FH.
Jeez. What can be done then? Sounds like the answer is “Nothing” which feels a bit depressing… I just heard a motorbike roar up to the gap, brake, wiggle through and then accelerate away at top speed about a minute ago… Feel a bit
about it all…
Re. the restrictive gates stopping bicyclists with front boxes and recumbents, it looks like 99% of cyclists would be able to get through those gates in the photo @anon5422159 posted - I think it’d be worth it, no?! Those rare bikes that couldn’t fit would have to dismount and walk onto the pavement for a metre’s distance or so… not the end of the world? Seems vastly preferable to 50+ motorbikes/scooters racing through every day illegally…
I’ve just emailed traffic@lewisham.gov.uk - will let you know if I hear anything. Have counted 4 motorbikes going by since I last posted a message 20 mins ago.
Try living off Perry Hill. We have powerful motorbikes racing up and down it every day.
@janelouise there must be something we can do to at least get some local councillors to take notice of this.
Happy to have a chat and hatch a plan together if you like?
@MajaHilton I know you’ve stepped down now but do you know who would be the best person or people to contact about this issue please? Any pointers would be very welcome. Thanks.
Our councillors are in the Crofton Park Ward. They are decent and will listen to what you have to say.
http://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0
Hi all - I emailed Lewisham traffic and received the response below. I’m going to reply to her now with a photo of the metal barriers shared by Chris Beach above, and see what she says. @AgentBlonde, I’d be delighted to join forces about this - not sure how to share private contact details on this site but if you can drop me a line somehow, we can decide how to proceed!
Dear Jane
Thank you for your email.
I’m afraid there are no physical measures that we can use that will prevent motorcycles using this space, but will still allow pedal cycles through.
This is really a matter for Police enforcement as it is a moving traffic offence.
I’m sorry I can’t give you a more helpful reply.
regards
Imogen Payami
Casework – Transport
Regeneration and Place
London Borough of Lewisham
4th Floor | Laurence House | Catford | London SE6 4RU
Tel: 0208 314 2235 | Fax: 020 8314 3137|
Hi @janelouise. To send a PM, please tap the username of the recipient then tap the
Message button.
Private messaging is a feature that gets automatically enabled for members after they’ve participated on the site for a while - I can see that you have been granted access to this feature.
Rather unimpressive reply from Lewisham, so yes it sounds like a great idea to send them some alternative suggestions. I’ll write to them too.
PS @janelouise I’ve sent you a message 
Hi all - see below - another (speedy) response from Lewisham to my emailed photo of the possible barriers. Sounds like there’s nothing they can do and it’ll have to be a police matter of getting cameras or something installed to track who uses the gap…?
Dear Jane
Thank you for your reply.
With regard to trying to use physical measures to prevent access by motorcycles whilst allowing cycle access our understanding is that there are inherent problems in trying to achieve this. One of the leading guidance documents for designing for cyclists is The London Cycle Design Standards (LCDS). On this matter the LCDS states in its section on access controls:
“Physical barriers, such as A-frames and chicanes, are not generally recommended. The costs, benefits and disbenefits of introducing them must be made clear in any design process. Consultation with user groups should be informed by clear and accurate information about what the options are and by the obligation to maintain access for people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. Cycle access needs to be understood as access for all types of cycle, including recumbents, tricycles, cargo cycles and any model adapted for a person with a mobility impairment.”
Any such measures could also make access for buggies, particularly double buggies difficult.
We are sorry we can’t provide a physical solution to this issue, but clearly we need to bear in mind the implications of the Equalities Act 2010 in works we carry out on the highway.
Kind regards
Imogen
Very helpful resonse.
I take their point, but buggies? I don’t think I once wheeled our daughter through that gap - oddly decided that staying on the pavement was perhaps the better and safer option…
The problem is, there are pavement on both sides, buggies, people etc can use them. Cyclist can use the cyclist areas. Others use them, they shouldn’t do, but they do. The police and council have bigger fish to fry, it’s not their fault. The council and police have worst things to deal with, stick to the pavements and report the plates of any scooter that rides through. Don’t be a hero and confront them, it won’t end well
Hi @AgentBlonde sorry been too busy to respond but happy to add weight to this too. Witnesses Deliveroo bike yesterday rat running from brockley rise into Gabriel sfreet and car turning out from Wylue nearly hit him. Will be hard to get Lewisham to respond positively. I wonder if pressure on Deliveroo / dominos or whoever the company the offenders work for might be the way forward. We have to try and get ref numbers of offenders and take it from there
Hypothetical question:
Would people here be happy if scooter + motorbike riders dismounted and used the pavement at this junction?
@beige I definitely wouldn’t be happy about that! My priority is that my four-year-old daughter and her scooter-riding buddies should be safe on the pavements.
Legally, motorbikes and mopeds aren’t allowed to ride through those barriers. As a car driver I also have to observe the rules of the road, and sometimes that means taking the long way round.
The way I see it, dismounting and walking the vehicle on the pavement would often be the most efficient route for a law abiding scooter/motorbike rider. I don’t think this would be dangerous.
What I worry about is that if more effective barriers were put in a portion of the vehicles would simply ride on the pavement while mounted. This would definitely be dangerous, and I doubt whether the police would be able to prevent it sufficiently such that the end result would be a better situation than the current one. It doesn’t make me happy to express such a cynical view…
Yes, good point. It’s a tricky situation isn’t it.