Greenwich foot tunnel - bikes

Herbalus

I ventured in to the Greenwich foot tunnel for the first time this week, and there are more "no cycling" signs than current Leicester City fans in the whole of England (ok, slight exaggeration but you get the point).

But still a good 70% of people jump on their bikes as soon as they're out of the lift.

And it's not as if cycle shoes seem to be a factor: I understand that reason as I know how awkward it can be to walk in those, but I saw two people running in them.

Are the signs there enforceable or are there penalties? Somebody would make a fortune with spot fines.

Bollotom

It's a ban because the bye-laws say so. Nothing to do because the few spoil it for the many. But as so many go through red lights, on the pavement etc, is it any surprise?

Tin foil hat on. lmao. :cool:

[Deleted User]

ah the great and wonderful 'pipe' of my youth.I like most London children who lived nearby loved to run and whoop and make as much noise as possible running through the 'pipe' Takes me back well over 60 years .Nowadays I could neither run nor whoop .Back then kids had few pleasures in life especially after WW2 and that was one of them ,along with riding the free Woolwich ferry across the river to the strange land on the other side :):):) Bikes ? we certainly couldn't afford those luxuries :):):) shanks pony got my generation around

fred246

Where I live the path would be split into two. Pedestrians on one side and cyclists on the other. The pedestrians would then walk all over the cycle path and the cyclists would then have to go on the pedestrian path to get past them. I always wonder if there's some science behind the reason why pedestrians always seem to walk on the cycle path.

Mr_Singleton

Hutchch0920 wrote: »

I don't see a problem with it if you are cycling responsibly ie not scaring or taking out pedestrians en route.

Typical cyclist.... screw everyone else I'm alright.

brat

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

Typical cyclist.... screw everyone else I'm alright.

Why and how is everyone being screwed? If you want to make worthwhile comment, try engaging your brain first.

Herbalus

Hutchch0920 wrote: »

I've cycled through there a couple of times. I don't see a problem with it if you are cycling responsibly ie not scaring or taking out pedestrians en route. I assume it has a blanket ban on it because the few spoil it for the many by hurtling through it at great speed endangering other users.

I agree with your sentiment, but in the foot tunnel there isn't a lot of space. You could liken it to walking in a road of very slow moving traffic. There's no danger if you're walking between two lines of moving traffic that's going in a straight line at 3 mph, but most people would still find it disconcerting.

There isn't enough space to pass somebody going in the same direction if somebody is coming the other way. I imagine most people walking would find it a bit unsettling if a cyclist passed them within a meter at even 10mph.

elverson

In the near future cycling will be allowed in both tunnels during quiet periods:

http://futurecities.ethosvo.org/case-study-greenwich-and-woolwich-foot-tunnel/

Herbalus

That sounds like a sensible plan. Although you could argue that if the pedestrian density gets high, cycling will be impossible as there isn't enough space!

Yolina

I'm on the Islands Gardens side and I've used the foot tunnel quite often during the past 16 years or so... it's fairly narrow (you can fit about 4 people side by side - and it's narrower at the northern end due to repairs after ww2 bomb damage) It really isn't suited for shared cyclist/pedestrian traffic. I've regularly seen loony cyclists for whom walking the length of the tunnel is obviously beneath them and who couldn't care less about pedestrians. It gets really busy at times, between the locals and the tourists

Retrogamer

fred246 wrote: »

Where I live the path would be split into two. Pedestrians on one side and cyclists on the other. The pedestrians would then walk all over the cycle path and the cyclists would then have to go on the pedestrian path to get past them. I always wonder if there's some science behind the reason why pedestrians always seem to walk on the cycle path.

There's a section of cycle route near me where it's exactly that. One side of the path is green with signs before entering the tunnel saying cyclists and pictures of white bicycles painted on the path at intervals.

The other side is red and for pedestrians and both are seperated by a thick white line.

I've been cycling it for years now and not once have i been able to cycle down it and not have to get out the way of a pedestrian in the wrong side. Even if it's dead and only a couple of people walking there, they walk on the cyclists side.

Some even get abusive when you advise them it's only for cyclists.

I'm sure not all pedestrians are idiots though and only a few ruin it for the majority