Have your say on the North-South Cycle Superhighway (CS6) between Stonecutter Street and King’s Cross

We, together with Camden and Islington Councils, wanted your views on proposals for the North-South Cycle Superhighway (CS6) between Stonecutter Street (near Holborn Viaduct) and King’s Cross. We previously consulted on the North-South Cycle Superhighway in autumn 2014 (click here for details) and have now constructed the first phase between Elephant & Castle and Stonecutter Street.

The proposals in this consultation would continue the substantially-segregated cycle route along main roads to Farringdon Road, and provide cycle improvements along quieter back-streets towards King’s Cross.

What we proposed

Please see the drawing below showing where the route would go.

The proposed route will start at Stonecutter Street, where the North-South Cycle Superhighway continues south to Elephant & Castle. It will continue north on Farringdon Road to Greville Street, connecting with the proposed Central London Grid at West Smithfield. At Greville Street, northbound cyclists will turn onto a quiet back-street route continuing to King’s Cross.

Southbound cyclists from King’s Cross will turn off the back-street route onto Farringdon Road at Ray Street via a new signalised junction and continue south on a stepped cycle track.

The quiet back-street route for northbound cyclists is proposed because Farringdon Road north of Greville Street is too narrow to accommodate segregated cycle tracks in both directions alongside facilities for other road users such as bus stops and loading bays for a number of shops and businesses.

The back-street route connects with the Central London Grid on Calthorpe Street to Bloomsbury and Angel. There also connections with the proposed Central London Grid along Midland Road to Royal College Street, Camden Town and Swiss Cottage.

Please click here for a larger version of the above map (PDF)

Proposed main road layout changes

The new route will mean major changes to the road layout. Proposals for each section of the route are summarised below:

• Dedicated cycle lanes replacing sections of traffic and bus lane on Farringdon Road and Farringdon Street
• A quiet back-street route with improved cycle priority from Ray Street to King’s Cross
• Redesigned junctions, with improved priority for cyclists
• Links to other existing and proposed cycle routes, including the proposed Central London Grid at West Smithfield, Clerkenwell Road, Calthorpe Street, Tavistock Place, Judd Street and Midland Road
• New traffic restrictions to help traffic flow and create better conditions for cycling, including banned turns for motorists at Clerkenwell Road and Charterhouse Street
• Wider footways and public spaces, including at Calthorpe Street and Greville Street
• Seven new signalised pedestrian crossings, including all arms of Charterhouse Street junction and two new zebra crossings
• Changes to parking and loading, with some provision introduced, some removed, and some relocated or re-timed
• Changes to bus stops, including some new bypasses for cyclists.
   

Please click here to see detailed proposals for each section

An artist's impression of the North-South Cycle Superhighway on Farringdon Street, looking southbound from Farringdon station

What impacts this scheme would have on other road users

Traffic and bus impacts:

We do not expect these proposals to noticeably increase journey times for other road users, and in some cases our modelling shows improvements. There will still be some increases in journey times overall on the route when compared to the existing situation before construction for other schemes commenced. This is because of the impact of other schemes nearby that are not part of this consultation.

Pedestrian wait times at existing signalised junctions are proposed to remain the same, and wait times at Farringdon Station are expected to reduce because of the closure of Greville Street to motor traffic. New signalised pedestrian crossings are proposed at Charterhouse Street, Ray Street and where Clerkenwell Road meets Saffron Hill and Herbal Hill.

We are developing wider traffic management plans for central London to help reduce the traffic impacts of this scheme and others, including those proposed by London local authorities and developers. This will include investing in advanced traffic signal technology to allow us to better manage traffic depending on differing conditions at any given time. There will also be customer information to enable road users to make informed journey choices and campaigns to encourage road users to check before they travel.

Please click here for a table showing predicted changes to journey times on routes through the proposed scheme area.

Parking and loading:

Although we have designed our proposals to minimise the impact on parking and loading, we would need to relocate or remove a small amount of existing kerbside parking and loading to make space for the cycle route. Some loading provision would also operate for less time.

Businesses, servicing and deliveries:

We continue to work with businesses and freight operators to minimise the impact of these proposals on their operations. If your home or workplace is on or near the proposed route please let us know if the proposals could affect your deliveries, collections and servicing. We encourage you to discuss these proposals with the companies undertaking these operations.

Detailed proposals

Section 1 - Farringdon Street (between Stonecutter Street and Holborn Viaduct)

Section 2 - Farringdon Street (between Holborn Viaduct and Charterhouse Street)

Section 3 - Farringdon Road and Saffron Hill (between Charterhouse Street and St. Cross Street)

Section 4 - Farringdon Road and Saffron Hill (between St. Cross Street and Ray Street)

Section 5 - Farringdon Road, Ray Street, Herbal Hill and Warner Street

Section 6 - Warner Street and Phoenix Place

Section 7 - Pakenham Street, Calthorpe Street and Cubitt Street

Section 8 - Ampton Street, Sidmouth Street and Tavistock Place

Section 9 - Tavistock Place and Judd Street

Why we proposed this?

Cycling is now a major mode of transport in London. In 2014, 645,000 journeys a day were made by bike, a 10 per cent increase from 2013. Cycling during the morning rush hour in London has more than trebled since 2000*.

The North-South Cycle Superhighway has been designed to improve safety and reduce conflict between motor vehicles and cyclists, and to encourage the large numbers of people who would like to cycle, but currently feel unable to do so.

Data from existing Cycle Superhighways suggests the new route would also draw cyclists away from other routes in central London which are less suitable for them.

*Source: Travel in London Report 8

Other consultations nearby

We were also consulting at the same time on initial ideas to simplify the road network in the King’s Cross area.

As part of the Central London Grid, Camden Council also consulted on proposed cycling improvements to link with the North-South Cycle Superhighway at the junction of Judd Street and Euston Road, continuing along Midland Road. This consultation ran from 15 February to 20 March 2016.