Take action: big new safe streets plans

There are multiple plans in the pipeline to improve cycling in London that need your support (and one that may give an opportunity to improve cycling elsewhere).

We’ve rounded up 5 consultations that are currently ongoing and closing within the next month. If you live, work or travel through any of these areas, please take a few minutes to respond!

1. Dartmouth Park Area Healthy Neighbourhood – closes Sunday 18 August

Camden and Islington councils are collaborating on a large low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) in the north of both boroughs which is an amazing opportunity that will make the area much safer and greener with less motor traffic in the area and more trees and play areas for children. The area also includes Swain’s Lane where we hold our annual Urban Hill Climb (which you can register for here) and which is massively popular for sport cycling hill climbing practice. The project is still being designed and they have launched a co-design survey. There has been organised opposition to this scheme so it’s really important to show your support in this early phase.

Please fill out the survey and if you’re short on time, focus on question 6 where you can leave general comments on the scheme. You may want to make the following points:

• Say you strongly support the proposals as the changes will make the area much better for walking, wheeling and cycling, particularly for kids on their trips to school.
• Ask to filter the area from motor vehicles properly, particularly along Chetwynd Road that will still have too many cars.
• ‘Boundary’ main roads need love, too, including cycle tracks, bus lanes and better junctions.

2. Cycleway 50 Finsbury Park to Nag’s Head – closes Wednesday 14 August

TfL is consulting on the trial of Cycleway 50 from Finsbury Park to Nag’s Head. They will decide whether to keep the scheme and what improvements to make in the future. While we think this scheme can definitely use some improvements, we support it as it’s made cycling safer here. It works much better when heading south-east. When responding to the consultation please make the following points (but in your own words as much as possible).

• Overall show support for protected cycle tracks in this location, but call for them to be extended on the north end past Finsbury Park, removing parking and relocating the bus stops under the bridge. The scheme should go all the way to Walthamstow basically.
• Having the north-east bound track on the ‘wrong’ side of the road (right-hand side) isn’t working – many people don’t realise it’s there and aren’t using it. A permanent scheme should relocate the track to the usual left-hand side of the road.
• The track also needs a better connection at the south end heading north, to make it easier and more intuitive to enter the cycle track from the scheme on Caledonian Road, but also from Camden Road.

3. Cycleway 9 Brentford to Syon Park walking & cycling improvements – closes Monday 9 September

Transport for London and Hounslow council are proposing to extend Cycleway 9 even further west to Syon Park. We’re very supportive of these changes and even though it’s only an 850m extension, it builds on the success of the rest of C9 and links to the Brentford-Twickenham section of the route providing safe travels to areas in Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham, and almost into central London (looking at you RBKC).

There is also a drop in session on 17 August (more information at the consultation link below) with the opportunity to speak to the TfL team about the upcoming changes. Respond to the consultation today!

4. Camden High Street Pedestrianisation – closes Friday 30 August

Camden Council is also proposing to pedestrianise a portion of Camden High Street from the junction with Parkway and Kentish Town Road to the junction with Jamestown Road and Hawley Crescent, an incredibly busy hub for residents and tourists alike. Motor vehicles will be replaced with planting and seating and improvements will be made to the surrounding area. The plan will also include an arts and cultural programme delivered in collaboration with the local community, cultural organisations and business. Respond today!

5. Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels user charge – closes Tuesday 3 September

Despite our opposition to the Silvertown Tunnel and pushing to have it include active travel options, the project is going ahead, opening in 2025. TfL is consulting on user charges for both Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels. Your response to this consultation matters because we need to promote the importance of safe ways to cross the river by bike across the whole of east London.

There’s a sliver of silver lining in that Silvertown will trial a “cycle shuttle bus” that will be free for at least the first year (although it remains to be seen to how well used this will be versus people cycling over the nearest crossing that does not require waiting for a bus… and what will happen after a year). The DLR will also be free between certain stations crossing the river for at least the first year (and you can take bikes on it). The bad news is that we believe the proposed charge is not high enough to ensure overall motor traffic even stays flat. It’s likely motor traffic will go up overall at this charging level, while it needs to go down to help London cut 27% of motor traffic km driven by 2030 to meet Sadiq Khan’s climate targets.

If you respond to the consultation, please consider making the points below:

• A strategic approach must be taken to river crossings in London. East London in particular is lacking in safe crossings for people cycling. Could we see a walking & cycling only Tower Bridge or Rotherhithe Tunnel?
• The user charge must be high enough to ensure motor vehicle traffic does not increase due to the Silvertown Tunnel.
• The cycle bus must be able to take adapted and cargo cycles and should be extended as free and frequent beyond a year if used.

By taking part in these consultations, you are really helping to build the confidence of politicians to deliver the change we all want to see. But they need to hear it from you. Make a cup of tea, sit down, and tell them that you really want this before the consultations close!