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

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

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

Two minor victories

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

Addiscombe Road - eastbound

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