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

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

Godstone Road, Purley

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"

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

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

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

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

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

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