Permeability and the scarcity of the dropped kerb

I devised a little circuit for the ride with Sustrans last Tuesday. Riding round it gave a sample of the types of problems that face cycling in Barking, though I'm sure they're not uinque.

The ride started off on a shared segregated path, segregated just by a white line. Pedestrians walk in the cycle bit all the time, and even when several of us rang our bells the pedestrians then resolutely stayed in the cycling bit. It's not illegal, but why?

Then we turned onto another segregated path to Gascoigne Road and beyond to King Edwards Road. This path is segregated by flowe beds, but the plants and shrubs are in much need of cutting back ob the outside of the cycle section. Oh and of course pedestrians are in need of "cutting back".

At King Edwards Road the path ends, but does not join the carriageway with a dropped kerb, or any attempt to keep parked vehicles clear.

We then crossed the Rover Roding by the barrage. On the west side the towpath is blocked by a 'temporary' fence so people cannot walk/cycle to the Town Quay that way. I believe that the fence was put there by local residents of boats moored on the River, as they do not want passers by. I could be wrong.

So, we proceed along the top edge of Handtrough Creek. Here again the shrubs need cutting back. I reported this via fixmystreet.com, who passed the report on to BD council, who told me (not FixMyStreet) that the problem was in LB Newham (which information is incorrect). I pushed it back to BD council who then said that the riverside path was on private property. All  I can hope is that someone goes down there with their secateurs.

That path ends at Fleet Road (that I called The Road to Nowhere before it was completed and named, again without a dropped kerb. Near this point, to either side, are the 'no entry except buses' signs that either BD or Newham (or both, I have never found out) installed before the road was even complete. Luckily for the Police who have their big station there, the rule doesn't apply to them. And so up Fleet Road, to join Highbridge Road at a dreadful mini roundabout, with a very wide circulation lane and fast traffic joining the A406. I objected to this roundabout, but was told that this road was not intended for use by cyclists, because there would be a leisure route along the river side. Well there would be, except for the fence mentioned above, but why shouldn't we be able to cycle along Fleet Road and Highbridge Road in safety anyway.

So through the Town Quay, across Abbey Road, and onto Abbey Green. The paths across this green were designd without cycling in mind, and the opportunity to improve this a bit at the Brodway end was missed, despite my contribultion to the consultation about the works. So we negotiate another undropped kerb and cross to Clockhouse (or is it Clock House) Avenue and thence to the Town Hall.

It isn't clear whether the path between the Library and the Health centre was intended to be shared use, but the signposting at Axe Street is for pedestrians only, so I'm guessing tjhey managed to forget cycling again, despite my input.

At St Paul's Road there is a crossing (a Toucan I think), "conveniently" placed between two motor vehicke free entrances to the estate, one of which was made in my campaigning period, and, you've guessed it, my suggestion of a dropped kerb for cycling was not taken up. Little wonder that the suggestion of a retro-fitted one at the other, older entrance wasn't either.