Transport for London (TfL) have launched a public consultation on extensive changes to roads in East London including Burdett Road, and other roads to introduce a “Cycleway” between Hackney and the Isle of Dogs.

Like the previous article on changes in West London, these proposals are part of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy guided by the “Healthy Streets Approach” and aim to encourage more walking and cycling specifically. One of the key changes is more segregated cycle lanes and reduction in road space for other traffic.

For example, on Burdett Road (which is the A1205 and a key part of the London road network) the speed limit will be reduced to 20 mph and parking bays removed on one side of the road. See artists impression published by TfL above of how it will look near Bow Common Lane – the usual over-optimistic view of traffic conditions.

The roads concerned would be improved for pedestrians and cyclists but the traffic modelling undertaken by TfL demonstrates that the proposed changes will substantially increase journey times for vehicles on these roads, as with all such schemes. As is now normal with TfL consultations, there is no cost provided for the scheme and no cost/benefit analysis, but other sources suggest it will cost £50 million. To repeat what I said recently on the West London scheme: Is it any wonder Mayor Sadiq Khan is short of money when he spends that amount on relatively minor improvements to these roads that will benefit very few people.

We have consistently opposed schemes that favour cyclists over other road users and result in the latter (even bus users) having increased journey times. We have already responded to the public consultation on this scheme but readers should please do the same which is very easy to do via an on-line consultation form available from here: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/cycling/hackney-to-isle-of-dogs/ . You need to respond a.s.a.p. and before the 21st June at the latest.

Roger Lawson

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