Dear Westminster,

Thank you for consulting Westminster Cycling Campaign about this scheme. We are the local group of the London Cycling Campaign.

We welcome the proposal for a long cycle lane in the SE-bound direction between the kerb and the parking bays. As well as giving cyclists some protection, this lane will enable them to pass any traffic queuing along this section of road.

An obvious shortcoming of this scheme is the retention of kerbside bus stands. These are a particular problem as they are likely to be occupied for longer than bus stops. Cyclists may have some difficulty in moving out into the general traffic lane to pass these obstacles.

Although we generally support the use of wands to segregate cyclists from other traffic, we question some of those proposed for this scheme. In particular the wands approaching the first bus stands in the NW-bound direction are likely to make it more difficult for cyclists to move out into the general traffic lane to pass a standing bus - and they could even collide with a wand in doing so.

We also question the wands proposed at the approach to Trafalgar Square. We would not advise cyclists to enter the Square on the left-hand side unless they were taking the first or second exit. If they were exiting anywhere else, they could conflict with left-turning traffic if they remained on the left. Those wands would unnecessarily confine cyclists to the left and give a false sense of safety. The real solution is of course to make Trafalgar Square safer for cycling. But we recognise that is beyond the scope of this project.

In addition, we question some of the very short sections of cycle lane between bus stands. We would not advise cyclists to move into short cycle lanes between occupied bus stands because of the difficulty of moving back into the general traffic lane to pass the next bus.  There could also be visibility difficulties with passing traffic for any cyclist who moved into the cycle lane. Vehicles crossing the cycle lane to use the drop-off bay are a further hazard in one of the gaps on the south side of the street.

Compared with the current proposals for Abingdon Street, those for Northumberland Avenue appear to do little to assist pedestrians. Although most of the junctions with side streets already have ‘entry treatment’,  the junction mouths are quite wide and the street corners are very rounded. This makes it easier for vehicles to enter or exit the streets at speed, putting pedestrians and cyclists in danger. It also lengthens the crossing distance for pedestrians. The worst case is the Whitehall Place junction, which does not even have the entry treatment found at the other junctions.

We have posted the same comments in your on-line questionnaire.

It is important to have a cycle route connecting Trafalgar Square with Cycleway 3 on the Victoria Embankment. We hope you will be able to make a few improvements to this scheme and look forward to further progress on it.

Yours sincerely,

Colin Wing,

Westminster Cycling Campaign.