Clerkenwell Boulevard

1. Clerkenwell Boulevard Bloomsbury Way -Theobalds Road - Clerkenwell Road - Old Street roundabout for Camden officers Tuesday 18 February 2014 Jean Dollimore Coordinator Camden Cycling Campaign Camden Cycling Campaign, February 2014

2. Position in the CLCG • it is part of the east-west route network • alignments supported by both Camden and Islington Camden Cycling Campaign, February 2014

3. Origins and support • a Bicycle Boulevard from Shoreditch to Fitzrovia. • Andrea Casalotti, on CycleScape Nov 2013. • From TfL CLCG consultation Dec 2013 • ... one of the most heavily-cycled routes in London ... busy with other traffic .. no quiet side-street alternative. Segregation will be difficult ... narrow road ... bus stops • The councils (Camden, Islington) and TfL will study how cycle facilities can be safely implemented ... address the impacts of traffic. No options have been ruled in or out Camden Cycling Campaign, February 2014

4. Characteristics - cyclists numbers • Cyclist’s share of flows: • AM WB peak: • 64% Theobalds • 59% Clerk’well(W) • 49% Old Street • PM EB peak: • 53% Theobalds • 50% Clerk’well • 46% Old Street Camden Cycling Campaign, February 2014

5. Characteristics - casualties • Data collected by Sam Longman (6 years to 2013) • Fatalities at the Southampton Row junction 2008, 9 and 2013 plus two in the Islington section in 2007 and 2009. • Serious in 2012: 6 in Camden and 2 in Islington parts Camden Cycling Campaign, February 2014

6. Characteristics - conditions • The motor traffic is a blight on the area • it must be removed to make way for a cycle priority route • and improve the area • a route is only 'quiet' enough for cycles and motor traffic to mix • if motor traffic volumes are less than 2000 PCUs per day and actual speeds below 20mph Camden Cycling Campaign, February 2014

7. Characteristics - motor flows From April 2013 cycling census • Motor flow >> 2000 PCUs per day • it must be reduced below that level for sharing the road • Buses alone: • Theobalds Road buses are too numerous for sharing the road • Bloomsbury Way has even more routes than Theobalds Road • the excess EB routes need to be relocated onto the roads where the WB ones run Camden Cycling Campaign, February 2014

8. Characteristics - road widths Camden Cycling Campaign, February 2014

9. Fitting things in... Camden Cycling Campaign, February 2014

10. Opportunities • After allocating road space for buses, cycles, local access and delivery • Space will be left for: • bus stops • and for important “extras”, e.g. • seating, tables • plants, trees • We can do much more than just remove the blight of motor traffic and make space for cycling... Camden Cycling Campaign, February 2014

11. The challenges • Filtering out through motor traffic to a level where there is room in the road for cycling • Doing major junction improvements e.g. • Southampton Row and Grays Inn Road (in Camden) • Deciding how best to use the space gained from traffic reduction • Dealing with bus stops, buses and passengers • Making a consistent “boulevard” from end to end Camden Cycling Campaign, February 2014

12. Two boroughs, one boulevard • CCC and ICAG would like to see a single design team • e.g. we hear Islington has started a study of filtering whereas the entire route needs to be studied as one • in the later stages this will be even more essential • to get a consistent look and functionality throughout as in Royal College Street • and to grasp all possible opportunities for inserting “extras” in an interesting way Camden Cycling Campaign, February 2014