This consultation assumes a change of layout to the cycle track over the painted bridge as suggested in the Town Centre improvements for Chalk Farm.
It contains additional proposals at each end of the bridge:
Proposal 1 – Chalk Farm end
involves widening the pavement on the inside of the bend and adding sloped setts to protect the way in and out of the contraflow cycle lane.
Will the one on the Chalk Farm side be an obstruction to cyclists coming off the bridge?
The dropped kerb for pedestrians is just where cyclists will enter the track from the bridge. Is this sensible?
Proposal 2 – Gloucester Avenue end
also widens the footway at three corners of the junction.
Although they are not mentioned, I think I can detect a row of bollards at the edge of the paved area at each end of the bridge. This is an improvement over the current post in the middle of the cycle track at the Chalk Farm end.
No mention is made of changes to the contraflow cycle lane which CCC proposed in response to the previous consultation.
Click here to see the consultation leaflet
Correspondence with Reina Mulrooney
JD: We have just received the consultation on the Regents Park Road Bridge. I have a few queries and a request:
RM: The area in grey was consulted on by Cliff Thompson/Tom Allen and another team has been asked to implement the works so I have passed your query regarding the colour of the bollards on to them so that they can respond to you direct. I can confirm that the cycle signs will be placed on the two lockable bollards either end of the cycle track.
Please responses to your other queries below.
JD: – you don’t mention bollards, but am I correct in thinking that there is a line of bollards at each end of the bridge (shown as dots on the drawing)?
RM: Yes, the bollards have been placed at the back of the footway to protect the bridge.
JD: – please tell me the width of the gap on each side of the central bollard at each end of the cycle track.
RM: The gap is 1.5m. JD: we should ask for about 1.8m to allow for turning in.
JD: – please give me the details as to the colour of the bollards and placement of blue cycle signs (diagram 955) .
RM: You will be advised of the colour of the bollards by Cliff or Tom and the cycle signs will be placed on the lockable bollards either end of the cycle track.
JD:- please tell me the width of the contraflow cycle track inside the two sloped areas at the junction of Bridge Approach.
RM: The width of the contra flow inside the two sloped areas, junction with Bridge Approach, is 1.5m.
JD:
CCC participated in a Mini CRISP on Chalk Farm Town Centre in June 2008 (with Cliff Thomson and Dave Stewart). Recommendations included the following:
Regents Park Road
- contraflow cycle track on downhill (Chalk Farm Road) side: increase width to 1.5
m, retaining as much of the hatched area as possible; - widen the 2.1 m two-way cycle track at bottom of the hill (according to LCDS 2.0 m
is the absolute minimum width). Alternatively leave width as it is, but reserve track
for cyclists coming down Regent’s Park Road; cyclists coming up Regent’s Park
Road from/across Chalk Farm Road to be encouraged to use main carriageway. - cycle track on uphill (Adelaide Road) side: consider marking in green to make
drivers aware when they move out from the parking area (but not in such a way as
to encourage cyclists to ride alongside parked vehicles).
These were copied into our response to the consultation on Chalk Farm Town Centre in August 2006. (also managed by Cliff Thomson)
I realise that the second point is probably beyond the scope of the current consultation, but please would you take into account the first and third points in the current design.
In a telephone conversation Reina Mulooney agreed to remark the downhill contarflow cycle lane at 1.5 m
and to separate the uphill one from the parked cars (with hatching). Drawing CCC/B9 shows 0.5 min gap and 1.5 m lane.
She also explained that the sloped setts are like a speed cushion, sloping gently up from the cycle track.
CCC’s response
We are happy with this design which seems to be largely for improving pedestrian safety, but which modifies the cycle facilities accordingly.
As a result of learning more about the details of the scheme, we have a few requests: the first two have been agreed over the telephone.
Existing Contraflow cycle lane on Regents Park Road
This refers to contraflow cycle lane on the downhill on the Chalk Farm Road side: please increase the width to 1.5 m, retaining as much of the hatched area as possible.
Existing Contraflow cycle lane on Bridge Approach
This refers to the uphill cycle lane on the Adelaide Road side: please separate it from the parked cars. Drawing CCC/B9 in LCDS shows 0.5 min gap and 1.5 m lane.
Gap between bollards on entry to the cycle lanes
We understand that you plan a gap of 1.5m on each side of the central bollard at both ends of the cycle track. Our experience with the new bollards at the junction of Purchese Street and Polygon Road which are separated by 1.5m shows that as a cyclist needs to make a turn before entering the gap, the manoeuvre is difficult, perhaps because the cycle leans over. Please would you consider increasing this to 1.8m.
