Open Street Map Cycle Map Location
Transport for London with the Olympic Delivery Authority propose improvements for walking and cycling at three junctions in the Kings Cross area.
Euston Road /Pancras Road
– Remove the existing pedestrian island on Pancras Road and extend footways
– ASL southbound on Pancras Road
Euston Road / York Way junction
– remove the existing pedestrian island on York Way and extend the pavement on the western side.
– new ASLs for cyclists
– move the yellow box.
Pentonville Road/Kings Cross Bridge/Caledonian Road
– widen pedestrian crossings
– new ASL on Caledonian Road.
CCC’s response
General
• All of these junctions carry a lot of cycle traffic, we therefore appreciate the improvements proposed but think they do not go far enough. Many cyclists ride along Euston Road between the three junctions and their journeys could be made much more pleasant by the presence of an ASL box and an adequately long lead-in lane on each of the approaches to these junctions.
• We would like to see all pedestrian guard rails removed. They are a hazard to cyclists and inappropriate for this type of area.
• Cycle parking: the parking in the centre of Euston Road opposite Argyle Street is useful, but much more parking is required near all of these junctions, particularly in Pancras Road.
Euston Road/ Pancras Road
A popular quiet cycle route between Agar Grove and the city uses Camley Street and crosses Euston Road via this junction. The 20 mph limit in Pancras Road is a help, but there is currently inadequate space for cyclists to pass taxi queues on the approach to Euston Road. Please take this into account in the proposed changes.
• ASL boxes:
– There already is an ASL box on Pancras Road, but it is difficult to access due to the narrowness of Pancras Road; in removing the island and extending the eastern footway, please allow room for an adequate lead-in lane, preferably providing access to cyclists in to the right hand side of the ASL box.
– West of this junction on Euston Road there should be two ASL boxes, one to the east of the bike crossing from Argyle Street and another at the corner of Pancras Road.
– East of the junction on Euston Road there should be ASL boxes for both straight on and right turning cycles. Currently cyclists are unable to get to the front of the right turn lane; we suggest that the island and hatching be reduced to make room for a feeder lane.
• Pedestrian crossing:
– The existing crossing over Euston Road to the west of this junction is more direct than the proposed one. It would be better to make it as direct as possible. The lack of directness seems to encourage northbound pedestrians to use the cycle crossing from Argyle Street, which is not ideal.
– There should be a pedestrian crossing to the east of this junction across Euston Road.
Euston Road and York Way junction
At this junction York Way is only just wide enough for two vehicles, which means that most of the time vehicles go through in single file, slowing the traffic across the junction and leaving gaps for cyclists to fit in. Diagram (2) shows the road slightly wider which means vehicles will go through two at a time, faster, and leave no room for cyclists. There should be a bike lane starting south of this junction in Grays Inn Road and carrying across into York Way. Thus the traffic would be narrowed down to one lane earlier and the extra road space would be used to make cyclists safer.
• ASL boxes:
– An ASL to the west of this junction is shown on diagram (2), split into 2 parts by something but it is not clear what it is. Surely not a traffic island? There should be a longer feeder lane into each section of the ASL.
– Diagram (2) shows the existing ASL boxes on both branches of Grays Inn Road. The westbound branch currently has a bus lane and then a feeder lane: these should not be lost. The northbound ASL box requires a feeder lane: cyclists trying to cross to York Way need to get ahead.
Pentonville Road at the junction King’s Cross Bridge and Caledonian Road
• ASL boxes:
– The proposed new ASL box on Caledonian Road is welcome, but it should have a long feeder lane or else the bus lane should be extended to the junction.
– There should be an ASL box and lead-in Lane on the western side of this junction in Pentonville Road.
• Pedestrian crossings:
– There should be a pedestrian crossing on the eastern side of this junction, across Pentonville Road.
Response from TfL
Letter from Peter Bradley, dated 24th August 2011.
