But any sort of shared use in Byng Place would require cyclists to ride on 2 sides of the road and it would be impractical for cyclists to change sides on entering and leaving Byng Place. A change in Byng Place implies a change all along the Byng-Tavistock corridor.

CCC Notes that

• the existing route in Tavistock Place is already over very crowded
• if the segregated tracks are taken out under the Bloomsbury Plan, cyclists will have no priority and their journeys will be delayed in comparison with the current situation
• we have found recently that recommended works from the Links 27 and 28 CRISPs in Byng Place were delayed (and have not yet been carried out) because of fears that they might be undone by the Bloomsbury Plan

Relief Route

CCC proposes a parallel route to the south of SSL. This would not require any form of segregation; it is an exercise in permeability for cyclists. The map below indicates with a blue dashed line roughly where the route could go.

Options for Tavistock Place

The existing 2-way segregated track is over crowded, but provides very good service for those cyclists that use it - that is, they can ride past the crawling motor vehicles in the road without delay. Whatever is done, an equally good service should be aimed for. At a recent meeting with Camden officers we identified three possible options:

Option 1

Retain the 2-way segregated track and make only minor changes to Byng Place

Option 3

Mandatory Cycle Lanes, properly enforced - i.e. with no car parking.

Option 2

If the vehicle traffic is made one way, as proposed originally by CCC, we could have proper 1-way segregated tracks on both sides. Tracks on footway are dangerous at junctions.

We would consider using three levels with a drop from footway to cycle track and another drop down to the road. There will be only 1.5 m available for the cycle track. At junctions, the cycle track would join the road and employ ASLs.

The pictures below show a similar type of track on Stroud Green Road, which has its problems, mainly that it requires cyclists to give way at side roads; and without making that clear.

The cycle track is surfaced in green and has frequent cycle logos and separating posts. It is 1.7 m wide. But as can be seen, people walk in it. However, there are not very many cyclists - the one in the photo is looking round prior to riding off into the road.

Hybrid Cycle tracks

Have a look at Cambridge Cycling Campaign website - which discusses cycle lanes which on road but with physical demarcation. Cycles can enter and leave the main road without difficulty, while being separated from traffic. See notes by the last photo - but you do need 2m on each side of the road to do this properly.

Hybrid Cycle Lanes

Notes on Meetings on Bloomsbury Vision

JD and SC attended two meetings, one a workshop at British Museum and the other a meeting about the effects on cycling in Sam Monck's office. The above page was made after the second meeting.

Notes on the meetings