City Cyclists have consulted LCC's local groups by email on our initial
suggestions of improvements for the A10 included below, reaching about 800
cyclists. The results were very supportive and I have included extracts
below to give an idea of the feedback.
General suggestions for A10
* 20mph zone - already proposed by TfL for part of Bishopsgate
* all bus lanes to be at any time bus & cycle only - as already on
Bishopsgate northbound
* ASLs (but only where space for lead-in lanes) wherever possible
* Repositioning of bus stops so they obstruct cyclists less
* South of Bishopsgate, the road width varies considerably which leads
to cyclists being squeezed: need to rationalise width and introduce
cycle lanes to help with congestion but only where they can be
reasonably continuous and of reasonable width as cycle flows are so high
* Removal of banned turns for cycles and increase in permeability (e.g.
use of Fish St by Monument southbound to bypass the big junction) on
parallel quiet streets
* Removal of island separated left-turn slip roads, e.g. leading to
Wormwood St and Leadenhall.
* Rationalisation/removal/restricting of loading bays
* Removal of guardrails (especially London Bridge) and make street scene
less motor orientated to take account of huge non-motorised flows here
* Massive increase in cycle parking, especially on Bishopsgate
* London Bridge needs two feeder cycle lanes at the south end (left and
straight on), any non-feeder cycle lanes would need to be 2m due to high
flows and cross-winds
* The junctions either end of London Bridge are key problems and will be
difficult to do much to given capacity constraints and predicted
increases in motor traffic following the dilution of the congestion
charge in 2007.
* Push for daytime closure to private motor traffic and taxis of
Bishopsgate in medium term as previously proposed as part of CBP Liverpool
St interchange study: could lead to replacing some junctions with raised
mini-roundabouts, as opposed to traffic signals that many non-motorised
road users are going to ignore
* No loading bays etc operating during 7am-7pm weekdays and tweaking of bus
stop positioning so that they are less in the way of cyclists.
Interestingly the pre-CRIM report includes a number of complaints from
cyclists and others about Norton Folgate and its raised cycle path which is
currently being dug up again. It is not actually on the LCN+ even though
most cyclists going along the A10 will continue along it . As I have a
current and ex-housemate who have had similar crashes there I think there
must be a hell of a lot of people who've suffered injury to themselves or
their bikes there, particularly in the dark, but who have not reported
collisions. Indeed statistics suggest that under 20% of minor cycle crashes
are reported.
City Cyclists had a heated exchange with TfL about this "facility" and I do
hope that TfL will both be willing to revisit it as part of this CRISP in the
light of the above and indeed be less dismissive of cycling groups' concerns
about any proposals in the context of the current CRISP.
Feedback
1
"In 20 years of riding round town, the route south along Shoredtich High
St-Norton Folgate - Bishopsgate-Gracechurch St, was one I considered so
hassle-free I never thought abut it. But now it's very very unpleasant,
traffic speeds are much higher, there's a much denser mix of taxis/delivery
vehicles and buses (due to congeston charging) I wince when I think I have to
do it.
I ride north/south over London Bridge along this route several times a week.
The worst thing about the 'tinkering' is that ludicrous 'putting green' of a
stretch of cycle route - it's simply farcical -- and the continual
alterations in road width. The latter mean as a cyclist I am no longer able
to 'go straight ahead'. I am always having to renegotiate my space on the
carriageway and try to remember and anticipate to try to get into the
correct trajectory before each alteration in width - with it's attendant
massive stress and fear and hooting from motor traffic that does not
appreciate why I am holding the lane."
The two most dangerous points I find are going south where the road
narrows to a pinch point near Leadenhall Market (made worse at the
moment by a very bumpy road surface) and then the approach to the
traffic lights at the south end of Gracechurch Street where cars and
vans are jostling to change lanes without much thought for cyclists.
2
"The junction of Gracechurch Street and King William Street is bad for
bikes, pedestrians and buses and needs a complete re-design to give the
vulnerable users some protection from or priority over car and van
traffic.
Road surfaces in the City used to be well maintained with even potholes
being repaired quickly and efficiently. But in the past few years they
have been allowed to deteriorate with bad quality repairs and holes
left for long periods. Cyclists need a smooth road surface more than
motor vehicles.
It would also be good to try to develop some north-south routes for
cycles in the area to the east of Gracechurch Street and Bishopsgate.
There are quite a few cycle facilities but more are needed to make them
really useful as through cycle routes. Cyclists can only go north-south
at the moment by bending the rules a little too much."
3
"I cycle this route everyday and the most difficult bit is south of Liverpool
street station where it starts narrowing.
Now whilst there is little that can be done about the actual size of the road,
but I would suggest that they remove the stopping and unloading bays because
they do block up the traffic and they are generally in the space where
cyclists are.
One particular very dangerous area is immediately south of the wormwood
junction where there is first a bus stop which already makes life
complicated, then there is a stopping bay then immediately after that there
is an exit which though not an official road is still a place where vans come
in and out. So that stopping bay needs to be removed from there.
Later on down the road next to the Arcade and Wallis there are also plenty of
unloading bays just where the road narrows once more - so something needs to
be done about this as well.
Then further along to Christchurch street area the most obviously dangerous
bit is the entry to the Bridge - I welcome suggestion of a sort of safer
bypass for people who are novices but I always take the main route and this
should be made safe.
I would suggest that we have cycling priority lights over there because the
driving is appalling despite severe assertive cycling.
I also constantly get cut up by cars going left into east cheap with many
people not able to handle lane changes and indicate!
The other danger then comes via the railings on the bridge and the condition
of the road immediately the hill ends which means that with a small wheeled
bike like mine I invariably have to swerve to avoid the massive potholes thus
endangering myself
Speed restrictions and maybe cameras should also be installed."
4
"I am new to cycling and new to the LCC/Southwark cyclists, but am extremely
appreciative of all the work being done by the various cycling groups.
Bishopsgate would be my direct route to work (I live near Waterloo Station
and work near Bethnal Green tube) but I am much too terrified to even
attempt that route, for all the reasons already mentioned. "
5
"The City of London is the quintessential pedestrian urban space, where the
vast majority, many thousands of alpha males in suits, walk every day. It
should not have a six-lane motorway called London Bridge crashing into it.
Likewise, Borough High Street, potentially one of the grandest historical
streets in the capital, is blighted by the same traffic. Stealing a couple
of lanes on the bridge from the motor taffic for the exclusive use of
non-motor traffic would be a major benefit all round.
Meanwhile, I strongly support removal of all those dangerous railings, as well
as the other excellent suggestions in your list."
6
"The problems I find are:
1. Parking on the southbound carriageway between Middlesex Street and
Devonshire Street, including Tesco lorries.
2. High levels of illegal turns by vehicles at the junction with Camomile
Street, although the CoL Police do stop drivers, its almost always the
illegal turn left into Bishopsgate northbound and rarely for the illegal
left turn southbound.
3. Pedestrians streaming in and out of Liverpool Street station.
4. Parking on Gracechurch Street.
5. High bus levels, including 149 bendy-bus.
All in all, a nasty piece of road for cyclists. In fact, the City is grim -
junctions close together, changes in width, taxis and pedestrians doing
their own thing."