Cycling and walking improvements between Hackney and the Isle of Dogs

Overview

We want your views on our proposals to transform streets in east London linking Hackney and the Isle of Dogs to make it easier and safer for people to cycle and walk. Neighbourhoods including Victoria Park, Mile End and Limehouse would be connected by a new Cycleway, with improvements in each area also proposed for people walking.

The proposals are an important part of the Mayor of London's Transport Strategy. The proposals are guided by the Mayor of London's Healthy Streets Approach, which aims to encourage walking, cycling and public transport use and make London greener, healthier and more pleasant. The proposals are also an important part of the Mayor of London's Walking and Cycling Action Plans. These complementary plans set out how we and London boroughs will work to increase the number of people walking and cycling, helping to address poor air quality and congestion, while improving infrastructure to make walking and cycling even easier, safer and more accessible for everyone.

These proposals would provide benefits for all street users and communities in these areas, making it easier to cross busy roads, removing through traffic on some residential roads and offering segregated space for people to cycle. They would form part of London’s emerging cycling network.

Our proposals include:

• A new high-quality cycle route that people cycling can use to get around
• New and upgraded pedestrian crossings
• The introduction of a 20mph speed limit along Burdett Road
• Improvements to public realm with new trees and planting throughout the route
• Changing entry to and exit from some side roads along the route
• Changes to some bus stops and bus lanes along (or close to) the route including the introduction of bus stop bypasses and relocating some bus stops
• Replacing some single red line and single yellow line restrictions with double red and yellow line restrictions
• Changes to some parking and loading provision

Below is a computer generated image of what the Cycleway would look like at Burdett Road and Agnes Street.

Here is a map of the route we are proposing changes to. Click here to open it as an A2 size (PDF 1.90MB)

The new Cycleway would link with Quietway 2 at one end, contributing to the Bow Liveable Neighbourhood project, and connecting with Cycle Superhighway 2 at Mile End and Cycle Superhighway 3.

The route is then proposed to continue onto the Greenwich foot tunnel via Canary Wharf. This section of the route will be consulted on at a later date following further feasibility work to consider options for the alignment and design, including details of how the new Cycleway would connect to the proposed new river crossing between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf. This would provide a valuable cross-river connection which, alongside other cycling improvements planned south of the river, would encourage even more cycling journeys between east and south London.

In addition, the route through Grove Road is being developed alongside the Bow Liveable Neighbourhood project and will also be consulted on at a later date.

Below is a computer generated image of what the Cycleway would look like at Burdett Road and Bow Common Lane.

Details on each section of the route can be found below and click here to open the detailed drawings (PDF 9.94MB).

We will be having local events throughout the consultation. More information about these and how to get information in different formats can be found at the end of this page and in the leaflet available from local public places.

If you would like to go straight to a particular topic please use the links below. 

What are Cycleways?

What we are proposing as the main changes to the street layout

How would these proposals affect journey times?

Traffic reassignment

Environmental impacts

Healthy Streets

Equalities

Public exhibitions

Have your say

What are Cycleways?

Cycleways are new high-quality cycle routes that people cycling can use to get around. They link communities, businesses and destinations across London. Each new Cycleway will have its own number with on-street signs and road markings, making them easy to use. As we rethink street space to benefit people cycling we are also prioritising changes that help people to move around on foot.

This proposed new Cycleway was identified in our Strategic Cycling Analysis as a key area for existing and potential cycling and which could facilitate wider improvements as part of the Healthy Streets approach and provide future connections to areas undergoing significant development and regeneration. This proposed new Cycleway provides an opportunity to improve the street network by encouraging walking and cycling, increasing connectivity to key attractions, new developments, transport hubs and the wider London wide cycling network.

The proposals

We want to hear from local people and all Londoners on our proposals, so we can design them to best meet people’s needs and expectations to encourage more people to cycle, walk and use public transport.

Our policy objectives for this scheme are to help deliver Vision Zero, the Walking and Cycling Action Plans and improve air quality. We have developed these proposals using experience from cycling infrastructure, healthy streets and public realm schemes. We have worked with local stakeholders and communities in the area seeking initial feedback on our ideas and to understand how these changes will affect local streets and people.

Below is a computer generated image of what the Cycleway would look like at West India Dock Road near the Police Station.

