Greenwich.co.uk

Greenwich news and information

Cyclist seriously injured after being hit by lorry

By

A female cyclist was left seriously injured yesterday after being hit by a lorry in Greenwich.

The incident happened at the junction of Vanbrugh Hill and Woolwich Road on Monday.

No further details are yet known but this article will be updated as soon as more information is made available.

In May this year, a female cyclist was killed after colliding with a lorry at the junction of the A102(M) and Woolwich Road.

See also: Greenwich Phantom

UPDATE - The Metropolitan Police have not confirmed any further details at all about this, but local sources have told Greenwich.co.uk that the victim was 66 year old Stella Chandler and that she has since died due to her injuries.

“Cycle Fridays” Initiative Encourages Commuting By Bike

By

Transport for London is running a series of marshaled bike rides to encourage people to try commuting to work on a bike. The "Cycle Friday" events are free group commuter rides into central London using six different routes including one from Greenwich to St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London.

Four marshals from the London Cycling Campaign will be on each route to help cyclists who are new to rush hour bike riding. If you want to take part, turn up tomorrow with your bike at 8.00 am in Cutty Sark Gardens. The Cycle Friday rides will be taking place every Friday until October 2nd.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said “Cycle Fridays are a brilliantly simple way of giving thousands of commuters the confidence to get cycling. I’m sure that when they see how much of a fun, healthy and convenient experience it can be they will be hooked.”.

More Cycle Spaces At Westcombe Park

By

Westcombe Park

Commuters using Westcombe Park train station are benefitting from the addition of 30 new spaces for cycles.

Transport for London has funded the extra spaces as part of a £300,000 program to increase the number of cycle spaces across London.

The new spaces are the familiar "Sheffield Stand" design, and include shelters, lighting and CCTV.

Head of Cycling, Walking and Accessibility at TfL, Peter McBride said: “We are delighted to work with Southeastern to provide additional parking facilities to encourage more people to cycle to rail stations to continue their journeys by train.

“These new facilities are part of the Mayor’s agenda to improve cycling in the Capital to help more people take to two wheels. TfL is committed to meeting the growing demand for safe and secure cycle parking and delivering the cycling revolution in London.”

Do you think there are enough cycle spaces in Greenwich? Where would you like to see additional spaces positioned?

Cyclist Killed in Greenwich Is Named

By

The cyclist killed in a collision with a lorry last Friday has been named as Ms Adrianna Skrzypiec. The 31 year old Polish national was killed in the accident at the Woolwich flyover on Friday at about 5.30pm.

Known to her friends as Adusia, she had been living in the UK for six years. The driver of a lorry that police want to talk to in connection with this tragic incident did not stop.

Anyone with any information about the lorry that didn't stop following the accident should contact Collision Investigation Unit at Catford Traffic Garage on 020 8285 1574.

(more info)

Cyclist Dies After Lorry Collision

By

A female cyclist has sadly died after a collision with a lorry on Friday in Greenwich.

The incident happened at about 5.30pm at the Kent bound junction of the A102(M) and Woolwich Road. The lorry did not stop following the collision. Police have not yet released the name of the victim.

(via News Shopper)

Updated: A "ghost bike" has been chained to the railings near the spot at which the cyclist was killed on Friday. A ghost bike is a bicycle painted white and put in place as a sign of respect for a cyclist killed on the road. Darryl at 853 has the pictures.


View Larger Map

Do you know anything about this incident?

Foot Tunnels To Close For “Up To 18 Months”?

By

Regular readers will know that Andrew Gilligan recently raised the prospect of the Greenwich Foot Tunnel being closed whilst the Council carries out refurbishments using the £11.5million it was awarded by central government.

Tom Crispin from the Young Lewisham and Greenwich Cyclists has been in discussions with Greenwich Council and just posted this useful reply in that earlier discussion which I think is worth flagging up:

Unless local groups oppose their closure, the tunnels at Greenwich and Woolwich are going to close for refurbishment. This is likely to happen for up to 18 months between September 2009 and March 2011.

Greenwich Council is not planning any replacement service for those wishing to push bikes under the Thames (pedestrians will be able to use the DLR); they claim the cost of a ferry service will be £11,000 per week.

Some of the work to the tunnels is essential, e.g. fixing a leak in one of the stairwell/lift shafts at Woolwich. Other work is welcome, rewiring the lighting, new CCTV, emergency lighting, replacement lift mechanisms for the current mechanisms for which spare parts are, according to GC, not possible to source. Some of the work is unwelcome, renewing the footway at Woolwich, re-facing the tunnels (instead of cleaning them).

As public highways, Greenwich Council will have to consult on the tunnels’ closure. If there is sufficient opposition to the closure a public enquiry will have to be held. This will delay the works. If the works are not complete by March 2011 Greenwich Council will lose the £11.5m for the refurbishment. Unless there is a local replacement ferry service at Greenwich, or the closure at Greenwich is restricted to overnight (00.00 - 05.30 perhaps), local cycling groups are likely to oppose the closure. Therefore, Greenwich Council would be well advised to lay on a replacement ferry service at Greenwich. With the Woolwich Ferry offering an alternative, the closure at Woolwich is not as serious, though it would greatly inconvenience cyclists at times when the Woolwich Ferry is not operating, and pedestrians when the DLR is not operating.

Tom tells me that the closure could potentially be a lot less than the figure of 18 months but it is question of whether or not the tunnel interior is "refaced" that would determine if it is a lengthy closure or not.

Add your comment at the original thread here

Cycles UK Opens in Creek Road

By

New bike shop, Cycles UK, opened for business in Creek Road on Saturday morning. The new branch is intended to be the flagship store for the independent chain, and will stock bikes and accessories from leading brands such as Specialized, Marin, Trek, Wilier and Cube.

The opening was nearly derailed by the recent break-in and theft of eight cycles, but thankfully everything went ahead as scheduled.

On Thursday night, local cyclists were invited down to an "open night" to see what the shop had to offer and enjoy a drink and a chat with the staff. Peter Skelton from Cycles UK tells me that the store's dedicated women’s cycling area received particular praise from the female cyclists in attendance.

Related Link: Hybrid Bike

New Bike Shop Suffers Break In

By

Rather depressingly, the new branch of Cycles UK in Creek Road has suffered a break in before it has even opened for business. The store has reported on its dedicated blog that thieves got into the shop last Thursday evening and stole eight bikes.

The bikes stolen were:

  • 2009 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp Medium
  • 2009 Specialized FSR XC Comp Medium
  • 2009 Specialized Stumpjumper HT Expert Carbon 19"
  • 2009 Specialized Langster 56cm
  • 2009 Cube Reaction XT 18"
  • 2009 Wilier La Triestina Mirage Large
  • Mezzo D10
  • Mezzo D9

If you hear of anyone trying to sell these bikes in the area, you might want to let the police know. The robbery hasn't affected their schedule though and the new shop should be open on April 4th.

New Bike Shop Coming To Greenwich

By

A new bike shop will be opening up in Creek Road in the first week of April. Cycles UK, an independent chain with 16 branches around the South East, will be opening up for business on the 4th April and will be stocking a wide selection of brands including Specialized, Trek, Marin, Wilier, Cube and Pashley alongside a great range of kids & BMX bikes, clothing and accessories.

They are also planning a pilot programme to offer courtesy bikes to customers whilst their own bikes are being serviced or repaired. Cycles UK is actively encouraging feedback from cyclists about what they would like from the shop, so if you have any comments, check out their new blog which shows progress with the store as it nears completion.