Croydon streets where there are ‘near misses’ with cars ‘all the time’ as pedestrians ‘fly blind’

A Croydon junction needs more pedestrian crossings, a London Assembly member has said because “near misses” happen “all the time” because “there are no signals” to help people cross the road. Participants say more investment is needed to make it safer where High Street and Lower Coombe Street meet.

The Green Party is also concerned, MyLondon understands, about the lack of signals in Edridge Road. Caroline Russell AM raised the issue with Sadiq Khan at Mayor’s Question Time on Thursday 18 July.

She said: “There is something that is much more essential, which gives people the chance to cross the road safely. I was in Croydon earlier this week at a junction where there is a big motorway, two big big roads crossing each other, and there are signals for traffic but no signals for people to cross the road.

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“And while we were there, people were coming up and talking, because they knew it was really concerning that they couldn’t cross the road easily. All the people came out of an office to discuss this because their office overlooks the intersection and they see errors almost all the time.”

“Simple, Basic Elements”

The Green Party representative then asked for investment to install pedestrian signals at intersections like the one she visited. Ms Russell called them “very simple, basic essentials”.

It comes as Mr Khan has faced criticism of late as he is expected to miss a key environmental milestone in his aim to discourage Londoners from using their cars and using public transport, walking or bicycle. This was outlined in the Mayor’s transport strategy for 2018 and stated that 80% of all journeys in the capital should be made on foot, cycle or public transport by 2041.

But according to its deputy mayor for transport, Seb Dance, the capital’s journey mix is ​​currently expected to fall below an interim target of 69.3 per cent. This is set for 2030.

London’s neighborhoods ‘designed for cars’

The mayor said: “The good news is, and you’ll appreciate it, because you’re always right about these things, it’s a big increase in pedestrian crossings over the last eight years. But we have to move on.

“A lot of these communities were designed for the car. But the London borough of Croydon, which has the largest population of any borough in the country, is a good example of a neighborhood apparently designed not long ago for the car. .

“And by the way, we also need to think about how buildings are designed, having stairs in a convenient place for people to use, rather than hidden in the back. So we’re looking at the whole design issue of just roads, crosswalks, how to widen sidewalks and so on, bike lanes, but also buildings to get a more active ride.”

MyLondon has contacted Croydon Council for comment.

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