Long Acre Contraflow Unveiled

The long-awaited cycle contraflow lane has now appeared in Covent Garden's Long Acre.

The lane, running from Bow Street to Drury Lane, allows eastbound cyclists to ride against the one-way westbound traffic flow. This facility opens up a new route from the Charing Cross Road to Lincoln's Inn Fields.

The contraflow lane is part of an environmental improvement scheme in Long Acre, which also involved moving car-parking bays to the south side of the street (to the right in the photos). Work is now in progress to replace the mini roundabout at the junction with Bow Street and Endell Street with a pair of T-junctions as part of the same project.

You should note that 'no entry' signs are still in place at the entrance to the contraflow lane. This may mean that it is illegal to ride along it!

Concern has been expressed that the contraflow lane is little more than one metre wide. We understand that the original design was for a 1.5m lane. We are seeking to find out how the width was reduced.

Cyclists would dearly like to have a westbound contraflow lane along the western end of Long Acre. This is more difficult, however, because of the need to modify the traffic signals at the junction with St Martin's Lane. Signals had conveniently been removed from the junction with Drury Lane, making the introduction of the cycle contraflow rather easier.

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.

Improvements planned for Victoria Embankment

In November 2008, Boris Johnson said in Way to Go: "It is an utter disgrace that there is no decent cycle lane on the Victoria Embankment." We have now seen Transport for London's plans for Victoria Embankment, though only eastbound cyclists are going to see much benefit.

The main feature of the plans is a two-metre cycle lane for downstream (eastbound) cyclists for much of the road's length. Measures will also be taken to reduce the risk of left-turning vehicles' cutting cyclists up.

Sorry, it won't be like this just yet!

Not much is planned for upstream (westbound) cyclists, apart from cycle lanes along the first section from Temple Avenue. 

More Dr Bike sessions than ever before

There were an unprecedented number of Dr Bike sessions in Westminster this summer. The councils of Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster and Camden worked alongside the Royal Parks, British Waterways, the Metropolitan Police, the CTC and the LCC groups in the three boroughs to provide these sessions. About 500 people had their bikes checked and were given cycling information.

Dr Bike Venues included Hyde Park Corner (above) and Kensington Gardens (below).

Admiralty Arch Cycle Lane

The Royal Parks have now painted cycle lanes through Admiralty Arch in each direction.

The lanes are the first of a number of improvements being made to the cycle route between Hyde Park Corner and Trafalgar Square. Future improvements planned for later in 2008 include:

• A signal phase for cyclists crossing Marlborough Road
• Re-arranging the areas near Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park Corner to reduce conflict between cyclists and pedestrians.

The effect of the lanes on traffic through the arch has not been quite what was expected. Engineers originally expected motor traffic to pass through the arch in single file and were concerned that traffic queues could lengthen as a result. In practice, motor traffic is still passing through in two lines. Most vehicles are leaving the cycle lane fairly free, apart from wider vehicles such as 4WDs. The Royal Parks intend to keep the lanes under review and make further changes as necessary.