HV supports safe cycling, and safety for all road users from motor vehicles to pedestrians. When London's streets were designed and built, the early road traffic planners (if there were any after the Great Fire of London in 1666) had no idea about today's road useage.  There's a lot of competition for safe use of our streets.

'Camden Cyclists' have launched a camapign to improve the two-way cycle track at Tavistock Place.  They have made a video in support of the campaign.  HV knows from experience that some cyclists are aggressive in demanding their space and their speed not only on the roads, but also this cycle track. With over-crowding, using the track can be unpleasant and potentially dangerous at times - ironic seeing as it's purpose is safety. However,  it's clear that the current track is too narrow for the current level of use.  But what's the answer?

Here is what Camden Cyclists say...

Ten years ago, Camden provided a section of two-way cycle track on part of a key east-west cycling artery in central London, linking mainline rail stations.  With cycling in central London up 100% since then, this Tavistock Place cycle route has become so heavily used that it now urgently needs redesigning. It is not only overcrowded for cyclists, but also confusing and dangerous for pedestrians and motorists, especially at junctions with side roads, where drivers find it hard to respect the cyclistsʼ right of way.

'Camden Cyclists' has made a video to launch a campaign on upgrading the Tavistock Place Cycle Track. This cycle track is part a key east-west cycle route through Camden between Islington and Westminster. It consists of a two-way segregated cycle track along the entire length of Tavistock Place and Torrington Place, constructed in 2002 in response to Camden Cycling Campaign's proposal in 1998 for a new cross-borough cycle route, named the Seven Stations Link (or SSL, see The History of the Seven Stations Link  for details). The route has become hugely popular but the level of cycle traffic it now carries makes it congested, confusing for pedestrians and dangerous for cyclists, especially at junctions with side roads.

Since the track was built, cycling in London has doubled and the two-way track is now too narrow and heavily overcrowded. At peak times up to 1000 cyclists use this track per hour. The video illustrates the risks to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers when their paths cross. Casualties involving both pedestrians and cyclists occur regularly.  These interactions illustrate the risk for cyclists of colliding with other cyclists,  the difficulties encountered by pedestrians crossing the track and also the 'near misses' between cyclists and motor vehicles at Gordon Square.  The track needs updating to carry the thousands of cyclists who use it and make crossings safer for pedestrians.

You can contact Camden Cyclists via this link:

http://www.camdencyclists.org.uk/contacts