Is this the most dangerous road in London?

[deptfordmarmoset]

i didn't want it , but the segregationists did. Yes LCC I am looking at you lot . nearly got wiped out last week on the east bound heading to Stratford when some dipper in a car didn't read the lights properly.

lesson learnt . I will use the straight ahead lane and have a witty retort ready for the drivers who say i should "Use your own fecking lane " ,

well done LCC your stunning whinging made my journey LESS safe and more stressful than it used to be. Cnuts

Hold on there. I didn't bring this thread to Southwark LCC's attention so that you could abuse them for a near miss in Stratford. It's in reponse to a bit of abject incompetence on the part of Southwark's highway engineers and Southwark LCC are the most appropriate people to refer to. It's nothing to do with cycle facilities, segregated or not, it's all to do with providing on road parking to the detriment of cyclists' safety.

If you have a problem with entitlement driving and people who can't recognise a green bicyle light in East London take it up with the local LCC branch or the central organisation. Do it in the right place and try to make it count. I find your post destructive.

 

[jonny jeez]

I got a reply from the coordinator of Southwark cyclists yesterday but didn't see it until this morning: http://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/great-dover-street-kerb-your-enthusiasm/
(I think they've quoted you @jonny jeez ) I don't know what action they might take but he thanked us for pointing it out and said ''keep them coming...''

So by way of an update, and a result of sorts.

the road has now been adjusted.

Whilst the adjustment is not that dramatic it does at least illustrate an acceptance that things like this can be a real hazard, so a result in that context.

The adjustments amount (at this stage *) to a replacement of the central white dotted line, which now curves out onto the opposite lane (reducing the width of this lane a little of course) but allowing a wider lane that can accommodate a motor vehicle and a cyclist, without causing the cyclist to clip the low rise curb.

*I say at this stage", as the road surface is also in the process of being replaced, so its possible that a more long term solution will become apparent soon. Ideally they should loose the low rise curb section altogether, it seems to provide no purpose other than occasional parking and a painted bay could do that job just as well.

thanks to @deptfordmarmoset, for reporting in the correct fashion.

RESULT

 

[TheJDog]

I hit something like this on the Marylebone Road once, drifted into the bus stop area, on the floor at 20 mph+ before I knew what was happening.

 

[hhgolfer]

Going back to the original post of jonny jeez on 8th September 2015 I was cycling north on Great Dover Street on the 11th June 2016 when I hit the curb on this same section of the road as described at an angle and landed on the concrete lay-by. I hit my head on the concrete and broke my olecranon (part of elbow) ending up in St Thomas's hospital for 3 days after undergoing surgery. There were no cars parked in the lay-by at the time and I was unaware of the curb which is difficult to see and and so it maybe tempting for cyclists to veer onto the lay-be for that section of the road to escape cars! This section of the road is definitely a danger to cyclists and i note there is a drain which has been marked in yellow for repair which is a major hazarrd. I note that Andy Cawdell of Southwark Cyclists commented on this post and commented in his article that "we have just been instructed to look at part of Great Dover Street of the feasibility of improvements for cyclists between the Trinity Street and Black Horse Court junctions. I don't yet have any timescales for this, and only received this last Friday. As soon as we have more information we will let you know."
http://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/great-dover-street-kerb-your-enthusiasm/
I would be interested to know if anybody has any further information as this spot is clearly a danger zone to cyclists and action needs to be carried out to prevent any further accidents occurring.

 

[Lonestar]

i didn't want it , but the segregationists did. Yes LCC I am looking at you lot . nearly got wiped out last week on the east bound heading to Stratford when some dipper in a car didn't read the lights properly.

lesson learnt . I will use the straight ahead lane and have a witty retort ready for the drivers who say i should "Use your own fecking lane " ,

well done LCC your stunning whinging made my journey LESS safe and more stressful than it used to be.

Not surprised.I had a lot of trouble at those lights and a workmate was quite upset also because some driver almost wiped him out.Seems to be improved now,not so many problems.Then again I have to only contend with Bow and Mile End because I hook up with CS 3 after Mile End.

 

[subaqua]

Not surprised.I had a lot of trouble at those lights and a workmate was quite upset also because some driver almost wiped him out.Seems to be improved now,not so many problems.Then again I have to only contend with Bow and Mile End because I hook up with CS 3 after Mile End.

biggest problem is the poor execution of the junctions, oh and tesco putting trolleys in the lane

left hooks galore along CS2 and the notional box junction where cars queuing leave a gap for thise turning right across lanes. so glad my reactions are quick. but I have my wits about me. Oh hang on didn't a blond mop get crucified for saying poor infra was OK if you have wits about you.

I still stand by comments on LCC as a whole not being the voice for ALL London cyclists.

