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Cyclepath by London 2012 Olympic Site unfit for Olympic Visitors
by Beaulieu | August 18, 2008 at 08:04 am
795 views | 41 Recommendations | 23 comments
This is the cyclepath along the London Olympic Site called 'The Greenway'. It was known locally as sewerbank before a full renovation in the mid-nineties.
Please look at the slideshow for the state of the 'Cycle Path from Hell.
Since I have been down there a few months back, the graffiti and rubbish has increased. I have never seen any police patrolling here although there is supposed to be CCTV. The CCTV notice is now covered in graffiti as you can see from the photograph.
This route is actually recommended as a 'Capital Walk', a place surprisingly suitable for ramblers, locals and tourists alike. Despite it being clearly unsuitable, it hasn't been taken off the Capital Walks list and is still being used as a cycle route, although few cyclists now want to risk cycling there despite the Government trying to encourage cycling.
This stretch is also the Olympic 2012 Viewing Point where residents can see the site just behind the vandalised walls. Over the last few months, it has been covered in high wire and residents and tourists can barely see any progress. This is probably to try and stop vandals getting it to the site.
If you think the Greenway is bad, the Olympic site happens to be by a canal path and parts of it is spoilt by endless graffiti that never seems to be cleaned off by anyone.
Someone had even dropped a whole can of red paint onto the towpath. The canal often has plastic bags dumped in it. Some people don't seem to care about their environment. They're quite happy to live like this and, if it is ever cleaned up, they come out and do it all this mess again.
The Greenway cycle track by the Olympic site seems to be a 'No Go Area'. The Velodrome, to be built nearby, will have everything the British Olympic cyclists need but for the everyday cyclist in East London, that is a different story. With our success on the track at the Beijing Olympics, something has to be done.
I have contacted the Mayor of London today to find out why the route is so crime ridden.
Update: 20/08/08 The London 2012 advertising campaign states 'This campaign captures the importance of London as the No 1 international tourist destination'. We are the greatest city on earth'.
August 18, 2008 at 08:04 am by Beaulieu, 795 views, 23 comments
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (23)
at 10:14 on August 18th, 2008
Beaulieu, I like this story. It's good stuff. The photos really tell the story, alas.
at 10:27 on August 18th, 2008
Yes, it really has to be shown. I am going to contact various people to find out what improvements will be made and of course, the police, what they are doing. I think it would be great if people cleaned it up whilst on community service. Clearly the vandals spend hours and hours here, so you would have thought someone gets caught.
at 10:27 on August 18th, 2008
I will publish updates on improvements on NP and if things get a lot worse.
at 10:34 on August 18th, 2008
Thank you.
at 10:42 on August 18th, 2008
Beaulieu, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 11:16 on August 18th, 2008
Beaulieu, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 11:31 on August 18th, 2008
Beaulieu, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Cycle paths are bad enough around London, but this is a joke! You'd think that the local council might have considered the irony of the location. Do you think it'll be any better in 2012?
at 12:22 on August 18th, 2008
Does this win the award for the Worst Cycle Path in the Whole World?
at 12:27 on August 18th, 2008
I'd like to nominate the bike route on Burrard street in downtown Vancouver -- a meter wide path between car traffic and bus traffic -- for that award.
at 12:26 on August 18th, 2008
Beaulieu, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 17:01 on August 18th, 2008
Beaulieu, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Great piece and photos. It doesn't look good does it?
at 02:50 on August 19th, 2008
Beaulieu, I like this story. Your work in feretting out the track as well as the pics is excellent. Pics certainly can tell a story. I used to cycle the canal track from Hackney to canning Town each morning when I worked down there and I often used to walk around the Lea Valley Mills area until the smell got so bad. The whole area could be lovely, especially the Outfall Sewer buildings! But look at it now! Lets hope the Olympics will put it back on the map but Im not sure the authority is that interested in renovation.
at 03:53 on August 19th, 2008
Yes, it has a kind of urban charm, but now I think it 'has got way beyond that'. It looks like the police have completely lost control. The thing is, once graffiti starts, it tends to encourage others.
