please empty your brain below
DG is right: the next life to be lost is much more likely to be a vulnerable road user - someone walking or cycling, rather than driving. This is because TfL loves motor vehicles and designs streets so people can drive fast, but cuts safety corners for everyone else. And while TfL is making the straight bits of road safer for cycling, they have still designed really odd junctions for cycling through rather than copying Dutch safe design. This increases risk of cycling injuries without benefiting any other kind of road user at all - a dead-weight loss.

Fingers crossed, a few weeks after the new cycle tracks are in place, a decent proportion of people driving will switch to cycling. This will reduce the number of drivers on the road and thus reduce the number of people seriously injured and killed along Bow Road.

And, when traffic reduces and congestion settles back to previous levels, maybe we can persuade TfL to put our pedestrian crossings back in a straight line where we actually want to cross.

Anonymouse | 05.03.15 - 8:15 a.m. | #

Interesting that, from the look of it, TfL have missed the opportunity to make the road single-lane in each direction (with extra lane(s) on the approach to traffic lights, including pedestrian ones). This would have the same throughput, and would release some space for loading bays, wider pavements in places, and other pleasant/useful things. Two lanes of traffic all the way, in a multi-use road, just makes more space to queue in.

Oh dear, I've just made an outsider's comment about a road I do not know very well, without even a site visit. So I should be put firmly in my place if any local perceives that I am talking rubbish.

Malcolm | 05.03.15 - 9:14 a.m. | #

Of all the bits of road I've ever had to use regularly, this is the one where I've nearly been knocked over/injured by a road user most often. That's me as a pedestrian and the 'road user' has been a cyclist. I can't see how prioritising cyclists is going to improve matters either.

B | 05.03.15 - 9:22 a.m. | #

I've been walking past all the work every morning for the last three weeks - I hadn't actually realised it was the cycle highway upgrade.

David | Homepage | 05.03.15 - 9:24 a.m. | #

@Malcolm

You've just made an outsider's comment about a road you do not know very well, without even a site visit. Restricting the road to one lane of traffic each way would be a very bad thing, from a traffic jam/snarl-up/queueing/exhaust fumes point of view.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 05.03.15 - 9:27 a.m. | #

"TfL have missed the opportunity to make the road single-lane in each direction (with extra lane(s) on the approach to traffic lights, including pedestrian ones). This would have the same throughput,..."

Even if that was the case on paper and in practice, there's no way you will ever get the public to accept one lane can have the same throughput as two.

And therefore removing a car lane, "for cyclists" = huge political fallout.

AB | 05.03.15 - 9:57 a.m. | #

Strangely enough I contacted TfL about the roadworks just the other day, having exited Mile End station and been confronted by a seemingly endless string of barriers and the lack of a crossing to reach the eastbound bus stop (which I could see my bus approaching) - had to wind back to the crossing at the Burdett Road junction (not as easy as it may look on a map when the pavement is very busy). I can't see why there couldn't have been a temporary crossing left in place while the work went on, as it's a massive detour, particularly for those with limited mobility. Also a complete lack of signage...

Moogal | 05.03.15 - 10:43 a.m. | #

@Anonymouse "This is because TfL loves motor vehicles and designs streets so people can drive fast"

In which universe? Certainly not in this one. I would love to drive more than 30 metres in one go without hitting traffic, lights, speed bumps or other bottleneck.

Greg | 05.03.15 - 11:58 a.m. | #

@dg Ok. Point noted!

Malcolm | 05.03.15 - 12:16 p.m. | #

Too much traffic, too many people, lack of space etc. Yes driving anywhere will take longer, buses will travel slower, walking will involve waiting more, cycling will involve stopping more. But, and this is the main thing, if less people are hurt/killed on London streets then when I drive, use the bus, cycle or walk I will feel the benefit. Any "incident" that involves anyone being hurt or killed effects us all...only if we realise that and consider all road users as being equal will things improve. Sadly I think that with the increase of population in the next decade - quarter century things will only get worse. More people stressed and feeling "pushed" to the edge is not a good way to work, travel and live. Maybe more radical "out-of-the-box" thinking is needed...tidal roads which can switch inbound and outbound to suit peak times? Quiet electric delivery vehicles that can be used at night? 4 day working weeks...and more leisure time? I know these are perhaps silly ideas, I hope other more clever people out there perhaps have the answers to making working, travel and living in London better...for all of us.

E | 05.03.15 - 2:44 p.m. | #

I live in Bow and can't agree that removing the extended diagonal line central reservations, such as from the pedestrian crossing opposite Bow police station to Bow Road tube is a bad thing.

Pedestrians dangerously and unnecessarily use this stretch of road to walk between two pedestrian crossings and eliminating this will be a good thing.

To me the plans look excellent and will provide much better road structure.

(I'm not a cyclist or car owner by the way).

Ben | 05.03.15 - 7:40 p.m. | #

I worked on the drawings for the traffic management of this scheme and believe me a lot of thought has gone into this which I don't think people realise. It will be worth it when the works are complete.

