Newsletter May 2025

Fifth instalment: developments in York Way, Haverstock Hill, Crowndale Road, pedestrianisation of Camden High Street and Leather Lane.

Camden Town is undergoing a veritable transformation with an amazing array of new schemes. lanes, links and greenery nearing completion, or ready to use. With more in the pipeline! Read about the progress on major projects under construction from York Way (almost finished) to Haverstock Hill (getting there slowly) from our infrastructure team.

Camden's Albany Street plans include protected cycle lanes.

This otherwise excellent initiative is marred somewhat by the narrowness of the proposed cycle lanes which, at 1.5m width, would make it necessary to use the carriageway or footway to pass slower cyclists. 

There appears to be ample space for a 2m minimum (LTN/120 recommended); footway allocation is to receive twice that amount (3-4m). A few pinch-points add further restriction, so please tale this into account while responding favourably. Feed back other ideas or issues to john@camdencyclists.org.uk.

Join us for a friendly bike ride to explore the changing local area, stay active, build cycling confidence and have fun.

Saturday 7th Jun 2025 : 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Camden Cyclists' 2025 AGM will be in person at

The Pineapple pub in Kentish Town.

Monday 16th June 2025, 7:30 pm

Committee nominations and a year in review presentation from our co-ordinator will be followed by a quiz.

We look forward to seeing you there.

One of the most famous West End streets is getting a cycle-friendly makeover

Camden's plans for a safer and greener Shaftesbury Avenue have been approved––and will see 550 metres of cycle lanes from St Giles High Street to Cambridge Circus to go ahead and 19 car parking spaces replaced with cycle hangars and ‘Rain gardens’.

Phoenix Street and the top of St Giles Passage will be closed to motor vehicles and footways will be widened along with pedestrian crossing upgrades.

The trial of the first phase of Camden High Street's pedestrianisation is now in place.

This car-free space is open to pedestrians and ['relaxed'] cycling as part of Camden's vision for a vibrant, welcoming space for community and visitors.

Have your say today by answering the survey below.

Green School Runs (GSR) is organising a Cargo & Cakes event on the afternoon of Friday 20 June from 4pm to 6pm on Hampstead Heath (near the bandstand). 

Come along for free cake and to see cargo bikes in action! There will be a range of models on display, as every family is different and with different needs for the school run. Everyone is welcome.

Just turn up to experience the joy of riding together and the freedom of taking over the road – just for a moment (and dare to dream..!).

Meet at 14 Pond Square, N6
22 June from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm

No registration necessary

• A few stats from @BobFromAccounts to start off:  “Contrary to popular belief, London has fewer than 200km of separated cycle lanes on 15,000 kms of road. That's 1.3%. Contrary to popular belief, it's not cyclists or cycle lanes holding you up; it's other drivers.

• Cycling infrastructure has been quietly introduced in the US, despite the current administration’s myopic view of cycling for transport. Chicago built 31 miles of protected bike lanes & greenways in 2024, while Detroit, is creating a 28-mile greenway, to connect 23 neighbourhoods, three nearby cities, and integrating marginalised communities.

• The @nytimes finds that the recent New York CCZ is already doing a fabulous job––in every respect.

• Transportation Alternatives, who fought for the CCZ, published their Bicycle Blueprint 30 years ago; the update aims for a million daily bike trips by 2030, The New Bicycle Blueprint: A Plan to Make New York a World-Class Bicycling City. To learn more sign up for Thursday's webinar – May 29, 6:30 pm (US).

• Nearer to home, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s aim for a “second Amsterdam” is gaining recognition as Paris overtakes the pioneering Dutch capital of urban mobility to come top in the Clean Cities grading of 36 European cities for child-friendly cycling infrastructure.

Paris has built 112 miles (180km) of cycling lanes and in 2021, installed a 30km/h speed limit.
London leads in school streets (scoring 42%), having built more than 500 school streets in under 10 years.

• Anne Hidalgo will be joined in Paris this summer, by Canadian Urbanist @BrentToderian, to co-curate an exhibition, on bold urban transformation worldwide. Look out for details!

• Amsterdam––notable for longstanding & ongoing progress, celebrates its 750 year anniversary, opening 15 kms of ring road for citizens writes @fietsprofessor.
With cultural events offered, greening initiatives & social events. (Demand for the 280.000 free tickets led to digital gridlock!)

• In Germany, @domwhiting drew 4,000-5,000 people for Drum & Bass On The Bike Berlin, his biggest ride to date.

• Back at home, Greater Manchester's Active Travel Commissioner, Dame Sarah Storey has announced a target for 60 School Streets by next year, as Bradford city centre takes strides to welcome pedestrians & people riding bicycles. “Incredible! Changing perceptions of place, driving investment, fostering civic pride and creating attractive, accessible spaces” @jordanbhx.

• Further north, Edinburgh is achieving higher levels of cycle commuting than Cambridge, at 10%. “Is this the new Copenhagen?” asks the Times. (Paywall issues? Never mind; the article also more typically sides with the motorist abusers that drove Jeremy Vine to end his superb cycling-video-reports)…

• …which reminds us, isn't it about time for a through-traffic-free Central London? As Phineas Harper writes, “banning cars in city centres has worked around the world. Why isn’t London’s Oxford Street pedestrianised yet?”. (CCC support the changes, providing that alternatives for cycling are created).

Camden Cyclists is the local group of the London Cycling Campaign. Our members enable the work we do and receive a whole host of great benefits.

Join as a member today and choose from free lights, lock or a pump!*

Already a member? Refer a friend and you'll both receive gifts.

*Offer applies to Individual and Household membership purchased via Direct Debit.