Map of segregated cycle lanes in London?

[CopperBrompton]

As most of the other stretches are extremely short, we ended up doing three:
- the segregated bit of CS2
- the Greenway, from Stratford to Beckton (shared-use but works really well)
- CS3 (which is segregated for most of its length, though of varying quality)

Time-lapse video and commentary here:
http://cyclingtonowhereinparticular.../12/exploring-londons-segregated-cycle-paths/

 

[SW19cam]

As most of the other stretches are extremely short, we ended up doing three:
- the segregated bit of CS2
- the Greenway, from Stratford to Beckton (shared-use but works really well)
- CS3 (which is segregated for most of its length, though of varying quality)

Time-lapse video and commentary here:
http://cyclingtonowhereinparticular.../12/exploring-londons-segregated-cycle-paths/

As someone who uses CS2 extension daily I'm guessing your write up is based on one westbound, pleasant cycle? I'm very surprised you've given it such a glowing, optimistic report:

1) The surface is not a good standard. It's littered with iron work which you have to dodge. The surface behind the bus-stop bypass floods. Westbound is a little better than Eastbound. Eastbound has been dug up by utility companies and poorly finished (particularly as you approach the gyratory), resulting in a bumpy ride. There are ramps all along CS2 extension, again particularly irritating ones Eastbound. It's not a 'pleasant cycle'. It is, however, segregated which may encourage people to think it is safer.

2) The segregation does not 'properly protect you from traffic' as you suggest. The majority of CS2 has no protection at junctions where it is needed. I've been left hooked at pretty much every junction.

The bus stop at Abbey Lane westbound has a blind spot - so motorists turning left will have very little time to see a cyclist on their left.

3) There is indeed a cycle only phase at Bow Roundabout. It is a deathtrap. It's not intuitive for beginners or those approaching the roundabout for the first time (i.e. the people is should be specifically keeping safe!). The ASL holds about 6 cyclists in a line all the way back to the motorist stop line - at which point there is marginal benefit to the system anyway.

The segregated cycle track on Bow Roundabout itself allows one cyclist at a time to slowly proceed, thus holding up cyclists behind, thus allow the possibility of a left hook at the very corner Venera Minakhmetova was killed.

See www.youtube.com/bowroundabout for all sorts of examples of this

"To be fair, they’ve picked the right stretch to start with, as that’s where traffic is fastest, and there are bus lanes most of the rest of the way into central London." - There was a 24 hour bus lane along Stratford High Street before the segregation.



Westbound video:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs7xpJI0FSY

Eastbound video:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joLqEyjuzug


If you return and want a few of these issues pointed out let me know.

 

[stowie]

I go Eastbound on CS2 a couple of times a week or more. I have to admit that I quite like the segregation compared with before, as the Eastbound section wasn't well protected with bus lanes (there were some patchy bus lanes which were then removed). The left hooks are an issue - but I remember them being an issue with the original layout even if one kept primary. What is needed is for drivers to understand that they yield to the cycle lane, or for cycle specific lights if absolutely necessary. We have signs near the roundabout asking cyclists to watch out for cars, would be nice at the segregated junctions to have signs instructing drivers to yield to cyclists (presume there is some rule book from 1971 in DfT which would prevent this).

i used to hate the Bow - Stratford section on a bicycle and prefer it now, but it is still a long way from a standard I would want.

The cycle "gate" is appalling as you say. If you are the "tail-end Charlie" on a long queue (which is happening more now that people start using the roundabout more) then there is no advantage to the system, indeed it makes matters considerably worse than taking primary as before. The whole system is utterly confusing for anyone approaching it for the first time (my friend nearly went straight through first time and couldn't believe that he has to stop for the main lights as well as the cycle ones). The system is set up to preserve traffic flow with safety as a secondary consideration, which makes the whole thing horribly compromised. Unfortunately, the "gate" is part of the LCDS draft I saw, which means we might see more of them. It is ideal for TfL - it appears they are doing something without actually having to make any decisions. Sorry for the cynicism, but this system deserves it.

 

[CopperBrompton]

As someone who uses CS2 extension daily I'm guessing your write up is based on one westbound, pleasant cycle?

We did it in both directions, I just didn't bother including the video of the eastbound part, which I agree is poorer (well, shorter, really).

