Action plan to improve road safety for children attending schools in Balham Post Reply

[CyclingLondon]

There's hardly any cycles on Boundaries Rd, why wd they need to go there when there's a perfectly good segregated cycle lane on the main rd literally metres away for them

I find this sort of comment fascinating.

My own experience of Boundaries Road is it's a nightmare for cyclists and there are a lot of us that use it.

However the drivers are awful as it's only wide enough for one car to pass. That means the cars feel that they have to get through when there is a gap but, even though they don't have right-of-way over a bike, they refuse to yield. That often means both bike and car are travelling down the same channel and if, as a cyclist, you want to stay out the "doored zone" then you have to ride right at them. 

I've been hit twice on Boundaries Road, although it was only wing mirrors, and successfully reported five motorists for not giving way. I now often carry a D lock on my right hand when going up Boundaries Road and a wiggle of that towards a wing mirror makes a motorist focus but it's stressful.

But what I find fascinating is that two perfectly sensible people can have such differing views of the same pieces of road. The Balham cycle lane is great as long as you're going all the way to Tooting but if you want to hang a right anywhere passed the railway bridge, assuming you're going to Tooting, then you have to cross the whole carriageway and that is really dangerous.

I like the idea of these improvements but I'm not convinced they'll stick, I think that the traffic build up is going to be so bad that they have to rethink.

[Mememe]

fcp wrote:
> the vast majority of the traffic (>80%) comes from the main road down Rowfant Road
> towards boundaries road and then towards chestnut grove.  the plans stop this which
> is great.  there will presumably be some people who usually come down boundaries road
> as you mention and then have to go down Rowfant Road but that will dry up very
> quickly once people know the one-way system and google maps/waze are updated.  people
> will stick to the high street which will be much better for people who actually live
> in these areas. 

Sorry bt ur very wrong. There is far more cars coming straight down Boundaries rd, I know as I live here and see it day in day out. The idea of Waze is not to stick to the main rds bt to avoid the congestion there. There will still be plenty of ppl going down rowfant off the main rd to get back onto boundaries. It isnt all roses as u seem to think. The poster in the know here has already stated that traffic will be diverted down balham pk rd, so displacing it from 1 narrow Rd to another, I don't see the point. What about the ppl who actually live in this area and can't get to their own houses, I'll be 1 of them. Actually I'll have to go down rowfant as its the only way!

[mememe]

readysteadycook wrote:
> These 2 schemes will cause chaos in Balham and need to be stopped. There
> are almost zero road injuries in Balham and the local residents are going
> to be massively disturbed. 
>
> With one of the Labour councillors for Balham having children at Chestnut
> grove, there is an agenda here.
>
> The residents near Finton house school stopped their School street and saw
> sense  (the last thing we need, is more fines). Those near Chestnut Grove
> and Hornsby must do the same.

You're very right & this is to be followed by a school street on Hearnville Road which will muck up the lives of everyone in that direction too & even more! This has been posted to residents bt they omitted the part about the cameras funnily! Pls pass to everyone you know to fill ion for every member of their family & friends!

[mememe]

CyclingLondon wrote:
> [quote]
> >
> My own experience of Boundaries Road is it's a nightmare for cyclists and
> there are a lot of us that use it.
>
>That often means both bike and car are travelling down the same
> channel and if, as a cyclist, you want to stay out the "doored
> zone" then you have to ride right at them. 
>
>I now often
> carry a D lock on my right hand when going up Boundaries Road and a wiggle
> of that towards a wing mirror makes a motorist focus but it's stressful.
>
Just wow! Threatening behaviour on all counts & you wonder why cyclists have a bad name and shold have some form of identification?!

[readysteadycook]

To hear a cyclist carries a D lock to damage cars, says it all. 

Maybe you should get your community to stop at red lights as well with your D lock  (stones in Glasshouses).

 

[SWS11]

“In excess of 500 vehicles per hour use Boundaries Road during school hours which is considered unsafe for a crossing. North bound vehicles will need to travel down Balham Park Road onto the A24.”

So basically we di wet traffic from a two way road where, apart from school opening and closing time, is relatively quiet , to Balham park road that is basically one way as cars are parked both way. This really goes against basic traffic management principles to divert traffic to larger roads. The right turn from chestnut grove to boundary road will cause long queues and pollution outside a school but at least I’d just in certain hours. The one way system in boundaries will be permanent and will cause a lot of traffic on Balham park Road and Rofwant road. Not sure it is wise or welcome by any of the residents of all 3 roads.

[mememe]

readysteadycook wrote:
> These 2 schemes will cause chaos in Balham and need to be stopped. There
> are almost zero road injuries in Balham and the local residents are going
> to be massively disturbed. 
>
> With one of the Labour councillors for Balham having children at Chestnut
> grove, there is an agenda here.
>
> The residents near Finton house school stopped their School street and saw
> sense  (the last thing we need, is more fines). Those near Chestnut Grove
> and Hornsby must do the same.

THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THIS IS THAT THIS CONSULTATION WAS APPARENTLY STARTED ON 3RD NOVEMBER, HOWEVER, THE PLANS WERE ALL APPROVED AT THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING ON 2ND NOVEMBER!

