Shoreditch one-way system for the chop
Let's get the very best deal for local people
This racetrack could be Shoreditch High Street again soon.
|
What are your three favourite streets in the borough? Chances are you wouldn't say Old Street, Shoreditch High Street and Great Eastern Street - but coming changes may make you think again.
Words: Trevor Parsons. Pictures: Suzanne Jansen. A study commissioned by Hackney's Traffic and Transportation Group in 1997 concluded that both Shoreditch High Street and Great Eastern Street could be returned to two-way traffic, bringing lower motor-traffic speeds, more direct journeys for everyone, and an end to the 'canyon effect' of one-way streets. The one-way section of Old Street (up to the junction with Great Eastern Street) would have to stay, though, the consultants said. We welcome the beginning of the end of the use of Shoreditch streets as urban motorways. We do think, though, the revised system should allow the maximum possible route choice for cyclists. Imagine you're at Shoreditch Town Hall, and you want to go to Old Street underground station to meet someone......without a contraflow lane, this estimated £2 million plan would still send you all around the houses. In December 1997 we presented our response to the consultants' report, and successfully persuaded Shoreditch councillors to our point of view. Councillors also decided that the aim of making cycling as convenient as possible should be included in the brief of future transport feasibility studies. The theme of our response is making cycling as convenient as possible, mainly by enabling people on bikes to go in both directions on street. The backbone of our suggestions is a protected contraflow cycle lane on the one-way section of Old Street, which would then open up the Hoxton Street and Pitfield Street corridors to two-way cycle traffic. |
|
'Too dangerous!' is many people's first reaction to the idea of a contraflow lane on Old Street. But there's plenty of room for a contraflow cycle lane to be physically divided from oncoming traffic by a kerb. It has been done before in London, notably in King Street, Hammersmith, where it works a treat.
The slightly tricky bits would be the junctions with Shoreditch High St/Kingsland Rd, Hoxton St/Curtain Rd and Gt Eastern St/Pitfield St/Tabernacle St. But, as we say in the response, the reduced amount of motor traffic on Old St as a result of people being able to use Great Eastern St eastbound will allow room for creativity at these junctions, which should also make life easier and more pleasant for people on foot, especially at Hoxton St/Curtain Rd. The Old Street contraflow would still be useful even if cyclists weren't given access to it from all possible entry points. But let's aim for the best possible solution! At the March 1998 Cycle Liaison Meeting we were relieved to hear confirmation that the narrow 'pinch point' section of Old Street outside the new Holiday Inn site will be straightened out. This will allow the eastbound bus and cycle lane to be continuous, still leaving enough room for the westbound cycle contraflow. Great news. Whatever the challenges in the detail, one thing is clear... |
| ...we've got to get it right this time! |
| November 26th 1998 - a well attended public meeting debated the demise of the one-way system in Shoreditch Town Hall. Read a report by Crispin Truman. |
| September 5th 2001 - well overdue update. |
