Fun on Southwark Bridge this morning

[frank9755]

I love that bit. Except for the stupid Open Top Buses that behave in a random manner on the bridge and down Tooley Street....

I'm guessing you guys are coming down from the City...? On the odd time I've done that I have flown over the bridge.

However on my way into work I have to come uphill on the cobbles from the Embankment. With no momentum, rough tarmac and, sometimes, a headwind the climb up to the top of the bridge can be a bit of a slog - being overtaken by Bromptons and mountain bikes on occasion!

The ride home tonight to go north over LB was sweet though. There seemed to be a tailwind and for probably the only time this year, I caught all 35 sets of lights on Tooley St on green, then spotted there was also a green at the top of the hill from way back by the London Dungeon, sprinted for it, made it, and onto the bridge at speed!

 

[hackbike 666]

New job is north of Southwark Bridge and most direct route from home to work (and vice versa) is over Southwark Bridge. I did once, to inject a little varietal spice into my life, cross over Blackfriars Bridge in the morning but found the whole experience of turning right at the northern end of the bridge decidedly unpleasant.

I don't find Southwark Bridge too bad. Partic as now they have the segregated cycle lane on each carriageway which is wide enough for cyclists to pass each other (and notwithstanding that I'm not a big fan of segregated cycle lanes normally). However, again I feel my experience of this bridge is slightly skewed as I travel straight on in the mornings from the north side of the bridge. I've witnessed a few hairy moments with other cyclists that are turning right off the bridge. It's also fair to say that there is a much larger volume of HGVs that use that bridge than, say, Blackfriars and that makes a difference to the cyclist/road user interface.

Probably the most unpleasant part of my commute however is the stretch from the north side of the bridge where you end up mixing it on shared use sections with peds. I've nothing against peds as such (some of my best friends are peds) but mornings and evenings are hugely congested with peds and cyclists and you might as well just get off your bike and push it.

Can't say the North End of Blackfriars is my favourite but as the Waterloo Bridge - High Holborn route is now my favourite I use that and you still get to mix it with bus drivers who are in a hurry and into Fleet Street is dodgy so I stay to the right at the Waldorf Hotel then cross left...I did say that right hand turn lane is a nightmare (at Blackfriars) although I have got used to it myself I don't think it is the safest spot and it seems a nightmare for motorists as well..of what I have witnessed...It seems poorly thought out when the original road layout was fine...although now it allows now is cars to throw a right when coming up from Mansion House...Im pretty sure they never did that before...

Never found Southwark too much of a problem but there was always a cycle lane closed off whenever I used it...

 

[Blackandblue]

that right hand turn lane ... (at Blackfriars) ... seems a nightmare for motorists as well..

Yes, I think that's precisely the problem. It's bad for all users, creates confusion, indecision, last minute manoeuvres in (relatively) quick flowing traffic. For cyclists the worst aspect of turning right is getting caught between the traffic heading north and a motorist in the rioght hand lane that suddenly realises he wants to go north and needs to swerve over to the left. Unpleasant.

Don't get me wrong, I love cycling in London. Enjoy the cut and thrust. But poor road layout creates needless unpleasantness for all concerned.

I think I've only ever gone south over Waterloo. Very enjoyable if you hit the roundabout right and can sweep all the way round (I would typically turn right there). Can't say I much fancy heading north over it given what's waiting for me on the northern side of the bridge (ie Aldwych).

Westminster is OK although frankly a little too dull...

There's really no pleasing some people.

 

[g00se]

Yes, I think that's precisely the problem. It's bad for all users, creates confusion, indecision, last minute manoeuvres in (relatively) quick flowing traffic. For cyclists the worst aspect of turning right is getting caught between the traffic heading north and a motorist in the rioght hand lane that suddenly realises he wants to go north and needs to swerve over to the left. Unpleasant.

Don't get me wrong, I love cycling in London. Enjoy the cut and thrust. But poor road layout creates needless unpleasantness for all concerned.

I think I've only ever gone south over Waterloo. Very enjoyable if you hit the roundabout right and can sweep all the way round (I would typically turn right there). Can't say I much fancy heading north over it given what's waiting for me on the northern side of the bridge (ie Aldwych).

Westminster is OK although frankly a little too dull...

There's really no pleasing some people.

It can be as much of a pain coming up from the Vic embankment (going east) to cross that junction (and end up as if you were turning right after crossing the bridge). The lights sequence means just before we're released, that right turn junction is held red but straight on is still green for a while. This means the junction backs up but some cars are still sneaking straight on and we've got to cross that.

 

[hackbike 666]

I cycled up to London Bridge and used it this morning...only to be confronted by motons in the wrong lane or poorly positioned at both ends...My positioning wasn't great because it was too defensive at the South End...Not that it mattered as the lights stopped me on entrance to Southwark Street.....

Waterloo Bridge and yet again the bollard police have been busy narrowing down the road so yet another bus can run up and squeeze into a pinch point which caught me this time I must admit.....I was slightly annoyed by his behaviour and the video actually looks worse than it actually was...Actually I think the video is shocking....It was a number 76 bus...Im really going to have to watch that bridge as I was caught napping that time..I seem to be a bit vulnerable concentration wise when im knackered after a shift..Especially after the more days I have worked...

I just looked at the video ...I didn't look behind enough and that's not good enough....I could have avoided that...

 

[hackbike 666]

Actually I don't have too much problem getting down Fleet Street after crossing the bridge....(touchwood)