Westminster Council consultation on segregated cycle track proposals for Bayswater Road

Westminster City Council has launched consultation on its proposals for significant changes to Bayswater Road, narrowing this to provide a new segregated, stepped, cycle track. This would run east from Palace Court to Lancaster Terrace and west from Lancaster Terrace to the Broadwalk. The proposal as well as a questionnaire can be viewed at this link.

There will be an in-person consultation at the Thistle Hotel, 104 Bayswater Road, W2 3HL on Wednesday 14 January from 3pm to 7pm and Saturday 17 January from 10am to 2pm.

The public consultation runs until Wednesday 28 January. We encourage residents to have their say on this important issue before the deadline.

The stated aim of the proposal is to improve safety and comfort for cyclists by providing a clearer separation from both motor traffic and pedestrians along the Bayswater Road. The definition of “cyclists” in this context includes bicycles, tricycles, pedal-powered cargo bikes, and Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles, including Lime bikes.

Bayswater Residents’ Association (BRA) has received advice about the questionnaire on the consultation website that we want to share as we believe it will help residents to make an informed choice.

Specifically, we understand, if you answer “Yes” to either question 3 (“Do you support improving walking, wheeling and cycling connections in this area?”) and / or question 4 (“If safe and comfortable cycling facilities were provided, would you be more likely to cycle for local or longer journeys?”) then your submission will be considered as supporting the proposal. In our view, this could be misleading, since few people would disagree with these statements, yet they do not account for the specifics of the proposal under consultation. Therefore, we suggest that residents might consider answering “No” to these questions if they have concerns.
Potential issues you might like to consider include:

  • New “floating” bus stops between the new segregated cycle route and the main road, which can only be accessed by crossing the cycle track. The image above shows the general idea. The plan below shows the specific proposal for the bus stop at Caroline Place. This includes a “bus stop bypass” for the new cycle track. Everyone, including elderly and disabled people, will have to cross this cycle track to get on a bus … with increased risks after dusk.

  • The proposed cycle track would be raised and fully segregated, unlike the current, shorter, cycle lanes which are indicated by road markings only and which allow buses to stop. The introduction of a cycle lane, eastbound, at Lancaster Gate and consequent single lane traffic restriction has caused tailbacks as far as Leinster Terrace.
  • In places the new design would restrict vehicular traffic to one lane only, causing all traffic to wait at bus stops.
  • The current lack of enforcement against cycle speeding, red light-jumping and illegal and de-restricted bikes, all of which would pose a greater threat if segregated cycle tracks are in place. There are no plans to impose or enforce a speed limit for cyclists on the new track.
  • For this reason, disability advocates typically oppose such proposals, given their impact on vulnerable pedestrians, particularly those with more limited mobility or eyesight, needing to cross fast cycle tracks. Increasing hazards for disabled people accessing buses is a particular problem, since they are unable to use many underground stations.
  • Increased congestion and slower journey times for buses, residential and commercial vehicles and emergency vehicles; increased noise and pollution from idling traffic.
  • There will be no kerbside stopping; taxi pickups, drop-offs and deliveries for Bayswater Road hotels and businesses will be curtailed..
  • Displaced traffic is likely to seek alternative routes through currently quiet residential streets. Sunday parking on Bayswater Road will be lost, increasing parking pressure on nearby residential streets.
  • The large number of crossing points which pierce the proposed west-east track may pose accident risks to pedestrians, vehicles and cyclists themselves.
  • The restricted room for cyclists to overtake on narrow constrained tracks like this has been shown elsewhere to increase cycle-on-cycle accidents.
  • The C27 cycle way already links Palace Court to Lancaster Gate (and vice versa) via quieter roads including Prince’s Square, Porchester Gardens, Craven Road and Westbourne Street.

BRA will engage with WCC as well as other stakeholders and local amenity groups to ensure our members’ views are well represented. We would be grateful to hear what you think (please email membership@bayswaterresidents.org), and encourage you to participate in the consultation if you are able to do so.