Welbeck Street: parked vehicles don't leave much space for cyclists.
Westminster have finally launched their car parking survey. This is a lengthy survey which closes on 24 December. The software only allows you to complete it once from any computer, so there are no trial runs. You can find it at http://www.smart-survey.co.uk/v.asp?i=27841fyign
Among other things, the survey asks about the preferred use of roadside space and offers a choice (among many others) of ticking ‘cycle parking (including Barclays Cycle Hire)’. As we know Westminster have blocked some cycle hire docking stations and there is also insufficient cycle parking in the city.
In the choice of responses as to what would make you use your car less often, reduced road danger and improved cycle parking are not included as boxes (although this point could be made in the ‘other comments’ box). There is, however, a box for better security for pedestrians.
The barrage of statistics at the start of the survey omits the fact that the majority of Westminster households do not have access to a car or van (56.45% according to the 2001 census).
The works currently taking place in Pall Mall are the first phase of a project to turn the street back to two-way, along with Piccadilly and St James's Street.
This is potentially good news, since the existing one-way system is a significant obstacle to cycling through this part of the West End. But, as the plan below shows, the detailed design is rather cycle-unfriendly - like the Strand. In particular, the car parking bays are likely to bring cyclists into conflict with other vehicles in the remaining four metres of road width.
When we pointed this out to the council's consultants, their response was:
"You are correct in pointing out the that the residual carriageway width is approximately 4m. While your point regarding the overtaking space of 2.5m is noted however it is also worth noting that this is a common occurrence in London and due to the total available space of Pall Mall it was not possible to make the traffic lanes any wider whilst maintaining current parking provision. I would draw your attention to the fact that Pall Mall is not on the London Cycle Network and that there is an advisory cycle route in Jermyn Street that could be used by cyclists to travel from Waterloo Place to St James's Street."
Transport for London took a similar line, saying:
"Meeting the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, buses, motorised vehicles and loading and servicing requirements in the heart of central London where there are considerable capacity constraints inevitably means a balance has to be struck between these competing demands...
"The width of the lanes in the Piccadilly Two Way Working Scheme is likely to encourage traffic speeds that are appropriate for an urban environment with a heavy footfall and a mix of road users, including cyclists."
Westminster has now passed a
traffic order banning vehicles, including cycles, from Lisle Street from noon to
midnight.
As the map shows, Lisle Street is shown on the TfL cycling maps as the only recommended westbound route through the Leicester Square area.
In its response to our objections, Westminster said:
"Cyclists are not prevented from using Lisle Street as part of their cycling route as the road would be open to traffic between midnight and noon. During the pedestrianised hours cyclists would be able to dismount and walk through the pedestrianised zone and rejoin their intended routes in Wardour Street or Shaftesbury Avenue.
"The aim of the scheme is to improve the safety of pedestrians, betterment of the environment and enhance the general amenities of the area. Allowing cyclists through a potentially busy pedestrianised section of road during prescribed times would be unsafe for pedestrians."