11 May 2009

Grating problems at Waterloo


It looks about as dangerous as a Cliff Richard Christmas single. You're heading west out of the Cut and turning left at the Old Vic, just opposite Waterloo Station.


But the drain cover that's hardly visible in the top picture has been laid with its grooves along the exact direction of travel a cyclist would take, at almost exactly where you're recommended to cycle, about a metre from the kerb. And the grooves are easily big enough to swallow a standard bike wheel and throw you violently off the bike into a stream of fast traffic.

Of course we're on the case. We saw similar problems on Bishopsgate put right recently. (Thanks Jenny Jones, Southwark Green Party councillor, and others.) But until this is fixed, it really is an accident waiting to happen.


In fact, this Dawes Super Galaxy stands up unaided in the ironwork. I know we're always complaining about the lack of bike parking in central London, but this is ridiculous.

2 comments:

  1. As noted in a post on my blog, qualities such as initiative and common sense is not high up on the qualifications needed for a key job as a highways engineer.

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  2. Oh dear, I do hope that gets sorted out soon!

    Need to repair your bike? Then why not visit www.smbbearings.com/BB_BRGS.htm for a great article about replacing your bike's bottom bracket bearings, the photos are a real help too.

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