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, limited to the area of Richmond Cycling Campaign:
Created by timlennon // 1 thread
No entrance to the school is accessible by bicycle for children, unless they cycle on the pavement. Even when they do, there are busy roads to be crossed with poor sightlines, or simply conflict with pedestrians.
Created by Paul L // 0 threads
There is a long-established cycle route via Broom Rd, lower Teddington Rd but that runs into congestion in Hampton Wick High Street. A cycle lane could join to the cycle track across Kingston Bridge. There is generally no room for 2 traffic lanes but a cycle lane + general traffic lane would fit.
Created by Paul L // 0 threads
Tedington railway bridge is the steepest hill in Teddington and the roundabouts make cycling at busy times stop-start. There are sections of off-road track but they pushy you back onto the road at narrow sections. What is needed is a comprehensive scheme with protected crossings of Park Rd and Waldegrave rd parallel to the existing zebras.
Created by Paul L // 1 thread
There is an existing cycleroute linking Stanley Rd and Fifth Cross Rd via a toucan. Putting a bidirectional cycle track adjacent to the footway on the E side of Hampton Rd would tie in Wellesey Rd with Strawberry Hill station and quiet routes to Twickenham.
Created by Paul L // 0 threads
The cycle route from Ranelaugh Drive towards Isleworth involves crossing the footway. A dropped kerb has been provided (but no other markings) but this is frequently blocked by parked cars. A solution would be to place a bollard either side of the dropped section.
Created by timlennon // 0 threads
Comment from RCC correspondence: The only question to ask is: What would the Dutch do? There is far too much unrestricted tarmac area for vehicles, and the Mini-roundabout does not slow down cars sufficiently. Restricting the space for cars so as to slow them down, and increasing the protected space for cyclists and pedestrians is a must. But, why stop at Richmond Hill? The Roehampton Gate is also dangerous. Maybe make the park access-only for motor vehicles, so you can only get to the nearest car park. That could easily be achieved by placing no entry and right/left turn only signs ( except cycles) around the park, so that you would simply have to pick the appropriate entrance to visit a specific area of the park, or even better, just park and walk. That would make it safer by reducing a lot of the through traffic that makes it dangerous. I'd also like it to be closed to motor vehicles on Saturday mornings between 8 and 12 noon, but you can't have everything. One final thought. The car park at the Roehampton Cafe is dangerous on a Saturday morning. So many cyclists and cars pushing through. The space in front of the cafe is especially dangerous with lots of excited kids on hire bikes . That space was recently blocked off to cars whilst the cafe was refurbished, but alas it's now been re-opened. Should have kept it shut for safety. Plus, it could be used for bike parking to ease the pressure on space outside the cafe. Unfortunately, the Royal Parks don't seem to have a clue.
This alley connects Ham Street with The Ham Avenues and is an excellent way to avoid the fast traffic in Sandy Lane. It is a cut through which is particularly useful as a safe car-free route for parents and kids on foot and bikes to get to the German School and the Russell School.
It is also creates a link to help people avoid a stretch of the busy Petersham Road, as it connects with Riverside Drive and on to Kingston.
It is a dirt track which becomes dangerously and unappealingly muddy for autumn/ winter/ spring. I know some people choose to drive to school rather than attempt this route with children (and buggies).
If changing the surface is not an option due to drainage then this path should be included in the council's leaf clearing schedule so that the mud does not have the opportunity to develop each autumn. I have tried advising the council to clear the mud - no reponse as yet. Two years ago the Council put down stones on the worst affected part but that created a skidding hazard.
This corner is little used by motor traffic but those that do use it often go round this corner too fast. There is no pavement and high walls on both sides of the road. Cyclists and pedestrians come from the riverside path are not expecting motor traffic so signage is needed.
There is a particular danger from delivery lorries and rubbish lorries which use this route to deliver to the pubs along this stretch of the river. I had a near miss with a Night Freight lorry.
Created by Paul L // 0 threads
At the end of Adelaide Rd is a large GP Practice and a dentist. There is no space immediately here but there is space on the opposite side of Park Rd. accessed by a zebra.
A community consultation 'The Barnes Ponder' in October 2013 has show strong support for making Barnes a 20 mph neighbourhood .
“20mph is plenty enough speed on the roads!”
Created by George Coulouris // 7 threads
This issue is intended to act a repository for material that can be used to back-up the LCC's 2014 Local Election Campaign 'Asks'. There are 6 'asks' that were finalised and agreed at the LCC's AGM on 19 October 2013:
1. Safe routes to schools
2. Areas without through motor traffic (AWTTs)
3. Protected space on main roads/major junctions
4. Safe cycle routes via parks and canals (Greenways)
5. 20mph speed limits
6. Liveable town centres
so we'll have 6 threads under this Cyclescape issue where we can collect explanations, discussions and most importantly concrete illustrations of what is meant by each ask.
