The York Way cycle route runs about 1.75 km roughly north-south between Camden Road and Wharfedale Road and connects to routes C50 (Camden to Tottenham) and Goodsway, while the Gray’s Inn Road (GIR) cycle route runs about 1.25 km roughly north-south between Harrison Street and High Holborn and connects to C6 (Hampstead Heath to Elephant and Castle) and will connect to the Clerkenwell Boulevard when that is built.
The missing link between them is about 0.7 km long. Joining the two would create a 3.75 km north-south route on or close to the border with Islington.
This missing link is right in the middle of the King’s Cross gyratory with both the York Way section and the Gray’s Inn Road section running one way northbound for motor traffic with the Euston Road coming between them.
A narrow spur (6m wide) connects GIR with York Way while the rest of GIR sweeps round to the left to join Euston Road. This is where Deep Lee was killed on her bicycle in 2011. When TfL gets round to unravelling the gyratory, we would like to have two-way cycling through this section which would preclude its being used by motor traffic.
Report on Site Meeting with Adam Harrison. 9th December 2021
Called by Adam Harrison to discuss linking the York Way and Grays Inn Road cycle routes
Attendees: George Loureda, Richard Bradbury and Sam Margolis Camden Council
David Harrison LLS, John Chamberlain and Jean Dollimore CCC.
The points discussed are numbered on the map on the right
Adam suggested that we should look at a short-term aim to get north- and southbound cycle and pedestrian routes across Euston Road
York Way between Euston Road and Wharfedale Road
The northbound crossing of the Euston Road (11) will arrive at the southern end of York Way.
- The cycle lane would probably be on the left (west) side ?Could be on the right
- Bus stands (but not bus stops) could be relocated to be on the right
- The southbound route on York Way would cross to Caledonian Road via contraflow lanes on Railway Street and Balfe Street or via Caledonia Street.
- Junction with Wharfedale Road to be redesigned to allow for safe northbound cycle route
- and for a southbound cycle route to run contraflow as far as Railway Street or Caledonia Street
- Caledonian Road will need a southbound cycle lane and assistance with crossing over Pentonville Road
- Kings Cross Bridge already has an advisory cycle lane as far as Grays Inn Road (GIR); this would need upgrading.
- Contraflow cycle lane on GIR down to Acton Street
- Redesign Acton Street/GIR junction to allow with-flow and contraflow cycle lanes on GIR
- Extend cycle route on GIR northbound from Harrison Street to St Chad’s Street
- Then either via St Chad’s and Birkenhead Streets or by segregated lane on GIR to the crossing of Euston Road.
