photo below shows that they are on the nortbound side of the road, before the Whitgift Centre bus stops.

Satellite Image

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cycling, croydon

Wickham Road in Shirley

2007-10-13T21:20:00.001+01:00

Here's an example from the A232, Wickham Road in Shirley (westbound, just west of the Hartland Way junction). After passing an old garage forecourt, the cycle lane inexplicably veers left before running into the corner of a parking space (occupied in the photo) and the corner of the bus stop cage, where it abruptly stops. Instead, the cycle lane SHOULD continue straight-on and go down the RHS of the bus stop cage!
Photo taken on 16 Aug 2007.

Satellite Image

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

More Press Coverage

2007-10-04T19:27:00.000+01:00

Croydon Guardian this time

Deputy ‘best man’ to check out bike lanes

The leader of the council has refused to take a bike ride around the borough to see what improvements could be made to cycle lanes.

Shasha Khan, a member of Croydon's Green party, invited Councillor Mike Fisher on the trip in July....

Now to work out a route which shows as many the problems as possible...

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Previous council leaders have got on their bikes, for example Hugh Malyan

Croydon Guardian March 2002

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

"Crap Cycle Lanes - 50 worst cycle facilities in Britain"

2007-10-04T14:23:00.000+01:00

Coming soon, "Crap Cycle Lanes - 50 worst cycle facilities in Britain", the book inspired by the web site "Cycle Facility of the Month" by Pete Owens of Warrington Cycle Campaign. Look out for my Croydon photos, there will be one or two in there.

Where the editor Dan Hiscocks got the idea for the title from I just cant imagine...

Two minor victories

2007-10-01T23:20:00.000+01:00

Firstly, Croydon Council have now backed down on their plans to put a cycle route along the Fairfield path, and have accepted that it would be better to direct bikes along an alternative route.

Secondly, the council have now cut back the overhanging foliage on Addiscombe road. However, they had not cleared all the dirt and cuttings from the cycle lane.

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cycling, croydon

Cycle-Friendly Infrastructure

2007-09-27T22:08:00.000+01:00

If you want to know what good cycle facilities should look like then get a copy of "Cycle-Friendly Infrastructure: Guidelines for Planning and Design".

http://www.iht.org/publications/technical/cyclefriendly.asp

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cycling, cycle lane, cycle path, cycle track

Car Drivers Get Out and Push

2007-09-27T21:24:00.000+01:00

If your local council proposed a road that you had to push your car along there would be an outcry in the press, so why do we accept cycle paths you cannot cycle on?

Councils and others who who create this kind of thing simply demonstrate that they are not prepared to do the job properly.

Cambridge signs

"bladder inflammation upset"

"The use of “CYCLISTS DISMOUNT” and “END OF ROUTE” signs should always be avoided unless there is a proven need."

Design Guidance
‘Cyclists dismount’ and ‘End of Route’ signs
These two signs have been used indiscriminately and incorrectly by many local authorities.
The ‘cyclists dismount’ sign (Diagram 966) is widely ignored by cyclists who understandably wish to remain on their bikes. With careful design it should be possible to design a cycle route that avoids the use of this sign and replaces it with a give way option to join the carriageway or another route (see also B.09 Obstruction of cycle track accesses).
Draft DfT guidance (LTN 3.03) states that Diagram 965 “Indicates the end of a cycle lane, track or route. Can be used with Diagrams 1057 and 1058. It should not be used for short breaks in the route. The use of this sign is not mandatory and it should be used sparingly”.

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cycling, cycle lane, cycle path, cycle track, sustrans

Connect2 in Croydon - Fairfield Path

2007-09-22T16:07:00.001+01:00

I have just received a copy of a poster for Connect2, a Sustrans cycle project.

Sadly the proposed routes in Croydon are of the usual poor quality.

At a fist glance the biggest problem is that the design includes the conversion of the busy narrow and steep Fairfield Path into a cycle route. This is a dangerous proposal, since parts of the path are very steep and often slippery. Much better cycle routes could be achieved in this area without making life unpleasant for local pedestrians who use the path.

Satellite Image - steep part of the Fairfield Path

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cycling, cycle path, croydon, sustrans, Connect2

Suicidal cycle lanes in Lower Addiscombe Road

2007-08-20T23:35:00.000+01:00

As a variation on your intermittent South End cycle lanes problem, here are two photos of the cycle lanes on Lower Addiscombe Road. All the way from the tram crossing to Blackhorse Lane (eastbound), past the shops, the cycle lane is intermittent (as in South End) because of permitted on-street vehicle parking outside shops. Unlike South End though, the cycle lanes don't completely stop. Instead they have suicidal arrows which suggest cyclists should keep veering across the road around the parking spaces and keep suddenly coming out into the traffic on some unachievable 90 degree turns. I think this one's worse than South End.

