Press release

MCC News item

Implementation of the London Cycle Network began in Merton in 1993. A significant proportion of the proposed network has now been implemented. A second edition map, printed in June 1998, shows such routes as "existing cycle routes".

Members of the Merton Cycling Campaign have become aware of inadequacies along these existing routes. This document is the result of our recent extensive review of these routes, in order to be able to provide the local authority with a comprehensive "snagging list" of items along the routes which, in our view, require attention or modification. Numbers on each of the surveys refer to numbers on the accompanying route maps. We trust that this information will be readily understandable and useful to council officers responsible for the continued implementation and maintenance of the cycle route network in Merton, and would urge them to contact us for any clarification on any point that they may require.

This list is presented to the council in a spirit of positive co-operation, and in the hope that items will be duly attended to as council officers go about their duties in the borough. We intend to maintain the currency of this list: as items are attended to, they will be deleted; meanwhile, items brought to our attention may be added. Finally, as new LCN routes are implemented, they will be surveyed in the same manner and any arising items from such a survey would be added to this list.

These are taken as read, and are therefore not re-stated throughout the report. They include our campaign for advanced stop lines at all light-controlled road junctions on the LCN, 20mph speed limits across the borough (exemptions to be sought for Red Routes and trunk roads), and a re-allocation of road space to favour cyclists and pedestrians. These measures will help to foster the revival of the least environmentally damaging modes of transport (walking and cycling) as well as have a traffic calming effect - both clear government objectives.

We apologise for the different presentation of each of the route reports, reflecting as it does the fact that each was done by a different volunteer, and no-one has (yet…) had the time to edit them all to a common format.

Richard Evans

October 1998

1. No distances on existing signpost to Wimbledon Park and Earlsfield (at start of Woodside)

No signposts to this route from Wimbledon Hill Road or Mansell Road.

 

2. Repeater sign required on lamppost W064/018 (opposite 61 Woodside, just before width restriction).

 

3. Repeater sign opposite 54 Woodside is hidden by tree opposite 55 Woodside - pruning required. This sign is loose too.

 

4. Additional repeater sign required outside 98 Woodside on existing P post.

 

5. No distances on signs at junction Woodside/Leopold Roads (both directions).

No warnings on Leopold Road about cycle route crossing from Woodside Road into Kenilworth Avenue - signs could be erected on lampposts L040/004 and L040/006.

 

6. Existing repeater sign on lamppost K001/009 is obscured by tree outside 44 Kenilworth Avenue.

 

7. No distances on signs at junction Kenilworth/Home Park Roads (both directions).

Southbound: signpost from Home Park Road into Kenilworth Avenue will soon be obscured by tree - pruning required.

 

8. No signs at all at junction of Home Park Road with Arthur Road (both directions).

 

9. No cycle parking at or near Wimbledon Park station: due to narrow pavements here, we recommend on-street cycle parking to be installed. The removal of just two car parking spaces would make space for 20 parked cycles (10 Sheffield stands).

No distances on signs at junction Arthur Road/Melrose Avenue (both directions).

Circular blue sign at entrance to Melrose Avenue is twisted, bent, and facing the wrong direction.

 

10. No distances on signs at junction Melrose Avenue/Revelstoke Road (both directions).

 

11. No warnings on Durnsford Road about cycle route crossing from Revelstoke Road into Ravensbury Road - signs could be erected on lampposts D055/053 and D055/89 (outside 507 Merton Road).

Southbound: cycle signpost at entrance to Revelstoke Road is totally obscured by the "unsuitable for HGV" signpost.

 

12. Speed humps along Ravensbury Road are not cycle-friendly - they are quite violent even at a low speed, and need either re-profiling or cycle gaps cut into them.

 

13. Destinations, distances and LCN logos should be given on the signs at the junction of Ravensbury Road with Ravensbury Terrace.

 

Map A

Earlsfield to Wimbledon (southbound)

 

14. Repeater sign on lamppost R015/010 is obscured by tree outside 49 Revelstoke Road - suggest move sign to R015/012.

 

15. New repeater sign required on 1 way signpost outside 44 Melrose Avenue.

 

16. New repeater sign required on lamppost W064/013

 

17. Existing repeater sign loose, lamppost W064/019

 

18. Existing sign outside Cane Connections shop:

1. Wimbledon Town Centre needs radical re-think...

 

2. Both directions: remove dismount signs outside Police Station at entrance to South Park Road. Erect new signs: "no entry except for cycles". (Seek DETR approval if necessary, or investigate alternative solution).

 

3. At junction of South Park Road with Trinity Road, turn right sign required for routes to Motspur Park and Raynes Park (straight on for Colliers Wood). Suggested location for sign: use existing P for permit holders sign outside Keble Court (minor tree pruning required).

(Westbound) turn left sign required for routes to Motspur Park and Raynes Park (straight on for Wimbledon town centre). Suggested location for sign: use existing P for permit holders sign opposite lamppost S041/017.

