Britannia Road update

For those interested, here is an update on Britannia Road.  A new crossing may seem small beer but for us it’s important.  The scheme is not a cycle infrastructure scheme per se – there aren’t many of them – but is a road safety improvement scheme, of which there are many more.  Like many road safety improvement schemes, it will have an effect on cyclists.  Clued-in councils are often able to piggy-back improvements to cycling infrastructure onto these schemes.  On the other hand, councils (even well-meaning ones) who don’t think enough about cycling can implement these schemes in a way that makes things worse.  There is a risk that this scheme becomes a case in point. 

To be fair, we are talking here about an initial proposal.  Council officers have acknowledged our worries and told us that they will be considered in the forthcoming detailed design phase.  So, plenty to play for. 

We have now met with officers at Britannia Road.  Much of our discussion centred on the ‘contraflow’ cycling along Britannia Road.  The big issue is at the junction of Riverdene and Britannia Roads.  Only it isn’t really a junction.  Britannia Road is not, for now, a turning off Riverdene Road.  Vehicles driving north along Riverdene Road don’t have to stop and do a right turn into Britannia Road across oncoming traffic; drivers simply go round a corner and into Britannia Road: Riverdene Road/Britannia Road is a continuous road that turns through 90 degrees.  It’s not the standard road layout envisaged for contraflow cycling that you can find in the Department for Transport’s Local Transport Note (LTN) 1/20. 

When we met, we saw cars cutting the corner of Riverdene Road/Britannia Road.  Drivers followed a line exactly where cyclists riding from Ilford Lane would be (between 75 and 100cm from the kerb).  And that is before Britannia Road is made one-way.  Once it is, drivers turning the corner of Riverdene Road/Britannia Road will expect a clear run and the temptation to cut the corner will be greater.  And we know that they will be travelling faster. 

LCC has told us that corner cutting at the exit of cycle contraflows has caused accidents in other boroughs.  

We think the junction can be re-configured and here’s a starter for 10 …

Drivers who previously turned right off Ilford Lane into Britannia Road will now come down Bengal Road, turn right into Riverdene Road and right again into Britannia Road.  This creates an extra right turn across Cycleway C42, making C42 more dangerous for cyclists because, as you know, most accidents involving cyclists happen at junctions. 

Our conclusion is that, unless the Riverdene Road/Britannia Road turning is reconfigured in the detailed design, the scheme will make things more, rather than less, dangerous for cyclists – and will be perceived by cyclists as dangerous.  That means that cyclists will avoid using the route – including me. 

I think I would use the new crossing, ride along the pavement to Audrey Road and go down there which, incidentally, is on the London Cycle Network and is signed as such.  So maybe the Council could build a short section of cycle track between Audrey Road and the crossing? You don’t get what you don’t ask for, so if you think we are right and have the time, why not email the Council, tell them you are worried and ask for improvements to be made in the detailed design?  Or, if you live in the area, go to your councillor’s surgery and talk to them about the scheme. 

Half time and everything to play for. …

Riverside path between Wanstead Park and Ilford Town Centre

This looks like a very good scheme.  We understand from the Council that the path will be a bridleway and so open to pedestrians, cyclists … and horses.  In effect the path will extend the Roding Valley Way southwards to Ilford putting a valuable leisure cycling route within reach of a lot more people.  For those of you not familiar with it, the Roding Valley Way provides a good route from Wanstead Park to Ray Park.  It is suitable for all kinds of bike with the probable exception of Tour de France style racers.

We think the extent to which cyclists will actually take advantage of the path is going to depend on the extent to which the Council can provide a network of segregated, traffic calmed or quiet cycle routes to its start.

We haven’t seen the plans for the cycle route running from Newham into Ilford along the Ilford Western Gyratory so at this point we can’t comment on this part of the scheme.

Ilford Lane Britannia Road crossing improvements

Update 26.08.2024

Council Officers have told us that Britannia Road will remain two way for cyclists.  This is good news, but as anyone who has ridden the roads in the Oakdale area of South Woodford (see map) knows, one-way streets bring their own problems.  Drivers are tempted to go faster because they know nothing is coming the other way, vehicles try and push past cyclists and drivers seem to have an enhanced sense that the road is theirs – cyclists and pedestrians don’t need one-way streets so if a street is one-wayed it’s for the benefit of drivers.  So as the scheme goes forward, we will be talking to council officers about the best way to implement the proposal to make sure that cyclists will feel safe and confident about cycling along Britannia Road in both directions but especially ‘against’ the motor traffic.  Because if cyclists don’t feel confident, they won’t use the route and a real opportunity to improve things for cyclists in the Ilford area will go begging. 

Claybury Park Gates

For as long as I can remember, RCC has been campaigning to improve access to the park through the gates on Roding Lane North and Acle Close.  We now have progress.  The Council has removed the nibs on the barriers to allow a greater range of bicycles to be pushed through.  It’s a welcome improvement but it’s not quite the real deal.

The Department for Transport’s Local Transport Note 1/20 (LTN 1/20) Cycle Infrastructure Design recommends that all cycle infrastructure allow passage of the Cycle Design Vehicle.  What’s this?  Well, it’s easiest to think of it as the smallest box into which all cycles – a tandem, a tricycle, a hand powered bike, a cargo bike – can fit.  If this box can navigate a piece of cycle infrastructure, then the infrastructure passes the LTN 1/20 test.  If it can’t it fails.  The adapted barriers at Claybury Park still fail.  But it’s an improvement.  If everything goes well – the worry always seems to be motorbikes getting into the park – then we can argue that local residents and park users should not fear the Council making the park accessible to the Cycle Design Vehicle – that is to all types of cycles.