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Traffic
flow first, cycling safety last
• On April 8 2005 I wrote to the New Journal
saying that “as a cyclist I could provide a list of over
a dozen spots on local roads where holes in the surface cause
riders to swerve – or to incur broken spokes or, in the
worst cases could provoke falls. Camden should first see to
smoothing the surfaces to make cycling truly safer.”
Unfortunately my wife fell from her bicycle for just the
reason of which I warned. Riding up College Crescent (NW3) in
the dark she completed the short steep section but then, with
the sound of a car about to overtake her up the hill, she moved
a little to the left to leave more room.
Just at that point there is a grating beside which the tarmac
is not smoothed, but affords a substantial ridge. The effect
of this is to destabilise a cycle and, falling to the right,
it was merely fortunate that she was not run over by the car.
She did however suffer a broken leg.
This has had to be treated with a plaster cast and recovery
will stretch out over a matter of weeks. Not only private and
domestic life will be depleted, my wife will also not be able
to go to work.
A few months ago I telephoned the Roads Department reporting
another grating just a few yards further down College Crescent
was missing and could kill a cyclist.
After a few weeks the pit was still there and I telephoned again
– fortunately this time the grating was replaced, with
a smoothed join to the tarmac. Little did I suspect that it
would be the next grating which would in due course be responsible
for my wife’s injury.
I urge that Camden heed my concern and focus resources to similar
remedial work throughout the borough.
J M Wober PhD
Lancaster Grove, NW3
• We are writing on behalf of Camden Cycling Campaign
regarding Camden’s proposal to make Judd Street one way.
The changes proposed to the Judd Street and Mabledon Place
junctions with Euston Road will significantly compromise the
safety of both pedestrians and cyclists. In particular, cyclists
using Camden’s main north-south route, which runs along
Mabledon Place, will now have to contend with the hazards associated
with rat-running traffic heading from Judd Street towards the
new left turn from Mabledon Place into Euston Road.
This degradation of safety conditions for the most vulnerable
road users is inexcusable, since the reason for it is to improve
traffic circulation on the vast new gyratory being implemented
around the King’s Cross and St Pancras stations.
At a time when Camden is working with Transport for London to
reduce the impact of two of its worst gyratories (in Camden
Town and Tottenham Court Road), having recognised the detrimental
effects on both road safety and regeneration that these systems
have, it is madness to be proposing introducing another one
at St Pancras.
We call on the council to reconsider this proposal, as we are
sure that, as in Camden High Street and Tottenham Court Road,
there will be significant road safety implications both from
the increased vehicle speeds around the gyratory, and from the
side effects, such as the proposed Judd Street and Mabledon
Place changes.
Stefano Casalotti and Jean Dollimore
Camden Cycling Campaign
Torriano Cottages, NW5
• Camden Council are proposing to close Judd Street to
northbound traffic where it joins Euston Road and divert traffic
across the popular and heavily used north-south cycle route
on Mabledon Place.
This is apparently at the request of Transport for London who
want to maximise the traffic flow out of Midland Road; they
are planning for four lanes of traffic to use this road!
The result will be a considerable increase in risk to cyclists,
and also will be to the detriment of pedestrians wanting to
cross Euston Road.
Given Camden’s good record of supporting cyclists and pedestrians,
it is a great pity that they are not following their principles
here. Hopefully it’s not too late for councillors to take
action to protect the more vulnerable road users.
John Chamberlain
Grove Terrace
NW5
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