Bow Roundabout
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deptfordmarmoset
Full time tea drinker
- Location
- Armonmy Way
TfL design was the problem. There have been changes - there is now a strange little green filter on the CS lane that gives you a head start onto the roundabout on the way out of town and it's marginally safer. If you can carry good speed, you might consider taking the flyover option.
stowie
Legendary Member
Use Bow roundabout quite a lot, and it isn't particularly pleasant - the early phase lights have done little to improve matters aside from being able to be marginally ahead of traffic if the traffic keeps out of the ASL and you aren't slow crossing the A12 entrance.
I use the flyover when the wind isn't too bad - it can get pretty gusty at times. Going up is easier that it might be imagined - mainly because the traffic on the flyover eastbound is light and there are two lanes. I see cyclists hugging the gutter on the way up and it makes me cringe as drivers doing 40+ don't bother moving lanes - I ride central in the inside lane to discourage this and make myself seen. My biggest issue is on the way down when I have picked up speed and there is a slip road to the left which drivers boot along and then try to barge in.
If you take the roundabout, my advice is to bear in mind that nearly all traffic in the left lane will be turning left onto the A12 slip road, so if you decide to go with the traffic flow as opposed to using the cycle lane then be really assertive and watch for idiots using the tarmac to left hook you. If you use the cycle lane then be aware that the first cycle light doesn't allow you onto the roundabout - you have to stop at the front of the ASL at second general light - traffic on the rbout has a green light and I have seen some near misses with cyclists assuming that the green cycle light allows them passage onto the roundabout. Oh, and finally they are p!ssing around at the exit of the roundabout Eastwards with what looks like a raised cycle lane. It may be OK when finished but at the moment you have to go around it and the road now narrows down.
The whole thing is a bit of a dogs dinner because TfL didn't have the balls to implement something that gave Cyclists and pedestrians (who aren't catered for at all) any kind of priority for fear of interrupting "traffic flow". They are now doing other stuff to the roundabout as part of the CS2 extension so I will try to remain open minded as to the quality, or otherwise, of the latest revisions. From using the rest of CS2 and Bow flyover it is somewhat difficult not to be sceptical.
Loads of cyclists traverse Bow junction daily and probably 75% I see go on the flyover. It isn't an absolute nightmare but one of those many junctions where the design is out of date and allows motorists to be speeding idiots if they desire (and some normally do).
I use the flyover when the wind isn't too bad - it can get pretty gusty at times. Going up is easier that it might be imagined - mainly because the traffic on the flyover eastbound is light and there are two lanes. I see cyclists hugging the gutter on the way up and it makes me cringe as drivers doing 40+ don't bother moving lanes - I ride central in the inside lane to discourage this and make myself seen. My biggest issue is on the way down when I have picked up speed and there is a slip road to the left which drivers boot along and then try to barge in.
If you take the roundabout, my advice is to bear in mind that nearly all traffic in the left lane will be turning left onto the A12 slip road, so if you decide to go with the traffic flow as opposed to using the cycle lane then be really assertive and watch for idiots using the tarmac to left hook you. If you use the cycle lane then be aware that the first cycle light doesn't allow you onto the roundabout - you have to stop at the front of the ASL at second general light - traffic on the rbout has a green light and I have seen some near misses with cyclists assuming that the green cycle light allows them passage onto the roundabout. Oh, and finally they are p!ssing around at the exit of the roundabout Eastwards with what looks like a raised cycle lane. It may be OK when finished but at the moment you have to go around it and the road now narrows down.
The whole thing is a bit of a dogs dinner because TfL didn't have the balls to implement something that gave Cyclists and pedestrians (who aren't catered for at all) any kind of priority for fear of interrupting "traffic flow". They are now doing other stuff to the roundabout as part of the CS2 extension so I will try to remain open minded as to the quality, or otherwise, of the latest revisions. From using the rest of CS2 and Bow flyover it is somewhat difficult not to be sceptical.
Loads of cyclists traverse Bow junction daily and probably 75% I see go on the flyover. It isn't an absolute nightmare but one of those many junctions where the design is out of date and allows motorists to be speeding idiots if they desire (and some normally do).
Flyover. Flyover. Flyover.
Please do not use the roundabout. It will always be lethal when bikes are forced round the edge of any roundabout - drivers think you are hugging the outside lane as you will be turning at the next exit. Then when the cyclist then cycles across the exit....
I'm trying to find a picture of a motorcycle doing a front wheelie trying to avoid a cyclist going across the exit to the A12 (the turn with Mac'Ds). I saw it somewhere 2 years ago, but it shows exactly why this roundabout is bloody stupid for cyclists. If I find it, I'll post a link to it.
It would have been infinitely safer to paint the the outside lane of the roundabout completely blue and put signs up telling cyclists to take primary in the LH lane if going ahead (which most are).
See this post about how to place yourself if going across the Bow flyover in either direction (post 9):
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/how-to-be-safe-on-londons-roads.137382/#post-2598961
Please do not use the roundabout. It will always be lethal when bikes are forced round the edge of any roundabout - drivers think you are hugging the outside lane as you will be turning at the next exit. Then when the cyclist then cycles across the exit....
