Finsbury Park to Highbury Fields Cycleway Consultation

Healthy, fair, accessible and enjoyable transport

Islington Council wants to create a healthy, fair, accessible and enjoyable transport environment in the borough. We want to tackle poor air quality, and make travelling in Islington safer, enjoyable and sustainable for all.

We want our streets to help our residents’ health and well-being by making active travel (such as walking, cycling and using public transport) an easy option for getting around and by improving the local environment for everybody.

What are we proposing?

We are now consulting on the Finsbury Park to Highbury Fields part of a future Cycleway between Farringdon and Palmers Green which has been developed in partnership with Transport for London. This new Cycleway route has been chosen because it is already very popular with cyclists and the numbers of people using this route are likely to increase.

Our scheme would create a greener, more pleasant space for local people and a convenient, safer and more direct cycle route for cyclists of all abilities. The proposals have been designed to improve safety and comfort for cyclists and pedestrians by reducing conflict with motorised traffic.

The improvements include fully protected cycle tracks, greening measures, widened footways, safer junctions, pedestrian crossing points and new signs/ road markings. All of these are designed to make cycling and walking easier, safer and more enjoyable.

This route would link to other Cycleways in the London cycling network, including a complimentary signed route to the recent improvements at Highbury Corner, and make it easier for local people of all ages to cycle and walk to local facilities such as leisure centres and shops.

The wider cycle lanes will allow people with adapted cycles such as cargo bikes or cycles for disabled people to use the route more easily and make it safer for all vulnerable road users in line with the Vision Zero agenda, which aims to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from our roads.

What are Cycleways?

Cycleways are continuous, clearly signed and convenient cycle routes which bring together all of the high-quality routes into a single London-wide network that is easy for everyone to understand and use.

Proposals

Detailed maps are available at the bottom of the page.

1. Blackstock Road/ Ambler Road Junction: Traffic lights would be introduced at the junction with new pedestrian crossings, providing early release for cyclists and cycle boxes on all arms. This design will significantly improve conditions for pedestrian and cyclists crossing Blackstock Road and allow cyclists to continue on the Cycleway route towards Finsbury Park. This proposal will involve the removal of a parking space on Somerfield Road and the Electric Vehicle charging point along Ambler Road would need to be relocated. The section towards Finsbury Park will be consulted on separately by Hackney Council. (see map section 1)
2. Gillespie Road/ Avenell Road Junction: Priority at the junction would be reversed so that vehicles on Gillespie Road would give-way to vehicles on Avenell Road. This design would also raise the carriageway to footway level which would make it easier for crossing pedestrians and cyclists using the Cycleway to turn into Gillespie Road. (see map section 2)
3. Gillespie Road Trial Arrangement: The ongoing trial point no-entry preventing traffic travelling westbound on Gillespie Road past the junction with St Thomas’s Road, is not being formally consulted on as part of the Cycleway proposals but we welcome feedback. (see map section 5)
4. Drayton Park/ Aubert Park Junction: The existing mini-roundabout at the junction would be removed and changed to a priority (give-way) junction. The carriageway will be raised to footway level with pedestrian crossing points on all sides of the junction. This will raise awareness of the new Cycleway route and also make it easier for pedestrians to cross the road. The junction would prioritise movements on Drayton Park and traffic along Aubert Park would give-way. (see map section 3)
5. Martineau Road – Aubert Park: Fully protected cycle facility at least 2.2m would be provided for northbound cycles between Martineau Road and Aubert Park. The proposal allows for southbound cyclists to mix comfortably with general traffic by adopting a position in the centre of the traffic lane, making them more visible to other traffic. The proposed design will maintain the existing number of parking spaces, however some parking bays would be relocated elsewhere between Martineau Road and Aubert Park to make room for improved cycle facilities. For the purposes of consultation, two design options for protecting cyclists are being considered, which we would like you to comment on. Examples are given below to illustrate the different design options. (see map section 3)
   • Kerb protected cycle tracks: the cycle track would be at the same level as the carriageway with a kerb installed to separate vehicles and cyclists. See below example from Cycle Superhighway 2 between Stratford and Aldgate
   • Stepped cycle tracks: The cycleway would be installed halfway between the carriageway and footway. See below example from Midland Road in LB Camden
6. Benwell Road – Martineau Road: Fully protected cycle facilities would be introduced in both directions on this section of Drayton Park. The cycle tracks would be at least 2m wide in each direction and will also include a small strip that will physically protect cyclists from parked vehicles. The proposed design will maintain the existing number of parking spaces and access arrangements along Drayton Park. Existing zebra crossings will be raised to footway level improving pedestrian accessibility and safety. (see map section 3,4)
7. Benwell Road/ Drayton Park Junction: The existing junction would be converted to a ‘continental-style’ roundabout which would include protected cycle facilities throughout the junction and new cycle crossings on all arms of the junction. The design will also significantly improve conditions for pedestrians by introducing new zebra crossings on all arms, raised surface and widened footways reducing crossing distances. (see map section 5)

Highbury Crescent Signed Route: A complimentary signed route is proposed to connect up to the recent improvements at Highbury Corner. (see map section 6)

Maps

How to find out more

Please come to our drop-in sessions where council officers will be available to answer your questions.

• Thursday 27 June 4pm – 8pm, Drayton Park School, 52 Drayton Park, Highbury East, N5 1PJ
• Monday 1 July 4pm - 8pm, Islington Ecology Centre, 191 Drayton Park, N5 1PH
• Thursday 11 July 4pm – 8pm, Stephens Ink Community Centre, Stephens Ink Estate, Tannington Terrace, Gillespie Road, N5 1LR

We are particularly keen to speak to people and groups that do not usually cycle. If you would like us to speak to you, please contact us directly on 020 7527 2458.

To let us know what you think about our proposals please fill out our survey by Monday, 15 July

Survey  

What happens next?

All responses received either online or via the post will be processed and taken into further consideration. The results of the consultation will be reported to the Islington Council Executive Board in the Autumn before any decision is made on the Cycleway.