New crossings on Lordship Lane

[PaulaBianca]

I read weeks ago that the council had decided to implement a number of safer pedestrian crossings at the top end of Lordship Lane (near Goose Green). What followed was the usual conway guys digging up the road (and leering at girls) for weeks. This work now seems to be complete, with newly visible redbricks on the crossing. Does anyone know what is next? Are they going to install lights? New Zebra crossings?

I was nearly mowed down trying to cross at one of the worst places for pedestrians - outside Oliver Bonas over to East Dulwich Grove to the other side (off licence/news agent). There are cars from Lordship Lane trying to turn left and right into East Dulwich Grove. Those turning right get little opportunity to do so (they need a light here) and when they do, they make a sharp, speedy right. I was already crossing the road and the guy didnt even slow down. If I hadn't run, he would have hit me - he was inches away. I believe the Highway code still gives overall right of way to pedestrians over cyclists and motorists. Too often in this area, if you are crossing the road and a car wants to turn into it, they do not wait for you - it is you who has to speed up or else be hit. It's madness!

[KalamityKel]

Careful what you "wish" for. The council aren't the brightest bunch when considering what really is best for everyone only what THEY think is best.

[loopylou22]

I'm so glad you brought up the LL and East Dulwich Grove crossing. I have stood at the crossing with my 7yr old,4yr old and 6month old in pushchair for what can seem like hours just waiting for an opportunity to cross. And as you said,if you manage to cross and a car wants to turn in or turn out then you really don't stand a chance. I really do think a zebra crossing is needed there. Petition time???????????????

[Jeremy]

We've been here before.

Maybe traffic lights plus a pedestrian crossing would be the best solution. A zebra crossing without signals would be dangerous.

[PaulaBianca]

Not sure if Zebra crossing would be sufficient, because cars turning right are looking for a break in the traffic or someone to let them turn, not watching for pedestrians. As soon as they get the opportunity, they swing right, usually at speed. If they are then met immediately by a zebra crossing, they will have to brake hard. There is also a good chance there will be a car behind them who has just turned right as well, who could go into the back of them. I tend to agree with Jeremy's suggestion of a right hand green light at that junction. I do not know how one goes about suggesting this. I do not find the council very responsive at all to suggestions!

[skidmarks]

I requested the accident statistics for this junction last time we talked about this issue. There is no real collision problem recorded at this junction and therefore will not be on the council?s road safety action list. Your best bet is to hassle your local councillor so see if they can force something through and get some money out a non-road safety budget.

[H]

I was actually thinking about the crossing problem on Lordship Lane the other day when I was filling in a survey for Living Streets (they are trying to make streets more people friendly and to get people out and about more on them by foot rather than by car). I filled in the survey naming Lordship Lane and how it is pretty dangerous to cross the road. For a road with so many shops there are disappointingly few crossings and there is a big gap between the zebra crossing at the roundabout and the next crossing up by Iceland. Surely there should be more frequent crossings then there already are? If anyone else is interested in filling in the survey it can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=54yqRjec75xdxPL1toXZUQ_3d_3d not sure if they will be able to do anything for us, but it might be worth a try!

[Only me!]

Multiple crossings on one fairly short stretch of road are not always a good idea in practise.

My experience of Sydenham High St (4 crossings, within a distance of @ roundabout to the Police Stn.) is that during busy periods the queue for one just merges with the last one creating a definite traffic jam & bottleneck down the main road.

With a subsequent slow down of the high street buses etc. & a corresponding rise in (speeding) traffic along all parallel side roads.

One of which maybe a good idea, bit with the other side effect definitely being a bad thing.

[skidmarks]

I was thinking of this as an option of changing the priority of traffic on Lordship Lane and providing an uncontrolled crossing with pedestrian refuge island at the new junction.

[matthew123]

I see you've given more standing space for those outside the Bishop! ;-)

I'd say 20 mph max speed would be good between Iceland and Goose Green

From the last post we did on this subject it seems a number of car drivers were unaware of pedestrians having priority when crossing at junctions. What might also be useful is a lollipop man at that box junction?

[Jeremy]

Pedestrians have right of way? Only if they've already started crossing the road when the driver turns into the junction.

[Jyaque]

Why not put a zebra crossing on the Iceland side of the East Dulwich Grove junction, which would stop cars heading towards Goose Green and give turners more time, combined with a zebra crossing across the mouth of E.D. Grove?

[Mark]

I know the zebra crossing outside Somerfields idea was scrapped, was any alternative offered?

[SteveT]

It seems to me the obvious place to put it is outside Somerfields.

[Sherwick]

I'm glad you called it the TOP end of Lordship Lane :)

[Amelie]

According to the Highway Code pedestrians have the right of way as soon as they set foot on a pedestrian crossing, regardless of what the driver may be doing.

[thexwinglessxbird]

I wish they'd put the crossing back on Crystal Palace Rd. I hate that bit. Or move the one they already have on Barry Rd. Lordship Lane is just excessive.

[Mark]

The Highway Code also says to drivers that at road junctions, "you should watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning. If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way." http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070332

So next time you're almost run over outside Oliver Boner, at least you know that legally they're in the wrong as well as being a twonk.

[Horsebox]

Edited as not viable idea. Will retype

on proper keyboard

tomorrow.

[Penguin68]

Amelie wrote:-

According to the Highway Code pedestrians have the right of way as soon as they set foot on a pedestrian crossing, regardless of what the driver may be doing.

I well remember my mother, in the context of Zebra crossings, teaching me the poem

He was right, dead right, as he walked along

But he was just as dead as if he'd been dead wrong

It stuck, after nearly 60 years.

[Loz]

Good grief. I thought we'd sorted this out last time...

Amelie is correct (notwithstanding the excellent advice from Penguin68) - the pedestrian has right of way on a zebra crossing. If you are approaching a zebra crossing and a pedestrian looks like they want to cross you must give them the right of way. If you step out in front of a moving car at a zebra crossing the driver will be at fault.

Mark is partially correct. At a junction, if they have begun to cross, the driver must give way to the pedestrian. Otherwise, if you step out in front of a moving car then legally you will be in the wrong. And dead.