After consulting with residents, the Council is preparing to introduce two way cycling on certain one way streets on our area. They are Cardigan Street, Sancroft Street, Tyers Street and Wincott Street.
Here are the details from the officer's report:
Cardigan Street
Objectives: Allow cycle access in both directions on Cardigan Street between Kennington Lane and Courtenay Square. Reduce road danger and improve access for people on bicycles through the existing cycle gap at the junction with Kennington Lane by removing 5m of parking bay. A cycle gap is already in place at Cardigan Street’s junction with Kennington Lane (implemented by Transport for London in the 1990s) to allow cycles into Cardigan Street northbound but access is completely blocked by cars parked in the formal shared-use parking bays (see fig. 1. in appendix 1). The link forms important east-west access connecting cycle routes into central London and avoids the need for a difficult right turn on a bend on Kennington Lane into Courtenay Street. It is also an important local link that fits with future proposals to make Ravensdon Street and Cleaver Street two-way for cycling.
Outcomes: Two-way cycle access indicated by appropriate signing and road markings. Removal of 10.15m of formal shared use permit holders/pay & display parking bay.
Traffic orders/ notices required:
a)
Exempt pedal cycles from the one-way system on Cardigan Street between the existing ‘cycle plug at the junction with Kennington Lane and Sancroft Street. This would be achieved by replacing the current ban on all vehicles traveling in a northern direction on Cardigan Street with a ban on motor vehicles only, and providing appropriate signing and advisory cycle lanes at certain points on Cardigan Street.
b)
Removal of 12.8 metres of shared use permit holders/pay & display parking bay and replace with 12.8 metres of double yellow lines from a point starting 11m from the northwest kerb of Kennington Lane.
Sancroft Street
Objectives: Allow cycle access in both directions on Sancroft Street between Kennington Road and Vauxhall Street.
Outcomes: Two-way cycle access indicated by appropriate signing and road markings. Removal of 12.8m of residential parking bay.
Traffic orders/ notices required:
a)
Exempt pedal cycles from the one-way system on the section of Sancroft Street between Cardigan Street and Kennington Road. This would be achieved by replacing the current ban on all vehicles entering Sancroft Street at its junction with Cardigan Street with a ban on motor vehicles only, and providing appropriate signing and advisory cycle lanes at certain points on Sancroft Street.
b)
Exempt pedal cycles from the one-way system on the section of Sancroft Street between Newburn Street and Vauxhall Street. This would be achieved by replacing the current ban on all vehicles entering Sancroft Street at its junction with Newburn Street with a ban on motor vehicles only, and providing appropriate signing and advisory cycle lanes at certain points on Sancroft Street.
c)
Removing 12.8m of Permit Holders only parking bay on Sancroft Street and replacing with 12.8m of double yellow lines starting from a point 6.75m from the western kerbline of Vauxhall Street and extending for 12.8m.
Tyers Street
Objectives: Allow cycle access in both directions on Tyers Street. Calm traffic at the junction with Black Prince Road.
Outcomes: Two-way cycle access on the entire length of Tyers Street indicated by appropriate signing and road markings. Construction of flat-top table on Tyers Street at the junction with Black Prince Road.
Traffic orders/ notices required:
a)
Exempt pedal cycles from the one-way system on Tyers Street. This would be achieved by replacing the current ban on all vehicles entering Tyers Street at its junction with Black Prince Road and all side roads with a ban on motor vehicles only, and providing appropriate signing and advisory cycle lanes at certain points on Tyers Street.
b)
Notice for a flat top raised speed table on Tyers Street at the junction with Black Prince Road, extending from the southern kerbline of Black Prince Road for a distance of 14.5 metres.
Wincott Street
Objectives: Allow cycle access in both directions on Wincott Street between Gilbert Road and Kennington Road and improve visibility and safety for pedestrians by constructing a build-out at the corner of Wincott Street and Kempsford Road.
Outcomes: Two-way cycle access on Wincott Street indicated by appropriate signing and road markings. Improved local permeability.
Traffic orders/ notices required:
b)
Exempt pedal cycles from the one-way section on Wincott Street between Gilbert Road and KenningtonRoad .This would be achieved by replacing the current ban on all vehicles entering Wincott Street at its junction with Gilbert Road with a ban on motor vehicles only, and providing appropriate signing and advisory cycle lanes at certain points on Wincott Street.
c)
Remove 5.8m of parking bay and replace with double yellow lines to allow the construction of a build-out.
Consultation responses
Cardigan Street
As explained in section 2 of this report, the infrastructure already exists to permit pedal cycles into the one-way system on Cardigan Street but is physically impossible due to the presence of formal shared use parking bays which block the cycle gap (see fig. 1, appendix 1); hence the consultation was for the removal of these parking bays.
There were just six responses to the consultation on Cardigan Street – this is a very low response rate. Two people were against the removal of parking bays, one person was in favour, and three had no view either way. (See appendix 2.)
In contrast, there was broad support from the wider community to improving the cycle access by removing the parking bays. (See appendix 2).
Recommendation: It is understandable that local residents would not want to lose car parking from their street. Some respondees also pointed out that vehicles from a local minicab firm are often parked in residents’ bays unenforced, putting pressure on parking.
It must be taken into account that the response rate to the consultation on Cardigan Street was extremely low: two people objected to the proposals to remove x2 parking bays and three had no objections. Several users in the wider area were in favour of the proposals.
Some weighting should be given to the two objections from Cardigan Street, however, it should also be taken into account that the area has a wealth of alternatives to car use and ownership: Cardigan Street has the second highest possible PTAL (Public Transport Accessibility Level) score of 6a, there are four Car Club bays within a five minute walk, a dense network of hire cycles and cycle routes, and most retail and leisure facilities are accessible by public transport or on foot or cycle.
Lambeth’s CPZ engineer, after considering the proposals, supports the removal of 10.15 metres (x2 parking bays) for safety reasons these bays be removed bay be, and that consideration is given to the introduction of new disabled bays so that those less able to walk, cycle or use public transport are assured a parking space.
Sancroft Street
Ten responses were received. Respondents are in favour of both proposals to permit two-way cycling on the entire length of Sancroft Street between Vauxhall Street and Kennington Road. There was also support to remove two parking bays on Sancroft Street at the junction with Vauxhall Street. There was broad support from the wider community.
Recommendation: Proceed with the proposals outlined in section 2 of this report.
Tyers Street
The response was low but this may be because respondents did not feel strongly about the proposals. There was unanimous support from those who did respond: all of them supported the proposals to implement a flat top speed table on Tyers street at the junction of Tyers Street and Black Prince Road.
The information letter about two-way cycling did not elicit significant responses; residents will have further opportunity to comment at the statutory consultation stage.
Recommendation: Proceed with the proposals outlined in section 2 of this report.
Wincott Street
25 responses were received.
The majority of respondents were in favour of both aspects of the scheme. Some respondents expressed reservations about the behavior of cyclists in general. Some respondents pointed out the difficulty that large vehicles have in negotiating the corner of Wincott Street and Reedworth Street because of recently introduced parking bays.
Recommendations: Proceed with the proposals outlined in section 2 of this report. Consider a review of parking on the corner of Wincott Street and Reedworth Street.