What we are proposing as the main changes to the street layouts

We are proposing a number of features along the route to make it safer and more pleasant for people who cycle and walk, whilst keeping buses running on time. These include some significant changes to the street layouts as below, and various small changes. See the map above for where these are proposed:

• New segregated cycling facilities along Burdett Road and West India Dock Road
• Low traffic cycle route with traffic calming in Hackney
• New 20mph speed limit and traffic calming along Burdett Road
• Connection with Quietway 2 (east-west route) at Lyme Grove
• New signalised junction for people crossing Frampton Park Road at Well Street
• Grove Road through Victoria Park closed to all vehicles except buses, taxis and cycles 07:00 - 19:00
• Connections to the Tower Hamlets Council Bow Liveable Neighbourhood
• Right turn reintroduced from Burdett Road into Mile End Road and a new left turn ban from Mile End Road into Burdett Road
• Connection with Cycle Superhighway 2 (east-west route) at Mile End
• No access to Burdett Road from Eric Street for all vehicles except for people cycling
• No access to Burdett Road from Ackroyd Drive for all vehicles except for people cycling
• No left turn from St Paul’s Way into Burdett Road
• No left turn from Burdett Road into St Paul’s Way
• No access to Burdett Road from Agnes Street for all vehicles except for people cycling
• No Access to St Paul’s Way from Locksley Street for all vehicles except for people cycling
• Clemence Street reopened at Turners Road
• Thomas Road left turn exit only
• No Access to Burdett Road from Dod Street for all vehicles except for people cycling - access from Stainsby Street
• New signal-controlled crossing for people crossing Burdett Road at Dod Street
• No right turn from West India Dock Road into East India Dock Road, except to planned bus service diversions and rail replacement bus services
• Improvements to public realm with new trees and planting throughout the route
• Changes to bus stops and bus lanes along (or close to) the route including introduction of Bus Stop Bypasses and relocating some bus stops,
• Some bus lanes will be extended however others will be shortened, relocated or removed to accommodate the new road layout. Remaining bus lanes would operate 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Some single red line restrictions would be replaced with double red lines, and some single yellow line restrictions replaced with double yellow lines
• Changes to some parking and loading provision

To review our proposals and see the relevant maps for each of the sections along the proposed new Cycleway please use the links below:

• Section 1: Hackney (Frampton Park Road, Ainsworth Road, Skipworth Road and Gore Road)
• Section 2: Victoria Park
• Section 3: Grove Road around Old Ford Road junction
• Section 4: Mile End Road Junction with Burdett Road and Grove Road
• Section 5: Burdett Road between Mile End Road and Bow Common Lane
• Section 6: Bow Common lane to Ackroyd Drive
• Section 7: St Paul’s Way and Locksley Street
• Section 8: St Paul’s Way to Dod Street
• Section 9: Dod Street to Commercial Road
• Section 10: A13 Commercial Road Junction
• Section 11: West India Dock Road

Note - proposals for Grove Road (Section 3) and the Isle of Dogs will be available and consulted on at a later date.

How would these proposals affect journey times?

Transforming street layouts is not without impacts, and there are difficult choices to be made in determining the layout for streets. For example, these changes could mean that some journeys through this area may take longer.

We have carried out detailed traffic modelling to understand how our proposals might affect journey times for people driving, using buses, cycling and walking. To do this we assessed how London's roads would operate in 2021, considering population growth, committed developments and other road improvements. We then tested how London's roads would operate in 2021 with the changes proposed as part of this scheme. This allows us to isolate the predicted impacts of this proposed scheme from other changes which are not part of this consultation.

Traffic modelling has been carried out to study the traffic impacts of the scheme at the busiest times of the day, and results are presented for both the morning and evening peak hours. We would actively monitor and manage the road network following implementation to ensure impacts were balanced.

Despite the sophistication of our traffic and reassignment models, all traffic modelling is only ever indicative; it is intended to give an idea of where the impacts of changes in journeys are most likely to be felt. It assumes that drivers have perfect knowledge of the network and will always choose the quickest route available.

Overview

Journey time improvements are forecast for the two bus routes (277 & D6) that travel along the majority of the proposed Cycleway. The junction between Mile End Road (A11), Burdett Road and Grove Road will be made more efficient with traffic able to turn right from Burdett Road onto the A11 with the left turn from the A11 westbound into Burdett Road being prohibited. These changes are forecast to significantly reduce wait times for people crossing at this junction and improve journeys for everyone travelling north/south.

If you have any questions or clarifications with regards to our traffic modelling please email trafficmodelling@tfl.gov.uk for more information.

Changes to parking and loading

Our proposals include changes to parking and loading bays and their hours of operation. During the consultation we will contact premises we think could be affected. If you think the proposals could affect you or your business, please contact us to let us know. We encourage you to discuss these proposals with your suppliers.

