please empty your brain below
And the number of white poplar trees planted is . . . ?

Arthur 'Two-sheds' Jackson | 19.12.16 - 7:37 a.m. | #

'Halfway down there's a bench, in resilient concrete, with a nicer wooden seat further down.'

What is the purpose of this concrete bench?, if its to provide a rest point for those who have trouble with the slope, then it looks a bit low, and without a handrail, how are those with restricted mobility supposed to stand up again?, not only that, but this 'bench' seems to restrict the turning circle of some mobility scooters, in fact could a mobility scooter actually make the turn?

If they were worried about the steepness of the slope - what physical restriction prevented the installation of a longer ramp at a shallower gradient(I can't see one in the photos).

Still anon | 19.12.16 - 8:08 a.m. | #

If the slope is not considered "accessible" - with the provision of an alternate route - surely a nice set of stairs would be just as acceptable, and possibly less dangerous for those at risk of falling down the steep incline. Just wait for it to be closed again after a few people slip on ice.

Andrew | 19.12.16 - 8:18 a.m. | #

*or* go the whole hog, make it steeper, and have a slide instead.

Andrew | 19.12.16 - 8:19 a.m. | #

Nice read. Looking at the pics I can't see why the ramp could not be a little bit longer to reduce the slope. Must be missing something. And that 1/2 way bench is just going to whack cyclist's shins.

Otherwise the yellow sculpture is rather nice, a bit 'Caro-esque'.

Kevin | 19.12.16 - 8:44 a.m. | #

Lovely. But is the maths wrong equating 13° with a gradient of 1 in 7?

tan 13° = 1:4.3
1:7 = tan 8.1°

dg writes: ...checks again on the back of an envelope. Ah yes, somewhere between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5. Updated, thanks.

Rich | 19.12.16 - 9:30 a.m. | #

DG's statement that a wheelchair user would definitely need a pusher is OK as a generalisation, but there are certainly some independent wheelchair users tough and agile enough to do it (even if the slope is 1 in 4). But I'm quibbling really - such people are admittedly exceptional.

I agree that the concrete bench/obstruction seems quite daft. And I say that even as one of the (perhaps) rare people who would (a) appreciate the rest, and (b) still be able to get up again from it.

Malcolm | 19.12.16 - 9:52 a.m. | #

Perhaps the bench is intended to discourage unwise cyclists from attempting the ascent or descent?

Andrew | 19.12.16 - 10:25 a.m. | #

There is a limit to how steep a ramp a mobility scooter or wheelchair can navigate, as this article alludes to..

Adrian | 19.12.16 - 10:48 a.m. | #

Perhaps I'm a Philistine, but although the ramp is no doubt a welcome facility to encourage walking and cycling, it's certainly not a thing of beauty: the bridge used to look much more elegant without it.

As for that yellow carbuncle masquerading as art, it just seems an expensive waste of money that could have been better spent making the whole edifice look a bit less of an eyesore.

Gerry | 19.12.16 - 11:38 a.m. | #

Considering the exposed location, the 'art' will be exposed to whatever the weather will throw at it.

Although instead of 'large art, tiny signs', perhaps 'large signs, tiny art' would had been better.

Still anon | 19.12.16 - 11:56 a.m. | #

The "avoiding steep ramp" signs are indeed interesting. On the left of the entrance only the cycle route is marked via the ramp and pedestrians and wheel chairs directed to the right. But then there is a man on the slope on the right hand side of the entrance! What a mess.

Jon Combe | 19.12.16 - 12:55 p.m. | #

Re the sculpture, the two black cones pointing up mean North and the two pointing down mean South. The X is a "special mark" which can be used to indicate quite a few things, cables, anchorages, outfalls-or in this case, I suppose, it's "Looky here, a big steep ramp."

HoosierSands | Homepage | 19.12.16 - 6:18 p.m. | #

...And I should have pointed out that the North and South markers are what are placed around a hazard to shipping.

HoosierSands | Homepage | 19.12.16 - 6:21 p.m. | #

A railway level crossing near me is going to be permanently closed and replaced with a ramped bridge for cyclist, disabled and pedestrian use. (Cars will have a longer alternative route). I will be interested to see what gradient that has when built, which should be by May.

The new ramp at Bow looks nice.

I do not like bridges which have very long zig zag ramps and no steps which are often found crossing major roads.

I have an electric bicycle so using the ramps is no effort for me!.

John | 19.12.16 - 7:45 p.m. | #

That's steep, but not impossible for a fit cyclist. I see cyclists tackling mountain passes that are steeper than this.
(To avoid doubt, definitely not me! I'd be off and pushing)

IslandDweller | 19.12.16 - 8:32 p.m. | #

Funnily enough I pushed my bike up here this morning. It's on my regular ride to work along the Lee Navigation. I immediately got confused but did eventually manage to cross under the A12 ,to find Devon's Rd DLR Station (not on Devon's Road) and to trace my route to work along Violet Road and Chrisp St. One emerges on an industrial estate a barrier on the road which is slightly surprising. For commuters this area is full of interest with the park, Three Mills studios - sometimes with sets outside, ducks and swans (saw a swan carrying its chicks on its backs), houseboats and a safer ride than the roads!

Half a physicist | 19.12.16 - 9:41 p.m. | #

It's a timid step in the right direction. I occasionally have a cycle commute between Brixton and West Ham, and have never found a satisfactory way to get across the A12, so usually put my bike on the train at Stepney Green to avoid the abject horrors of this area: Bow and Canning Town flyovers are just not worth the diversion, and I don't find Limehouse Cut very easy to access either. I might just give this route a go now, but it still looks like the Hideously awful Twelvetrees Crescent still can't be avoided. They should be putting some of the serious cycling budget into a proper crossing here, which would radically transform connectivity across a wider area than one would immediately think.

The open-ended 'wheelchairs go elsewhere' signage is inexcusable. It's basically still a mess.

NickW | 19.12.16 - 11:50 p.m. | #

It would be nice if they opened the path from Twelvetrees Crescent to West Ham station - the one that goes north towards Abbey Creek, under the railway/tube line and then turns east to West Ham.

langdon | 21.12.16 - 9:13 a.m. | #











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