Locals in South London feel like they’re “taking their lives in their own hands” after seeing a cycle lane is blocked off by an advertising board on a busy main road.
The board, run by BT and Global, appears in the middle of a cycle lane on Woolwich Road in Greenwich.
John, who did not want to give his second name, said he’s been knocked down on Woolwich Road three times and that crossing the street is like “taking his life in his hands”.
He said: “The road used to be two ways, now it’s one way. You have cyclists that seemingly don’t drive on the cycle lanes, they prefer the footpath.
"To me, it’s just a complete c**k up of this whole place.”
The East Greenwich local said: “If you want to do things to help people, why mess them up?”
A BT spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the advertising board, or “street hub”, was installed before the cycle lane for Woolwich Road was added.
They said that they have begun steps to move the board and expect for the work to be done within two weeks.
In October, locals in East Greenwich said drivers on Woolwich Road “ignored” red lights and often “abused” pedestrians.
Katherine Kennedy, who lives in the area, described the junction on the road as “genuinely dangerous”.
Matt Deane, who only recently moved to East Greenwich, said it was “dumb” to have the advertising board in the middle of a cycle lane.
He said: “If you had two people, one coming this way and one coming that way, it would get very tight around this area.”
Anna Mocchetti, another local of the area, said the board is placed where it is because the cycle lane on Woolwich Road was moved last year, with the board remaining in the same place as when it was on the pavement.
She said: “It’s bad, it cannot stay like that. It’s dangerous for me with my kid when we need to cross to get the bus.
"So I have to look carefully because I may not be able to see a bicycle coming.”
A BT spokesperson said: “The Street Hub was installed in this location before changes to the road layout which have adjusted the route of the cycle lane.
"Clearly due to these changes this site is no longer appropriate.
“We were made aware of this issue and have already begun steps to move it to a new more suitable location in light of the new layout.
"We expect the work to be complete within the next two weeks.”
When contacted, a Greenwich Council spokesperson said that the cycle track was owned and managed by Transport for London (TfL).
TfL and Global were approached for comment.
Have you got a story for us? You can contact us here.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.
Sign up to our newsletters to get updates sent straight to your inbox.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel