Issues

This section lists issues - problems on the street network and related matters.

Issues always relate to some geographical location, whether very local or perhaps city-wide.

You can create a new issue using the button on the right.

Listed issues, most recent first:

  • Illegal blocking of contraflow cycle lane

    Created by Jon_B // 1 thread

    The contra-flow cycle lane leading West on Dogs Head St was (once again) obstructed by illegally parked vehicles this morning.

    I have reported the specific incident, but this seems to be to be a more general problem of lack of enforcement and commercial vehicles believing that it is acceptable for them to use these lanes for short (or not so short) stops.

    In this case there were a large lorry and a van parked one behind each other forcing cyclists to pull out around them into potential oncoming traffic (including buses as can be clearly seen in the photo).

    If these lanes are to form part of the planning scheme then they need to either by physically segregated so as to prevent vehicles parking on them or at the very least there needs to be a zero tolerance approach to enforcement.

    If commercial vehicles do need to use them for emergency purposes (I think they may have been investigating the traffic lights which were out of order) then they should be obliged to put in place some kind of stop / go scheme to avoid conflict between cyclists and oncoming vehicles.

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  • Cycling on Camden Road

    Created by Jean Dollimore // 1 thread

    TfL officers told us last November that they have a project to improving conditions for cyclists on Camden Road. This would include "investigating the feasibility of a northbound mandatory cycle lane; a wide bus and cycle lane southbound and the removal of two- lane flares at junctions". They assumed a 12m road width, suggesting 6m for a pair of general traffic lanes together with a 2m cycle lane and 4 m bus +cycle lane.

    They are now inviting CCC to a meeting to discuss cycling on the TLRN in Camden, and also take the opportunity to walk along Camden Rd to further discuss the corridor scheme they’re progressing. On further enquiry they said:
    "We would prefer to take the opportunity to engage with CCC as an independent stakeholder, separate from LB Camden, in order to fully understand the campaign’s ambitions for the TLRN."

    So....
    1. Let's clarify what we would want on Camden Road (without taking on TfL's assumption that there must be a bus lane. And being realistic as to what might fit in at a junction. The above photo shows a potential left hook situation.

    2. Can I have volunteers to join me on this walk/talk.

    Jean

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  • Girton Interchange "Improvements"

    Created by Jamie // 1 thread

    At the moment it is possible to cycle from Cambridge Road, near Madingley, to Girton, on a bridleway that crosses over the A428 and then passes under the M11 at the Girton Interchange. You can then cross three roads (A1307) and reach a pavement on the North-East side of the Interchange. Using the pavement you can then reach Washpit Lane and cycle up towards Girton. (The pavement is marked as a shared-use route on the OSM Cycle map, although I am not sure that it really is.)

    Apart from having to be careful when crossing the A1307 junction it is a rather pleasant route to ride.

    The Girton Interchange is being "improved" to reduce the bottleneck for cars. Does anyone know what plans there are to ensure that the current route through remains open and whether there are plans to improve the bridleway route through? Or will this be another example of roads being developed to the detriment of footpaths/bridleways.

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  • Queensway footpath - sharing use

    Created by Adam Edwards // 1 thread

    Map shows the route which Hertfordshire are upgrading as part of the Hatfield to Rail Station link footpath works. The plan is just for enhanced lighting, when what really should be done is to make this shared use.

    Cyclists would then use the exisiting route from the station up French Horn Lane, push accross the Puffin crossing (or cycle on road), use the stub road to the phone exchange and then go shared us to the Toucan crossing to the Market Place. That is the start of the on and off road cycle route to the University and De Havilland Village, the Alban Way and beyond.

    Without this link cyclists have to use Queensway and turn at the large fast two lanes wide roundabout at the junction with Wellfield Road. This is a major deterrnet to use.

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  • one-way cycle NCR1

    Created by Pixlink // 0 threads

    The priority issue identified by many community stakeholders and in the Town Plan is to ensure the network of cycle paths in the town are joined up in a useful way. The restriction on two-way cycling in the Thoroughfare is a barrier having a complete network in the town. All the cycle local cycle routes feed into the town's main street, the Thoroughfare yet this "pedestrianised" road has a one-way restriction to traffic and cyclists heading northbound. Pedestrians and people in electric buggies are of course able to travel at will in any direction. Those living in residential areas in the south of the town have to cycle on main roads to the schools and industry and residential areas in the north and vice-versa.

    Previous work by Sustrans and the Town Plan has identified the impracticality of only allowing one-way travel for cyclists along the Thoroughfare when this is a National Cycle Route and it conflicts with national health and transport strategy to increase cycling. Though permitting two-way cycling on a one-way street is thought politically sensitive, there is no evidence of increased danger to pedestrians and there are many examples of this practise elsewhere.

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  • Take cycle track and footpath behind petrol station

    Created by Shaun McDonald // 0 threads

    The London Road Shell garage is a pain to pass as you have to cross the path of vehicles turning in and out, and can be quite dangerous.

