Issues

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This section lists issues - problems on the street network and related matters.

Issues always relate to some geographical location, whether very local or perhaps city-wide.

You can create a new issue using the button on the right.

Listed issues, most recent first, limited to the area of Camden Cyclists:

  • Greening of Phoenix Road

    Created by John Chamberlain // 1 thread

    Phoenix Road plus Brill Place connects Eversholt Street with Midland Road and is in principle an excellent pedestrian and cycle link between Euston and Kings Cross/St Pancras stations. But it is not attractive, especially for pedestrians. Camden have money from HS2 to improve it and have come up with a set of ideas which are set out in two large and very thorough reports which are available here and here.

    Motor traffic and cycle flows on the corridor are relatively low (see pages 26 and 27 of the Stage 1 report). They show a maximum of 144 motor vehicles per hour in the morning peak (sum of both directions, west of Chalton Street) and 175 in the evening peak, with cycle flows of 24 and 27 (very low). The measurements were done in 2017; motor traffic is likely to be higher now that motors have diverted up Ossulston Street, though Google sends motors via Polygon Road rather than Phoenix Road. For comparison, cycle flows on Ossulston Street were 232 and 230 (a.m. and p.m. peak hour).

    So there are not many cyclists using the corridor.  This may increase once the Midland Road tracks are open but Eversholt Street is not an attractive route unless you are going to Euston station and anyone making that journey is probably already using Ossulston Street so cycle numbers probably will not increase much.

    6 options are proposed, ranging from a minimal treatment which would not affect the road layout (option 1A) to a complete closure (option 4). Option 4 is not supported by Camden so we’ll discount it.

    Option 1A retains the current road layout with some greening and reduction of carriageway width to 4.8m. 1B converts it to one-way, alternating westbound and eastbound and should therefore reduce rat-running. Option 2 has closures to motor traffic (modal filters) between Ossulston and Chalton Streets and between Chalton and Werrington Streets. Option 3 adds another road closure between Eversholt and Werrington Streets and 3B is the same but with added measures on neighbouring streets to reduce or prevent traffic displacement. Option 4 is a full closure but is not supported by Camden. In all cases, cycling is permitted in both directions throughout and access is retained for emergency vehicles.

    In the Stage 2 report they suggest how the actual street layouts might look. The main issues are whether the carriageway should be linear or ‘meandering’.

    From a cycling point of view any reduction in motor traffic is a good thing. We normally would have concerns about the interaction with pedestrians in shared space. However, as cycle counts are low perhaps this is not a major issue here and the improved streetscape might outweigh any concerns. If one of the options 2 or 3 were chosen we should probably ask that the design makes it clear that cyclists are allowed and that also the meandering design might be better as it would signal to cyclists that low speeds are appropriate.

    More information plus the online response form is at https://consultations.wearecamden.org/groundwork/greening-phoenix-road/

    Meanwhile please feed your comments to us via the threads on this issue, or by email to john@camdencyclists.org.uk . Responses are due by 31st May so we’ll send in our formal response by the 28th.

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  • Roadworks: Guilford Street

    Created by John Chamberlain // 0 threads

    From 18th February to 14th April, Guilford Street will be one-way westbound from Grays Inn Road to Grenville Street for the replacement of a 32" gas main. Eastbound traffic will be diverted via Theobalds Road and Roseberry Avenue but cyclists will be better off using Tavistock Place and Ampton Street (CS6).

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  • A41-A598 Burgess Hill

    Created by JonC // 1 thread

    Cyclists going straight up the Finchley Road from Swiss Cottage to Golders Green have to cross two lanes of fast A41 traffic, where the Hendon Way turns off to the left.One possible solution would be for cycles to remain on the left and have a facility to use the pedestrian crossing across the top of the Hendon Way. Recommended route via Ardwick Road/Burgess Hill is not efficient and involves crossing 2 lanes when rejoining Finchley Road.

    TfL Enquiry Ref: 13049465 Cycling on Finchley Road CRM001:0373000000770 23/02/2019

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  • Hatton Garden cycle permeability schemes: St Cross Street and Saffron Street

    Created by Jean Dollimore // 1 thread

    St Cross Street

    St Cross street runs from Farringdon Road, across Saffron Hill to Hatton Garden. It is currently one-way westbound between Saffron Hill to Hatton Garden.

