2011-11-12 TfL's top 10 most dangerous junctions for cyclists ride

Sorry I didn't realise Simon Hughes was on the ride. I could have lynched him.

A big thanks to all the marshals on the ride who frequent this list. You were great. A real pleasure in particular to meet Ed and see him in action. Superb.

Danny has asked me to pass on thanks to the marshals without whom the ride couldn't have taken place. They're taking a day out to collect their thoughts and will be back with more updates soon.

Mark's written up his thoughts on the site http://cyclelondoncity.blogspot.com/2011/11/were-doing-this-so-that-you-your.html and I am sure Mark will do so as well.

You may also be interested to see how the BBC covered the issue http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15708426 and this excellent piece http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15708227

Mark, Charlie (Holland) and Danny agreed that they will follow this with more rides and that they plan to submit a 'dodgy dossier' to TfL and the Mayor.

Thanks again you to all who came. For a ride of the 10 most dangerous junctions in London, yesterday was a lot of fun.

Alex

Sorry I didn't realise Simon Hughes was on the ride. I could have lynched him.
Just because he's DJ's doppelgänger? Tush.

That's a terrible thing to say about poor Simon.

took Vauxhall big junction today, despite living close to it I usually avoid it, think I've only cycled it once before. ugh. I was coming from the bridge and heading to Clapham Junction, not knowing my way around, I just followed the street signs and ended up on Nine Elms instead of the Wandsworth Rd like I'd intended, which was a bit horrid. But what shocked me was the behaviour of the drivers around the gyratory, VERY aggressive with a lot of close overtaking as I was trying to move into primary etc. The same to another cyclist I could see up ahead who had a couple of wobbly moments. I rarely experience such overwhelmingly unpleasant driving on the other junctions I frequent, by that I mean, you might get one car being dickish but the majority are okay, rather than all of them just as bad as each other.

Most unpleasant. Next time I'll probably take the shared path/crossings...

just because he's dj's doppelgänger? Tush.

that's a terrible thing to say about poor simon.

dtm

...says the man who can't cycle away from someone with a porteur bicycle.

Some great photos in this set...

Thanks everyone who came and made this ride such a success. The numbers, and the coverage, have been overwhelming. TfL and their "smoothing traffic flow" agenda is suddenly a hot political issue. (You know you've made it when even Vanessa Feltz is warbling on about it on her phone in show)

I can't say THANKS enough to all the forumungers who helped to marshal; Alex, Alien8, You Know When You've Been [Ed] Scobled, Dancing James and anyone I've forgotten - you were all PHENOMENAL. Thanks to your work a lady on the ride was telling me she was able to ride the E&C roundabout for the first time even though she lived next to it - she'd never have done it alone. Pretty inspiring stuff, methinks.

I've finally collected all my thoughts and done a write up here;
http://ibikelondon.blogspot.com/2011/11/we-did-it-tour-du-danger.html

Am sure one or two of your appear in these pics.

Thanks again! More coverage to follow, I think, and of course we'll keep you updated on happenings.

Considering it was a tour of some of the hairier corners of London, and had a fairly serious message, it was also bloody good fun!

took Vauxhall big junction today, despite living close to it I usually avoid it, think I've only cycled it once before. ugh. I was coming from the bridge and heading to Clapham Junction, not knowing my way around, I just followed the street signs and ended up on Nine Elms instead of the Wandsworth Rd like I'd intended, which was a bit horrid. But what shocked me was the behaviour of the drivers around the gyratory, VERY aggressive with a lot of close overtaking as I was trying to move into primary etc. The same to another cyclist I could see up ahead who had a couple of wobbly moments. I rarely experience such overwhelmingly unpleasant driving on the other junctions I frequent, by that I mean, you might get one car being dickish but the majority are okay, rather than all of them just as bad as each other.

Most unpleasant. Next time I'll probably take the shared path/crossings...

:-[

took Vauxhall big junction today, despite living close to it I usually avoid it, think I've only cycled it once before. ugh. I was coming from the bridge and heading to Clapham Junction, not knowing my way around, I just followed the street signs and ended up on Nine Elms instead of the Wandsworth Rd like I'd intended, which was a bit horrid. But what shocked me was the behaviour of the drivers around the gyratory, VERY aggressive with a lot of close overtaking as I was trying to move into primary etc. The same to another cyclist I could see up ahead who had a couple of wobbly moments. I rarely experience such overwhelmingly unpleasant driving on the other junctions I frequent, by that I mean, you might get one car being dickish but the majority are okay, rather than all of them just as bad as each other.

Most unpleasant. Next time I'll probably take the shared path/crossings...

The separated path isn't very good anyway. It's only good if you want Clapham (so would've been okay for you) but if you want Nine Elms, that shared path is dangerous as you have to merge back into traffic and cross the lane that the cars taking the Clapham exit are accellerating into. no good. And that's only when the lane isn't blocked. I used to go through Vauxhall from Oval to Battersea, taking Nine Elms in the morning rush. I stopped using the shared path after a number of dodgy incidents when I was trying to merge back onto the road. I found it safer (ha!) to stay on the road.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-9WopJDBgg

Some of you are in here... Great job to all those who marshaled.

Nice vid.

And hang on, Johanna Lumley @ 4min30sec...absolutely fabulous!