This post is the fourth in a regular series of updates about Camden’s progress with building cycle infrastructure.
Click on any image to see an enlargement
Progress on major projects under construction
Procter Street – High Holborn completed
When we last reported (in May), the long island for the bus stops, the continuous footway junctions at Red Lion Square and the cycle lanes were in place but did not yet have the finishing surface. In addition, the signals had not yet been turned on.
All that changed at the end of July when the cycle lane had been surfaced and the signals at the junction of High Holborn became operational. Camden Council has confirmed that the signal timings have now been adjusted. The only outstanding work is the lengthening of the ASL where High Holborn meets Kingsway.
The signalling scheme at this junction aims to make it safer for cycling: two cyclists were killed on High Holborn, in 2013 and 2022 and there have been many other collisions.
The scheme involves a segregated cycle lane on the east side of Drake and Procter Streets and a cycle gate at the High Holborn Junction. A cycle gate uses a reservoir and signals to separate cycles and motor vehicles through the junction. The photo shows signal Stage C when cycles arriving via the lane in the foreground must wait while motor vehicles pass through the reservoir.
In the stages before Stage C motor vehicles wait at the stop line at the back of the reservoir while cycles go ahead from their lane and wait at one of the stop lines at the front of the reservoir as shown in the diagram for Stage A. Meanwhile, the westbound motor vehicles on High Holborn proceed through a green signal.
So when do cycles get to go through the junction? At the end of Stage A (and before Stage C) there is a short (e.g. 5 secs) Stage B in which the cycles at all three stop lines are given a green signal and get well on their way towards their destinations before Stage C starts. On Procter Street, the motor vehicles start 18m (reservoir depth) behind the cycles.
There is another stage in the signals to allow pedestrians to cross over each of the roads at this junction.
Other features of this scheme
Tavistock Place
Since our report in May, almost all of the work has been completed at the remaining junctions: Marchmont Street and Judd Street.
At Marchmont Street, cycles travelling from the west and the east are provided with a dedicated stage in the signals enabling them to turn left, go straight ahead, or turn right without coming into conflict with motor vehicles.
The signals on Marchmont Street at this junction have not yet been upgraded (we are expecting low-level signals so that we can see them when at the front of the ASL).
Between Marchmont Street and Judd Street some sections of the cycle track are without protective kerbs. At Judd Street, a cycle gate protects cyclists from left-turning motors.
As soon as the remaining details are completed we will report on the entire scheme from Tottenham Court Road to Judd Street.
Other Major Projects
Chalk Farm Road
In the southern section, between the Ferdinand Street junction and the Stables, the stepped tracks on both sides of the road, two bus stop bypasses and continuous footway junctions with Dutch kerbs at Harmood Street and Hartland Road are complete.
In the northern section between the Ferdinand Street junction and Crogsland Road, a bus stop bypass outside the Round House and stepped tracks on both sides of the road have been built but cannot be used as they await resurfacing.
Work has also started on the big junction at Regents Park Road/ Adelaide Road/ Crogsland Road.
York Way
Camden is replacing the wand-separated cycle lanes with stepped tracks. The last time I reported here they had completed the work from the south at Wharfedale Road up to Copenhagen Street (see A on map below). All summer, work seemed to be underway between Canal Reach and Agar Grove (sections C and D); and at last a beautiful smooth surface has been applied throughout both these sections – see the photos below. The short section (B) was completed by June.
Two new continuous footway junctions with Dutch kerbs have been added at the access roads to the Maiden Lane estate.
Finishing touches and smaller projects
A School Street and more – Maria Fidelis School
School Street: Maria Fidelis is a Catholic comprehensive school on Drummond Crescent, Somers Town. From April 2024, motor traffic was excluded from the one-way Doric Way – Drummond Crescent loop during term time from 8am – 9am and 2.45pm – 4pm.
Permeability: More recently two-way cycling was introduced around this loop allowing anyone cycling to Maria Fidelis school to return by the same route as they came.
The first two photos of this scheme show the junctions with Eversholt Street: at Drummond Crescent, the Entry Treatment consists of a short painted cycle lane but at Doric Way there is no Exit Treatment. We would prefer to see more substantial entry and exit treatments. See for example Falkland Road.
Brunswick Square
In 2019, the former roundabout was removed to return Brunswick Square to a Square. The entry to the road on the south side was closed and replaced by a cycle track. The extensive planting had now matured and the autumnal colours look very attractive.
