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CITY CYCLIST
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Spring 2003 Edition 1

DUKE'S PLACE VICTORY

City Cyclists' legal objection to the removal of the cycle lane for an enlarged bus stop combined with over 20 e-mails from LCC members in City and neighbouring groups has forced a climb-down. The cycle track will now be extended (but not in a segregated gutter), buses will get greater priority and the bus stop will become easier to use for all, especially those with reduced mobility.

The only losers will be general motor traffic who will have to wait behind buses as they use the bus stop. Thanks to all those who e-mailed the Corporation for their support! We have congratulated the Corporation for agreeing to our proposal and suggested that the City could gain more world class facilities in the future from us participating in proposals rather than being consulted on a _fait accompli_.

We have also saved the cycle gap between Watling Street and St Paul's from being closed following another objection and are getting a contra-flow on Lombard Street (west) - including a pedestrian table crossing at the western end - as well as existing plans for the eastern half of that street.

PARAMEDIC CYCLE RESPONSE UNIT IN THE CITY

The London Ambulance Service (LAS) has made arrangements to extend its extremely successful Cycle Response Unit (CRU) from the West End into the City. City of London Police have agreed to let the CRU use the facilities their cycling police use. However due to some internal problems in the LAS we are still unsure when they will start operating in the City. City Cyclists has withdrawn its objection to emergency service vehicles using bus lanes, made before the City Police cycle unit was set up, as a result of these encouraging moves to Human Powered Vehicles by the emergency services.

LONDON WALL CYCLE CROSSING CANCELLED

City CYclists are proposing to threaten the Corporation with a trip to the High Court if they approve a report on making London Wall two-way in committee on Monday. This may sound over the top but three of the main City cycle routes are at stake. The crossing was supposed to happen in 2002 but due to a Corporation screw-up had to be cancelled and we were told to wait until London Wall was made two-way, which we support in principle, before it could go ahead. Then we were told in our last meeting the cycle crossing had been cancelled as it was not possible for engineering reasons, something to do with the underground car park. We asked for reasons and plans and were promised them but they never materialised.

It now turns out that the Corporation has decided to cancel the cycle crossing simply because it is not thought "appropriate", as the longer Wood Street route needs no additional engineering measures and is already two-way, though Coleman Street is easily wide enough for two-way traffic. In the so-called consultations section of the report going to committee, there is no mention whatsoever of our objections or indeed of the proposed LCN+ routes. Indeed the LCN+ steering group were only told last week about the proposed re-routing but not that it was going to committee next Monday.

The proposals would:

• Rule out the proposed cycle crossing of London Wall, causing a 50m longer backstreet route for the Stations Circular and barring two proposed LCN+ routes from going through the City
• Remove the eastbound cycle lane on London Wall between Fore Street Avenue and Moorgate
• Include Advanced Stop Lines with stunted feeder lanes that do not comply with the minimum legal standards. These are worse than useless, they are dangerous as they encourage cyclists into blind spots of left turning vehicles - 3 of the last 4 cycle fatalities in the City have happened in this way.
• Open Moorgate (south of London Wall) to all motor traffic contrary to road traffic reduction targets. Currently only buses, taxis and solo motorcycles allowed on this cycle route which is in dire need of improvements.
• No new cycle facilities on Moorgate despite the fact it's an official cycle route
• No new cycle lanes on London Wall (east of Moorgate) as it's not an official cycle route even though lots of cycles use it

CYCLISTS TOLD TO DISMOUNT ON BUSY LCN ROUTE

A Bailey bridge over some road works on Newgate appeared last weekend and a sign tells cyclists that they must dismount and walk round on the pavement, even though it's a lengthy detour round the building works on the south side. Despite being a London Cycle Network route, these signs were installed without consultation and will stay there for over quarter of a year.

The Corporation has justified them by raising concerns about cyclists being squeezed pointed to an collision on a similar Bailey Bridge at Bank nine years ago. However they admit they do not expect cyclists to obey the signs and that they are simply there to cover themselves in case of a crash.

