Camden Council is consulting on changes to Baynes Street which will prevent motor traffic (except buses, emergency and refuse vehicles) from using Baynes Street as a cut-through between St Pancras Way and Royal College Street. They will be able to use Georgiana Street instead.
Baynes Street will be made two-way for all vehicles (including cycles). Motor vehicles can access properties and some parking will be removed to facilitate tuning round.
On St Pancras Way – a proposal to remove the turning pocket. See details.
Drawing here
Consultation on Camden’s website
https://consultations.wearecamden.org/supporting-communities/baynes-street/
CycleScape discussion
https://www.cyclescape.org/threads/5580
CCC’s response
CCC response to Baynes Street consultation Jan 2021
Decision 9 May 2024
To drop most of the original proposals and just improve the junction with RCS.
https://democracy.camden.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=4303&LLL=0
We wrote to AC on 10th May
We have been studying the proposed new scheme for Baynes Street (to replace a scheme that was consulted on in early 2021). At that time our concerns were:
The dangerous conflict between cycles on the southbound track in Royal College Street (RCS) and motor vehicles turning right from Baynes Street into RCS (on their way north). There is a cluster of collisions at this junction during the three years up to the end of July 2023 (see the TfL Road Danger Reduction Dashboard). We understand that Camden’s new proposals are intended to address this issue.
High traffic levels on Baynes Street. Prior to April 2022, cyclists travelling from Agar Grove to join C6 on RCS had a choice between using the heavily-trafficked Baynes Street or making a difficult right turn into Georgiana Street. The implementation of two-way cycling in Randolph Street in April 2022 has altered this situation in that most cyclists will use Randolph Street to join C6 on RCS.
Access to and from the canal towpath. There is a useful ramp down to the canal towpath from the junction of Baynes Streety with RCS but this can be quite difficult to access when motor traffic is queued on Baynes Street. The 2021 scheme did to some extent address this issue. But the amended scheme does not. In particular the very narrow exit from Baynes Street will make the situation much worse.
Our suggestions- We would like to see a blended junction with continuous footway and continuous cycle track at raised level protected by a dutch kerb. Considering this is becoming the norm in new schemes we are surprised it hasn’t been considered here.- It is essential to include:
= an access route to the towpath ramp e.g. as a short contraflow on the north side of Baynes Street with protective island which would have a similar effect of narrowing the road on approach to the junction.
= an exit route from the towpath ramp (many of these people will want to turn right). We note that there is a zebra crossing just south of this junction. Could it be made into a parallel crossing?Georgiana Street
We note the proposals to address some of the issues at the Georgiana Street junction but we think that additional signage is needed here, as well as blue paint. See our email of 2nd February, attached.
Jean and John
The decision report page now includes this drawing:
