Bus traffic lights bottom of Dog Kennel Hill - now added to Ask Councillor

[lpool]

In recent weeks there has been a noticeable tail back of traffic coming down Dog Kennel Hill as caughts at red lights just before East Dulwich Station. This is because the feeder bus lane lights have been left on auto and means that they constantly switch between the bus lane and road about every 30-45 secs despite no buses. Previously the bus lane was operated by approaching buses. The result is a large build up of traffic causing congestion back to the top of the hill, as well as preventing flow of traffic out of Edgar Kail Way.

Is it possible to ask Southwark Transport section to revert back original bus operated system.

[Ruskin]

So THAT'S the reason for traffic backed-up at the lights on the hill. Been diverting left and going round the houses to Peckham Rye.

[James Barber]

Have asked for this to be fixed as a matter or urgency.

[lpool]

James, doesn't look like anything has been done yet to correct lights. Good job didn't ask it to be treated as non-urgent!

[James Barber]

Hi lpool,

This is weird.

Let me chase again. TfL provide the traffic lights to Sotuhwark for free. Which appears to mean they do what they want.

[Alex K]

No improvement yet. Green light, bus lane; no bus anywhere around; and non-bus car-park all the way up Dog Kennel Hill.

[elliot]

Is this issue still the same?

The lights still seem to be swapping regardless of bus approaching or not...

@CllrJamesBarber Any update?

[kford]

It used to be triggered by a pressure pad/induction coil set into the tarmac about 100m up the hill from the lights (if you hit it in the right place on your bicycle, it would swing the lights in your favour too).

Looks like it wasn't reinstalled or connected when the road was resurfaced.

[Pocket]

Absolutely bonkers that buses get priority here anyway (what is it with bus priority - they clog up the road enough as it is - especially as there are only about 3 people ever on the darn things).

[James Barber]

Pocket, Each bus has many more people than a row of cars. If more people travel by bus and leave car at home our roads are clearer for everyone.

If you've ever travelled on buses in East Dulwich the only times I've ever experience being 1 of less than 10 passengers is very late at night when traffic si such that the bus priority makes no difference.

[BrandNewGuy]

But the problem remains with the lights. Any news on it being fixed?

[bobbsy]

Ahh thats the cause of the problem! Yes it's really been a change from some months ago - I didn't realise that was the change. This banks all the way up the hill now and often across the intesection. Also causes cars turning left out of Grove Hill Road onto Dog Kennel Hill to block the inside lane, further delaying buses and cyclists from entering the bus lane further down.

[elliot]

I think kford has hit the nail on the head there...

Mr Barber, how can this be confirmed/denied as the cause, and who's responsibility is it to fix it if determined as the cause?

[lpool]

Just changed heading as realised got wrong road down!

[sdrs]

Hi James, have you had any joy chasing this? Tailbacks on Dog Kennel Hill caused by this change in the way the light changes are activated actually cause more than just serious and unnecessary delays to motorists - as cars sit with their engines idling in tailbacks on the hill, they are exarcebating already high levels of air pollution. This should not be inflicted on pedestrians/cyclists/residents/pupils of Dog Kennel Hill School. The system worked much better (as someone else has already commented)as it was before, when the light changes were activated by approaching buses - can pressure be brought on TFL to revert to this? Buses still had priority over other traffic when they came along.

[bobbsy]

This has been a long time now. Whilst the road resurface is a welcome improvement, the route is now severely congested.

[robbin]

March 9th 2015 - James Barber asks that this be fixed as a matter of urgency

March 26th 2015 - James chases this up

May 21st 2015 - still nothing done. Lights still turn red for no reason, causing tailbacks, delay and pollution.

2.5 months is a long time. When is this going to get fixed, please?

[James Barber]

Tell me about it!

This thir time suggested and being follwedup by officers that the problem seems to have started when the road was resurfaced so the control loops that might have been damaged are gonig to be checked this time. Fingers crossed.

[elliot]

Fixed?

[anton0807]

So this has taken over 4 months could someone from tfl just put a cover over the traffic lights job done 2 mins work

[BrandNewGuy]

It's a mistake that handily slows down cars, so neither TFL nor Southwark are remotely bothered about it.

[milk76]

They fixed it about a month ago. Amazing the difference it made for the worse when it was broken.

[rememberwhen]

The most annoying aspect to this ridiculous set of lights and their control mechanism, is that they are TOTALLY UNNECESSARY.

All that was required was the junction to give all traffic (buses and cabs)in the bus lane side priority over the

traffic in the outside lane.

Therefore no traffic lights!

[Lynne]

Seems to have gone wrong again. Bus waiting at red light yesterday and traffic queuing at red light with no bus in sight this morning

[edcam]

Gone wrong again? I don't think they ever fixed it, did they? It's ridiculous.