Created by Kate // 1 thread
I would like to propose the parade of shops in Ashburnham Road, opposite Ham Library as a spot that would greatly benefit from cycle parking. This spot was turned down for cycle parking in 2012 on the grounds that there is already cycle parking in Ham Street outside Hansel & Pretzel (opposite Grey Court School).
The Ham Street cycle parking is not convenient for people who want to park their bikes in order to pop into the shops in Ashburnham Road. The cycle parking in the library is reserved for library users only. As you can see from the attached photos people end up laying their bikes down on the pavement, thereby causing an obstruction for pedestrians.
2 or 3 Sheffield stands would be sufficient to solve this problem.
I have obtained signatures from all but one of the shops in Ashburnham Road in support of this idea. The remaining one also supports the idea but they want to be sure that the parking would not be directly outside their shop, thereby possibly obstructing deliveries.
My suggestion would be to put stands either as a group on the corner next to the mosaic and the Indian takeaway restaurant, or to locate them on the opposite side of the road to the shops, in a similar way to the ones in Back Lane, Ham (see attached photo).
As I am sure you are aware, convenient cycle parking not only encourages people to use their bikes but has also been proven to help the local economy as people are more likely to stop and use the local shops if they can easily park their bikes nearby.
Created by Paul L // 1 thread
Between the practically traffic free road through Bushy Park and the quiet roads of Hampton is the busy High Street. This could be a route for all cyclists by segregation as a two-way widened shared footway and conversion of an existing pelican to a toucan crossing.
Created by Paul L // 0 threads
Burtons road has been part of the borough cycle network usually acting as a quiet parallel to Queens Rd. Unfortunately growth of traffic has led to it being a rat-run at peak times despite numerous road humps. As parking leaves space for only one vehicle this makes it unpleasant to cycle.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
There is room for more bike parking here - to encourage people to stop fly parking on the railings of the bridge.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
Cycling north down church rd; and wanting to go east on the A316, cyclists can avoid Richmond Circus by makin a right turn onto St. Johns Rd. However, this right turn is on a bend and there are frequently queues of north bound traffic that obscure the view of oncoming vehicles until you reach the bend - see streetview here http://goo.gl/maps/dvlKe ; coupled with a downhill gradient cyclists are tempted to cut across Church Rd at this point at speed despite poor visibility.
Reversing the direction of the Larkfield Rd / St Johns Rd one way system would allow northbound cyclists to make a right turn into Larkfield rd to cycle round and pick up the A316 - with much better view of oncoming traffic. Coming the other way, westbound cyclists heading for Richmond Station could then use St Johns Road to get to Richmond Station - which is slightly shorter and easier route.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
Sandpits Rd Ham is closed to through traffic, creating an opportunity for a quiet cycling route. However the closure has been made with a bench and a kerb that would obstruct anyone wanting to cycle between Sandpits Rd and the rest of Ham. This could easily be replaced by bollards.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
Providing a cycle-friendly surface on the path from Meadlands Drive to the road serving the German School and the Polo Club would improve cycling access to Strathmore and Russell Schools and help provide a better quiet route from Meadlands Drive area towards Richmond - providing more/better options for avoiding the busy Petersham Road.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
This short stretch of cycletrack links Leybourne Park to Cumberland Rd - its very narrow and has street furniture in the path, making pretty much unusable.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
It would be useful to provide a route from east side of Kew Gardens station; via Burlington Avenue; along Mortlake Road and up the service road alongside the district line to the Thames Path. The service road is already closed to traffic; but cycling is obstructed by a large ugly concrete barrier (see photo). There is room on the north side of Mortlake Road for a short section of dedicated cycling space to link to the junction with Burlington Ave - see http://goo.gl/maps/DG7gh. The crossing could be problematic.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
Travelling south from North Road to Manor Road; you have to negotiate Manor Circus - the only crossing is a zebra crossing; followed by narrow pavement; which forces a dismount. Could the southern pavement be widened by extending it out over the former gasworks site?
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
Thought it might be useful to have some (covered) cycle parking near the Ham-Twickenham ferry. Although you can take bikes on the ferry; this would give people an option of leaving their bikes on the south side whilst visiting the twickenham side - which might be good for people less physically able to lug bikes on and off the boat and the steps.
Created by Dan // 1 thread
Traffic lights will not change for cyclists when on the sensor (at night).
Created by Paul L // 0 threads
A crossing of sorts has been made from Burtons Rd across the busy Uxbridge Road to access Longford Close from where a bridge across the Longford River provides access to Hampton (schools).
