Cyclist danger area (behind Old Kent Road)

[Carol]

I was attacked a few weeks ago on my route from East Dulwich into town - I take the cycle route behind Old Kent Road (or used to, I should say). There's a point where Oxley Close goes into Chaucer Drive and you have to slow down to go through quite a few cycle bollards. As I was coming out the other side two men knocked me off the bike and kicked my head and back quite a bit before running away. I think it was an attempted bike-jacking - they tried to grab it but I was making a hell of a lot of noise and was lucky that they probably thought it wasn't worth it. This was 7.30 at night, but frankly the place is a hotspot, I'd say, and best avoided, even in the day. It wasn't until afterwards that I realised how vulnerable cyclists are there. I suggested to the police that they put up a camera/warning sign...but they just sort of gawped blankly back at me. I didn't take that as a "yes", so I'd advise everyone to avoid this route - even in the day it's quiet, and the residents have shown a certain reluctance to intervene if there is an incident. Please don't use this route. I suspect it wasn't the first (and won't be the last) time someone gets attacked there.

[bon3yard]

That sounds dreadful, never use that route myself and doubt I will after your warning. Thanks for the heads up Carol and I hope your not too shaken by these events. :-S

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

I think the bollards and fences the council put blocking all the paths, especially at the edge of parks etc are really dangerous and make cycling that bit more difficult, especially if you pull a trailer. They seem to want to encourage cycling in one department and discourage it in others.

I hope you weren't hurt badly. That sounds horrible.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Yikes - a couple of people have reported similar attacks at differet locations on here in the last couple of years and it always sounds horrendous. As others have said, I hope you are ok and it doesn't affect you too much

[aliceb]

How awful. Hope you are feeling better. Thanks for the warning.

[dave]

I know exactly where you mean and I've often wobbled my way through there worrying. Hope you're ok.

As with previous incidents reported here, this makes me think that the only viable option for cycling is busy, well-lit roads. But to make those safe to cycle on we're going to need more than a foot-and-a-half of occasional green tarmac. Driver education and proper bike lanes would be a good start.

[theratprincess]

Thanks for the warning. Glad you're ok.

I don't know which way you're cycling? But you could try the cycle route that goes down Portland Street/Brandon Street which comes off Albany Road and runs paralell-ish with Oxley Close. This one is ok. There tend to be quite a few people around on foot and by car as there is a pub, a takeaway and large car park, along with lots of cyclists. Also the layout has been improved recently to make it slightly safer for cyclists.

[McSporran]

Yowzer, sorry to hear that, and hope you're okay.

I go through there every day, and I've had to stop a couple of times, once with having a puncture and (last week) someone I was cycling behind got a puncture. I stopped to make sure he was kitted up, but didn't think to stop longer for these reasons.

On the route I normally come from (canal then Glengall Road) there are usually quite a few cyclists together after being released by the traffic lights over the Old Kent Road - a few cyclists together is a good deterrent. Coming home in the dark seems dodgier.

Maybe if people are reading this then they (especially big ugly geezers like me) could make the effort to hook up briefly with lone cyclists, and ride in convoy through the 'dodgy' bits'.

[jonsuissy]

Carol

Hope you are OK - I usually go that way and will now stop in the dark. It is really dark there isn't it

ratprincess

thanks for your advice but I can't see what you mean - can you claify

many thanks

Jon

[theratprincess]

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=532750&y=178250&z=110&sv=532750,178250&st=4&ar=N&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&lm=0

If you look on this bit of Street Map, Portland Street/Brandon Street is in the very middle squares. Portland Street/Brandon Street is on the other side of Old Kent Road to Oxley Close. It brings you out on a cycle track which runs along the pavement on Old Kent Road. It's quite a useful way of getting to the cycle route that goes around E & C and then on to Waterloo, Blackfriars, Southwark or London Bridge.

Hope this clarifies! It's quite hard to describe.

[Carol]

Ratprincess

Thanks for that, it looks like a better route. I think after dark I'll stick to main roads (around E&C) from now on. It's a shame that we have to. Old Kent Road is so wide you'd think they could stick a separate cycle route along it, where people couldn't park. It would be easier to put a cycle route there than it would on Walworth Road. Perhaps we ought to be campaigning for more of these. If there IS an existing campaign I'd love to get involved.

Thanks everyone too for the kind concern and responses. I'm completely fine - no lasting physical or mental damage. Just had a sore kidney for a bit. But I still have my beautiful bike, and I WILL be investing in a helmet now...

[jimbo1964]

That's a horrible story. Two young thugs tried to push me off my bike just off the Walworth road (several months ago). I managed to avoid them but I was still quite shaken by it. I tend to stick to the main roads around there after dark.

