What’s wrong with Victoria?

Victoria is one of the least welcoming areas in Westminster to cycle through and the station is probably the most difficult one in central London station to access on a bike.


High Traffic Volumes

The Victoria gyratory system, which forms part of the ‘free route’ around the boundary of the Congestion Charging Zone, carries high volumes of traffic:

Most people don't want to mix with this level of traffic on a bike. In fact the new government standards (Local Transport Note 1/20) are clear: above 6,000 vehicles an hour, protected space for cycling is needed’.

Grosvenor Gardens

Lengthened Journey Distances

Following the gyratory system can mean that the legal route between two points in the Victoria area can be far longer than a direct route would be:

It goes without saying that distance is important for road users relying on their own energy.

Incomplete Cycle Routes

Although there are a couple of designated cycle routes in the Victoria area, these are not complete or integrated with the rest of the cycle network.

The cycle route along Ebury Street dumps NE-bound cyclists into four lanes of traffic on Grosvenor Gardens:

Exit from Ebury Street into Grosvenor Gardens

The cycle route along Beeston Place can only be used in the SW direction:

Exit from Beeston Place towards Ebury Street

A couple of potential cycle routes are blocked by obstacles.

Victoria Square is an attractive island of tranquillity but SW-bound cyclists can reach it only after turning right across four lanes of traffic in Buckingham Palace Road. And NE-bound cyclists cannot reach it at all.

Victoria Square

Lower Belgrave Street is a potential cycle route between Victoria Street and Belgravia. But Buckingham Palace Road, with its central reservation, blocks access to/from the station.

Exit from Lower Belgrave Street onto Buckingham Palace Road

Conflict at Junctions

There are many junctions where cyclists riding straight ahead could conflict with left-turning vehicles:

Ebury Bridge: junction with Buckingham Palace Road

This is clearly a potentially dangerous situation, especially considering the number of large vehicles that pass through the area.

Conclusion

Local Transport Note 1/20 says that cycle routes should be:

  • Coherent;

  • Direct;

  • Safe;

  • Comfortable; and

  • Attractive.

Those in the Victoria area fail on all five counts.