In the first photo (below), they suggest you turn left through 90 degrees after the "abandoned vehicle" bay to rejoin the cycle lane. It's impossible to turn that sharply if you're travelling at any speed, but it's not a dangerous manoevre.
In the second photo (below), they suggest that after passing the side road in the cycle lane, cycles should now turn right through 90 degrees as the cycle lane ends to accommodate more on-street parking (for bone idle shoppers), so that cyclists suddenly appear in the main part of the carriageway and go down the outside of the parked vehicles if they're not killed by an inattentive, speeding motorist. There's several examples of these ridiculous and dangerous cycle lane alignments along this section of Lower Addiscombe Road, so if you get lucky and survive the first one, you've got some more to negotiate before you get to the relative safety of the Blackhorse Lane junction!

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cycling, cycle lane, croydon

Helmets attract cars to cyclists

2007-08-06T18:54:00.000+01:00

From Scientific American web site:-
Strange but True: Helmets Attract Cars to Cyclists

His findings, published in the March 2007 issue of Accident Analysis & Prevention, state that when Walker wore a helmet drivers typically drove an average of 3.35 inches closer to his bike than when his noggin wasn't covered. But, if he wore a wig of long, brown locks—appearing to be a woman from behind—he was granted 2.2 inches more room to ride.
"The implication," Walker says, "is that any protection helmets give is canceled out by other mechanisms, such as riders possibly taking more risks and/or changes in how other road users behave towards cyclists." The extra leeway granted to him when he pretended to be a woman, he explains, could result from several factors, including drivers' perceptions that members of the fairer sex are less capable riders, more frail or just less frequent bikers than men.

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safety

South End Southbound

2007-08-05T15:55:00.000+01:00

This post is for Jonathan Law who commented:-

South End and Brighton Road are classic examples of stupidity in planning. The cycle lane is broken up with parking bays so that you can go about 10 yards before having to pull into the traffic. Pointless having the lane there in many ways.

It is an old classic too. This photo comes was taken in 2000 and was on the front page of my cycling web site for years.

Nothing has changed in the past 7 years

The cycle lane starts just south of the traffic lights, then runs straight into a parking space.

Only to reappear for a few yards before the next set of parking spaces.

After which there is a splash of green paint at the junction to the car park

The lane then is replaced by more parking spaces and a bus stop, before making a short reappearance and then disappears short of the next set of traffic lights.

Satellite Image & Map

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cycling, cycle lane, croydon

Who benefits from cycle facilities?

2007-08-05T11:21:00.000+01:00

From Enabling and encouraging people to cycle by John Franklin

Cycle tracks originated in Germany. There and in the Netherlands, the first tracks were sponsored by car companies to get cyclists out of way of other traffic so that cars could go faster. They were not introduced for the benefit of cyclists' safety.

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cycle track

Addiscombe Road - eastbound

2007-07-29T13:01:00.000+01:00

Inspired by The Sharp Side's overgrown cycle track post, here's a less dramatic case of overgrowth on a cycle lane.

This cycle lane runs alongside tram tracks, so it's primary purpose is to signify to the bike rider where you can cycle outside of the sweep of the tram.

Strangely it is also probably Croydon's longest stretch of mandatory cycle lane - but that's another story.

As you can see from the images the foliage is growing out from the side to push the bike rider out into the path of trams in some places.

It is also worth noting that there is a solid stone wall, and not a pavement, so you have no escape.

The lane ends as the road widens, but then comes the biggest problem, a tram stop.

Here the bike rider has no choice but to cross into the tram track and into the path of the tram. This, thankfully, is not as dangerous as it might be because all trams stop at all of the stations, so are traveling slowly at this point.

Satellite Image & Map

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cycling, cycle lane, croydon

St James's Park Road - LCN Route 5

2007-07-14T13:06:00.000+01:00

Our first video contribution to the site:

There was a long fight to get this contraflow cycle lane, but the way in which parking bays were left in the cycle route created a problem at the junction with Windmill Road where most drivers turn in and cut the corner.

Satellite Image

P.S. Filming whilst cycling is not recommended.

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cycling, croydon

Press Coverage

2007-07-13T09:56:00.000+01:00

A letter from Shasha Khan to the local papers included a link to this blog. This resulted in a phone call from the Croydon Advertiser and a request for a photo.

The story covers the whole of page three. They've used a straightforward photo of me riding the bike, approached the council for a comment and finished it off with some great photos from the Warrington Cycle Campaign.

Online version - Crodyon cyclists face a 'tour de farce'

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

High Street - Surrey Street & Mint Walk

2007-07-10T11:32:00.000+01:00

This is the junction between High Street and Surrey street where a cycle lane suddenly pops into existence outside the front door of the Green Dragon pub and continues north along High Street where it is always used for parking.

