Late July update on Camden’s Covid-19 infrastructure initiatives

Pop-Up Cycle Network

Following decisions on 22nd and 25th June, two new pop-up cycle lanes are well under way

Prince of Wales Road eastbound

To match the westbound scheme currently under construction, the cycle lanes will run from the junction with Haverstock Hill to the junction with Grafton Road.

This has involved the removal of 46 parking spaces and by 8th July mandatory lanes had been marked with white lines and a few days later the bollards were added. It was good to see so much space for cycling claimed so quickly (photo 1) but people did wonder why the build-outs hadn’t been cut back (Photo2).

Bollards installed E of Malden Rd 200712 2 — Photo1: PoW bollards installed east of Malden Road

Photo 2: Prince of Wales Road eastbound before build-out cut back

However, we can report 23rd July that work has started on cutting back the build-outs and constructing the bus stops. There isn’t room to build bypasses like the new ones on the westbound track. Instead they will use a design like the ones in Royal College Street south of Pratt Street now called SUBBs (Shared Use Bus Boarders)

York Way Phase 1 from Wharfedale Road to Freight Lane

White line painting started early in July on the Camden side and bollards were added by 23rd July. Work on the Islington side is to follow. The bus stops will be implemented as SUBBs.

Yorkway N Handyside — Photo 3. Yorkway northbound north of Handyside Road

York Way on Canal bridge — Photo 4. York Way northbound on Canal bridge

Chalk Farm Road Pop-Up Cycle Lanes & Ferdinand Street junction improvement

On 14th July, Camden Council published a decision to build pop-up cycle lanes on Chalk Farm Road between the junctions of Castlehaven Road and Prince of Wales Road and to improve the junction at Ferdinand Street.

Work is expected to start in late July.

TfL Pop-Up cycle Lanes

Harrington Square and Oakley Square

Wide tracks with bollards. Left turn at Eversholt Street banned to avert left hooks, but we have heard reports that it is being ignored.

Hampstead Road

Wide tracks both ways. Mainly bollarded. But no improvements at Euston Circus. People intending to travel east on Euston Road are directed via Drummond Street and North Gower Street.

Euston Road

Wide eastbound lanes with bollards between Gower Street and Ossulston Street. A very useful eastbound route – the next parallel route is at Mornington Crescent on the north side and at Tavistock Place on the south.

Westbound plans have been announced but we are concerned about how it will link to other routes..

Low traffic neighbourhoods

New point closures in Red Lion Street, Dane Street and Prowse Place were completed by 3rd July.

Photo 5.Red Lion St point closure looking north across Princeton St

Photo 6. Dane Street point closure looking towards Red Lion Square

The two new filters together with another installed last year in Princeton Street eliminates through motor traffic on Red Lion Street and greatly enhances the north-south cycle and walking route from Kings Cross to Holborn.

The new point closure in Prowse Place was also completed by 3rd July.

This point closure creates a small low traffic neighbourhood between Camden Street and Royal College Street

Seven Dials Low-traffic neighbourhood announced on 10th July

This will include timed closures to motor traffic on the roads around Seven Dials: Monmouth Street (full closure), Neal Street, Earlham Street Mercer Street. Work to be carried out from July to September.

Healthy School Streets

Three new Healthy School Streets announced in Princess Road, Cliff Villas and Minster Road to be implemented in September.

Summary of Covid-19 measures

The map shows the progress of all of the Covid-19 measures.