Have your say on the Tavistock Place and Torrington Place cycle lanes

Camden Council is asking for views on whether the current trial road layout along Torrington Place and Tavistock Place should be made permanent, or whether the route should return to its former layout.

Last year these Bloomsbury streets became the busiest cycling routes in Camden. The previous two-way cycle lane had become overcrowded, leading to safety problems for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers.  In November 2015 the council approved a 12-month trial to examine a different traffic layout along this route. The main two-way road was reduced to a single one-way lane and the previous two-way cycling lane was replaced with single direction cycle lanes protected from traffic on each side of the road.

Many of UCL’s staff and students cycle to, from and around the Bloomsbury Campus, and in February UCL pledged support for the cycle lanes in a statement written by UCL's President and Provost Professor Michael Arthur. He said:

"the cycle lanes are providing a safer means of cycling to and from the campus, as well as creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment by removing a large number of vehicles. Many of our staff and students choose to cycle to work. We recognise the important contribution that this makes to their health and lifestyle, as well as the wider benefits to both UCL and London, by helping to tackle congestion and air pollution."

If the trial layout is made permanent, Camden Council will make further road improvements, including wider pavements, segregated cycle lanes and new trees. If the trial is not made permanent, the street will return to its previous layout, with two traffic lanes and a single, two-way cycle track. 

Since the trial there has been a 21% improvement in air quality in Tavistock place. There has also been a significant increase in cycling east-west along the route in the morning and afternoon rush hours (up to 52%). And counts show increases in cycling northbound into Gordon Square of up to 173%.

However, opposition to the scheme has been expressed by some groups including residents and a hotel along the route, and by the taxi drivers’ organisation the LTDA.

UCL continues to strongly support the efforts by Camden Council and other bodies to make cycling and walking safer and more pleasant for the UCL community and our neighbours.

For more information on the consultation click here 

To take part, fill out this short survey

The consultation will remain open until Friday, 21 October, 2016.

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