Velo Park Post Olympics

It wasn't just Westfield, the whole traffic aspect of the redevelopment of the Stratford Rail Lands and the area south of there was a badly co-ordinated shambles all along, largely planned by out-of-towners who didn't have a clue about London and whose brief was very heavily motor traffic-dominated. The Olympics was a completely lost cause to campaign on, and it'll take decades to get their rubbish right. Lots of different 'authorities', political changes, etc. God only knows what will be next for this ridiculous nonsense of a saga.

I probably need an update on this, but Newham apparently have an extremely long snagging list and are very far from adopting many of the roads there. I heard recently that the part of the former 'loop road' that goes past the Velopark is now an LVRPA road.

Is this anything to do with them? https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/google+maps/@51.5505815,-0.0217951,19z

It's such a pointless series of stop-start traffic lights and ignores several choices of turn.

That mess of a junction arrangement is a remnant of the former 'Northern Entry Plaza' (or some similar name, I can't remember what it was called exactly). This was where much of the traffic for the construction site entered from the north. Somewhat obviously far too much provision of highway and an absolutely rubbish layout. It has made the A12 Lea Interchange even worse than it was before the Olympics. While the 'Plaza' has been dismantled, its former layout is a factor in what happened here. Needless to say, this will all have to be reconstructed completely.

Actually, I just realised that in the Google satellite image, you can still see approximately where the 'Plaza' was. It was still in the process of being taken down when that picture was taken.

Any sort of date on it? Or just on a list somewhere?

Went to the 'pay and ride' session on Sat. There were a couple of guys doing laps and a few parents with their young kids, but pretty empty really.

The session goes from 4 - 9pm and you can ride as much as you like. Sounds crazy, but could do with a few more people as I got a bit bored going round an empty 1 mile course for an hour. Will head back in a couple of weeks and see what it's like.

How strict are they on helmets, ie using your own?

You need a helmet to ride on the track. I used my own. Not sure if you can hire them there.

any better than just doing Regents laps?

well there's no cars ( or traffic lights ) apart from the buggy they occasionally ride to get lost peds off the track.

Without any fanfare or prominent signage, an off-road cycling and walking bypass of the dangerous Lea Interchange has opened up in East London.

For riders heading west from Waltham Forest the route avoids the multiple traffic lanes and crossings where a cyclist was killed at the Lea Interchange during the London 2012 games.

The route has some signposts at its entrance but they are easy to overlook. Riders who wish to stay on the east bank of the River Lea can turn left just before the river on a non-signposted route.

This route passes south of the Velopark and ultimately ends in ramp leading to a barrier in front of the four lane Waterden Road that connects with the Westfield shopping centre. It is unclear what, if any, further connection will be provided for walkers and cyclists.

That's just silly.

That's just silly.

Ha!
I've just made the very same mistake! I had come all the way the newly opened path following the Lea's East bank from Homerton Road / Eastway jnct and ended up there.

I was going to post something on here but you beat me to it!

Truly bonkers 'design'.

any better than just doing Regents laps?

Yeah it's mint. Though probably not better than Swains laps due to the disappointing lack of any altitude changes whatsoever

I would suggest just jumping the fence and just having a bash round...but then i would not condone that of course

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This might be of interest

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I was thinking about this when our club ( Lea Valley CC ) was inspecting the Velopark circuit last week. Access from the NW looks tricky and what should be the entrances from the N side are still closed.

So safe routes to the Velo park from the Hackney & TH for riders for our Tuesday Ten series, starting 13th May, would be much appreciated.

The Velo park still feels not quite finished...

You probably know this already, but the entrances to the North with Eastway / Ruckholt Road are now open, including that swirly red bridge over said nasty road. There's a sandy path from there to another little bridge over the Lea which gives access to Hackney Marshes just north of Hackney Marshes Centre.