More on the Clutter Around Dalston Junction
I now avoid Dalston Junction as much as I can because of the bad pedestrian routes, as I want to go on my terms and not those of a driver who feels pedestrians are targets to be hit. However today, I wanted to explore an address to the east of the station, so I had no excuse but to try and walk up the Kingsland Road and turn into Dalston Lane.
Pavement Clutter at Dalston Junction
The picture illustrates why I said try and walk. note the several advertising hoardings and the cafe encroaching towards the road.
As it was sunny and I’m feeling better, I was able to get through and then had to cross Dalston Lane and walk down an equally restricted narrow pavement on the north side of that road. There was nowhere to cross until a set of pedestrian lights, well past the station. One point I noticed, was that if you had wanted to take say a 30 bus to Hackney Wick, you’d have to walk some way to the stop and where it was wasn’t at all obvious. In the end I walked south and then used Forest Road to get back to the Kingsland Road. At least I was able to ascertain, that the bus station at Dalston Junction appeared to be complete.
opening the Southern entrance to the station would make things so much better and safer.
The Angel, Islington Is Now Clean and Tidy
This picture shows how islington have cleaned up the Angel.
The New Pavements at the Angel
It must have impressed the BBC as they conducted interviews for BBC Breakfast one day last week on the pavements on the opposite side of the road to this picture.
Just before I took this picture, I had bumped into a person of the female gender, who had just got off the same 38 bus as I had. I won’t call her a young lady, as she’d debussed (does it have one s or two?) and immediately stopped to light up her cigarette. As I was close behind her, I walked straight into her. I apologised profusely, but got a mouthful. Whereupon I told her that she should stop smoking, as it will eventually kill her! Possibly it will be sooner than I think, as she immediately wandered in front of the 38 bus to cross to Islington Green. Luckily for her the driver was paying attention to the lights, which had turned red.
It must be very disheartening for the council, as the pavements were already covered with discarded cigarette ends and chewing gum.
How To Fit Trainers
I have been in need of a new pair of trainers or tennis shoes for some time. I’ve bought two pairs and they sit in my cupboard unworn, as they are so uncomfortable. My trouble is that I have small but wide feet.
I saw my physio this morning and he recommended going to Runners Need in Kings Cross, where you can try out your new shoes on a treadmill before you buy them.
I went and was impressed, as when the video they took of my feet was played back, I could see that my legs were straight and correct in the shoes that the assistant thought would be best for me. They actually didn’t have my proper size, so I’ll have to go back to get them, when they have got them in.
It would seem to me, that if you are buying a pair of shoes for running or walking, that this the way to do it. With my horse-racing experience, I know that this sort of analysis has been done with horses, to try to predict performance. Before you buy a horse to race, you would always trot it up and down to see that its action was correct.
Now I am not disabled, but I do have a slight balance problem after my stroke. There are also people who have got bad backs or need or have had hip or knee transplants. I felt it helped me and I could feel that the walking shoes I tried, which had a bit of support, were rather better than my worn out tennis shoes. So would others benefit?
Pedestrian Flows Around Dalston Junction Station
Getting into and out of Dalston Junction Station is a very dangerous exercise for pedestrians.
I live to the south east of the station and usually cross the busy Kingsland Road at the pedestrian lights about a hundred metres short of the junction with Dalston Lane and the Balls Pond Road. I then walk past the still closed southern entrance to the station and walk up the rather narrow pavement on the eastern side of the road, round the corner and into the north entrance to the station. I have to walk perhaps another fifty metres and due to various works outside the shops there, it always seems that I have to walk in the main road.
One other thing on this route is the number of unofficial pavement obstructions.
Unofficial Pavement Obstructions
Six months ago, they would have caused me a real problem, but with the sun and the improvement in my eyesight, they’re almost good practice for me. And certainly, they’re not as intrusive as the obstacles in Athens.
Coming home, I reverse the process and it is usually a tiny bit easier, as I suspect it’s usually later in the day and there are less pedestrians about. Until a couple of weeks ago, if I was feeling rather lazy, I would often catch a convenient bus for a couple of stops along the Balls Pond Road to save walking.
Closed Pavement at Dalston Junction Station
But this second method is no longer available as due to road works and no pavement, the bus stop has been moved two hundred metres back on Dalston Lane. Incidentally, it is impossible to walk to the stop from the station, due to barriers being in place. To do so, you have to cross Dalston Lane twice and there are no safe crossing points.
