"X" marks the spot - North End

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

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

The "jug handle" - Wellesley Road

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

The Wellesley Road/George Street "Y"

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

Cairo New Road - LCN 75

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

Tamworth Road/Cairo New Road 2

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

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