Signposts from Trinity Road into all cycle routes required in both directions: west towards Wimbledon town centre and Common, and Putney; east towards Colliers Wood, Tooting and Earlsfield via Wandle Trail.

 

4. Junction of South Park Road with Cowper and Haydons Roads is a very hazardous crossing for cyclists. Recommend solution: remove existing zebra crossing over Haydons Road; add traffic lights and advanced stop lines to control this junction to include all red phase to allow safe crossing by cyclists and pedestrians.

Signposts into this cycle route are required from both directions on the Haydons Road.

 

5. Shared use sign required on unnumbered grey lamppost outside 116 Garfield Road.

Remove anti-cycling barriers on shared use path between Garfield and North Roads.

Shared use path is overgrown and requires pruning.

(Westbound) need two destinations on turn left sign into Cowper Road - add Raynes Park.

 

6. (Westbound) lamppost N019/006: need two destinations on sign - add Raynes Park.

 

7. New repeater sign required on lamppost D018/001 (Denison Road).

Note: this route is not yet signposted at all in either direction. Signposts should show distances and destinations:

Southbound - Raynes Park, Motspur Park and Morden.

Northbound - Wimbledon and Earlsfield via Wandle Trail.

1. Traffic lights and advanced stop lines required at junction with The Broadway.

 

2. Three roads between Palmerston and Russell Roads are not shown on the map: Harcourt, Granville and Derby. Recommend cycle route uses Harcourt Road.

 

3. No right turn from Gladstone into Kingston Road requires exception for cycles.

1. Victoria Crescent route is not shown on the map or signposted from The Broadway - right turn signpost required from The Broadway into Victoria Crescent, showing distances to Raynes Park and Morden.

Right turn signpost required from Victoria Crescent into Hartfield Road showing distances to Raynes Park and Morden.

 

2. Beulah Road: repeater sign required on lamppost B041/004

 

3. Junction of Hartfield Road with Hartfield Crescent: existing sign is obscured by tree - pruning required. Distances should be added on this sign, and Earlsfield added as a destination.

 

4. Junction of Hartfield Road with The Broadway: distances should be added on this sign, and Earlsfield added as a destination (turn left). Some serious reallocation of road space is required here to provide a new cycle lane towards Putney, with repeater signs throughout.
5. Map B

General comments

• Although marked on the cycle route map as implemented, there is no evidence of any cycle route between Kingswood Road via the footpaths and across Dundonald Road to Tabor Grove - even "no cycling" signs are still in situ!
• Where the routes cross busy roads (Kingston Road, Worple Road and Ridgeway) stronger safety measures are needed.
• The routes over Wimbledon Common are inadequately signposted - the conservators' map boards would be more helpful if augmented by the blue LCN signs.

Comments relating to map B

1. Northbound direction sign is twisted on lamppost.
2. "Cycle track crossing" warning signs needed.
3. Access over kerb and pavement is un-engineered.

No direction signs to footpath entrance; replace "no cycling" signs with shared use signs.

4. Redundant gate and post obstruct footpath; brambles and vegetation restrict width.
5. Gullies or ramps needed on footbridge over railway.
6. Right turns off and into Kingston Road are very dangerous.
7. Access from Kingston Road to Wilton Grove is not signposted or engineered.
8. Direction signs required at roundabout.
9. Direction signs required into/out of Tabor Grove.
10. Right turn into Ridgeway Place highly perilous.
11. Crossing over Ridgeway is difficult.
12. Northbound direction signs onto Common route are needed.
13. "Cycle lane crossing road" signs needed.
14. Routes junction direction and distance signs needed.
15. Direction signs required.
16. Direction signs required.
17. Direction signs required.
18. "Caution - cyclists crossing" sign needed.
19. Direction and distance signs needed.

1. The path here is gravel. It is good quality dirt road and is fine if you are on a mountain bike or a hybrid, but not on a racer.

 

2. The map is wrong here. The orange line should either go down the west side of the canal and then go over a bridge to join Phipps Bridge Rd or it should turn left at Windsor Ave and right into Brangwan Crescent before joining a path just before the road loops to the left There is no cycle signposting.

 

3. This road is not marked as a cycle route. It is a narrow road, but it is quiet. The 200 bus does run down this road. There are large No Parking signs painted on the road at various intervals which are quite rough when dry and are probably slippery when wet.

 

4. The path off Phipps Bridge Road is not marked. This is easily missed. The path that crosses the disused railway line is under repair. You are then greeted with three paths going across Morden Hall Park. There are no signposts here either. The paths are narrow an may be a problem for a racer as they are dirt.

 

5. The section around the Wandle River is very confusing. The map suggests that you should go on the south side of the river. This is not a good idea as the only way get to the path on the south side is to turn into Wandle Road and then turn left into the park when Wandle Road forks to the left. This path leads to a cul de sac. The suggested path is to go along the north side on a part gravel, part tarred path that crosses a bridge a bridge and comes out on the A217 (F) which is very busy. This section would once again be improved by signposting.

(This survey does not take into account possible changes when/if we ever get to use the Cattle Arch, or the Tramlink Crossing.)

