The London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea will pilot a project providing cyclists with contra-flow lanes on specific one-way roads in the borough.
Part of a series of measures to promote green travel, the project will allow cyclists to ride in both directions on specific one-way streets. ‘No entry’ signs will carry ‘except for cyclists’ messages on these streets.
The pilot contra-flow cycling system will be introduced on the most convenient routes, helping cyclists reduce their journey times, says Transport Minister Sadiq Khan. The project will enable cyclists to ride safely and legally on these specified routes.
The Transport Minister says the government wants to make it easier for councils all over the UK to promote green travel. It is hoped that the contra-flow project will lead to a more cost-effective solution for councils to implement measures encouraging greener travel.
A consultation to amend Traffic Signs regulations was launched yesterday, September 17, and will run for 12 weeks. Proposals have been announced to help reduce red-tape for councils wanting to put certain signs up on their roads.
The new measures will allow councils to by-pass individual governmental approval for putting up some signs, including those for cyclists and electric car charging points.
Councils currently wanting to establish contra-flow systems for cycles require to use stipulated engineering methods to create special cycle lanes. The pilot scheme in in Kensington and Chelsea allows the council to simply paste the “except cyclists” plates on the existing ‘no entry’ signs without undertaking the engineering. However, the scheme includes feeder lanes and will be monitored for the duration for the project, to ensure safety.
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