January 2001

Residents in Middleton Road, E8, are understandably tired of all the noisy through motor traffic that goes past their door, even though the street is part of the strategic cycle network and was quite recently fitted out with 'pillows' to try to encourage motor vehicle operators to cut their speed.

Several locals have suggested that replacing the cushions with 'traditional' humps that go all the way across the street would be a more effective way to reduce motor speeds, and the Dalston Neighourhood Committee discussed this at their request on 3 January 2001.

The question provoked an interesting discussion on the Cycling in Hackney mailing list.

No consensus could be reached about the merits and demerits of humps vs pillows, but all agreed that selective barriers to stop through motor traffic would be a better option. You only have to look at the areas of De Beauvoir where this type of solutions has been implemented for years to see how well it works - and how much it adds to the quality of residents' lives.

Crispin Truman wrote this letter to express our view to the Council:

London Cycling Campaign in Hackney

c/o 16 Lavers Road

Stoke Newington

London

N16 0DT

Mike Smith

Committee Secretariat

London Borough of Hackney

Hackney Town Hall

Mare Street

London E8

29 December 2000

Dear Mr Smith

Myddleton Road London Cycle Network

We are writing concerning traffic calming arrangements in Myddleton Road which are up for discussion at the next Dalston Neighbourhood Committee. Myddleton Road is an important cycle route in Hackney and a designated route on the London Cycle Network. As a significant user of the road, cyclists should always be consulted on any planned changes which might have an impact on them.

We support wholeheartedly local residents’ concern at increasing traffic levels, but we don’t believe that their current proposal of replacing speed cushions with humps will much improve the situation. We urge the Council instead to bring forward their much-delayed plans for selective road closures in this area. We believe that barriers which allow cars into both ends of the road but prevent through motor-traffic, will have the impact residents so clearly need to see. These barriers should be permeable to cycles and emergency vehicles, thus encouraging people to make more journeys by bike and less by car.

The more people are encouraged to cycle in Hackney, the quieter the traffic will be.

Yours sincerely,

Crispin Truman

For the London Cycling Campaign in Hackney