Gyratory traffic schemes, extended one - way systems etc

The stretch of Embankment running West from Vauxhall bridge is much much more pleasant to drive down now that it has been reduced to a single lane purely because you don't have people swerving into the left hand lane, standing on the loud pedal (/Brickman) and then forcing their way back into the right hand lane at the first sign on an obstruction.

I think that all London roads should be single carriageway in one direction, and that anyone caught forcing their way into another lane at traffic lights to avoid the queue should have their car crushed.

That would be a great improvement to Bloomsbury.

Ha Neil slipped in there. Like he always does (blush)

The Tottenham Court Road/Gower Street thing is on its way out. I don't know details of what they're planning, though, haven't seen drawings yet.

I think that all London roads should be single carriageway

Do you mean 'single lane' or 'single carriageway'? I suspect the former--'dual carriageway' is not the same as 'multi-lane' or 'two-lane'. It means that the carriageway has some form of central divider beyond just a painted line. I wouldn't agree that all streets should be single-lane in one direction, as that would mean no room for priority bus and cycle lanes. However, there are certainly plenty of streets in which the number of carriageway lanes should be reduced to one in each direction.

this is a good idea, but i am confused, shoredtich still has a one way on curtain road that is horrible and fast and new cross gate was one way last time i lived there from queens road, past the montague.

stoke newington would be improved immensely by being two way, but aldwych is my least favourite to navigate

this is a good idea, but i am confused, shoredtich still has a one way on curtain road that is horrible and fast

Yes, we lost that argument. :( It should have been made two-way, too, but TfL were too nervous about 'motor traffic capacity', again. Still, they did a lot there.

Two-way in CR will probably depend to an extent on the what's done about the long-term ambition of connecting Curtain Road and Hoxton Street better again (the area's natural high street). That's one to watch.

^thats good news, i still cant work out why part of hoxton st (up to the library) is one way but the rest isn't?

also, can you get broadway market cycles only?

Yes^^ Shoreditch was absolutely mental when east Old Street, Sh High Street ans Gt Eastetn Street were all totally one way. The change totally transformed the exoerience for peds too, reduced traffic speeds by a half, I'd guess. Tgey used it like a motorway! There are other places in the area, like East Road, which are still totally inhospitable dead zones ruled by speeding motor traffic.

^thats good news, i still cant work out why part of hoxton st (up to the library) is one way but the rest isn't?

It's hard now to retrace their logic, but essentially it was to deter through motor traffic from using Hoxton Street too much, and to introduce car parking along Hoxton Street.

also, can you get broadway market cycles only?

We're campaigning for something like it (bus and cycle-only gate on the bridge, which would have much the same effect as a purely cycling and pedestrian-only space) but we need all the help we can get, so come along to a meeting sometime if you want. The current position of the Broadway Market Traders' and Residents' Association is not to support the idea. We argue that it would benefit BM commercially if this change were made. The next step is a shoppers' survey in Broadway Market, particularly to gather data on the weekday profile of shoppers, which is what the traders and shopkeepers are nervous about. BM doesn't perform terribly well during the week. Our argument is that this is precisely because of the excessive motor traffic, reducing its strength as an attractive local centre, but it's always very difficult to make this case to people who have little experience of such changes.

i'd be up for that. can you post in this thread if there are any meetings coming up? thanks

Great! There will be a call for volunteers to help with the survey. If you're interested in Hackney cycling issues, there are mailing lists you can join--send a blank e-mail to hackney-lcc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Our next monthly meeting is on the 5th October:

http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/meetings

Links to survey would be good Oliver.

Is there a standard protocol for maximising safety when using gyratories btw?

The Tottenham Court Road/Gower Street thing is on its way out. I don't know details of what they're planning, though, haven't seen drawings yet.

Taken from http://voleospeed.blogspot.com/2011/08/another-discussion-of-dutch-style.html

^thats good news, i still cant work out why part of hoxton st (up to the library) is one way but the rest isn't?

also, can you get broadway market cycles only?

The canal, no?

One more reason for them to go:

They ruin my night time navigation! I moved to London 2 weeks ago and have to cycle between Paddington and Crystal Palace. As a rule I never get lost but riding in the dark through london I have been caught out on every different route I've tried and its always because i get on a gyratory and then get disoriented. Too many things to look out for whilst the road makes you cycle various different directions. Sounds stupid but the North side of Clapham Common messes with my head. Must try riding there in the day time.

The Eagle Wharf road cycle contra flow is very useful (well in Oliver and co!)- I can only imagine how crazy it would be if used as a rat run however as with all cycle contraflows (like Cable St) there are some blind corners that are potentially accident spots. I wonder how much will there would be to get mirrors to give some clue as to what is coming around the next corner like the beta mirrors on Mile End Road for undertaking cyclists?

i feel like i am in a indiana jones film when i cycle in the Wandsworth Gyratory >.<

Taken from http://voleospeed.blogspot.com/2011/08/another-discussion-of-dutch-style.html

That look amazing.

That look amazing.

Except that bus is going to carry on being right up the arse of the the cyclist and try to squeeze past dangerously, because the road isn't wide enough to pass with that central reservation there

it mean they'll simply have to wait behind, and bus drivers are generally the best drivers in London, FACT.

it mean they'll simply have to wait behind, and bus drivers are generally the best drivers in London, FACT.

In general I agree, but I've had enough aggressive bus encounters and we've sadly seen how dangerous they are... Road just needs to be 2m wider to let the buses flow.

still a risk of overtaking as the highway code stated that you must give a cyclists as much room as you would a car when overtaking.

The Eagle Wharf road cycle contra flow is very useful (well in Oliver and co!)- I can only imagine how crazy it would be if used as a rat run however as with all cycle contraflows (like Cable St) there are some blind corners that are potentially accident spots. I wonder how much will there would be to get mirrors to give some clue as to what is coming around the next corner like the beta mirrors on Mile End Road for undertaking cyclists?

Festus, it's only a contraflow for a very short distance, the length of the track there. Most of the street is fully two-way. Which corners do you mean? We haven't heard anything about a particular crash problem there.

Except that bus is going to carry on being right up the arse of the the cyclist and try to squeeze past dangerously, because the road isn't wide enough to pass with that central reservation there

I agree that there shouldn't be a central reservation. Urban designers like central reservations because they think that they break up the expanse of tarmac and because they can stick trees and lampposts on them. However, they are definitely not a very good idea for cycling. The carriageway width in this illustrative drawing appears to be 3m, which is a distant second best to the ideal width of 4.4-4.5m. Still, it's hard to tell without seeing a proper technical drawing with all the dimensions.