Anyone trying to use this cycle lane is likely to get cut up by motor vehicles turning left. Most people cycle well out into the road to avoid the parked cars.

Opposite is the entrance to Mint Walk where the cycle cut through is often blocked.

Notice how, even on a closed road, the cycle lane is far too narrow.

Satellite Image

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cycling, cycle lane, croydon

Andrew Pelling MP on cycle lanes

2007-05-24T22:08:00.000+01:00

Is not another important consideration, particularly when we suffer very long dry spells, drains in cycle lanes? There is insufficient space and quite often drains have fallen because of the dry weather. That can pose a great danger to cyclists, particularly when some of the lanes are very tokenistic and are probably not much wider than the drains themselves.

from Cycling - Westminster Hall debates

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cycling, cycle lane croydon

Purley Way - Southbound

2007-05-24T17:50:00.001+01:00

A short section of TfL cycle lane to guide you through the traffic lights...

...and run you into the pavement!!

Photos by Matt

Satellite Image

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cycling, cycle lane, croydon

The "jug handle" - Wellesley Road

2007-05-14T20:20:00.000+01:00

This is one of the worst pieces of design in Croydon. The reason it doesn't kill cyclists on a regular basis (as Wellesley road regularly kills pedestrians who try to cross it) is that very few cyclists venture onto this urban dual carriageway, and those that do ignore this utterly stupid cycle facility.

Wellesley Road (pre summer 2002)

This is apparently called a jug handle! It is at an infamous cycling black spot where several cyclists have come off on the tram tracks.

The cycle facility is quite ridiculous on a fast moving dual carriageway where all the traffic is breaking the speed limit, and I have never seen it used. However, we know of one cyclist who was hit by a bus when she tried to use it!

Wellesley Road (post summer 2002)

The new version is even worse, it now directs cyclists out into two lanes of speeding traffic. It is so utterly stupid that most cyclists end up riding up the tram tracks. Personally I take the vehicular route and ride through as if I was driving a car.

Wellesley Road (Spring 2007)

All that has changed in 5 years is the addition of some green paint.

Satellite Image

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

Highway Code URGENT

2007-05-11T22:33:00.000+01:00

Ask your MP to sign up and urge the government to fix the Highway Code.

An Early Day Motion has been tabled in parliament that reads:

EDM 1433
That the alterations in the provisions of the Highway Code proposed to be made by the Secretary of State for Transport, dated 28th March 2007, a copy of which was laid before this House on 28th March, be not made.

The EDM has been tabled by Menzies Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrats.

This action has been taken specifically to encourage the Government to address the problems created by the new rules that will require cyclists to use cycle facilities 'wherever possible'. Although initiated by the LibDems, it is very important that this EDM gains cross-party support and signatures from as many MPs as possible. All cyclists are urged to persuade their MPs to sign EDM 1433 as a matter of urgency.

Find your MP’s contact details at: http://www.writetothem.com/

Particularly if you are writing to a Labour MP , it is worth mentioning that the cycling organisations are still in dialogue with officials and hope that the Government may yet agree to revise the Highway Code – hence they may be paving the way for a “good news” announcement from the Minister.

For MPs of all parties, please also ask them to speak to their party colleagues in the Lords to ask them also to “pray against” the Highway Code. For procedural reasons, the Code is far more likely to be challenged effectively in the Lords than in the Commons.

How will the draft Highway Code hurt cyclists? See:
http://www.cyclenetwork.org.uk/latest/doc/hcode_cyclists.pdf
send a copy to your MP.

This is a national campaign, full details are at:
http://www.cyclenetwork.org.uk/latest/latest.html#hcedm

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cycling, cycle lane, cycle path, cycle track, highway code

Godstone Road, Purley

2007-05-11T09:23:00.001+01:00

Just on the southern edge of Croydon lies Purley, and yet another poorly thought through cycle lane. This one is on the southbound side of the Godstone Road (the A22) at the junction with Approach Road.

The somewhat narrow cycle lane disappears within a yard or two, a new, boldly marked cycle lane appears:

Take this enticing option and within a few yards you will be suddenly forced to choose between hitting the crash barrier or the side of the passing lorry. Alot of heavy goods traffic uses this road.

At first sight it looks like a good idea - a feeder lane to allow cyclists to get to the advance stop line when the cars are stopped. But if the traffic is moving you'll get a very nasty surprise.

Well intentioned, but probably much safer to not use it.

Satellite Image

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

The Wellesley Road/George Street "Y"

2007-05-10T20:35:00.000+01:00

Another idiotically useless piece of paintwork from Croydon Council.

It certainly doesn't make the buses seem any less dangerous.