LABOUR WILL DO WHAT THEY WANT WHENEVER THEY WANT, YOU WILL NOT BE ASKED FOR AN OPINION.

I can't post the link to the proof of this here but even if youve already replied to the consultation, then do it again, how many ppl are there in your house? ;-)

CLOSES THIS SUNDAY!!

[mememe]

THIS ENDS TODAY - NEEDS SUPPORT, the Rigby woman is councillor in Balham & has got this thru with no consultation, actively rejected the conservative councillors call for a consultation. there is an online one now bt is a sham as it was approved the day before it went live. Anyone with a min to write, a sentence and postcode is needed, under the guise of road safety improvements. Link to consultation is posted above!

Main points are : No turn right to Boundaries Road will cause significant tailbacks all along Chestnut Grove and beyond, this goes against the council’s principle of keeping traffic to main roads and will adversely affect children going to many schools in the area having to breathe in the fumes from stationary traffic. Boundaries Rd having a one way section will have zero affect on the number of cars here as they will simply drive around to reach the same point. Traffic is merely displaced but you have not assessed this as you wouldn't want to know the results and claim its costly. Why was the amendment to the consultation, that there should actually be a consultation not regarded as relevant - to inform neighbours and affected people of this proposal? Why was this submitted as a deputation? On behalf of some people who agree with this proposal, I believe these were a handful of people who have been trying to get this through for many years & this was their only way of achieving it? 2 accidents in the past 3 years do not merit this upheaval to the neighbourhood. The mean speeds recorded in Endlesham, Chestnut & Boundaries do not exceed the 20mph limits in any way so what is this all in aid of? From your own engineers report : "A review of the Chestnut Grove and Boundaries Road corridor did not identify any immediate road safety concerns" "There is no suggestion that the current mini roundabouts on Chestnut Grove are unsafe” " Based on the current traffic volume and movements on Chestnut Grove and Boundaries Road, it is evident that a mini roundabout works well to facilitate traffic movements at this junction" "Data shows Boundaries Rd carries in excess of 300 vehicles per hour" - so not the 500 needed for the cycle one way on Boundaries - this is a waste of money - this is being forced on us by a councillor who wants everyone to cycle regardless of ability, capability etc who doesn't have to suffer its consequences. - cars at 300/hr is between 5-6pm peak which isn’t anything to do with school hours! May I add this is a permanent disruption 24/7 not only school hours! Jo Rigby, a dedicated cycling activist who is seeking re-election in the Tory-held Balham ward and was the Labour group’s spokesperson on the LTN issue, had “constantly argued” a position that “all roads as far as possible should in fact become low traffic neighbourhoods” Displaced traffic is intended to be diverted along Balham Park Road in both directions, no one on this road has received any intention of these changes! Low traffic volume on Endlesham rd - since when? This is a cut through across Balham from Nightingale Lane?! Together with a school street on Hearnville Road, this will be total carnage & divert traffic along all roads between Ravenslea Road and Chestnut Grove Solution - can the planned zebra crossing further down Chestnut Grove be installed outside the entrance to the school - as a start, if this is all implemented together it will cause great distress to local residents due to traffic displacement etc. The borough engineers agree and state in their report there is no safety issues with the road layout at present, the mini roundabouts work well.

[Chestnut grove is a yes]

Just heard:

1. All plans will go ahead

2. Work to start Feb half term

It’s going to be fascinating.

[readysteadycook]

Wow, it was chaos this afternoon in Balham, with cars from Chestnut Grove blocking Balham High Road when I crossed. Who designed this mess ? 

Spoke to the man in the camera car, just warning letters issued this week and last, he thought that might change next week to fines.

[Kirstie’s Mom]

Funny , the councillor in charge of this scheme and who is celebrating its success once said on twitter she carries a D lock when cycling . Is this becoming a thing for cyclists or is she just promoting her scheme in disguise ?

As an addendum , now the scheme is up and running it has turned out to be a colossal mistake . Increase pollution and the placement of the zebra crossing is illegal and dangerous .

[mememe]

Kirstie’s Mom wrote:
> Funny , the councillor in charge of this scheme and who is celebrating its
> success once said on twitter she carries a D lock when cycling . Is this
> becoming a thing for cyclists or is she just promoting her scheme in
> disguise ?
>
> As an addendum , now the scheme is up and running it has turned out to be a
> colossal mistake . Increase pollution and the placement of the zebra
> crossing is illegal and dangerous .


Cyclists can do whatever they want, didn't you know this?

Chestnut Grove has become very dangerous for everyone now, when it wasn't before .... no kids were ever run over but I expect something major soon. Luckily we don't walk to school that way anymore so I don't care if the kids all die from pollution anymore. We need to be selfish for ourselves like the cyclists!!

[Kirstie’s Mom]

Ms Rigby : perhaps you would like to visit the disruption that this scheme has caused . Pupils walking in the street, cars making u turns , a zebra crossing in an awkward position . All for the bargain price of £150,000 . So happy my taxes go towards paying for your pet projects .