    It would be far better to have the petrol station closer to the road, and the cycle path going behind the petrol station. This is the Dutch standard as shown in this example:

    https://twitter.com/aseasyasriding/status/444203865353621504

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  • Cavendish Way/St Albans Road West, Hatfield

    Created by Chris Whitehouse // 0 threads

    This refers to the shared cyclepath/footway across St Albans Road West at the junction with Cavendish Way.

    There is a flower bed on the east side of this crossing which projects into the line of the crossing. There is also a cyclepath/footway sign on a short post in the flower bed.

    http://goo.gl/maps/9T3AO

    At night it is very easy to take a line which sends you into the flowerbed, particularly if crossing quickly to avoid traffic exiting from St Albans Road West. It's not hard in daytime too if there is pedestrian traffic.

    Please fill in and resurface a short section of flowerbed and resite the sign.

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  • NCN12/61 crossing Mill Green Lane, Hatfield

    Created by Chris Whitehouse // 0 threads

    This refers to the southernmost end of the short loop of Mill Green Lane to west of the A1000.

    Heading north on a bike past this side road requires simultaneously looking
    - 180deg back to check for vehicles turning in
    - to left to check for vehicles exiting
    - ahead to check for bikes heading south

    Heading south on a bike past this junction requires
    - looking 120deg right for vehicles exiting
    - looking ahead at road for vehicles turning in
    - looking ahead at cycle path for bikes heading north
    - moving as far as possible to the left, ie almost into the main road because visibility of the cycle path is obstructed.

    A cheap and effective solution would be to block this junction with a safety rail or similar on the line of the edge of the A1000. Motor traffic can use the north end Mill Green Lane, where there is no conflict with cycle traffic on the cycle path because cycle traffic crosses to the east side of A1000.

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  • Narrow cycle lane causes close passes & aggression

    Created by Grahame Cooper // 0 threads

    One-way carriageway with two lanes, one of which merges onto St Peter's Way. Narrow cycle lane (<1m) with sunken drains and detritus. If you use the cycle lane, you often get passed very close by cars. If you ride outside of the cycle lane, you sometimes get aggression from following drivers. Taking primary position in the inside lane would feel extremely dangerous as the traffic moves very fast despite the 30mph speed limit.

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  • City centre - road designations

    Created by Katja Leyendecker // 1 thread

    The (draft / emerging) 1Core Strategy seems to hint at a bus loop (Policy UC7) and a motor vehicle "ring road" (Policy UC9) too. It mentions pedestrian routes but there's no mention of cycle routes. See attached photo. (I didn't mark up the map, as it might become a tad too messy)

    The "ring road" is just like Scott / esde84 described before http://newcycling.org/space4cycling/part2 (in comments)

    The photo in the attachment is from "Newcastle Proposals Map" listed here http://onecorestrategyng-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/examination_library (not sure how long thi link will stay live, link rot may happen)

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  • Tyne - No good crossing available

    Created by esde84 // 0 threads

    Despite the number of bridges that link Newcastle and Gateshead, there is not a single route across the Tyne that throws bike users in to conflict with either high volumes of motor vehicles at high speeds or that uses shared paths that create potential conflict with pedestrians.

    Due to the amount of people who already cycle between Newcastle and Gateshead and the potential for this to grow, there should be at least one high level crossing that gives bike users there own space when crossing the Tyne.

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  • Cycling to School in St Margarets and North Twickenham

    Created by Kate // 1 thread

    There are three schools in this ward (St. Stephens Primary, Orleans Primary, Richmond Upon Thames College) and more just on the edge of the ward boundaries (Chase Bridge, St Mary’s, Ivybridge, Worple Primary, Orleans Secondary) and there is a lot of traffic. Children should be able to cycle to them safely without having to share space with high volume, fast moving traffic. The roads surrounding these schools should all have 20mph zones including larger roads such as St Margarets Road, which is a heavily used link between areas. There should be car-free access around the schools, and protected routes to arrive there. In due course there should be a default 20 mile an hour limit on all residential roads in the borough.

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  • Sheen Lane Traffic Calming

    Created by Ross // 1 thread

    https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?gl=uk&mid=z-ea3VIs1n24.kfBnDgw-g7fg

    Sheen Lane provides access to a number of schools, yet is a busy route with no space allocated for cycling. It should be safe for children to make their way to the numerous local schools by bicycle, and it would open up access to Richmond Park for visitors who wanted to cycle from Mortlake Station. The junction with the South Circular is especially unpleasant for both cycling and walking, and deeply unwelcoming.

