London Liberal Democrat Mayoral Candidate Brian Paddick and London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon visited a number of dangerous junctions around King’s Cross, and met with the Camden Cycling Campaign group to discuss cycle and pedestrian safety in the area. The meeting came just days after a cyclist was killed at Tower Bridge Road, bringing the number killed on London’s roads this year to 16.
Brian said “It’s vital for us to talk and listen to London’s cyclists about their concerns. They have told us that planned changes to the King’s Cross junction supported by the London Mayor and Camden Council will make it more dangerous rather than less. Just two months ago, a 26 year old woman was killed here, she was one of 15 other cyclists who have died on London’s roads this year. These figures are upsetting and show that not enough is being done to tackle cycle safety in this City.”
Transport for London have said they will look at the layout of the Kings Cross junction after Caroline Pidgeon urged the Mayor to have a re-think of all his plans for London junctions and consider whether the one-way roads of King’s Cross are performing well in safety terms.
Caroline said: "Following my pressure, TfL and the Mayor have at long last agreed to review every dangerous junction across the capital including King's Cross. Whilst this is progress the current plans for King's Cross do not even start to address the dangers for cyclists and pedestrians. A complete rethink is needed."
Caroline has been continuing to press Boris Johnson at Mayor's Question Time to take action on the unacceptable safety situation for cyclists in the area:
Question from Caroline Pidgeon:
Three years ago a report titled ‘The TfL PERS and CSA 07/08 Category A Station Audits King’s Cross and St Pancras Stations Final Report’ included a clear recommendation that TfL should “reduce traffic speeds around the [Euston Road/Gray’s Inn Road/Pentonville Road/York Way] junction” in order to improve safety. Can you explain the reasons why you discarded the advice that was presented to you, and what factors you took into account when choosing to do so?Written response from the Mayor:
The report contained a number of short–term actions, including refreshing road markings and repairing defects. Most of these were acted upon immediately after publication. The report also contained a number of longer-term aspirations and issues requiring more in-depth investigation.In May 2009, TfL published the ‘King’s Cross Traffic and Pedestrian Study’, which set out TfL’s response to the longer-term issues raised. It included high-level proposals for a number of initiatives to improve the King’s Cross environment, which were subsequently translated into preliminary designs that could be discussed with stakeholders and implemented.
TfL began consultation on three schemes to provide pedestrian and cyclist improvements at three key junctions in May this year and will begin construction of these during December 2011.
Question from Caroline Pidgeon:
Further to MQ (1875/2011), you said that one-way systems where there is “evidence of poor performance, particularly in terms of safety” and where there is “a strong local consensus for change” are prioritised for removal. You added that schemes to remove gyratories must be feasible in engineering terms and those that have funding from external sources such as redevelopment schemes are prioritised. Do you think the King’s Cross gyratory system is performing well, particularly in terms of safety? If not, what steps will you take to ensure the removal of this gyratory system, in line with your policy?Written response from the Mayor:
TfL is implementing schemes to improve road conditions at three key junctions in Kings Cross. These are:
- At Euston Road/Pancras Road, extending the footway and installing new tactile paving on both sides of the road. Extending the pedestrian island on Euston Road to make it easier for pedestrians to cross. (Advanced stop lines (ASLs) are present in the existing layout). This element of the scheme is designed to accommodate a 30 per cent predicted increase in pedestrian footfall over this junction during the Games.
- At Euston Road/York Way, extending the footway on the western side. Installing new Advanced Stop Lines for cyclists and tactile paving and changes to the signal control to a left ahead and two straight ahead movements at Euston Rd EB.
- At Pentonville Road at its junction with Kings Cross Bridge and Caledonian Road, installing new tactile paving on either side of Pentonville Road and widening two existing pedestrian crossings on Caledonian Road and Kings Cross Bridge to accommodate a greater number of pedestrians. Provision of new Advanced Stop Lines for cyclists on Caledonian Road.
In general I support the removal of gyratories, wherever feasible, and where funding can be made available. The gyratory is complex and at a key location on the Transport for London Road Network. TfL does not currently believe that it is feasible to remove it. The very significant levels of funding that would be required to undertake such a task is also not available. However, all key junctions, such as this one, are kept under constant review.