Friday 16 December, 2016
- Work on Cycle Superhighway 11 from Swiss Cottage to the West End will begin next year
- Removing the five-lane Swiss Cottage gyratory will improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians and create a new public space
- Enhanced safety measures for pedestrians and cyclists in Regent’s Park will continue to be considered in partnership with The Royal Parks
- Sadiq Khan has committed an average of £154m per year for cycling over the next five years – nearly double the amount spent by previous Mayor
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today confirmed that Transport for London (TfL) will begin construction of Cycle Superhighway 11 (CS11) next year as planned.
The new 2.5-mile cycling route, developed in close collaboration with the London Borough of Camden, Westminster City Council and The Royal Parks, will provide a direct, continuous and safe route for cyclists to travel between Swiss Cottage and the West End.
The route will improve safety for both cyclists and pedestrians in the area – encouraging non-polluting and more active travel for people living, working or passing through. It will also link to the Central London Grid and other routes across London, opening up more of the city for safer cycling.
Work will begin at Swiss Cottage in autumn 2017 when the gyratory will start to be removed to create a safer, more pleasant area for cyclists and pedestrians – as part of the Mayor’s Healthy Streets programme.
As well as being a key part of CS11, changes to the one-way system at Swiss Cottage form part of TfL’s ongoing review and modernisation of the capital’s most dangerous and intimidating junctions.
The Mayor warned that CS11 had been left in an ‘absolute mess’ by the previous administration, due to the handling of residents’ concerns. The consultation on CS11 received 60 per cent support from more than 6,000 respondents. However, TfL had to carry out additional work to address concerns from the Borough councils and members of the local community.
As a result, the design at Swiss Cottage has been improved by being altered slightly. There will be a wider segregated cycle track on Avenue Road to accommodate the expected high numbers of users, and changes have been made that will significantly reduce the amount of traffic moving onto residential streets.
TfL has committed to learning lessons from previous Cycle Superhighway construction and is working closely with local councils and stakeholders to minimise disruption to motorists and other road users, both during works and after completion.
Although the vast majority of the route is now finalised, TfL will continue to discuss proposals with The Royal Parks to ensure safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The phasing of the work means this will not delay the overall project.
While closing four of the eight perimeter gates to reduce through traffic at the busiest times of day remains the default position, consideration will be given to other options to make the park safer for everyone, at all times of the day.
Any gate closures would not be required until summer 2018 at the earliest, when the transformation of Swiss Cottage nears completion. And a final proposal for Regent’s Park will be announced in summer 2017. Regardless of the final proposal TfL will also work with The Royal Parks to investigate a 20mph speed limit in the park, along with electronic speed signs to slow drivers down. The Outer Circle currently has a high collision rate, traffic volume and vehicle speeds which we are determined to address to improve safety for all road users.
The publication of the consultation response is the first after the Mayor committed a total of £770 million to be spent on infrastructure and initiatives to promote cycling until 2021/2022. This will mean an average £154m per year will be spent for cycling over the next five years – nearly double the amount spent by previous Mayor.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m pleased to announce the start of works on CS11 so soon after I secured a record level of cycling spending across London. CS11 had been left in an absolute mess by the previous administration, with the community divided. But we’ve worked hard to listen to the concerns raised and taken these into account, while still delivering significant improvements for pedestrians and cyclists. We will also be working with the Royal Parks to see what further improvements could be made in Regent’s Park to make a real difference to safety for everyone, at all times of the day. Together such improvements will make cycling safer and easier for all Londoners in the area, helping to make cycling a part of their everyday lives.”
Ashok Sinha, chief executive of London Cycling Campaign, said: “CS11 will be another vital addition to London’s cycling routes, and it’s great news that its construction will finally begin next year. Increasing numbers of Londoners are attracted to the convenience of cycling and CS11 will help make it safer for them to do so. LCC particularly welcomes the long overdue redevelopment of the dangerous Swiss Cottage gyratory and the Mayor and Royal Parks’ commitment to ensuring the safety for people walking and cycling through Regent’s Park.”
Alan Bristow, TfL’s Director of Road Space Management, said: “Our consultation on a cycle route between Swiss Cottage and the West End, with improved pedestrian crossings and safer junctions, was supported by 60 per cent of respondents. Now we will move forward and begin construction next year. The East-West and North-South Cycle Superhighways has meant that thousands more people are able to safely cycle every day and CS11 will have a similar effect. London is growing and enabling people to walk and cycle is a vital part of solving rising levels of congestion.”