Traffic lights at Central Avenue/Green Lane junction, Worcester Park

You might be familiar with the traffic light junction at Green Lane.  A cycleway turns left at the bottom of Lynwood Drive and joins a shared left lane with motor vehicles. This left hand lane at the junction is too narrow for a vehicle plus cyclist, especially when the turn right lane is occupied.

 

Yesterday as the lights changed to red, a small Fiat cut in front of our riders to beat them to the lights. He was much too close to Lynda and Liz at the front, especially as there was a huge white van waiting to turn right. This is not the first time we have experienced issues at this junction.

I would like to encourage group riders who are heading towards Kingston along this route, to fill the lane at this point by traversing in pairs (or fours, occupying the same space as a car) to help avoid similar near misses.

It is often possible to cycle from Green Lane lights, under the railway bridge and through the next lights before they change, so we cause minimal delays to following traffic. In any case, the pinch point at Green Lane often means that cars and vans going straight on are able to overtake us on the right hand lane before the second lights. Those drivers who need to turn left at the second traffic lights are also less inclined to pass us and cut in front if we are grouped together, rather than in single file and trying to keep to the painted cycle lane (which is too narrow).

Please be reassured that this strategy of defensive cycling in certain situations is absolutely legal and recommended by Cycling UK.

~ Helen