Camden Council proposes to introduce a 20 mph zone in between Euston road and the cycle track in Tavistock Square and Gordon Square.
the proposed traffic calming measures include:
- two new raised junctions in Endsleigh Place
- seven speed tables with uncontrolled pedestrian crossings
- two areas to be be designed later; one of these is the junction of Gordon Street/Endsleigh Gardens which is supposed to be improved under Link 27.
Click here to see the consultation leaflet
CCC’s response
Initial thoughts:
The worst junction in the area – Gordon Street/Endsleigh Gardens (just to
the south of Euston Road) – is not being considered in this scheme; it is to
be treated separately as part of the LCN+ Link 27 improvements.
In principle we approve of such 20mph zones (though perhaps wish motorists
could be slowed down in a way which was less bumpy for us!). Most cycling
in the area tends to be up and down Gordon Square/Gordon Street – there is
virtually no east-west permeability. (I sometimes go eastward to get to the
British Library from Torrington Place, but have to push along Woburn Walk.)
Something we could ask for if people felt it would be worthwhile is to allow
contraflow cycling along the very eastern bit of Endsleigh Gardens
(currently one-way westbound from Upper Woburn Walk to Endsleigh Street).
Similarly Gower Place, currently one-way westbound from Gordon Street to
Gower Street (but is does get very narrow).
Meade McCloughan 15th August
CONSULTATION RESPONSE
We like the proposals, but feel that more needs to be done. In general, a bolder approach could have been adopted, closing road entrances altogether, as for example has already been done at the top end of Malet Street.
With efforts being made to slow traffic down, we would ask that cyclists be exempted from the two one-way stretches in the area (Gower Place and the eastern most section of Endsleigh Gardens). This could be done by putting in contraflow cycle lanes or just by making these sections no entry to cars with exception for bicycles. This is important as the area needs to be made more permeable for cyclists wanting to travel along the east-west axis, (the UCL complex is currently quite an obstacle in this respect). We see that Gower Place is due to be considered separately in due course and would ask that our proposals be taken on board when this happens.
We note that the Gordon Street/Endleigh Gardens junction is due to be redesigned later. This is currently a very awkward junction for cyclists. Southbound cyclists have to avoid being swept round to the left by motorists as a result of the much greater width of Gordon Street north of the junction. Cyclists going in either direction frequently encounter traffic turning right out of Endsleigh Gardens towards Euston Road blocking the junction. This can be very dangerous.
Meade McCloughan 3rd September 2007
