LCN+ route 10 Paul Street contraflow proposal - our response

Thanks for consulting Hackney LCC on the proposal to provide for contraflow cycle traffic in the northern section of Paul Street.

As always, we warmly welcome the authority's intention to provide more convenience for cycle traffic by facilitating two-way cycling on the London Cycle Network and indeed more widely on the borough's street network.

In particular we are glad that the streets of South Shoreditch are now slowly undergoing the transformation back to two-way working, at least for cycle traffic, and that the current proposals form part of a longer-term aim of returning Paul Street - and preferably all surrounding streets - to two-way working at least for cycle traffic.

Detailed comments on the proposals:

Vehicle parking bays

This would clearly result in the reduction in the number of parking bays available, because of the junctions with Blackall Street and Willow Street on the east side, but now that the area is inside the CCZ there is less demand for vehicle parking. At mid-day today (Thursday 4th March) there were only seven out of the current 12 bays in use.

Preference for 'false one-way' over contraflow lane

Since Paul Street conforms to the former of those requirements, and may soon be part of an area-wide 20mph zone, we would prefer if possible to see a 'false one way' if possible. A distinct advantage is that cycle traffic is not confined to the defined lane, and so can move out to avoid obstacles - such as illegally parked vehicles - as necessary.

The use of the 'false one way' would obviously require the provision of no entry signs and cycle 'plugs' on the north sides of the junctions with Blackall Street and Willow Street. This would clearly be a lot easier to achieve if the parking bays were relocated.

Liberal use of sign NP 960.2 would be desirable. (According to TAL 6/98, it is necessary to apply for authorisation for this sign). Also on-carriageway direction markings indicating two-way traffic (combined with a cycle symbol in the northerly direction) might be a good idea.

Carriageway markings at southern end

a) to discourage motor traffic headed for Leonard Street west from hugging the kerbline, thereby straying into the contraflow lane, and

b) to allow for the inevitable eventuality of cycle traffic travelling (illegally) northbound up the southern section of Paul Street and wishing to continue up Paul Street.

Alignment of tracks across pedestrian area at northern end

We would therefore propose that the currently split south- and northbound tracks should be combined, and that the resulting wide entrance and exit should be aligned at 90 degrees to the kerb, approximately where the proposed position of the southbound track is shown on your drawing. This entrance should be protected from abuse by motor vehicles by the placement of a bollard dividing the north- and southbound tracks where they join Tabernacle Street.

We understand that Cllr Stops has already persuaded you of the merits of removing the easterly section of the proposed buildout on the south side of the carriageway at this point, where you intend to align northbound cyclists for crossing to the tracks. We support this idea, and suggest that the remaining westerly part of the buildout be increased in size so as to avoid the need for a contraflow lane to cross the footway as you have drawn. Cyclists are most likely to want to remain on the carriageway at this point, and it's best to cater for that fact.

As always I would be very happy to discuss any aspect of this response with you.

Best regards,

Trevor Parsons
on behalf of the London Cycling Campaign in Hackney