Cycle route when rye lane closed

[mayo]

I cycle to work in the city and usually cycle up Rye Lane to the Surrey canal. I believe the forthcoming closure includes bikes. What do people think the most efficient alternative route is? Thanks. (Yes I can look at a map but haven?t tried any of the options so don?t know how they work in practice/ traffic flow etc). Thanks

[Tractorlad]

I cycle daily to the City too. I avoid Rye Lane. I head down Crystal Palace Road, Ayds Road, Bellenden, Lyndhurst, Kelly Av, Chandler Way, Burgess Park, Portland Street, Falmouth Road (over New Kent Road) Harper Road, Great Suffolk and then Southwark Bridge Road and over the river. 25/30 mins to Cannon Street, and stopping at every red light!

[Sally Eva]

Depends where you start from.

If you are in East Dulwich then Tractorlad has nailed it. If you want to go up the Canal Path then Bellenden, Highshort, across Peckham High St to Melon St and then right to the Path or left to Sumner Road which goes to the same place without babies, loving couples, shopping trolleys etc

If you are on the east side try Gordon Road right to the bottom (ie past the Spike) 90 degree bend back to Consort -- personally I would be trying to avoid the narrow passage under the bridge on Copeland/Consort -- dark and intimidating.

Earlier today I'm told cyclists were going up Rye Lane and then walking (under police supervision) around the works. That seems the best plan if it is still operating.

[mayo]

Brilliant. Thanks so much. I?ll have a look with the map later.

[Blah Blah]

Cycled up there today. The road closure is literally just 50 metres, and you can get off your bicycle and walk it. No need to detour at all.

[treehugger]

Agree. This will add at most 1 minute to your commute.

[mayo]

Thanks all - I cycled the usual way today and just got off and walked around the works. For some reason I had thought that the whole of Rye Lane was closed for cyclists for the duration but if they are going to do it all in small sections I may not need to detour.

I did wonder about trying the Crystal Palace rd / Bellenden road anyway as an alternative but I live north of Barry road so am not keen on having to cross Barry road on my bike - it's bad enough in the car due to poor visibility and cars speeding down Barry

[Sally Eva]

In the morning rush hour generally there are crowds of cyclists and v few peds. In the evening the cyclists are more spread out and there are lots more peds. Is it working OK between 4.30 and 7pm?

[peckhambog]

Went through at 12:20. Pedestrian traffic is not easy to negotiate through. I found picking my bike up off the ground, rather than wheeling it at pinch points, made it easier.

[intexasatthe moment]

Pedestrian traffic is not easy to negotiate through - this is a very valid point .With no through vehicles pedestrians will become more and more accustomed to using the road as an extension of the pavement .

Although at the moment an absence of traffic is not guaranteed . A car flew up Rye Lane southbound and turned right into Choumert Rd . Even on long straight Barry Rd I have never seen a car driven at such speed . It did ( narrowly ) miss an oncoming bike. I think the car had crossed over the midpoint of the road prior to the right turn .

[Sally Eva]

I was down there about 2pm. The only traffic difference was the absence of buses, -- cars and vans still coming and going from Blenheim Grove, Bournemouth Road, Choumert Grove and the south end of Rye Lane. Some of them, as you say, at great speed. No attempt has been made to close any of them.

Pedestrians wisely staying on the pavement.

[Blah Blah]

Pedestrians tend to be on the road near the actual closure, but there has always been a fair amount of jaywalking when the road is clear to be fair. Cycling at speed along Rye Lane has never been an option. Personally, I am liking the absence of buses, and find dismounting to walk the 50 yards with my cycle to the other side of the closure no real inconvenience at all. Cars driving at inappropriate speed might be less of an issue as the works move further down the lane.

[intexasatthe moment]

Agree with your analysis Blah Blah though you seem a little sanguine .

Personally I worry that there will be a serious accident ( might even involve a car and a pedestrian ) before the works move further along the road . At 10 weeks a section this is going to leave ample time .

I'm no expert in road/traffic management but I hope someone who is has a look at the situation and takes appropriate action .

[jimbo1964]

Rye Lane is a challenging ride at the best of times. I think wheeling through the roadworks best option at the moment.

[PeckhamRose]

At the meeting to discuss this a few weeks ago, the head of the operations at the gas company (can't remember the name or his name) who was truly approachable and able to explain everything, said he himself is a cyclist and so he had ridden his bicycle on the alternative routes both east and west of Rye Lane, heading north, and his journey took about one minute of extra time going each of those alternative routes.

I am not a cyclist myself, and seeing cyclists on that truly ridiculous poorly signposted badly laid out bike lane by the Aylesham Centre entrance area, is so dangerous for you all. I hope that it is made clearer and more safer so pedestrians know not to stroll across it!

[Sally Eva]

re the gas man's observation about cyclists' journey time -- the problem is not time but danger. The Copeland Road route is about the same distance (how could it be otherwise) but parts are narrow and dark and the whole route is heavily trafficked.

Rye Lane OTOH is safer. Cyclists are much influenced by their likelihood of surviving their journey.