The problem was illustrated yesterday in a very graphic manner. I had shown a friend around Victoria Park and we had taken a bus back from there to Dalston Junction station so that they e could take the East London Line south to where her car was parked at Canary Wharf, by changing at Shadwell to the DLR. We ended up walking inside the anti-pedestrian barriers as it was the only way to get to the station. There were several women and couples with children in buggies and at one point one couple virtually had to walk in the middle of Dalston Lane to get past the obstructions. I did think about doing the double crossing of Dalston Lane, but that is easier said than done.
At the entrance to the station, there is a notice saying that the pavement to the east of Dalston Junction station will be closed for 16 weeks from March 14th.
Last night, as I returned from Canary Wharf, there was a passenger with a heavy case completely bemused about where to go as she left the north entrance to Dalston Junction station. So she was young and fit, but she was yet another pedestrian ready to join the queue of those who will get knocked over in this dangerous area.
I hate to say this but someone will get seriously hurt or even killed, unless something is done to rectify the various problems in this busy area for pedestrians.
The Closed Southern Entrance to Dalston Junction Station
One solution would be to open the southern entrance to the station now. This would have major benefits, even if pedestrians were channelled through temporary barriers.
1. People like me, who need to walk to and from the station from the south and south-west would be completely removed from the congested streets. As it is, if I want to go south on the East London Line and the weather is good, I often cut across to Haggerston station.
2. If you needed to take a bus north from Dalston Junction, then you could cross the Kingsland Road at the pedestrian lights and then use any of a number of buses going north.
3. Those going west on a bus would find it easier to get to the stop on the Balls Pond Road, as after crossing at the pedestrian lights, they’d be able to walk up the relatively uncluttered western side of the Kingsland Road.
So would opening the southern entrance be feasible. I suspect yes, but Transport for London are waiting for everything to be finished. The lights all seem to be working and the station entrance appers to be finished.
So why isn’t this entrance open?
It would relieve the pressure at the northern entrance, but that won’t be completely safe until they reopen the pavement along Dalston Lane.
If nothing is done, there is going to be a serious pedestrian accident here.
Towneley Park and Hall
I think we’re all going to hearing more about Towneley Hall, as it is again being used as the location for the new series of the BBC’s Antiques Master.
Eric Knowles has described it as a hidden gem and I won’t argue with that.
Towneley Hall
I walked to the Park from the town centre and spent an enjoyable couple of hours there. I had an excellent coffee in the cafe and explored the house and its art gallery. It was just a pity that they charge non-Burnley residents for entry to the house. Some gluten-free food would have been welcome to. There was some baked potatoes, but I wasn’t sure of the fillings. There was also some nice-looking home-made cakes, so why not some chocolate ones, as some of the traditional recipes don’t use wheat flour.
I then walked down the hill to Turf Moor for the match.
Towneley Park
Since my visit, I’ve looked at maps and the Internet and have found that the Hall used to have its own station. Obvious;ly, reopening the station is not on, but perhaps a trail from the station to the park vaguely following the route of the railway might be an idea. It might also be fairly level, so an easier walk than the one I took by my circuitous route. It would also be safer, separate from the traffic and with a nice down hill run into the town. I suspect too, that it would have good panoramic views over Burnley. I took this picture as I walked down to the town from the station.
Walking Down into Burnley
But the view would be better, if you were higher up, as the direct route might well be. It certainly wouldn’t be as boring as walking along a busy dual carriageway.
Welcome to Burnley
I arrived at Manchester Road station in the town at 10:30 and the station is in effect an unmanned halt with shelters, like say Newmarket or Dullingham, which I used to use quite a bit in Suffolk.
However it differs from the two Suffolk stations in a couple of important ways. There are no information screens giving details of arriving trains and there is no local maps. Those in Suffolk, actually carry advertising for things like local hotels and taxi companies.
There were a couple of police in the station car park, but as they were from Manchester and not local, and were probably there to observe any stray carrots going to Blackburn. So they weren’t much use on directions.
I knew that Towneley Park, my intended destination, was close to the Turf Moor and after walking down the hill, I found a sign to Burnley FC, so I walked in that direction. This picture shows just how dangerous it was, as I needed to cross two dual-carriageways without even a rudimentary form of crossing.
Pedestrian Unfriendly Burnley
I know I’m just one old man, who’s had a stroke, but I’m still reasonably nimble and usually not in a hurry, so I can wait for a gap in the traffic. But so often, roundabouts and dual-carriageways are real barriers to pedestrians and judging by the flowers you occasionally see on railings, others have not been so lucky.
But the pedestrian access to Manchester Road station is a disgrace and there is a definite need for a light-controlled crossing or an underpass to get across the main road at the station. I think that it might be possible to put an underpass in alongside the railway.
To be fair to Burnley Council, they are thinking about improving accessibility in the town, as this page shows.
I did finally reach the bus station, where I found a bus map, which gave details of where I needed to go to get to Towneley Park.
