South End Dual Use Cycle Lane

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 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

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

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

"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

Wickham Road in Shirley

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

South End Southbound

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

High Street - Surrey Street & Mint Walk

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

Purley Way - Southbound

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

Highway Code URGENT

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

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

Whitehorse Lane Updated

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)

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.