Elderly pedestrians risked getting smashed by oncoming bikes because of cycle traffic lights that simultaneously flashed green and red, claimed a Dulwich campaign group last week.
According to One Dulwich, the junction became a “scene of mayhem” where disabled residents were left with cyclists “bearing down on them”.
The group has also complained that the lights sometimes displayed green for pedestrians while showing green for cyclists.
Southwark Council initially said it was ‘fairly sure’ that the traffic light error ‘isn’t possible’ but on Tuesday evening clarified that Transport for London (TfL) had fixed the problem.
Both TfL and Southwark Council had tried to deflect this paper’s enquiries, saying the other was responsible.
One Dulwich, the group that raised the issue, has campaigned against changes made to the Dulwich Village junction ever since Southwark Council introduced a low-traffic neighbourhood during the first covid-19 lockdown.
Richard Aldwinckle from One Dulwich said: “The council keeps saying that pedestrians are its priority but this means that if you are a pedestrian you have to be really fast on your feet to avoid getting hit by a cyclist.
“The young and able can leg it if they see a bike bearing down on them but elderly and disabled pedestrians tend to freeze, making it much more dangerous for them.”
Dulwich residents threaten council with legal action over LTN
The group also said that the introduction of a five-second countdown “adds insult to injury” for less mobile pedestrians.
The Court Lane Residents’ Association says it has contacted Southwark Highways asking them to address the problem.
“Every hour it stays like this, the risk of someone getting injured increases,” said Mr Aldwinckle.
In December, hundreds of Dulwich Village residents threatened the council with legal action over its latest Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) proposals.
They argue that the council’s consultation on changes to Turney Road was “unlawful”, with survey responses used “selectively to present a misleading picture”.