A201 Blackfriars Bridge Cycling Feasibility Studies
LCC was sent the above copy of the northbound Blackfriars Bridge proposal
with a deadline for comments by the end of December. It was discussed at the CPEC meeting on December 7th which James Brander attended on behalf of CCC.
James reports
The above drawing of the proposal shows basically a bike lane on the northbound pavement, with a bus lane occupying the central of three northbound lanes and the left turn lane hard against the pavement: cyclists would leave the cycle lane by crossing the left turn lane at new left turn lane signals, and feed via a cycle gap in the existing traffic island onto the existing advanced stop line holding area at the existing straight ahead signals.
There is a small change to the existing traffic island. No improved cycle facilities are intended for southbound traffic, nor is there any change to the right turn into Upper Ground. Everyone present was opposed to this scheme, for various reasons. LCC’s initial response is to be to request further information, but they are likely to reject it on rather fundamentalist grounds, which won’t be useful. I therefore suggest that, quietly, we set about our own, perhaps more rational, response.
For what it’s worth, my view is that the proposal represents some improvement over the existing, but that it does not provide the cycling capacity required (in excess probably of 500 per hour during the rush hour); depends unrealistically on the proper functioning of the existing ASL; and will be dangerous when cyclists are frustrated by the likely long delay on the new signal on the left turn lane, where traffic will be moving fast, and either jump the lights or stay in the middle of the road in the bus lane.
CCC’s response
James eventually said that he would not reply on behalf of CCC. But we had some interesting discussions on the subject.
