7th May 2019
The map shows CS6 which is southbound on Farringdon Road and northbound on Saffron Hill. South of Greville Place, CS6 north and southbound are both on Farringdon Road.
In this post, we will write about the new contraflows in St Cross Street and Saffron Street – shown in green near the middle of the map. Saffron Street is a useful link between the CS6 north and southbound routes, while St Cross Street links Hatton Garden to both alignments of CS6.
The map also shows in green two other streets further north in which two-way cycling was introduced early in April as part of improvements in the Farringdon area. Once the Farringdon works are complete, we will introduce all of these in another post later this month.
St Cross Street
Before these new interventions, this street was one way westbound from Kirby Street to Hatton Garden and one way eastbound from Kirby Street to Saffron Hill. The new scheme is based on the provision of eastbound contraflow cycling between Kirby Street and Covent Garden and westbound contraflow cycling between Saffron Hill and Kirby Street.
Hatton Garden to Kirby Street
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1. St Cross St from Hatton Garden showing the cycle exception to the No entry
2. Looking back up St Cross St double yellow lines and double blips
Photo 1 shows the entry from Hatton Garden with cycle exemptions to the one-way signs. Cycles entering St Cross Street are protected by a short section of mandatory contraflow cycle lane followed by cycle logos all the way to the junction with Kirby Street.
Photo 2 shows that the kerbside is kept clear from parking and loading by means of double yellow lines and double blips.
Junction with Kirby Street
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3. St Cross Street passes Kirby Street
4. St Cross St at Kirby Street looking east towards Saffron Hill
Photo 3 shows a view of St Cross Street where it passes Kirby Street. The cycle logos should make it obvious that cycles are likely to pass in both directions.
Kirby Street is one way northbound and traffic can emerge and turn left or right onto St Cross Street.
Photo 4 shows the view from St Cross Street with Kirby Street on the right.
Kirby Street was made one-way northbound when CS6 was built. But cycles should have been exempted – that’s another one for our list of permeability requests!
Kirby Street to Saffron Hill
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5. Mandatory contraflow in St Cross St east of Kirby Street
6. St Cross Street at Saffron Hill
There is a new mandatory contraflow cycle lane (photo 5). On entry, drivers are warned of the presence of two-way cycling by the blue sign on the right.
On the approach to Saffron Hill, there is a sign indicating that CS6 will take us to Kings Cross Station. Both kerbs are protected from parking and loading,
Photo 6 shows the view of St Cross Street from Saffron Hill in which cycles are excepted from the No Entry restriction.
Saffron Street
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Before these new interventions, Saffron Street was one way eastbound from Saffron Hill to Onslow Street, continuing two way to Farringdon Road.
7. New contraflow in Saffron Street
The new scheme is based on the provision of westbound contraflow cycling between Onslow Street and Saffron Hill. Photo 7 shows the view from Saffron Hill down Saffron Street.