The smell is still there!
I couldn't believe how bad it is now. I wonder what the residents are doing about it.
at 03:26 on August 21st, 2008
Beaulieu, I like this story. It's good stuff. Wait a few months and this eyesore will be cleaned up, no better way than showing them up. Councils that allow the environment to mess up should be voted out at the earliest opportunity.
at 08:08 on August 21st, 2008
It's amazing what kind of an effect a world event like the Olympics can have on a city... We're seeing it here in Vancouver too.
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LCaiSar (not verified)at 02:41 on October 18th, 2008
Beaulieu -
Very good reporting on the condition of the cycle path and the proactive interest you've taken in ensuring it gets the attention it needs. Have you heard of any progress or feedback fom the Mayors Office on this?
Like yourself I am very interested in the future of this path and want to make sure it becomes a safe and attractive place to bike/walk for all. I have drafted proposals that I intend to present to the mayors office that will assist in the development and financing that this area requires and would like further input from you and others that share understand the area, and share the interest in its future use.
Cheers!
at 04:03 on October 18th, 2008
Just registered to NowPublic. Anyone interested in contributing ideas, or sharing further concerns with the Greenway and the Lea Navigation Eastern cycleways/towpaths please contact me. I am in the process of finalising a comprehensive development proposal along these paths/cycleways that will maximise these and their legacy while addressing various factors including the environment, safety, community, social-interaction, health, architecture.
at 12:52 on October 18th, 2008
I hope you will share that with NowPublic - sounds really interesting!
at 12:05 on October 18th, 2008
Thanks for your reply. I have just send you a message.
Fantastic idea. Let's hope the Major does something. A legacy here would be great. Let's hope others will contribute to the proposals.
I quite fancy the idea of a tree lined cherry blossomed 'oasis' ie somewhere wonderful to escape to, to think, to get inspired, to picnic and cycle, perhaps the wall with graffiti could be made into a wall where people can write 'words of wisdom' that helps meet life's challenges and can inspire people. Maybe even the cycle path, could have plaques (with a bicycle logo perhaps?) with words of wisdom, written/translated in various languages as it is multi ethnic here. Olympians have made many sacrifices and often word of inspiration, even if the people around you aren't interested or supportive, can offer hope and motivation perhaps. Local art groups can get involved and people with disabilities.
I like the idea of local people, themselves, being involved in this, so they have some personal input. Some of the Olympians, themselves, could add things of course. Sometimes it is quite negative round reading bad news in the paper, something positive must happen for a change and we have to show that it does.
A warden needs to regularly keep an eye on it so that people don't try to ruin it. Local youths maybe tempted to dig up trees etc 'for fun'.
at 12:07 on October 18th, 2008
As long as we don't call it the Cycle Path from Hell any more:-)
at 02:40 on October 19th, 2008
Just to add to the cherry tree suggestion of Beaulieu; it would be nice to have 'real' fruit trees. Somehow civil servants and LA planners assume that, although they have fruit trees in their gardens, public landscaping should be devoid of anything you can use. Victoria plums, all the wonderful local apples we have in the UK would be wonderful as an avenue along with the canal! And the great thing about fruits you can eat is that many people would pick them before they are ripe and then suffer the consequences!
at 02:41 on October 30th, 2008
Yes, that would be a good idea. Maybe some real English Apples, ones that are rare and the public can be educated about our local varieties. Real Cherry Trees would be nice. They will have to be planted fairly big to prevent people from digging them up! I will send a copy of this article to the London Wildlife Trust. It would be good to have trees that last a long time as they do vary and they will need to be managed properly. The public could help donate plants etc.
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miggy (not verified)at 17:02 on December 30th, 2008
dag yo