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Camden Council proposes changes in Woburn Place, Southampton Row and Russell Square.

Summary of proposals

Rusell Square

• reduce road width on north, south and west sides
• raise ped crossing points
• Option 1 - two way traffic on east side (the other sides one way)
• Option 2 - two way traffic on all sides

Comment: for the Route 0 relief route we want two-way cycling in Bernard Street and Guilford Street.

Russell Square details (6.8 Mbytes)

Northern Section - Euston Road to Tavistock Square

• new zebra by Woburn Walk
• junction Tavistock Place add ASLs
• widen southbound bus lane to 4.5 metres by Tavistock Square

Euston Road to Tavistock Square details (5.8 Mbytes)

Southern Section - Southampton Row

• junction Bloomsbury Place add ASLs and ped crossing on north side
• widen footway at junction with Theobalds Road

Southampton Row details (4.5 Mbytes)

Note that the above links to the Council documents are temporary. They can all be accessed via

Permanent location for Bloomsbury Documents

CCC's response

Response to consultation on Bloomsbury Corridor

Northern Section

With reference the heading of Cycling in the consultation document:

• The segregated cycle lane along Tavistock Squre reduces pavement width for pedestrians. CCC is pretty sure that the space was taken from the carriageway. You could check that with Dave Stewart.

• no information is given about the 13 cyclists collisions on Upper Woburn Place - what happened, and what is being proposed to remedy the situation?

The new zebra by Woburn Walk will help cyclists wanting to push along Woburn Walk.

Widening the bus lane is good.

Russell Square

We much prefer the option of making Russell Square two-way on all sides: it should benefit cyclists by slowing down drivers.

It is important to establish two-way cycling on Guilford Street to maximise permeability for cycling. This would form part of the Route 0 Relief route which was studied at the Link 30 CRIM on 14th August. The CRIM compared Bernard Street and Guilford Street for this route and concluded that the latter was more suitable.

Concerning the many proposed raised junction tables: please avoid using rugged grantite setts on the ramps as these are very uncomfortable for riders of small-wheeled cycles.

Russell Square Option 2

The narrowing of the roads on three sides should change the feel of the place. This area is dominated by cyclists and pedestrians, therefore we urge Camden Council to make this part of a 20mph zone including all of the area covered by the Bloomsbury Streets for people consultation.

The drawing shows ASL boxes at all of the junctions on the east side of the square, but omits the details of the lead in lanes. Since there are likely to be queues at these signals, it is essential to consider providing adequate lead-in lanes.

The proposed scheme does nothing to prevent motor vehicles rat-running round the quiet sides of the square. It would be very beneficial to both cyclists and pedestrians if motor vehicle flow on Bedford Way, Montague Street and Bedford Place would be restricted, for example by an entry closure (with cycle access) at the southern end of Bedford Way.

Russell Square Option 1

LCN+ Route 6 runs between Montague Street and Montague Place. The proposal for a southbound contraflow on the west side of Montague Street is absolutely unacceptable. Any lane in that position will be used by north-bound cyclists, forcing south-bound contraflow cyclists directly into the path of on-coming traffic (unless they all collide). There's also the issue of how cyclists could access this lane from Montague Place - they would have to turn right onto the left side of the road; then when they get to the end of the lane, they have to cross back over two lanes of traffic on Montague Street, To put it mildly: "the proposal is ludicrous".

Southern Section

Building out the pavement at the Theobalds Road junction as proposed should make to easier for cyclists to navigate this awkward area.

The drawing shows ASL boxes at all of the junctions, but omits the details of the lead in lanes. Since there are likely to be queues at these signals, it is essential to consider providing adequate lead-in lanes.