 

[glenn forger]

Fatalities so far, hope this is ok here jonny?

https://visionzerolondon.wordpress.com/latest-pedestrians-and-cyclists-deaths-in-london/

2014 : 64 pedestrians and 13 cyclists killed, = 61% of all road deaths (56% of all KSIs)

2015 – 66 pedestrians and 9 cyclists killed, = 55% of all road deaths (53% of all KSIs)

 

[jonny jeez]

Going back to the original post of jonny jeez on 8th September 2015 I was cycling north on Great Dover Street on the 11th June 2016 when I hit the curb on this same section of the road as described at an angle and landed on the concrete lay-by. I hit my head on the concrete and broke my olecranon (part of elbow) ending up in St Thomas's hospital for 3 days after undergoing surgery. There were no cars parked in the lay-by at the time and I was unaware of the curb which is difficult to see and and so it maybe tempting for cyclists to veer onto the lay-be for that section of the road to escape cars! This section of the road is definitely a danger to cyclists and i note there is a drain which has been marked in yellow for repair which is a major hazarrd. I note that Andy Cawdell of Southwark Cyclists commented on this post and commented in his article that "we have just been instructed to look at part of Great Dover Street of the feasibility of improvements for cyclists between the Trinity Street and Black Horse Court junctions. I don't yet have any timescales for this, and only received this last Friday. As soon as we have more information we will let you know."
http://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/great-dover-street-kerb-your-enthusiasm/
I would be interested to know if anybody has any further information as this spot is clearly a danger zone to cyclists and action needs to be carried out to prevent any further accidents occurring.

Ouch,

I don't ride the section any longer as my workplace has changed but I do come home along it on the scooter (cant turn left at tower bridge so just head over London bridge instead) I have seen a few riders and one motorcycle on its side in the last year. I assume that this is representative of the number of incidents. The width of the road has been increased by shifting the dotted central line but the problem of a stealth kerb still exists. Its really hard to see and virtually impossible in the dark.

I'm sorry to hear that it caught you out too, get well soon.

 

[jonny jeez]

Yeah,while the car from the left disregards the lights.They don't actually know what they've done wrong.Thanks anyway.i just wonder how many cyclists are going to get caught out by this little trick.

I think the answer is stop and wait till they've finished their cock-up.Ha.Another option is use the car lane.

I have to say that in parts of the highway, there are really daft design flaws. I get that It will take time for us all to adjust but there will always be a driver/pedestrian/rider who has never come across it all before and will cause an issue.

 

[Lonestar]

I have to say that in parts of the highway, there are really daft design flaws. I get that It will take time for us all to adjust but there will always be a driver/pedestrian/rider who has never come across it all before and will cause an issue.

Not the only ones.Tower Gateway and the bit near Southwark Bridge where cars get confused are my favorites.Obviously unfamiliarity is a problem.Isn't Elephant and Castle fun?

Warton Road turning between Bow and Stratford.(left hook potential and lack of signalling/cyclists going up the insideThe motorists don't know how to handle that one.They always seem to overtake then stop instead of hanging back and being patient.Inviting the unpredictable pass on the inside.

 

[Dannz]

I had an accident here yesterday at about 5:45pm. The road was busy, and it was getting dark. It was my first time cycling down Great Dover Street. The road is marked as red route, and parking restrictions apply to 7pm. There were no vehicles parked and this is a section of the road which is meant to be used by traffic at that time. So I moved across to let cars behind me get past. (Isn't that part of the rationale for red routes ?). Instead I hit this unexpected change of level in the road at an angle. I took a tumble and luckily wasn't hit by the car behind me. My right knee got the worst of it. Injuries could have been a lot worse, and possibly fatal.

A road surface is meant to be free of significant irregularities. Kerbs belong at the side of the road, not in the road!
If the recent 'adjustments' with moving the centre line were logical, TFL should have also put double red lines down the side of this shoulder to mark this as the kerb and the edge of the carriageway. Without marking the edge of the carriageway appropriately in this way, this section of road appears to be two lanes wide going west, inviting unwary cyclists to move across into the inside lane at busy times - just as I did.

Double red lines running alongside this inner stealth kerb is a quick and easy fix, and could prevent a fatal accident by proper marking of the kerb. Alternatively, if current road markings are correct and TFL want to have this as a widened section of road, this should be properly smooth and level in accordance with road standards - which this is not.

 

[jonny jeez]

I had an accident here yesterday at about 5:45pm. The road was busy, and it was getting dark. It was my first time cycling down Great Dover Street. The road is marked as red route, and parking restrictions apply to 7pm. There were no vehicles parked and this is a section of the road which is meant to be used by traffic at that time. So I moved across to let cars behind me get past. (Isn't that part of the rationale for red routes ?). Instead I hit this unexpected change of level in the road at an angle. I took a tumble and luckily wasn't hit by the car behind me. My right knee got the worst of it. Injuries could have been a lot worse, and possibly fatal.

A road surface is meant to be free of significant irregularities. Kerbs belong at the side of the road, not in the road!
If the recent 'adjustments' with moving the centre line were logical, TFL should have also put double red lines down the side of this shoulder to mark this as the kerb and the edge of the carriageway. Without marking the edge of the carriageway appropriately in this way, this section of road appears to be two lanes wide going west, inviting unwary cyclists to move across into the inside lane at busy times - just as I did.

Double red lines running alongside this inner stealth kerb is a quick and easy fix, and could prevent a fatal accident by proper marking of the kerb. Alternatively, if current road markings are correct and TFL want to have this as a widened section of road, this should be properly smooth and level in accordance with road standards - which this is not.

Hope you recover soon.

its a really nasty piece of design.

All the best.

 

[keithmac]

That's a shocking piece of road, to be fair I'd probably do the same (pull to the left if no parked cars) and end up on the floor..

Isn't the council negligent, especially if it's been brought to their attention before?.

 

[mjr]

Isn't the council negligent, especially if it's been brought to their attention before?.

I think so. Doesn't it need an injured person seeking compensation to become aware that it's been brought to their attention before, before anything will change?

 

[Pete Owens]

They tried the same treatment for a cycle lane in Brighton .. with the same results:
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/1167...cycle_lane_branded_a____death_trap___/?ref=mr