Two New Cycling Schemes Proposed in Wandsworth


Improved infrastructure being evaluated on Queenstown Road and Garratt Lane

Queenstown Road hatching to be removed to make way for cycle lane
Queenstown Road hatching to be removed to make way for cycle lane. Picture: Google

Two new schemes to encourage cycling in Wandsworth are being proposed on Queenstown Road and Garratt Lane.

The proposals are currently being evaluated by highways engineers at Transport for London who will need to approve the designs.

In Queenstown Road the following immediate measures are proposed:

• Removal of central hatching to accommodate a 2m wide southbound mandatory cycle lane along the entire length of Queenstown Road.

• Installing lane separators to increase the clearance drivers give to cyclists and to prevent parking on the cycle lane.

• Installing coloured surfacing at all junctions to highlight the presence and priority of cyclists.

• Removal of traffic islands that create narrow pinch points for cyclists.

Over the longer term, the council would like to redesign the junction with Battersea Park Road to include early release for cyclists, low level cycle signals, two-stage right turns for cyclists and continuation of cycle lanes through the junction.

In Garratt Lane, the following is proposed:

• Introduce advisory cycle lanes with prominent signage and road markings in both directions.

• Install lane separators to increase the clearance drivers give to cyclists and to prevent parking on the cycle lane.

• Increase bus lane operating hours to improve bus flow, prevent other vehicles using the bus lanes and allow cyclists to use them.

• Remove traffic islands and parking bays to mitigate pinch points for cyclists and relocating parking bays into side roads to maintain parking provision for businesses.

Further plans to boost cycling provision are currently being drawn up for a third important cycle route in the borough – Magdalen Road. The aim here will be to reduce through traffic to further support two wheeled travel.

These latest measures to increase cycle safety follow announcements to close Old York Road plus Northcote Road and a stretch of Bedford Hill to vehicles, as well as improving a cycle contraflow scheme in Earlsfield and creating a low traffic neighbourhood in Balham.

Transport spokesman Cllr Paul Ellis said: “These changes are just the first in a wider list of measures being investigated and evaluated so that we can improve safety conditions for people on bikes.

“Over the course of the coming days and weeks we plan to unveil additional measures to support cyclists. We are fully committed to doing what we can to encourage people to adopt new forms of travel and supporting them to do so in the safest possible way.”

Residents and businesses can make suggestions for further travel improvement measures by emailing the council’s recently set up Rapid Response Team at socialdistancing@wandsworth.gov.uk.


July 21, 2020