Please click on the detailed proposals above to find out the proposed changes to parking, waiting and loading along the proposed new Cycleway.

Environmental impacts

Although not a traffic generating scheme, our proposals would change how traffic moves around the area, which may result in localised changes to air quality and noise levels. Environmental surveys and modelling are taking place as part of our ongoing evaluation of these proposals.

Our proposals aim to improve the quality of life in the area by:

• Reducing the dominance of traffic allowing people to better enjoy the area
• Improving pedestrian crossings and cycle facilities to encourage people to walk and cycle through the area
• Protecting bus journey times to encourage people to use public transport.

Air pollution is one of the most significant challenges facing London, affecting the health of all Londoners. As part of the plans for new measures to tackle London’s current poor air quality we introduced the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) on 8 April 2019. In 2021 this will be expanded to include the inner London area bounded by the North and South Circular roads.

A number of other schemes to improve London's air quality are planned including taking steps to reduce air pollution from our bus fleet, reducing emissions from taxis and private hire vehicles, setting up five ‘Low Emission Neighbourhoods’ and expanding the electric vehicle charging network, making it simpler to use.

We are investing to make London’s streets healthy, safe and attractive places to walk and cycle. Enabling more journeys to be made on foot or by bike can help reduce private vehicle use and associated emissions. See here for more information on how we are creating Healthy Streets.

Healthy Streets

The changes proposed in this scheme are part of our commitment to deliver Healthy Streets. We are taking this approach to create a vibrant, successful city where the streets are welcoming to all and everyone can live active, healthy lives. The streets within this scheme and the proposed changes have been assessed by our designers against ten Healthy Streets Indicators using our Healthy Streets Check for Designers tool. This tool assesses the layout of streets against thirty-one measures which produce an overall Healthy Streets Check score out of 100. We use infographics to show the current score for the streets within this scheme and potential scores based on our proposed changes.

To see the results of this assessment click here.

If you would like to know more about the Healthy Streets Check for Designers click here. If you have any questions about our Healthy Streets Approach please write to us at consultations@tfl.gov.uk.

Equalities

We are subject to the general public sector equality duty set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, which requires us to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. As part of our decision-making process on proposals for new schemes, we have had due regard to any impacts on those with protected characteristics and the need to ensure their interests are taken into account.

In considering the design of our streets, we closely consider the needs of all users throughout the design process. As this scheme is a significant infrastructure project we:

• Have completed an Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) at the outset of the project, to review potential impacts on equality target groups, including disabled people
• Will carry out public consultations, including targeted engagement with specific user groups
• Will continue to ensure we comply with established guidance – such as the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges – which includes detailed requirements for disabled people

The EqIA carried out on these proposals shows positive impacts for people cycling from black and ethnic minority groups, females, disabled people, and people under 25 and over 65 years of age. Positive impacts have also been identified for disabled pedestrians or people walking with restricted mobility, as the scheme proposes a number of improvements to pedestrian facilities including enhanced crossing facilities, increased pavement widths and new pedestrian crossings.

Some negative impacts have been identified where we are proposing to remove or relocate bus lanes, bus stops, or to install bus stop bypasses and where pedestrians must cross the cycle track to get between the pavement and the bus stop. All bus stop bypasses would include zebra crossings with tactile paving and be raised to footway level to create a flush surface. Our research has found that bus stop bypasses are safe for all road users, including those with protected characteristics. Click here for more information on bus stop bypasses.

Some negative impacts have also been identified where some pavements are proposed to be cut back, however we have made sure they are within recommended standards and appropriate for the number of pedestrians in the area and that they allow two wheelchair users to pass safely.

The EqIA will be kept under review and updated to reflect any material changes to the proposals.

Click here for our Equality Impact Assessment (PDF 576KB).

Why we are consulting

The proposed improvements are designed to help us meet the target set-out in the Mayor of London's Transport Strategy of changing the way people choose to travel, so that 80 per cent of all London trips are made by foot, bicycle or public transport by 2041, up from 64 per cent today. Changing how space is allocated to different street users throughout London is an important way of helping more people travel sustainably.

Improving safety for people who want to walk or cycle

The areas between Hackney and the Isle of Dogs tend to be residential with vibrant high streets and green space, getting more urban and employment focused towards Canary Wharf. However, roads through these neighbourhoods are currently dominated by motor traffic and can be intimidating and unpleasant places for people walking and cycling. These proposals would provide a safer and more pleasant environment and would improve connections between residential areas and town centres. They would contribute towards the Mayor of London’s Vision Zero ambition to eradicate deaths and serious injuries from our streets by 2041.

