Potential Improvements to Regent’s Park Outer Circle Cycling Infrastructure

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A rapidly-prepared note by George Coulouris and Jean Dollimore, Camden Cycling Campaign. 19 March 2013.

This summarises and updates the results of work done on traffic reduction in the Park between 10 and 5 years ago . There has not yet been an opportunity to consider how it might be modified in the light of more recent experience on modal filtering and other developments in London.

1.
Current use by cyclists

Training

      • Outer Circle is the only roadway
        in Inner London suitable for cyclists to carry out regular fast
        cycle training and exercise riding. It is heavily used for that
        purpose and some training cyclists regularly achieve speeds in
        excess of 25 mph.

Commuting and utility cycling

      • As a North-South link between Gloucester Gate and Park
        Crescent (heavy use)
      • As a North-South link between Avenue Road or Hanover Gate and
        York Gate (LCN route to Piccadilly, moderately heavy use)
      • East-West link between Gloucester Gate and Hanover Gate
        (light use)

Leisure

    • Access to the park
    • Light exercise

2.
Potential measures

a) 20 MPH limit (enforced) throughout

  • Gains in real and perceived
    safety, especially near pinch points. But note that training
    cyclists will often exceed 20 mph.

b) Filter the section in front of the Zoo entrance to allow
only Zoo access and emergency access, with wide cycle bypasses to the
filters

  • Major improvement in the urban
    environment, safety and freedom of movement for children and others
    visiting the Zoo.
  • discussed with Zoo and local
    authorities in 2008. Zoo were broadly in favour:
  • Reduction in traffic on other parts of the Outer Circle would
    benefit cyclists, especially if 20 mph implemented.

c) Ban all through motor traffic
in the Outer Circle

  • Implemented by three closures stopping motor traffic: 1.just West of the junction with Macclesfield Bridge 2.just South of the junction with Clarence Gate 3.just South of the junction with Gloucester Gate.For details on the benefits, see
    this 2003 document signed
    by Transport
    2000 London Group, Camden Cycling Campaign, Westminster Cycling
    Campaign, Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea Friends of the
    Earth.
  • Entire park reverts to a quiet environment more attractive to
    tourists and visitors. Brings business to visitor-oriented sites in the Park.
  • Training cyclists gain an almost car-free circuit
  • CS11 could be re-routed onto the western segment of Outer Circle via
    Avenue Road
  • Received support from local resident groups and institutions.
  • Displaced traffic will be diverted to Albany Street and Park Road

d) Partial bans on through motor traffic in the eastern or western segment of Outer Circle

  • Benefits and disbenefits are as described above but only for the relevant portion of the Outer Circle

3. Other considerations

  • Cycle access
    desirable to Outer Circle from Prince Albert Road via St Mark’s
    Bridge and via the bridge at western end of the Zoo. This
    would also provide two good cycle connections between the canal
    towpath and the Outer Circle.
  • Two-way
    cycle access desirable between Albany Street and Outer Circle via Chester Gate.
  • Cycle access
    desirable to Outer Circle from top end of Baker Street (currently
    one way southbound)
  • Pinch
    points at the pedestrian refuges installed by Royal Parks in 2007
    should be further modified to reduce perceived danger. E.g. by
    reducing the width of the refuges.

GC & JD
19 March 2013

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