I'm trying to find a picture of a motorcycle doing a front wheelie trying to avoid a cyclist going across the exit to the A12 (the turn with Mac'Ds). I saw it somewhere 2 years ago, but it shows exactly why this roundabout is bloody stupid for cyclists. If I find it, I'll post a link to it.
It would have been infinitely safer to paint the the outside lane of the roundabout completely blue and put signs up telling cyclists to take primary in the LH lane if going ahead (which most are).
See this post about how to place yourself if going across the Bow flyover in either direction (post 9):
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/how-to-be-safe-on-londons-roads.137382/#post-2598961
stowie
Legendary Member
To indicate how "well" the TfL early start facility can work if a total cock-womble elects to be an idiot.
The motorcyclist could do this because the cyclist in front was a bit slow off the line. The fact that one has to sprint from the line in tour-de-france style should tell Tfl that the solution isn't optimal.
And to have no pedestrian facilitates thus making the poor woman with her children sprint across three lanes of traffic with a pram simply to get past the junction - well Tfl should be ashamed.
The motorcyclist could do this because the cyclist in front was a bit slow off the line. The fact that one has to sprint from the line in tour-de-france style should tell Tfl that the solution isn't optimal.
And to have no pedestrian facilitates thus making the poor woman with her children sprint across three lanes of traffic with a pram simply to get past the junction - well Tfl should be ashamed.
Twelve Spokes
Time to say goodbye again...
- Location
- CS 2
I always use the flyover.
My preference has always been to take the flyover, and currently they are doing a lot of work either side of the roundabout which makes me recommend it even more. If you do take it- normal road sense applies. Indicate your intentions nice and early, make eye contact where possible and do plenty of shoulder checks.
It does require a bit more effort to cycle up the flyover, but you can always freewheel down the other side if that's your thing...:P
It does require a bit more effort to cycle up the flyover, but you can always freewheel down the other side if that's your thing...:P
Twelve Spokes
Time to say goodbye again...
- Location
- CS 2
Yeah the flyover is pretty
Christ,it isn't Mount Everest.
Chrisk, not Christ.
If it doesn't even take you a bit more effort I can only assume you have one of those electronically assisted bikes? :P
Talking of which I did test one of those this summer whilst I was in Switzerland. The person using it was towing a child in a trailer AND a had a child in a child seat AND was cycling up Swiss hills... But I'm not suggesting I need one for Bow Flyover even with my pannier full of cakes....
Twelve Spokes
Time to say goodbye again...
- Location
- CS 2
Christ and Chrisk?
No Im a fixie moron.
<----that's me going backwards and forwards at the lights.(I wished I was that skillful) I've hired an electric bike in Thailand,they are very good.Back to the original question - which was are you heading?
I think since the accidents work has been completed to segregate cycles and other traffic. I'd stil opt for the flyover though. If you don't - just keep a good eye on what is going on around you and I very much doubt you'll have a problem.
Twelve Spokes
Time to say goodbye again...
- Location
- CS 2
The new cycle lane going towards Bow looks awful.
stowie
Legendary Member
I tried the elevated one going east-bound tonight. It was alright. You go up to pavement level for around 20 metres and then ramp back down to a cycle lane up to the slip road. The cycle lane is much wider which is much better than the horrible thing they did have before which didn't fit my handlebars, but the whole effect is somewhat ruined by some roadworks blocking it off about halfway down.
Why they decided to have this lane ramp up and then back down is a mystery known only to the road planner and whatever medication he was taking at the time.
Twelve Spokes
Time to say goodbye again...
- Location
- CS 2
Well I haven't tended to test the new (westbound) cycle lane but it seems to be enclosed and then throw the cyclist out into traffic again,which is fine so long as the cyclist checks before re-entering.It looks like an accident waiting to happen.
I very rarely take kindly to the facilities I use reducing in size and quality.
Currently I have a full lane (It's called the road). Now they are building a segregated bicycle lane which looks about a 1/4 smaller. Later this cycle lane looks to go to single file.
I so rarely have problems along Stratford High Street that I personally don’t want anything to change. Well actually, maybe they could revert back to having the left lane purely for buses, taxis and cyclists? (They would be much better to segregate at the Ferodo Bridge, where there are real road space issues).
My big worry is that cyclists like me (i.e. 20-25mphers) will not be able to use the new facility because we will be travelling too fast for fellow cyclists, without enough space to overtake safely. Also, there will be no easy access to the flyover (I, for one, do not want to use Bow Roundabout every day). But. if we use the road we will be mixing with 30mph traffic. Usually this wouldn’t be a problem, except with a segregated cycle path next to us we’re going to get the inevitable ‘stop slowing us down, use the cycle path’ comments…..cue (or queue :P) lots of angry comments at the next set of lights as I lose my cool.
I guess you can’t please everyone, indeed you’re lucky to please anyone.
