Haverstock Hill: due to get new cycle lanes 

• FOLLOWING the Camden Cycling Campaign’s defence of their schemes, (Cycle lane scheme will bring benefits, October 22), I suggest it’s about time we all took stock.

The current state of affairs is not a happy one; there are many issues relating to Camden’s “Covid” road initiatives to be raised:

1. Schemes are being pushed through with little or no genuine consultation simply by temporary traffic orders. And many of the changes are nothing to do with keeping people safe from Covid. The pandemic is being used as an excuse.

2. However much the general public may support the idea of “more cycles, fewer cars” the role of the cycle lobby is becoming highly questionable. It is in a privileged position, regularly consulting with the council. There is a danger of too much lobby-group power, with the interests of everyone else ignored.

3. Cycle lanes are the prime aim of the road changes – but many cyclists are not even using the lanes.

4. There is poor implementation of the schemes – The Prince of Wales Road bus shelter with cycle lane running through it is a classic example; now we have a pedestrian crossing with no zebra stripes and double yellow lines on one side of the road.

5. Ugliness of the schemes being implemented is not a small matter – large sums of money are being spent on schemes that will not stand the test of time.

6. Pedestrians are of very low consideration. Crossings are removed, kerbs added, pedestrian islands disappear, blind spots introduced. Pedestrians do not have a lobby group – they rely on their council to do the right thing for them.

7. Motorcycle bays are removed without mention, as in Museum Street, Bloomsbury.

8. Swathes of residents’ parking are removed leaving people to look elsewhere. The rushed implementation of proposals is leading to car wars – displacing residents’ parking to neighbouring roads is simply causing unpleasantness through reduced provision as drivers vie for limited space.

There is a consensus on increasing cycling / reduction in car use / protection of pedestrians, but this is now being broken.

Camden, in conjunction with an overweening cycle lobby must take a large part of the blame for this.It is time to rein back and review what is happening.

Camden should be looking at schemes from the point of view of an elderly person, a child, a person pushing a buggy trying to negotiate streets such as Prince of Wales Road.

BRIAN LAKE,
NW1