    How to do this: Raised zebra crossing at Vicarage Road, Palmerston Road and E Sheen Library, 20 mph signs to continue park speed limit to Mortlake station, removal of centre lane white lines, toucan crossing at A205 to allow cyclists to cross, with care, at same time as pedestrians, advanced stop boxes at level crossing and A205 junction, wider pavement on East side between York Way and Wayside - should be wide enough for a pushchair, improved signage and right turn access to North/South Worple Way - these are underused ward quiet routes leading to several primary schools and nurseries.
    Sheen Lane is a key route in the ward, cycle volume could increase dramatically with some minor road improvements. Calming and reducing traffic on Sheen Lane would encourage recreational and school commuting cyclists to use this route more frequently. Sheen Lane as a pleasant cycle route would provide quiet cycle link routes to many schools; Tower house, Thomson House, Sheen Mount, Barnes, Ibstock, Mary Magdalens and also link together tens of miles of Thames Path and Richmond Park traffic free routes that could be enjoyed by cyclists from 8 - 80. It would attract more recreational cyclists to get off at Mortlake station and spend money and time on our high street.

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  • Neville's Cross Social Club conversion to student housing

    Created by Matthew Phillips // 1 thread

    Another student housing conversion with inadequate provision for bicycles and possibly excessive provision for cars.

    http://publicaccess.durham.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=N1E12RGDFPH00

    Application states 8 cycle spaces, 8 car spaces and 1 disabled parking space. Total 33 student bedrooms. To go with BREEAM this would suggest 17 cycle spaces would be preferable for residents, plus visitor spaces. The cycle spaces pictured are old-fashioned -- I doubt they would actually provide that kind of rack -- but partially covered. It is unclear whether these would be in a secure area or not. They are round the back of the building.

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  • Consultation on Kentish Town Area Wide Improvements

    Created by Jean Dollimore // 1 thread

    Camden Council's proposals include the following:

    - Raise junction Bartholomew Road Kentish Town Road

    - Cycle gap in Kelly Street closure at Castlehaven Road

    - Raise junction Anglers Lane/Willies Road/PrinceofWalesRoad

    - Two way cycling in Wolsey Mews

    - Raise the LeightonRoad/Torriano Avenue junction and introduce cycle gap at the central refuge island

    Click here to see the consultation leaflet.

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  • No cycling in Abergavenny's "Red Square"

    Created by Jack Thurston // 1 thread

    Cycling is not permitted in 'Red Square', the red-paved pedestrian area of the centre of Abergavenny.

    Even so, cycle route 42 runs through it...

    An interesting blog post on cycling in pedestrianised areas:

    http://aseasyasridingabike.wordpress.com/2014/03/03/cycling-in-pedestrianised-areas/

    One solution is to make the entire area 'shared use'. Another would be to restrict the prohibition on cycling to the busies times of day, eg. Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, and allowing unrestricted cycling at all other times.

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  • Grey Street

    Created by PeterMac // 1 thread

    Redesign of Grey Street to remove the danger of cars reversing (blind) out parking bays into middle of the road.

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  • Cycle to school path: St Michaels' footpath

    Created by Jack Thurston // 0 threads

    We want widen and redesignate this footpath as a safe, dual use, route, especially to enable children to ride to school safely. This would allow cyclists to avoid a stretch of the Brecon Road and Pen-y-Pound, which are both fast and hostile roads.

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  • King's Cross Junction consultation 2014

    Created by Richenda // 1 thread

    See: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/streets/kingscross
    Deadline: 24 March 2014

    Note: the most significant place in this proposal is the Gray's Inn Road/York Way route, where Deep Lee was killed in 2011.

    Drop-in sessions: 4 and 11 March 2014
    Time: 16:30 – 19:00
    Venue: King’s Cross Neighbourhood Centre, 51 Argyle Street

    CCC were consulted in advance and do not like the proposals. Our main objections are that these proposals:
    1. fail to meet TfL’s own 2005 Cycle Design Standards, on many points,
    2. put cyclists on the pavement at an extremely pedestrian-busy junction,
    3. fail to narrow the traffic heading into York Way down to one lane early enough. It narrows, already, to one lane once it reaches the bus stops in York Way, so it is perverse not to narrow it before the junction, thus freeing up space for a cycle lane to take cyclists safely through the junction.

    We have other more detailed objections which we will post later.

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  • Underpass unfit for cycle use

    Created by litwardle // 0 threads

    The most frustrating part of the journey is when I get to the square. To get to Castle Street you either have to cycle under the bridge. This underpass is far to narrow and has blind entry..It makes a heart racing cycle when someone comes in the opposite direction narrowly avoiding collision! The surface is also very slippery in the wet. The only way to avoid this is by continuing to the T junction at the square and turning left... Ooops No left turn!! Of course, even if you could there is no way to get to castle street without going over the bridge and doubling back! Any improvement here would make a huge difference!

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  • No easy access to Castle street from Taw Vale

    Created by litwardle // 0 threads

    The most frustrating part of the journey is when I get to the square. To get to Castle Street you either have to cycle under the bridge. This underpass is far to narrow and has blind entry..It makes a heart racing cycle when someone comes in the opposite direction narrowly avoiding collision! The surface is also very slippery in the wet. The only way to avoid this is by continuing to the T junction at the square and turning left... Ooops No left turn!! Of course, even if you could there is no way to get to castle street without going over the bridge and doubling back! Any improvement here would make a huge difference!

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