Strange or unfriendly road signs, bad cycle lanes etc

Taxis block cycle lane ..

The first photo was taken on 13.03.09 at the junction of Camley Street/Pancras Road/Goodsway. It shows the taxi queue on Goodsway blocking the leadin lane to the ASL box. We reported this to LB Camden and quickly changes as shown in the second photo taken on 1.04.09. They tell us (7.07.09) that this layoutwill persist right through the Argent changes in Goodsway

Cyclists exceptions trashed at St Pancras

The No Left Turn sign on Goodsway on the approach to the junction with Pancras Road and Camley Street was installed with a plate adding "Except Taxis and Cycles". The "Cycles" were masked out in the first week of December. A similar treatment was applied to the No Right Turn sign on the western approach to the junction. Since cyclists are allowed to ride southbound on Pancras Road, we complained to the Camden officer responsible. He replied (10.12.08):

With regards to the signs/sub-plates, we're still having problems with DfT and sign approvals. The banned turn signs (612 & 613) and those indicated in the signal heads can have certain sub-plates used in conjunction with them, however in this case the 'Except Taxi's and Cycles' is not on the list. We might have some luck in that the DfT may have approved the use of the 'except Taxi's & Cycles' but until I receive confirmation, they will have to remain blanked out.

Taxis may believe that cyclists are not allowed to turn and may cut across them, seriously endangering them. See The DfT list (page 22), which does include 'except cycles', but not 'except taxis'!

January 22nd 2009. Camden Council plans to put up blue advisory plates stating that the left(right) turn is prohibited except for cycles and taxis. He will take down the "no left turn" and "no right turn" signs. This should be completed by end financial year. It takes time for the signs to be drawn/approved/funded. This is a temporary measure until DfT approve suitable signs (which he says could take any amount of time).

July 7th 2009. Still no progress. Chris Beasley says he now has funding for the blue advisory plates which should appear soon and the "no left turn" and "no right turn" signs taken down (they are illegal because the flying motorcycle covers the rule, so they never will get approval).

Still o progress when half the road closed for road works in summer 2010

Ridiculous cycle lane at bottom of West Hill

This cycle lane was implemented by LB Camden in Summer 2008. It is on the Heath side of the roundabout at the junction of Highgate Road/ Swains Lane and West Hill. Its predecessor had a kerb but there was a way out when there was no illegal parking. The latest lane seems specifically to permit parking at the end of the cycle lane. Anyway, the best position for a cyclist is in the centre of the lane. Let's see how long it takes to get Camden to realise their stupidity. Note, no change by Jan 2011

St Pancras International

This is from Ham and High (29 Nov 2007). The previous week, they reported that a London Continental Railways(LCR) spokesman said "The cycling campaign was an ill-informed protest. The only road where we have jurisdiction is Pancras Road, which is well-sigposted and has a 20 mph limit". They published a letter from CCC saying a modern station should have route direction signs for cyclists outside each exit, indicating the way to Camden Town and the West End, for example. It should also have signs from the nearby cycle routes to the station. Without such signing, it is untrue to say St Pancras is "well signposted".

Road sign seen in Golders Hill Park (photo Helen Vecht, April 2007

Helen Vecht, who saw the sign on the right said: "I saw this sign in Golders Hill Park today, on the main park road from West Heath Avenue; it's a new one on me. Trucks are allowed but bicycles aren't. I've never seen the like!"

Road sign seen in Pancras Road (photo from Tony Raven, January 2007)

The cyclist who saw the sign on the right thought he wasn't allowed past and so did the councillor who reported the problem and even the officers receiving the report didn't explain it! So what does it mean? Signs that people don't understand