Walking to Victoria Park
Yesterday, I started to walk to Victoria Park to see the site where my son’s ashes were scattered on the anniversary of his death last week.
It is a pleasant walk along the Regent’s Canal. A first surprise was this cafe.
Cafe on the Regent's Canal
Yesterday, the canal was busy with walkers and cyclists of all ages and type. So the cafe shouldn’t be too short of punters.
Good luck to them! I think they’ll be the first of many hostelries on the canal. After all, the canal will be one of the main walking and cycling routes to the Olympics at Stratford.
I also passed the new bridge that takes the East London Line over the canal, just south of Hoxton station.
The East London Line Crossing the Regents Canal
I use the line probably once a week these days and when they finish off Dalston Junction station, I will use it even more. If the line has a problem, it is that it is too successful and has started to get a bit crowded even in the middle of the day. But any good transport project, whether it is a railway, road or a bus route, should attract new customers and it would appear that the East London line has done this.
The Regent’s Canal forms part of the Jubilee Greenway as this sign shows.
Jubilee Greenway Sign on the Regent's Canal
The Greenway runs all the way from Buckingham Palace to the Olympics and then in a circle around London. With due respect to the Queen’s fitness, I can’t see her walking all the way at her age. But it would make a wonderful celebration of her Jubilee to traverse the canal part of the route in a proper Royal Canal Boat.
The canal was busy with traffic, despite the fact that all boats need to transfer through the various locks. I took this picture as I walked through industrial Bethnall Green.
Sailing Through Industrial Bethnall Green
The picture wasn’t chosen deliberately, but it does show how the canal is a long green oasis cutting a bold path across London. Is that spring blossom on the trees?
But it wasn’t just expensive boats. I took this picture just after Acton’s Lock.
Kids on the Regent's Canal
The inflatable boat contained a group of kids and an instructor and they were having a great time, especially as they worked the locks. What better way is there to learn the history of East London, than to experience it from the canal?
There are various works going on to make Jubilee Greenway, one of the ways to get to the Olympics. I particularly liked this well designed entrance ramp and steps to the towpath.
A Well-Designed Ramp and Steps
There is never an excuse for not using the best designs for even the most mundane things.
Note in this picture, you can see the slabs and bricks that cover the high-voltage electricity main, that takes the power to the City from East London. The boat moored at the end of the ramp is a workboat being used by the engineers upgrading this vital power line.
The Regent’s Canal follows Victoria Park for some distance and the park too, is being upgraded. This picture shows the bridge connecting the Park to Bethnall Green.
Entrance to Victoria Park
My kids used to go to the Gatehouse School nearby and used to walk over this bridge into the Park. At the moment due to the works the park isn’t totally accessible.
Works in Victoria Park
It will all be done for next year, when the park will be used as an Olympic viewing venue with big screens, a new cafe and lots of grass to sit on. Perhaps one of the best ways to go to the Olympics, will be to take a picnic to Victoria Park and then walk to the Olympics Park.
In some ways it is one of my favourite parks, and I can remember wheeling our granddaughter through the park with C many times in her pram. As it was also one of late son’s favourite spots it was entirely fitting that his ashes were scattered there.
I shall certainly use it as a venue to watch the Olympics, especially, as it is only about a hundred minutes walk from my house. Or if I feel lazy, it’s just one bus ride away from my local stop.
This sign gives the history of the park.
Victoria Park Sign
I’m certain that Queen Victoria would be very happy about the state of the park she supported and allowed to be named in her honour.
The Obstacle Course That is Athens
I have said before that I have found that the traffic in Greece regard zebra crossings as killing grounds, but then the pavements in Athens aren’t much safer, if you look at this picture.
Typical Athenian Pavement Hazard
Obviously, a vehicle has driven over this drain cover.
To be fair to the Greeks, the walking was much easier on all the islands I visited.
Zebra Crossings are Killing Zones
They seem to have one purpose in Greece. And that is to tempt pedestrians to get in the road, so they can be knocked over. Luckily, I’ve not been hit, but I do use routes that avoid crossing the road directly.
Walking to Victoria Park
I picked up my paper and then walked through to the Kingsland Road, where I got on the towpath of the Regent’s Canal and headed east.
Unfortunately, my camera was low on power, so I couldn’t take any pictures. I will later in the year and they will be so much better with the sun.
Next time, I must, as it an interesting walk under the bridges with the last stretch smelling of woodsmoke from the heaters in the barges parked for the winter.
I emerged on Roman Road in Tower Hamlets, before taking a 277 bus back to the stop around the corner.
The last bit brought back memories, as my late son and his family used to live just round the corner. But I wouldn’t dwell on what might have been!
The Anonymous Widower 