Plans change for Millbank?

Transport for London may be changing its plans for a cycle route along Millbank so as to cater both for commuters and for less experienced and leisure cyclists.

Plans nearly 10 years old included:

• widening the footway on the river side to accommodate a two-metre two-way off-road cycle track
• a 1.5m cycle lane on the opposite side for northbound cyclists.

There are now concerns that these facilities could not handle the growing number of cycling commuters. And the off-road cycle track would be awkward for northbound cyclists to use, especially since TfL believe they could not extend it south of Vauxhall Bridge. Another problem is that, after widening the riverside footway, the traffic lane would be only 3.55m wide at its narrowest, which could produce conflict between cyclists remaining in the carriageway and motor vehicles.

So TfL are now considering other options. Thanks to congestion charging, traffic volumes are not so high among Millbank. It might therefore be possible to restrict motor traffic to one lane, releasing space for cyclists and pedestrians.

Plans also include re-arranging Lambeth Bridge, replacing the existing sub-standard cycle lanes with a 1.5m cycle lane in one direction and a bus lane in the other direction.