By giving people space and time to cycle in the area more easily, and by providing improved crossing facilities for pedestrians, we can encourage more people to use these healthy and sustainable forms of transport while keeping other traffic moving. These improvements would help to make these streets more welcoming for people walking, cycling and using public transport so people and the community as a whole can benefit.

Improving London’s air

London's air is toxic leading to 9,000 premature deaths a year and road transport contributes the majority of air pollution in the city. Reducing the number of trips by private vehicles and encouraging people to walk, cycle and use public transport would significantly improve our air.

Part of London’s growing cycle network  

The new cycle facilities aim to encourage people who would like to cycle, but currently feel unable to do so.

Two-thirds of car trips could be walked or cycled in under 20 minutes. To encourage people to get out of their cars we need to tackle the barriers many people currently face, whether that’s feeling unsafe or that it’s easier to use their car. Building new Cycleways can help people cycle more, alongside providing training.

We know building more walking and cycling infrastructure can improve town centres and make them into places where people want to spend more time.  We also know walking and cycling boost employees’ productivity, giving another boost to the local economy.

There is great potential for more cycling in inner and outer London. Building new Cycleways will help encourage more local cycle journeys, giving Londoners more options for getting to work, education, shopping, or enjoying what the city has to offer.

Improving the health of Londoners

We want to make it easier for people to use sustainable travel and lead active lifestyles. We also want to make the streets as part of the scheme healthier, safer and more welcoming places for everyone. The proposals form part of the Mayor of London’s plan for Healthy Streets.

Currently, only 34 per cent of Londoners take 20 minutes of physical activity on any given day. If people walked or cycled for just 20 minutes each day it would prevent 1 in 6 early deaths, saving the NHS around £1.6bn per year. It would also help other health issues, such as diabetes, stroke, depression and dementia.

The proposed improvements would help to encourage people to use active forms of transport, which could achieve significant health benefits. The proposals aim to encourage people who would like to cycle and walk, but currently feel unable to do so.

When would we build the scheme?

Subject to the outcome of this consultation, construction could start as early as this winter.

Working closely with Hackney and Tower Hamlets Councils in delivering the proposals we would carefully plan construction to minimise disruption to those who live, work and travel in the area. As part of this planning we would coordinate closely with other construction works in the area, and consider alternative ways of working including advance works, weekends and evenings.

We would keep residents, businesses and community groups informed so they can plan ahead, reducing any impact on their journeys, lives and businesses.

Have your say

Public exhibitions

We will be holding four public drop-in sessions where you can view the proposals, speak to members of the project team and ask questions:

• Queen Mary University Hub reception, 329 Mile End Road, London E1 4NT - Tuesday 21 May 2019 (11:00 - 14:00)
• Mile End Park Leisure Centre foyer, 190 Burdett Road, London E3 4HL - Wednesday 29 May 2019 (16:00 - 19:00)
• Hackney Service Centre main entrance, 1 Hillman Street, London E8 1DY - Monday 3 June 2019 (14:00 - 17:00)
• Mile End Underground Station ticket hall - Saturday 8 June 2019 (14:00 - 17:00)

At these we will explain how previous feedback has helped shape our design.

These events are all in accessible spaces.

We will also be visiting business and places where people are likely to go along the route handing out leaflets. Leaflets will also be available in community spaces like town halls, libraries, leisure centres, places of worship or faith and community centres.

Other proposed new Cycleways

Over the next few months we plan to consult on four other new Cycleways and associated improvements for people walking, see tfl.gov.uk/new-cycle-routes.

If you would like to be kept informed of these consultations please tell us at newcycleroutes@tfl.gov.uk.

We would like to know what you think about our proposals. Please tell us by Friday 21 June 2019 by completing our survey below.

Alternatively, you can:

• Email us at newcycleroutes@tfl.gov.uk
• Write to us at FREEPOST TFL CONSULTATIONS CYCLEWAY
• Call us on 0343 222 1155*

* service and network charges apply. Visit tfl.gov.uk/terms for details.

You can also request paper copies of all the consultation materials and a response form, copies in Braille, large text or another language by emailing consultations@tfl.gov.uk or writing to FREEPOST TFL CONSULTATIONS CYCLEWAY.

If you would like information in another language or format please let us know as soon as possible.

Next Steps

Following the completion of the consultation we will assess all comments received and use this feedback to inform any necessary design changes. We plan to publish the consultation report and the response to issues raised report later this year.