    The consultation proposes two-way cycling all the way through while reducing the short section between Saffron Hill and Farringdon Road to one-way eastbound for motor vehicles (with a cycle contraflow lane).

    Saffron Street

    Saffron Street connects Saffron Hill with Farringdon Road and currently the western end (as far as Onslow Street) is one-way eastbound.

    The consultation proposes two-way cycling all the way through while Saffron St is closed to motor traffic between Saffron Hill and Onslow Street in order to safely facilitate two-way cycling, and to create an improved environment for pedestrians.

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  • Roadworks: Howland Street

    Created by John Chamberlain // 0 threads

    Howland Street is closed to motor traffic from Thursday 31st for several weeks. Cyclists will still be able to use it except for 2 days, probably 7th and 8th Feb, when it will be completely closed. On these days use the signed diversion via Grafton Way and Whitfield Street or walk through.

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  • Roadworks: Park Village East

    Created by John Chamberlain // 0 threads

    From January 17th until early 2020 Park Village East will be closed to motor traffic at the northern end for Thames Water to install a new 42 main. This is due to HS2 construction. It is currently possible to cycle through and the good news is that the road is temporarily two-way with effectively a modal filter at the north end! I wonder if we can persuade Camden to make the arrangement permanent.

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  • Roadworks: Gloucester Gate

    Created by John Chamberlain // 0 threads

    From January through June 2019, Gloucester Gate will be closed to all traffic including cycles. It is possible to get through on the footway (by dismounting). We are trying to get a better solution in place but in the meantime the only other options are to use Albany Street and Chester Gate (southbound) or Prince Albert Road and Macclesfield Bridge (westbound).

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  • Consultation: Prince of Wales Road/ Kentish Town Road and Anglers Lane

    Created by Jean Dollimore // 1 thread

    Camden is consulting on changes that originate from a desire to remove through motor traffic from Anglers Lane.

    This rat-running motor traffic comes from the west via Prince of Wales Road (PoW) and is headed north up Kentish Town Road (KTR). Camden says that this traffic should remain on Prince of Wales Road and use a newly instated left turn into Kentish Town Road.

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  • Heath Street/East Heath Road/West Heath Road junction Proposed Improvements

    Created by Jean Dollimore // 1 thread

    In the consultation Camden states that they propose measures to  improve the public realm and reduce bus journey times through the junction of Heath Street, East Heath Road and West Heath Road in Hampstead.

     

    We note that buses 268 and 603 run along Heath Street through this junction. 

     

    They list the following problems:

     

    - The staggered arrangement of East Heath Road and West Heath Road means that it is difficult to turn right or travel straight ahead when exiting West Heath Road

     

    -  pedestrians crossing the northern arm of the junction over Heath Street have to cross away from the their desire line

     

    -  southbound traffic on Heath Street is held while pedestrians cross East Heath Road 

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  • Gloucester Gate to be closed to all traffic, Jan to Jun 2019

    Created by Mixhael // 1 thread

    I read on the Regent's Park Cyclists Facebook page that Thames Water will be closing Gloucester Gate for water mains replacement, starting January 2019, ending June 2019.

    They are requiring cyclists to dismount and use the footway.

    The Friends of Regents Park have expressed fears of cyclists unwilling to dismount, and the attendant danger to footway users.

    Justin Mckie will be asking Thames to provide a way for cyclists.

    If it is anything like the works on Park Village East this autumn, there was plenty of space to provide a small passage for cyclists it was just a lack of cooperation from Thames Water than prevented it. I contacted them directly, they replied but refused to help.

    If anyone has any influence at Thames Water/HS2/Camden it might be worth following this up.

    This is a massive desire line for daily cycling and will be a large inconvenience for six months. On the plus side, it will be interesting to monitor motor traffic levels in the park with Gloucester Gate closed.

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  • Don't pedestrianise Fitzrovia - make it access only

    Created by linus // 1 thread

    Westminster council are doing two important things at the moment. There is a consultation on "Oxford Street District" here: https://osd.london

    The other thing WCC are doing is going to close Riding House Street with the Camden boundary at the junction of Cleveland Street by installing bollards across the road. The street has already been closed for over a year and it has had no negative impact. Camden have already done this at Fitzroy Square and Warren Street and it has been very positive. We need to do more of the same.