The tramline paving is in place to show shared use of the footway but no visual signing. (We have raised this with the council to no effect).
Created by Paul L // 0 threads
The demand for cycle parking exceeds the supply in this important shopping area.
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
I have serious concerns about the safety of this portion of the bike path; arising from its recent re-design. Recently my 10 year old son was in a very close “near-miss” with a car turning off the A316 into Bicester Road; and I believe many more similar incidents are likely occurring. Eventually someone will be seriously hurt or killed on it.
However, the improvement in the track leads cyclists to feel more confident in using it – giving a false sense of security.
In particular:
• The segregated track makes it particularly appealing for inexperienced and more vulnerable cyclists (such as kids).
• This track design leads to an increase in the cyclists speed.
• The smooth/quick nature of the track leads inexperienced cyclists to believe that THEY HAVE RIGHT OF WAY across side roads.
• There are no markings on the roads to tell drivers coming in or out of side roads that cyclists could be on the track crossing their path.
• There is a particular challenge for EASTBOUND cyclists.
To avoid stopping at every side road, when on the track travelling Eastbound (as per red arrow on photo) approaching roads such as Bicester road, the cyclist has to simultaneously
(a) check to their FRONT/LEFT side to see if a car is exiting the side road
(b) check BEHIND them on their REAR/ RIGHT hand side to see if a car is about to swing off the A316 into the side road (usually at speed) - (as per orange arrow on photo).
This is a hard combination to perform – looking 180 degrees opposite directions at the same time. If you are an inexperienced cyclist, on an apparently safe track, it is very likely that you will not realise you have to be this vigilant and not check adequately for cars.
Hence, my boy rode across Bicester road from the east and was very nearly hit by a car turning off the A316.
(Note that travelling from the west is somewhat easier as both the vehicles turning in from the A316 and those turning out from the side roads are in your front field of vision).
My suggestions for improving this situation are:
(1) Clearly mark the bike track across the side roads so cars are aware there are cyclists approaching from the side.
(2) Ideally, give cyclists priority across the side roads; so making cars slow to a halt and making it more intuitive for cyclists.
(3) To facilitate this, would require some stopping space for traffic coming on/off the A316 to after the bike track crossing
At roads such as Bicester road the bike track could be curved to the south by about 2m before crossing the side road – this curve in the track would
(a) naturally slow cyclists down as they approach the side road
(b) would provide vehicles moving onto the A316 a decent gap so they can separate the concerns of first negotiating the bike track then focus on getting on the A316;
(c) for vehicles coming off the A316 the additional space would give them space to stop and give way to cyclists.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
Southern stretch of Kew road is a busy road, wide enough for cycling provision, but none is provided - southbound has protection of a bus lane for a stretch but north bound has no protection for cyclists at all. This frequently leads to pavement cycling as per the photo.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
Cyclist coming from the river come up Friars Lane exit and have to currently route right round Richmond Green because it is one way. Many do not and simply cycle across the green. The path across the green should be formally opened up to cyclists - as a share path with pedestrian priority - or a seperate track provided along the south side of Richmond Green.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
The path linking Bank Lane to Palewell Fields is currently pedestrian only, with gates across it. Opening this up to cyclists would improve permeability and provide a quiet route to Richmond Park Academy school from Roehampton (east-west); and to Ibstock Place school from Sheen (west-east).
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
Pinch-point at zebra crossing where cyclists are forced to share space with traffic that is often speeding. Cars try to squeeze past cyclists or brake suddenly.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
Westbound cycle lane is painted about 2m out from the kerb for no reason; child cyclists tend to follow paint rather than the common sense option which is to cycle next to the kerb.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
Railway footbridge should have a ramp/trough added to make it easier for cyclists to cross the railway. This would then create a quiet north/south route to Marshgate school as an alternative to Manor Road.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
Pinch point outside Courtlands on Sheen Road. Despite resurfacing, pinch point has not been addressed. Because of the poor road layout vehicles frequently encroach into the cycle lane. At off peak times the wide road encourages speeding - vehicles often approach this pinch point at 40mph.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
Footbridges at Mortlake railway station should be fitted with troughs to enable cyclists to easily wheel bicycles to the other platform. Cyclists frequently carry bicycles over the footbridge, as per the photo - one going in each direction!
Created by Dylan // 1 thread
There is a fairly good cycle lanes from Kingston towards Richmond up until you reach the Richmond Council border where Richmond Road (A307) turns into the Upper Ham Road (A307) and eventually Petersham Road (A307). At traffic lights along this route there are reserved areas for cyclists but along the roads there is nothing to remind drivers that cyclists share the road especially when the road narrows after Sandy Lane through Petersham. The road surface here is terrible and the speed bumps are pointless because some driver sprint between the bumps.