Satellite Image

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

Cyclecraft

2007-04-25T20:51:00.000+01:00

Just released, a new and significantly updated edition of John Franklin's Cyclecraft - the definitive guide to safe cycling.

http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk/

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cycling, cycle lane, cycle path, cyclecraft

Danger and Cycle Facilities

2007-04-22T19:33:00.000+01:00

More than three-quarters of the cycling crashes I've investigated as an Expert Witness have concerned cycle facilities of one kind or another. Even allowing for the bias introduced by the fact that claiming compensation after a crash on a cycle path can be more complicated than for a crash on a road, and thus more likely to require expert evidence, this number is out of all proportion to where most cycling takes place. So while cycling is generally a low-risk activity, it is a mistake to believe that cycle facilities usually make it any safer. Often it is easier to maximise your safety on road.

From "Cycling facilitated" by John Franklin

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cycling, cycle lane, cycle path, cycle track

Cairo New Road - LCN 75

2007-04-21T21:40:00.000+01:00

A case of excessive complexity and silly markings brought on by the presence of tram tracks.

Aproaching from the south,

the cycle track crosses two tram tracks

and instead of some simple dotted white lines, there are two separate lanes.

This final give way for the footpath is a work of pure Croydon surrealism.

Satellite Image

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Tags croydon,cycling, cycle lane, cycle path

South Park Hill Road - LCN route 76

2007-04-04T20:33:00.000+01:00

These are gutter cycle lanes of the very worst kind. They were put in at the end of 2000 and made the road so dangerous I have stopped cycling on it. When I complained to Croydon Council the junior council officer who replied tried to blame the cycle lanes on a request from a local resident.

These lanes are officially only 80cm wide. Drivers using the road now expect bicycles to get out of their way and use these dreadful lanes, when it simply is not safe to cycle that close to the edge of the road. The problem is particularly acute because this road is a busy bus route and contains several schools where parents park illegally on the road and on the pavement every morning.

The cycle lanes run along both sides of South Park Hill Road in Croydon, the B243 linking Coombe Road with Croham Road. This road slopes up to a blind summit where there is are private schools, bus stops and a well used footpath crosses from South Croydon railway station. The slope is especially steep at the southern end.

Croydon Council have failed to take any notice whatsoever of national government guidance on these matters. Back in 1996 the DoT, as it was then, published a joint guidance publication called "Cycle-friendly Infrastructure". It gave guidance on the design of cycle lanes (page 46, paragraph 11.3.2):

"Cycle lanes on links should be a minimum of 1.5m wide and 2m wherever possible.... Widths below 1.5m give cyclists very little room to manoeuvre around debris, potholes and drainage grates..."

The response from the council's so called "cycling officer" to my complaints was to blame the cycle lanes on a request from local resident, and the poor standards set by the London Cycle Network Design Manual.

This dangerous road has been added to the London Cycle Network as route 76, though it is a completely detached section with a highly dangerous double mini roundabout at the northern end and a very nasty section of road and another mini roundabout to the south.

Satellite Image
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Tags croydon,cycling, cycle lane

Tamworth Road/Cairo New Road 2

2007-04-02T20:28:00.000+01:00

All of 10 feet away from yesterday's post is this silly little road feature, notable for being a very short, narrow and tapered cycle lane which looks like it should feed into an advanced stop area, except there isn't one...

and in close up.

...and yes that is a bus in the left hand edge of the picture about to sweep round the corner and right through the cycle "lane".

P.S. In setting up this blog I've discovered that the old Crap Cycle Lanes of Croydon site was linked by the guardian web site and within only two days of setting the site up I've already been blogged!
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Tags croydon, cycling, cycle lane

Tamworth Road/Cairo New Road

2007-04-01T17:55:00.000+01:00

Not sure what to call this location. It's on the inside of the corner of the slip-way coming off Roman Road, but this cycle facility truly deserves the label "crap".

You have to ask the question, "What on earth did this idiot think he was trying to achieve?" I cannot answer that question as I cannot understand the mentality of a council officer who designs a cycle path with a lamp post in the middle of it, and then wastes tax-payers' money on implementing it.

A wider shot.

One possible clue is the close proximity to tram lines. Wherever you see tram lines in Croydon an idiotic cycle lane is never far away.
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Tags croydon, cycle lane

Whitehorse Lane Updated

2007-03-31T18:08:00.000+01:00

Well nothing has changed, despite the publicity given to the original photograph nearly five years ago.

This route isn't just any old crap cycle lane, it is in fact route 23 on the London Cycle Network.

Whitehorse Lane (LCN route 23)

2007-03-31T15:20:00.000+01:00

Old one this, it may have been modified since I took this photograph in July 2002, but I doubt it.

As featured in the Croydon Advertiser and Warrington Cycle Campaign Cycle Facility of the Month, September 2002.

This innovative shared-use footway/cycle-lane/parking-space has only been made possible by the latest developments in full-suspension mountain bikes. Cycle training courses in Croydon now include a module on riding over parked cars, thus avoiding the hazard of being hit by an opening door.