Adam | 05.03.15 - 8:01 p.m. | #

Hi Adam

I can see a heck of a lot of thought has gone into this, with a careful eye on juggling the needs of a wide variety of road users. Thanks for doing a thorough job, far better than last time.

But that doesn't mean I like everything you've got planned (not least what you intend to do outside my front door).

dg

diamond geezer | Homepage | 05.03.15 - 8:10 p.m. | #

Gotta say Greg beat me to it on this one, in terms of his views towards the absurdity of the first comment.
TfL? Pro-motorist!!!??? You cannot possibly be serious :(

RogerW | 05.03.15 - 11:38 p.m. | #

Pro motorist is cutting a corner so a car driver doesn't have to slow for a sharp 90 deg

Pro motorist is using a two stage pedestrian crossing anywhere

Pro motorist is putting up a barrier between the pavement and the road to box in pedestrians and make them less likely to cross

Pro motorist is running a dual carriageway down the north bank

Pro motorist is making sure every is gritted but giving pavements little attention

Pro motorist is giving the selfish, solo driver priority at any junction in Central London while 20-50 are waiting over a minute for a green man.

Greg, your observation that you can't go anywhere without 'traffic or speedbumps' is so typical of the blinded selfishness of drivers everywhere. Me me me, first, get out of the way of my big metal box. You are the traffic and the only way it's going away is when everyone stops expecting to be able to drive to their inner city destinations.

Another Andrew | 05.03.15 - 11:58 p.m. | #

Hey, I can see the amusing side of that (albeit not in a kindly sort of way)
If you're ever after a job at TfL you could send them that as a CV :)

RogerW | 06.03.15 - 12:33 a.m. | #

Interesting stuff, and forensic analysis as ever DG. I live locally, don't use the road much, but when I do split using it pretty equally between my feet and my bicycle, I take your point about crossing - I'm to impatient to wait for crossings which prioritise people in cars. But the danger is greater for me on a bike - and I'm glad to see that being reduced (on foot, at least I have a (pretty poor) choice to wait - on a bike, no choice unless I ride on the pavement illegally.

The big problem, as some of your commenters have alluded to though, is TfL's prioritisation of motor vehicles - and particularly the speed of their journeys out to Essex and back. As Another Andrew points out, often a massive number of pedestrians are waiting for a smaller number of drivers in order to cross any London road - but the drivers seem to matter more.

It's worth remembering that Mile End Road shouldn't be viewed in isolation: there are a large number of east/west routes parallel to it, each fouled up every day by a stream of polluting and speeding drivers.

And with this in mind, I find your reference to the 'snarl ups' to be caused by reducing the road to one lane perplexing. I've commented more than once on posts of yours on the phenomenon of traffic evaporation. Please, please look into it - I assure you it's real! We do not need to take current motor vehicle capacity in London as an inescapable need - it can be changed! Given that you primarily use buses, trains and walk, I imagine you would appreciate change too.

Harry | 06.03.15 - 10:34 p.m. | #

I don't consider that "there are a large number of east/west routes parallel to" Mile End Road and Bow Road, there are actually surprisingly few providing direct passage, particularly for fairly local traffic.

But, you know, I've only lived here for fourteen years, so perhaps my understanding of the A11's traffic usage is still clouded by inexperience.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 06.03.15 - 10:47 p.m. | #

Seriously TFL do not prioritise people in cars, its funny reading some of these comments having worked on many schemes in London. Elephant and castle is next and no way does that prioritise car users.

Adam | 07.03.15 - 1:05 a.m. | #

Pedant corner. It's not a trunk road. There are no trunk roads in London.

BTW, where I am now seconded to work (25th floor of 1 Canada Square), I can't click on your pages anymore, as they're listed as not suitable material.

: (

xmb53 | 09.03.15 - 9:41 p.m. | #

Hi DG,

I'm slightly mystified by your response.

In terms of parallel routes, in terms of major roads, there's the A13/Commercial Road, the one-way system of Cassland Road/Wick Road/VIctoria Park Road, Homerton High Street and Lea Bridge Road.

if you want to look on a more local level there are roads like Roman Road, St Paul's Way and Old Ford Road.

I don't know what proportion of the traffic is local - but from what i see, a massive proportion is certainly not "local traffic" - it's commercial vehicles and commuters travelling longer distances.

I don't know how you're defining local, but if you want to say less than a mile (and in London, that'll get you to almost any shop or amenity you need), then I'd argue most of it should be conducted on foot or by bike. And would be if we didn't prioritise motor traffic.

I'm not sure why you feel the need to appeal to your fourteen years living in the area. If you see it as a trump card, then I shall have to bow out, because having moved to this area after you, I'm in no position to exceed the time you've lived here as long as we both do live - which, by implication, renders my perspective invalid.

Harry | 14.03.15 - 10:49 p.m. | #











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