1. No distances on signs.
2. South end of path linking Beverley Way and Westcoombe Avenue has "Cyclists dismount" sign, north end has circular blue sign with cycle and pedestrian logos (presumably indicating shared use). Also north end has rectangular blue "Cycle lane look both ways" sign - why?
3. There is no indication of the Coombe Lane cycle path on any of the roads leading to the roundabout, except for one sign in Westcoombe Avenue, which is only visible when cycling north in Westcoombe Ave. This could explain why some people still cycle on the road when going east.
4. The stop sign and lines on the path are now redundant, after the installation of the push-button controlled toucan crossing; the distinctive surface (a sort of muddy red, unfortunately) has not been reinstated after the alterations for the crossing.
5. The bottle bank is still there, in spite of assurances from Edwina Heppenstal (that long ago) that it would be moved. This is used as an excuse for parking on the cycle path. This whole stretch (from West Barnes Lane to Kingston Road) is a bit of a mess: for instance, there is still a sign to the contraflow and the Skew Arch, but no indication on the road or any other hint of how to get there.
6. The distinctive surface just stops for no apparent reason then starts up again after the bus stop (opposite Carlton Park).
7. Parking restrictions (Mon - Sat 8am - 6.30pm) are often ignored, though there could be some legitimate loading, I suppose.
8. No distances on sign.
9. Verge needs trimming - encroaching on path sufficiently to prevent two-way cycling.
10. No distances on sign.
11. No distances on sign. Current route to Melbourne Road very unsatisfactory - is the alternative via Church Lane and Sheridan Road (when Tramlink provides a crossing) still possible, using the alley at the end of Wilton Grove and the pavement on Kingston Road, upgrading the pelican to a toucan?
12. No distances on sign.
13. No sign indicating right turn into Branksome Road (but there is a blue rectangular cycle logo just after the turn).
14. No sign indicating left turn into Melbourne Road (though there is a "No through road" sign for the right turn, and a cycle sign saying "Raynes Park 1½").
15. Why "Cycle lane look both ways" sign? Nothing to indicate route is along path, or whether it's shared-use.
16. No dropped kerb. Not very clear whether disabled parking space has been moved. (Dropped kerb wouldn't be needed if The Path were shared-use, but I suppose it is a bit narrow; also, wouldn't a dropped kerb help the disabled?).

Map F

Merton Park to Raynes Park & New Malden

Points 17 - 27 westbound

 

18. Advanced stop line not at all clear: a distinctive surface (preferably green) would help; signpost with distance to Raynes Park would also be clearer. Yellow box for traffic going south on Morden Road should stop traffic blocking junction, and would look great on a green cycle-route surface.
19. No signs, with or without distances, from Morden Road crossing until right turn into Kirkley Road, which isn't visible from the Melbourne Road/The Path junction.
20. No indication to turn left into Kingston Road.
21. No distances on sign.
22. No indication to turn left into Henfield Road. (On the map, the southern end of Wilton Crescent, between Henfield Road and Kingston Road, is not shown).
23. No distances on sign. (Map wrongly shows right then left dog-leg).
24. No distances on sign.
25. Jug-handle for toucan crossing to Skew Arch not clear, or route on other side of Arch (cyclist seen using contraflow in wrong direction). "End" (of cycle-route) marked on road at north end of Skew Arch, but no hint how to get to Coombe Lane. (Rectangular blue cycle logo on railway embankment opposite Hartshorn's not very obvious).
26. Distinctive surface needed - nothing to indicate that push-button operates toucan.
27. No double-dotted give-way lines at bus-stops, and cycle logos in funny places. (On map, Cambridge Avenue should be Camberley Avenue).
28. No distances on sign. See 2 for dismount/shared-use contradiction.

Many signs are lacking at points where the routes make right angle turns. However, bare poles have been noted at some of these locations, so we assume signs will soon make an appearance?

Repeater signs continue to cause confusion. We recommend the use of shared use signs wherever appropriate.

1. The route beside Merton Abbey Mills has not been implemented yet. No visible progress despite an expected completion date of October 1998.
2. The route along Alexandra Road contains an interesting section of permanent white blocked division of a pavement looking as if dual use is intended. Link from Prince Georges Road to Longfield Drive has a tarmac surface with barriers at each end and is well used by pedestrians. There is a parallel strip of grass blocked at one end by a substantial brick wall. A missing 'division section' gives access to the grass strip and extensive ruts show where it is used by mountain bike tyres. It would be helpful to both parties to lay a (shale?) path for cyclists on part of the grass strip, pierce the brick wall, and provide fully separate links for pedestrians and cyclists here.
3. Courtney Road is a more direct link from South Wimbledon to Figges Marsh than the twists and turns of the Alexandra Road route. It also offers a quiet bypass to the Colliers Wood one-way system for less confident cyclists.
4. The new toucan on Cavendish Road will provide a useful link.
5. The link between Myrna Close and Devonshire Road is not shown on the map, despite