    The issue of through traffic -- including Torrington Place -- needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency. All areas of Fitzrovia are above the legal limit for NO2, except for Crabtree Fields open space. (Sample readings: 55 µg/m3 - legal limit is 40 µg/m3. NO2 pollution on Oxford Street east is 66 µg/m3 & on Euston Road it is 84 µg/m3.)

    Camden has so far refused to entertain the two road closures I have suggested - Torrington Place and Goodge Place.

    I am now going to suggest the following road closures to Camden and Westminster to make Fitzrovia "access only".

    Close Goodge Street at Westminster boundary at junction with Goodge Place; close New Cavendish Street at the junction with Cleveland Street, and finally close Clipstone Street at the junction with Cleveland Street (this would also require Cleveland Street to be one-way north bound).

    I believe it will not impact on access to all streets by motor vehicles for deliveries and drop-offs, etc. But it will eliminate entirely motor through traffic across the Camden/Westminster border and mitigate the effect of Gower Street northbound traffic turning into Torrington Place. This would also cut down on traffic along Grafton Way which also a victim of WEP.

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  • Consultation: Proposed changes to the Torrington Place / Tavistock Place corrido

    Created by Jean Dollimore // 1 thread

    Camden is consulting on: The direction of motor traffic flow i.e. – should it remain as it is now (eastbound between Gower Street and Judd Street and westbound between Gower Street and Tottenham Court Road) – or change to westbound through the entire stretch between Judd Street and Tottenham Court Road They also ask support for further improvements (including stepped tracks and widened footways) subject to funding being available.


    [Deadline extended by Camden Council to 6 January 2019.]

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  • Kentish Town Planning Framework

    Created by John Chamberlain // 3 threads

    Camden are consulting on a proposed planning framework for the northwest part of Kentish Town. This essentially covers the Murphy’s and Regis Road sites and is designed to set parameters for when/if the sites are redeveloped. The consultation is at goo.gl/6GaJEd and is open for individual responses until December 7th.

    We will be putting in a response from Camden Cyclists so please use one of the threads to add your comments by the end of November. We are particularly focussed on cycle and pedestrian permeability.

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  • Oxford Street District Place Strategy and Delivery Plan

    Created by Simon Munk // 1 thread

    Westminster Council says:

    The draft strategy sets out a series of ambitious, exciting and also deliverable recommendations to significantly improve the district as a whole, with 96 projects across 87 different streets and spaces. We’ve also identified nine zones that reflect varying character from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road. The strategy was developed from previous consultation responses, proposed plans and a process of engagement in order to identify and understand concerns and ideas.

    All of the proposals are our ideas as to what could be done to improve the area. Subject to the feedback we receive in the consultation, the council will then carry out the detailed technical work that would be needed to turn those preferred proposals into reality.

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  • Kilburn High Road Liveable Neighbourhood

    Henry Lancashire // 1 thread

    Info from survey:
    "The London Borough of Brent and Sustrans are working together to explore ways in which the Kilburn High Road and surrounding area shown could be improved. Together we want to better meet the needs of the community to make it a more desireable place to walk, cycle and enjoy being in.
    ...
    London Borough of Brent and London Borough of Camden will submit a joint application to Transport for London's Liveable Neighbourhood programme in November 2018, which will incorporate suggestions made by the community."

    Brent Cyclists are forming our own response, to be sent by end of October 2018.

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  • Fact-checking the LCC

    Created by Simon Parker // 1 thread

    The London Cycling Campaign have reported that cycling is up 38% on the Embankment, and 200% on Lower Thames Street! This is money well spent, they reckon.

    Simon Munk has previously written that he is rather keen that no one makes wildly inaccurate claims about any scheme, and I would like to fact-check the LCC's claims here.

    That cycling is up 38% on the Embankment is neither here nor there. People for Bikes has reported that protected bike lanes tend to increase ridership on a street by an average of 75% in the first year alone. As they also noted, about three quarters of these 'new' users were already using a bike for that trip — they had simply adjusted their route to take advantage of the improved facility. So a 38% increase on the Embankment equates to very few genuinely new users, and almost zero from the Interested but Concerned demographic.

    A 200% increase on Lower Thames Street is more remarkable, and remarkable claims need remarkable evidence. Any takers?

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