The best solution would be to remove the cyclists from this route altogether by upgrading the Thames Path to create a proper cycle path along the River Thames towards Richmond that currently stops at Teddington Lock. If a cycle/foot bridge linking Ham with Twickenham was built over Eel Pie along this route it would create an obvious link for those want to reach Twickenham.
Created by Paul James // 0 threads
West side the cycleway terminates at the Manor Rd zebra crossing.
East side it vanishes 20 meters from the junction at the Lower Richmond Rd zebra crossing.
Path between is not shared use and is very narrow due to excessive road width on roundabout due to dedicated turning lane and large roundabout center.
Created by Paul James // 0 threads
All the sideroads between Richmond Circus and Manor Circus are a danger to cyclists on the cycleway.
There is no warning to motorists that there will be crossing cyclists and the building angles make it hard to see if anything is coming.
Turning traffic from the A316 can have an obscured view of the cycleway due to foliage.
Decrease corner radii.
Make road hump more pronounced.
Make cycle surface colour continuous across roadway.
Add markings across roadway.
Add warning signage.
Move give way lines back to before cycleway or add additional give way lines.
Created by Paul James // 1 thread
The cycleways along the Thames Path and along Ducks Walk are not connected with the south/east side cycleway across Twickenham Bridge and only to the north/west side cycleway via a long detour through Old Deer Park or along The Avenue.
A ramped way down from the bridge would create a useful route for people into and out of Richmond town center that is currently only possible by using two flights of steps.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 2 threads
Ham Gate Avenue: As you cycle past parked vehicles which narrow the road by almost half you are trapped in a long tunnel. Impatient motorists who want to enter from the other end do so and simply drive at you forcing you practically into the gutter or off the road completely. Would it be ever possible to ban parking on this avenue and limit the speed to 20mph as it is in the park?
Note - there is a shared use segregated track alongside the road here (part of NCN 4) but it is frequently too narrow to cope with the volumes of cyclists and pedestrians; it is overhung with low tree branches and the surface is poor.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
Travelling south from North Road to Manor Road; you have to negotiate Manor Circus - the only crossing is a zebra crossing; followed by narrow pavement; which forces a dismount. Could the southern pavement be widened by extending it out over the former gasworks site?
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
Providing a cycle-friendly surface on the path from Meadlands Drive to the road serving the German School and the Polo Club would improve cycling access to Strathmore and Russell Schools and help provide a better quiet route from Meadlands Drive area towards Richmond - providing more/better options for avoiding the busy Petersham Road.
A community consultation 'The Barnes Ponder' in October 2013 has show strong support for making Barnes a 20 mph neighbourhood .
“20mph is plenty enough speed on the roads!”
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
The bridge between Dean Rd and Longford Close is currently a pedestrian only bridge, marked no cycling. Coupled with other improvements, provision of a decent facility here that could be used by cyclists with minimal conflict with pedestrians would open up a decent quiet route from the schools in Hampton (Hampton Academy, Hampton Boys, LEH) to the A316 cycle route.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
The route from Kingston Bridge into Church Road and up to Bushy Park traverses busy traffic routes with little protection for people cycling. Making this short section easier and safer for cycling would provide an important link to join up the quiet routes from Hampton through Bushy Park to Kingston town centre.
Created by timlennon // 1 thread
Initial quietway consultation from Richmond. This is a thread to build RCC's response
Created by Paul L // 1 thread
Despite having put in a cycle track from Richmond along the S side of Lower Richmond Road TFL claim that that it is impossible to link to the shared foot-way on Clifford avenue.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
Despite the cycle lanes being mandatory along this stretch the road layout is such that vehicles frequently intrude into the cyclelane - as this bus did.
White paint does not work on this stretch and some other segregation method is needed -eg a kerb; vertical posts or similar.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 1 thread
South Worple Way is signposted as part of LCN 37; but the western end of it is blocked off with this obstruction; which leaves only a very narrow gap for bikes to get through. Could you get a cargo bike or a trailer through there?
Well lane has been blocked to through motor traffic creating a nice quietway for walking and cycling.
However where it meets Percival Road a dropped kerb has not been installed meaning that cycles, pushchairs and wheelchairs have to bump down to cross Percival.
A couple of dropped kerbs and perhaps a parking restriction would really open this up as a nice cycle quietway.
Created by Andrew Woodward // 0 threads
Serious safety concerns on this stretch cyclepath crosses side-roads. See the main thread at
http://richmondlcc.cyclescape.org/issues/590-a316-cycle-lane-priority-over-side-roads