Dangerous cycle lane surface at Dulwich Village junction – did you fall too? Please report it

[4l3x5pr1n63r]

Hi all,

I’m posting to highlight a really serious safety issue at the redesigned junction where Calton Avenue / Court Lane / Turney Road / Dulwich Village meet.

On Friday 5 December, in the frosty conditions, the newer bike lane surfacing became incredibly slippery – almost like an ice rink. I personally witnessed dozens of cyclists, scooter users and even children on the school run falling over. A few of us ended up gritting the whole area ourselves because nothing had been put down by the council, despite the morning rush.

This seems to be the first winter since the works were completed earlier this year, and the surface material clearly isn’t suitable in icy weather.

If you or someone you know experienced a fall or near-miss here, please report it so the council takes this seriously and acts urgently:

https://report.southwark.gov.uk/

(you can search for the location on the map)

You can also email the councilors and Highways team directly:

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

Photos, videos and details of what happened will really help reinforce the issue.

The more reports they receive, the harder it will be to ignore. This junction is heavily used by families and commuters – someone is going to be very seriously hurt if this isn’t fixed.

Thanks and please spread the word to anyone who may have been affected.

[march46]

Thank you for your gritting efforts. It seemed the freezing overnight conditions took the council by surprise.
 

Worth noting that I also heard of similar multiple accidents with injuries due to black ice on Greendale and further afield in Southwark, so it’s not necessarily a problem with the surface material but with the lack of gritting. 

[4l3x5pr1n63r]

That's frustrating to hear. If I hear back from the councilors directly I'll be sure to feed that on to them.

The council has used two different surface materials at this junction, the granite set paving is much rougher and wasn't such a problem, but the smooth tiles/slabs that match the pavement material, where pedestrians cross, are the issue. The same material that has been used for the new pavements there was also treacherous - so certainly is a problem with the choice of materials, exacerbated by the lack of gritting/salting. There were no such problems on the asphalt leading to this junction, that also had not been gritted - I worry this is aesthetics over safety.

[first mate]

Probably not good for pedestrians either.

[Earl Aelfheah]

4 hours ago, first mate said:

Probably not good for pedestrians either.

It wasn't. The pavements generally were super slippery.

Edited December 8, 2025 by Earl Aelfheah

[Rockets]

16 hours ago, 4l3x5pr1n63r said:

The council has used two different surface materials at this junction, the granite set paving is much rougher and wasn't such a problem, but the smooth tiles/slabs that match the pavement material, where pedestrians cross, are the issue.

Are you referring to the different paving near the chicane - the bit that looks like it could have been a pedestrian crossing?

[malumbu]

@4l3x5pr1n63r  (do explain why you chose that!)

There are standards for the level of friction on road surfaces,   I came a cropper two times in quick succession on a brand new surface near the Heygate estate twenty years ago in the rain.  First time I was just enjoying the new surface and next thing sliding down the street.  I hadn't realised why, but going the other way turned right in the rain and front wheel went.  Ironically it was the cycle lane markings.

In those days you could meet with the highway engineer, which I duly did, and demonstrated with a plant spray - road dry, wheel stays upright as I lean (static) 25 degrees, road wet and bang goes the bike.

It was easier to engage in those days as local authorities has more staff.

Otherwise the main issue has been black ice, only five times since I have lived in London spread across five boroughs and only twice a cropper, one as I crossed from Lewisham into Bromley as the latter hadn't gritted and once by Burgess Park as by the entrance it was a few degrees colder.  Bikes going down every where.

I've stupidly fallen off on very smooth surfaces such as station concourses but that was when I was much younger and even more foolish and shouldn't have been cycling.

[mlteenie]

Great job. I passed you slowly on my bike that morning. I don't even trust that chicane area in most other weather conditions. I can't believe it was chosen over tarmac. I hope no one was hurt badly. 

Perhaps there will be yet more work undertaken there to remedy this - if we are lucky!

[SingingWilks]

Thank you to the wonderful lady who stood at the bottom of Court Lane warning cyclists and pedestrians to be careful of the ice; for putting bins in the middle of the road to slow us down; and to the people who I saw putting grit on the road. You must have saved a lot of trips to A&E that morning! It was really appreciated as otherwise I, and many others, would have been caught out too.

I will report - it was super icy and slippy, and therefore dangerous.