The improved plan for this junction is based on a draft design made by Paul Gasson and takes into account feedback from CCC members.
It appears to that Paul’s design has been followed very closely, apart from two differences:
# There is no No ASL and feeder in Georgiana Street West.
# The angle of the curved lane is different – but looks OK.
# They appear to have cut the kerb back more for the feeder in Royal College Street – an improvement.
COUNCIL TEXT
Royal College Street/ Georgiana Street, cycle junction improvement scheme
As part of the Council’s policy to promote cycling within the borough, the London Borough of Camden are proposing to provide improved facilities for cyclists at the junction of Royal College Street and Georgiana Street. The cycle facilities at this location are on the North/South Strategic Route section of the London Cycle Network+ (LCN+). The LCN+ is a Transport for London (TIL) funded Initiative designed to promote and increase the use of cycling within London.
The Council’s proposals involve re-designing the existing cycle facility and road layout at the junction of Royal College Street and Georgiana Street, with a view to aid cyclists travelling between the eastern arm of Georgiana Street and the Royal College Street twoway segregated cycle lane.
The proposed scheme will involve adjustments to the layout of the off-road cycle lane at this junction, and will include improvements to the footway. A new advanced cycle stop line with filter lane will also be introduced on Royal College Street at the approach to the Traffic Signals. A sketch of the proposals can be found overleaf on Drawing LCN/RCS/JA6104.
If the proposals are successful, the works are planned to be carried out in conjunction with the Royal College Street carriageway strengthening project, programmed to commence at the end of July 2004.
Summary of Proposals
The Council would welcome your views on the measures proposed in your area.
A summary of the measures, as indicated by the plan opposite, include:
. Revised layout of off.road cycle lane and pedestrian footway at Junction of Royal College Street and Georgiana Street
. Advanced Stop Line on northbound Royal College Street approach to the Georgiana Street Junction traffic lights.
. Green surfacing on cycle paths.
. Possible Installation of a bench and cycle stand OR low level planting.
. Tactile paving and white reflective strip kerb at all recommended pedestrian crossing sites.
. General upgrading of area.
CCC’s response
Camden Cycling Campaign (CCC) is very pleased to see the redesign of this junction. We feel that the pre-consultation process worked very well between LBC and CCC, in that Dave Stewart invited Paul Gasson to make a sketch plan for the improved junction layout. The final version of Paul’s plan was reached after discussion with our members via our mailing list and at meetings.
Shortly before this consultation was published, Joanna Alker allowed CCC to comment on her plan for the junction improvements. This was presented to the membership beside a copy of Paul’s original sketch plan. CCC felt that Paul’s design has been followed very closely, apart from three differences:
# There is no ASL and feeder in Georgiana Street West, nor is there a stop line;
# The angle of the curved lane is different – but looks good to us;
# The new design appears to have cut the kerb back more for the feeder in Royal College Street – an improvement.
I have had further discussions with Joanna Alker concerning the ASL in Georgiana Street West. CCC’s view is that an ASL would be an improvement for cyclists that come north up the track in Royal College Street and then turn right into Georgiana Street east, for the following reasons:
# cyclists that approach the junction when the lights are green (which is most of the time) will not be able to use the ASL in Royal College Street to turn right, so will go into Georgiana Street west
# cyclists crossing from Georgiana Street west to east will be on the inside (left) of cars turning left
CCC understands the calculations concerning the efficient working of this set of lights, which can apparently process 3 cars in the 7 seconds allowed, but only 2 cars if an ASL were to be introduced. But it seems to be a bad idea to spoil an otherwise excellent new junction design for the sake of an occasional potential car back up at this junction.
Question: Are you in favour of the proposed new layout of the Royal College Street/Georgianan Street off road cycle lane? Yes.
