Green Charter Crap #2

"We will improve the street environment for pedestrians by ensuring the provision of unobstructed, well lit, well surfaced and well protected footways." Green Charter, page 12.

In reality, obstruction of pavements by overgrown vegetation is commonplace throughout the Borough. Today's example is Russell Road, E10. The concrete post marks the inside of the footway.

The sign that says it all

I spotted this sign today on Cleveland Park Avenue, E17.

Green Charter Crap #1

“We will maintain attractive and uncluttered signage and other street furniture.”
London Borough of Waltham Forest Green Charter, page eleven.

Since those words were printed in that worthless document, the Council has installed this hideous sign on Grove Green Road E11. It is entirely aimed at drivers and is of no interest to pedestrians. The sign is obstructive and presents a real problem for someone in a wheelchair or with a double-buggy. A better example of ugly clutter would be hard to find. The Green Charter is crap.

Death of a Cyclist

Below is the site where a 46 year-old cyclist was knocked down and killed on his way to work a week ago. The fatal collision happened close to the junction with Winns Terrace E17. The photograph below shows the location (Winns Terrace is just beyond the zebra crossing, on the left). The car was apparently driving on this side of the road, heading towards The Bell. It seems clear from the force of the impact that the driver was well over the 30 mph speed limit.

Although unlikely to have been a factor in the crash, note the poor state of the cycle lane. It is noticeable that markings which affect cyclists and pedestrians are allowed to deteriorate in a way which would never be regarded as acceptable for motor traffic.




















While I was taking some photographs at the site, a cyclist whizzed past me on the pavement (photo below). Cyclists tend to ride on the footway when they perceive the carriageway as being too dangerous to cycle on.




















The dangers at this location are twofold, I think. The main problem is excessive speed. The number of drivers who break the speed limit every day on Forest Road must run into the thousands. A second problem at this location is that large vehicles drift into the cycle lane as their drivers instinctively move to avoid the traffic island in the centre of the road. The photograph below indicates why some cyclists might think it safer to ride on the pavement here.

Today's obstructed cycle stand...

...is in High Road Leytonstone, just across the road from the fire station.

What is wrong with this picture?

Can you spot what is wrong with this picture? If you can, why not send a copy to Councillor Bob Belam, cabinet member for the environment, and win a copy of the London Borough of Waltham Forest's exciting GREEN CHARTER, with its fantastic commitments to promoting cycling! (That's 'fantastic' in the sense of 'imaginary'.)

You could also ask Councillor Bob to justify the proliferation of these yellow grit bins in the Borough's streets. They are NEVER used to grit the streets in the winter and seem to serve no other purpose than to advertise discount salt on sale by the Council. But when did you ever meet anyone who'd bought salt from the Council?

For the record, the pic was taken this morning outside the Walthamstow High Street branch of the Nationwide Building Society.

A Modest Proposal

These are the cycling stands between Fish Bros jewellers and the empty Burger King site in Walthamstow High Street. There are at least two women who come along regularly and throw sacks of breadcrumbs over the cycle stands, to feed our feathered friends. I have even see one of them do it when there are bikes locked up here. Might I modestly suggest that a sign be put up here: DO NOT FEED THE PIGEONS.