City Cyclists have issued a formal complaint pointing out that official DfT guidance states "Where access is permitted for motor vehicles, 'Cyclist Dismount' signs should not be used. The hazards to cyclists at roadworks are rarely great enough to justify this measure." and proposing a combination of warning signs, cycle symbols in the middle of the road and a temporary 20mph speed limit.

STOP PRESS! Signs now removed following our complaint!

NE RING OF STEEL CONTROL POINTS MOVING

The vehicle checkpoints in the north east side of the City are to be moved following a slight extension of the ring of steel following completion of road closures, e.g. corner of Finsbury Square. The one on Eldon Street will move west to South Place, where the existing segregated (and for the last two years blocked) cycle lane has been removed unlawfully due to a failure to revoke the Traffic Regulation Orders. The one on Bishopsgate will move north to the bottom of Shoreditch High Street, though there is no agreement about exactly where.

We will be campaigning for high quality, i.e. of sufficient width and with shallow curves, cycle bypasses of both.

20MPH CITY ZONE DEVELOPMENTS

We are just about to submit our proposal for a speedy implementation of a 20mph zone for all of the City. It seems the Corporation and TfL are moving in this direction. A report in the Sunday Times, which has been confirmed, states that TfL plan a 20mph limit on Bishopsgate starting 2004/5, which would include shallow tables at junctions and pedestrian crossings to slow down traffic without giving bus users a bumpy ride.

HATTON GARDEN CLEAR ZONE

A clear zone means a closure to motor vehicles except public transport and low/zero emission vehicles. General traffic will still be allowed to use some main roads such as Holborn. We have ambitious plans for the zone, including cycle permeability and street scene improvements, not to mention turning the horrible roundabout at Holborn Circus into a simple crossroads. Consultation will take place this year, followed by works from 2004 to 2006/7.

GOODBYE FLEET STREET CYCLE LANES?

As part of the London Bus + Initiative there are proposals to upgrade bus facilities on Fleet Street. While we support making the existing eastbound bus lane 7am-7pm and increased waiting & loading restrictions, we strongly oppose removing the existing westbound cycle lane and squeezing in a bus lane. Four lanes of motor traffic will make Fleet Street even more unpleasant and will totally preclude existing plans for wide cycle lanes/tracks (it's a proposed LCN+ route) and widening the busy pavements. The bus lane would make little difference to bus journey times as over 80% of the traffic is buses, cycles and taxis, who could use the lane, and it would stop before Fetter Lane junction, the only place where buses have to queue.

We are proposing making Ludgate Hill & St Paul's Churchyard bus & cycle only as was planned but narrowly defeated by vested interests in 1994. This would permit high quality cycle facilities on this LCN+ route and major street scene improvements changing the narrow pavements with guardrails into a paved plaza like the new bus & cycle only Adenauer Platz by the Brandenburg gate in Berlin. We would like this to be tried from 7am to 7pm on Monday 22 September's Car Free day, as part of the "Planning for real" initiative, including a total ban on motor traffic from 11am-3pm there to permit stalls etc. Queen Victoria St would be the diversionary route.

GOODBYE BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE/FARRINGDON ROAD CYCLE LANES TOO?

TfL are implementing bus lanes on Blackfriars Bridge up to Farringdon Road. We are very concerned about the removal of cycle lanes and the proposal for a cycle lane in a bus lane in the middle of Blackfriars Bridge where a cyclist was killed in February. More info to follow.

CITY CYCLE ACTION PLAN PROGRESS

The Action Plan has been delayed but for a good reason. We, and possibly others, will receive a draft copy to comment on by the start of next month. The final draft version should then be released in June for full public consultation. The results should be ready for September and go to committee in October.

VERY IMPORTANT MEETING

There was supposed to be a meeting on 9 April but I said 6 April in the minutes by mistake. I've been too busy to organise anything and only one person has asked. Sorry about this. Am trying to find a room in the Temple, if not we could have a bring your own lunch picnic meeting by the Thames in the Temple Gardens (retiring to a nearby room in case of rain) on a Wednesday in later April/early May. It will be timed to have enough time to circulate and consider the draft plan on this list.