COUNCIL TEXT
These two junctions are located between Chalk Farm and Camden Underground Stations and
in close proximity to the market at Camden Lock, a Safeway food superstore and a petrol filling station. There is high pedestrian activity around these junctions and they are also heavily used by buses and emergency services.
During the period between 1 June 2002 and 31 May 2005, there were in total 9 recorded accidents. This resulted in slight injury to 1 pedestrian, 3 cyclists and 2 motorcyclists.
The Council is informing you of its proposals for improvements at these junctions which includes the following:
Chalk Farm Road / Camden Goods Yard signal junction
- Dedicated crossing facilities across both Chalk Farm Road and Camden Goods Yard. Pedestrians would be able to push the buttons to activate a ‘green man’ light which will make traffic come to a stop allowing them to cross safely. Drop kerbs and red tactile paving would also be included at the junction to assist those with mobility difficulties and the visually impaired.
- Dedicated crossing facilities across the western arm of Chalk Farm Road, across Ferdinand Street and across Camden Goods Yard, which will allow pedestrians to cross these arms of the junction safely by using push buttons to activate a ‘green man’ light. This would stop traffic and allow pedestrians to cross safely. Drop kerbs and red tactile paving would also be included at the junction to assist those with mobility difficulties and
the visually impaired. - Advisory green coloured cycle lanes and advanced stop lines on all approaches to the junction (green coloured areas at the lights to allow cyclists to get ahead of the stationary traffic and ensure they are seen by drivers).
- Relocating the existing bus stop approximately 10 metres west of its current location along Chalk Farm Road. This would improve sight lines for pedestrians waiting to cross the road and also vehicular traffic travelling eastward.
- Relocating of the bus stop will result in the loss of two pay and display parking bays currently located outside 56 and 57 Chalk Farm Road. However, we propose to relocate these to outside the Texaco petrol station, therefore resulting in no net loss in parking.
CCC’s response
Chalk Farm Road/Ferdinand Street signal junction
We welcome the proposal to introduce ASLs on the three arms of the junction. The feeder lane to the west of the junction as shown on the diagram is too short – it should extend back to the Bus Stop area. The other feeder lanes are also shorter than would be required by the queues that often arise at this junction
The DfT’s TSRGD 2002 include regulations on ASLs state that every ASL must have a feeder which is long enough for cyclists to pass traffic queues without weaving.
Provision is required for cyclists to cross from Ferdinand Street to Camden Goods Yard to enable them to cycle up to Safeways/Morrisons and then on past the store and into Oval Road. This forms a useful route between the area east of Chalk Farm Road and Regents Park. The introduction of the new pedestrian crossing on the western arm of the junction is an opportunity: cyclists could cross safely to Camden Goods Yard while the vehicles stop to allow the pedestrians to cross. But cyclists should not have to wait for a pedestrian to push the button. Therefore a cyclist push button with a forward only light would be needed in Ferdinand Street.
