Shoreditch traffic proposals

Proposed Changes to the
Shoreditch One-Way
Traffic Scheme

Comments by the London Cycling Campaign in Hackney to scheme proposed by London Borough of Hackney in 1997

1. An opportunity not to be missed

1.1. The London Cycling Campaign in Hackney is delighted that the Shoreditch One-Way Traffic Scheme is being reviewed.
1.2. The present system of traffic management in Shoreditch was designed to promote the largest possible throughput of motor traffic. In doing so it discourages sustainable travel modes and creates an almost intolerable local environment.

1.3. The two major impacts of the present system on cycle-traffic are diverted journeys and excessive motor-traffic speeds. These negative effects should be addressed as far as possible in a revised system.

1.4. A proposal of this magnitude and cost should be guided by the long-term aims of motor traffic reduction and the promotion of sustainable modes of travel, especially walking and cycling. Satisfying these aims now will save the trouble and expense of putting things right later.

2. Consultation

2.1. We were grateful for the invitation to attend the exhibition of the proposals at 161 City Road, which was taken up. The Hackney LCC representative was reportedly the only member of the public to have gone out of his or her way to attend the exhibition - all other comments were made by ‘passing trade’, mainly those who had come to pay parking fines.
2.2. We do welcome the broad outline of the preferred option. We believe, though, that there was an important omission during the formulation of the brief for the feasibility study; it appears not to have included the aim of making cycling as convenient as possible by maximising contraflow cycle movement in and around the system. This omission would have been quickly corrected if cyclists had been consulted at that early stage.

3. Making cycling as convenient as possible

3.1. We are very pleased about the proposed reversion of Shoreditch High Street and Great Eastern Street to two-way operation. This would allow more direct routes for all road users. We believe, however, that further improvements could be made to the proposals, to ensure that cycling becomes an even more popular and convenient way of getting around Shoreditch.

Feasibility of an Old Street cycle contraflow

3.2. The feasibility study has concluded that Old Street is too narrow to be converted to two-way operation. It seems that the study did not, however, consider the feasibility of providing two-way operation for cycle traffic only. One-way operation on Old Street presently forces cyclists to make a long and potentially hazardous diversion around the system. Imagine, for instance, that you have been to a meeting in Shoreditch Town Hall, and you wish to cycle to Old Street underground station to meet a friend. The preferred option does not address this problem.
3.3. There is room on Old Street for a contraflow cycle lane physically protected from oncoming traffic by a kerbed marginal strip. Parking and loading could continue to be permitted at appropriate points on both sides of the main carriageway, and gaps in the strip could allow access where necessary.

3.4. This type of contraflow provision has operated successfully for many years in comparable circumstances at King Street, Hammersmith. Details of this scheme can be found in the Department of Transport Traffic Advisory Leaflet 5/89.

3.5. With appropriate arrangements, a contraflow lane could potentially permit direct westbound cycle movements along Old Street from Hackney Road, Kingsland Road, Shoreditch High Street, Hoxton Street, Curtain Road, Charlotte Road, Rufus Street, Coronet Street and Bath Place.

3.6. The reduced motor traffic flows forecast on Old Street eastbound may allow more flexibility in traffic control phasing at its major junctions, permitting arrangements for convenient, protected cycle movements into and out of the contraflow lane.

The new Great Eastern Street/Old Street junction

3.7. Complete remodelling is proposed for the junction of Great Eastern Street/Old Street/Pitfield Street/Tabernacle Street. The plans show that the segregated north-south cycle lane between Tabernacle Street and Pitfield Street would be moved to a new location, but it is not clear whether cycle traffic would continue to be restricted to northbound only. Pitfield Street may soon be provided with a southbound contraflow cycle lane, which would strengthen the case for the new junction arrangements to allow for cycle movement in both directions.
3.8. Suitable two-way provision north-south across this junction would allow cycle traffic coming from the suggested Old Street contraflow to turn right into Pitfield Street, left into Tabernacle Street, or to make its way to the westbound carriageway of Great Eastern Street for points west.

Curtain Road contraflow

3.9. We welcome the intention to reduce the amount of motor traffic using Curtain Road. Together with speed reduction measures, it would be appropriate to consider providing a contraflow cycle lane. This would be particularly useful if contraflow facilities were also provided on Hoxton Street south of Fanshaw Street, and suitable arrangements made at Curtain Road’s junctions with Old Street and Great Eastern Street.

4. Positive effects for surrounding streets

4.1. Many of the smaller streets which give onto the one-way system are also presently subject to one-way operation. With the withdrawal of one-way working on Shoreditch High Street and Great Eastern Street, and the reduction of motor traffic in Curtain Road, there may be less need for these restrictions, especially for cycle traffic.

5. Recommendations

5.1. That the feasibility of maximising contraflow cycle movement as discussed above be considered before advancing the scheme.
5.2. That the aim of making cycling as convenient as possible be included in the brief of future transport feasibility studies.

Trevor Parsons, London Cycling Campaign in Hackney, November 1997

November 2002: Things have certainly moved on a bit since '97, with the main streets of Shoreditch about to be switched to two-way (with qualifications) in a few weeks' time. Read more about it here.