1) The surface is not a good standard. It's littered with iron work which you have to dodge.

It was decent on the day I did it - I don't recall having to dodge anything.

2) The segregation does not 'properly protect you from traffic' as you suggest. The majority of CS2 has no protection at junctions where it is needed.

I'd certainly love to see Dutch-style junctions, but this is a good first step, in my view. A lifesaver at junctions is instinctive anyway, so I guess I don't see those as a particular issue by present-day London standards.

3) There is indeed a cycle only phase at Bow Roundabout. It is a deathtrap.

It required a lot of care before, it's now improved but still a long way short of ideal. 'Deathtrap' is a little hyperbolic, in my view. I prefer it now to before the segregation.

"To be fair, they’ve picked the right stretch to start with, as that’s where traffic is fastest, and there are bus lanes most of the rest of the way into central London."

- There was a 24 hour bus lane along Stratford High Street before the segregation.

There was, but traffic speeds are quite high along there, so physical segregation is preferable to me.

If you return and want a few of these issues pointed out let me know.

Thanks. I did the ride out of interest - neither CS2 nor CS3 are exactly scenic - so I don't expect to be doing either again any time soon. The Greenway is different - once it's open all the way through to Victoria Park, I think there-and-back along that, then hooking up with a ride along the canals, would make a very pleasant Sunday afternoon meander.

 

[SW19cam]

RE: Bow Roundabout - The view you hold, having seemingly cycled over it once (or maybe a couple of times?) outside of peak travel, may lead you to think it's 'hyperbole', but you can't argue with 3 deaths in 2 years. The most recent of those deaths was after the newest implementation of the cycle light phase.

Daily observations (Which I upload) suggest a high proportion of crossings have an issue (RLJs, motorists not understanding the system, cyclists not understanding the system. I will shortly be pulling together some stats for release).For me that justifies it being called a death trap in its current form, and sadly it is a countdown to the next death there.

 

[CopperBrompton]

AIUI, there has been one death since the new layout and lights? On that basis you could describe as a 'deathtrap' any location where someone has been killed.

 

[SW19cam]

Nope, you'd describe a death-trap as a place where the infrastructure is substandard to the point where it contributes to the chance of a serious accident/death. The death is the resultant of the deathtrap. Deaths can occur for many reasons so you wouldn't logically always call somewhere someone has been killed as a death trap (although many probably are death traps...)

Bow Roundabout is a deathtrap because the infrastructure falls short. It didn't save Venera, and it won't save some poor person in the future who gets caught out.

If you want me to say whether or not the current system is better than the last, I would say yes it's marginally better when used in the correct way and when everyone is behaving as they should. Of course under these precise circumstances the infrastructure wouldn't be needed.... No-one would make any mistakes. Everyone would hold back and 'be nice'. Happy days.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Well, it certainly seems a worthwhile improvement to me (I used to cycle it daily, many moons ago). Let's hope you're wrong.

 

[mr_cellophane]

What's the colour code for segregated section? I can't spot one, but maybe I'm missing something obvious?

Brown - "Provision for cyclists adjacent to busy roads. May be shared with pedestrians"
Green - routes through parks which may be closed at times

 

[CopperBrompton]

Brown - "Provision for cyclists adjacent to busy roads. May be shared with pedestrians"

Ah right, cross-purposes. By 'segregated,' I mean not shared.

 

[SW19cam]

Just to report on a problem I think I forgot to mention - Cycle superfloodway 2 has flooding problems. I'm sure it'll make a good iceskating rink in the winter though so that's ok.

 

[CopperBrompton]

To be fair, pretty much everywhere has flooding problems this weekend

 

[SW19cam]

To be fair, pretty much everywhere has flooding problems this weekend

Urm, no they don't in London. That day it was only CS2 that was flooded when I cycled to work. Everywhere else on my commute drained fine. No rain during the day, and the commute home was fine until I got to, you guessed it, CS2 extension: pic.twitter.com/MgqMFo41Ka

 

[Roadrider48]

There is one that runs against the one way system on King st, Hammersmith.
But it is very narrow and doesn't go the whole way down to Hammersmith broadway.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Urm, no they don't in London.

My soggy shoes from cycling through several flooded sections disagree with you.