[busybee]

Really sorry to hear this and I'm glad you're OK. I used to use that route too, sometimes after dark, but was put off by a group of youths who sometimes hung around by that square (this was a couple of years ago) and it just felt quite threatening. Now I prefer to take my chances on the Walworth Rd. Buses or not, it's always well lit and there are plenty of people around going about their business. I hardly ever use cycle routes now. The other thing that bugs me about them is that so many of them go along quite poorly maintained roads and you're so shaken up by the end of your journey with all the potholes and whatnot!

[ruffers]

I lived there for a while, in the square behind it, and it seemed OK to me, I'm guessing it's what you're familiar with and what experience you have.

Thinking on on that though would you automatically trust someone else to escort you through the area just because they're on a bike? That's making a few assumptions based on a bit of commonality I'd say.

[danrees]

I cycle this way every day and have not experienced anything like this yet.

[spooniferous]

I have been cycling this route to work all through the summer, but now that it is dark on my return this part of the journey does make me nervous. It is particularly dark just there and having to go between the barriers does make you slow down, losing the reassuring sense that someone wouldn't stop you if you are travelling at speed. When I was mugged on my bicycle it was at a point where I had to slow right down. This was many years ago, but the thought never really leaves you. I know the anger you feel after an incident like this.

Since reading this post I've decided to divert and go further down Dunton Road and pick up Mandela Way. The only donwside to doing this is the wait at the traffic lights. but at least it is more populated and better lit.

[Clinker]

Thanks for the warning, hope you're ok. I must say, I stick to well lit - wide open routes at all times, even if it means going the extra mile. I think a lot of cyclists have a false sense of security when they're on a bicycle... My rule of thumb is: Don't cycle where you wouldn't walk...

[Carol]

Clinker, that's a good rule of thumb. It's true, you can feel quite powerful on a bicycle, because of the height, speed, etc. But of course it's false, and if you're pushed off it puts you in such a vulnerable position - it's really disorientating and just coming off alone can leave you with injuries enough, and you're hardly in a position to get up and try and defend yourself. I refuse to be put off cycling because I adore it, but I'll always stick to that rule of thumb now, religiously.

[DiD]

I'm really sorry to hear about the experience, and I ride there a few days a week.

The concerns should be raised with the london Cycling Campaign, the Mayor's office and again, as a group, with the police. The solution isn't for us to cower and join the horrificness of cycling in between buses and speeding motorbikes on the Old Kent Road, where personally, I feel particularly unsafe, but to ensure that the quiet cycle routes are made safer.

That being said, you're pretty much vulnerable everywhere. I know of someone who was mugged on Portland street on his bike; and someone else who was pushed over and mugged in broad daylight on the Wandsworth road roundabout. I usually lock my panier to my rack, so that it can't be removed at a traffic light.

Anyone fancy putting a letter together that we can all send off to the various sources?

[Pierre]

Yowch - sorry to hear about your experience Carol, glad you didn't lose the bike (and, more importantly, that you're OK!)

I was attacked cycling across Burgess Park after dark a couple of years ago. Two guys swung a scaffold pole at my face and tried to steal my bike. I think it's only because I was "clipped in", wearing shoes with cleats that attach to my pedals, that I didn't come off the bike immediately and rolled into a better-lit section of path, where they didn't chase me. It wasn't a pleasant experience and I needed a bit of surgery to put my nose back together. After that I kept to the roads: I'd rather be able to see the dangers I face when cycling!

I guess that sh*t happens, people with ill intent can be anywhere and even in places other people have cycled happily for years one may still get attacked, but I hope this story makes everyone a bit more aware when they're riding. Wishing you a swift recovery Carol!

: P

[Mabel]

Thanks for posting this thread, I have changed my route slightly as a result, although never seen any hint of trouble, mind you I cycle slightly out of rush hour. I have to say the worst part of route 22 has to be Willow Road - devoid of flat tarmac and terribly lit.

[Jeremy]

I remember your photos, Pierre... must have been a horrible experience.

I'm sure you're less likely to get attacked on a main road - but does anyone remember the machete attack on the cyclist outside McDs in Camberwell?

[Asset]

Yes I remember that. Was it completely random though? I never did find out any details.

[blinder999]

not quite random:

A CAR fanatic who murdered a thief for ripping the stereo from his prized BMW was jailed for life yesterday.

Darren Lynch tracked down junkie Mark Biggs, 39, and plunged a 10in knife into his heart. He died in his sister's arms.

Judge Richard Hone QC, told Lynch, 33, at the Old Bailey: "You intended serious harm and were quite indifferent as to whether death resulted."

Builder Lynch admitted murder. His stepdad saw Mr Biggs break into his BMW in Camberwell, South East London, take the stereo and gifts for Lynch's daughters.

Lynch raced round on his bike for an hour and spotted Mr Biggs. He said: "I'm going to kill him," before stabbing him. A witness heard him say: "You took my stereo." He was caught on CCTV.

Mirror

[Jeremy]

Yes, that's the one.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4273542.stm

So not random... apologies for unintentional "scare-mongering".

Just don't steal a stereo from a "prized BMW", and you should be fine.