The brand new cycle lanes, together with a raft of different adjustments on Tooley Avenue and Duke Avenue Hill, have been launched early final yr as an “experiment” to see if strolling and biking could possibly be inspired with out inflicting delays to visitors.
The adjustments additionally noticed the introduction of a left-turn ban into Queen Elizabeth Highway for automobiles excluding buses and taxis, and the elimination of on-street parking close to the Unicorn Theatre to make room for a bit of cycle lane.
Following a evaluate of the information gathered throughout the six-month session, TfL revealed that the adjustments could be made everlasting having resulted in a 25 per cent improve within the variety of individuals biking alongside the route, with out resulting in important delays for buses or different visitors.
Automobile numbers alongside Tooley Avenue have been additionally discovered to have fallen by a 3rd, which TfL stated has led to a “far more nice setting for individuals utilizing the road”.
In a report following the trial, TfL says there was a “clear improve” in ranges of biking alongside Tooley Avenue on weekdays, not dropping under a median of 5,000 cyclists per day throughout the spring.
There was, although, a lower in ranges of biking at weekends, which TfL put right down to a higher proportion of individuals utilizing public transport in comparison with throughout the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic when the adjustments have been first launched.
In keeping with the report, the adjustments led to “faster and extra dependable” bus journey occasions westbound alongside Tooley Avenue, whereas eastbound providers remained persistently “in or round” journey occasions seen beforehand.
All through the general public session, which lasted from Might to November 2021, TfL acquired 222 responses together with 4 from stakeholders.
In its report, TfL stated: “Previous to this scheme measures for cyclists consisted primarily of advisory line markings, with no bodily separation from common visitors on what’s a comparatively busy hall the place a excessive variety of susceptible highway customers have been harm in collisions. Within the 36 months ending June 2020, there have been a complete 27 collisions on Tooley Avenue and Duke Avenue Hill, and of those 15 (55%) concerned individuals biking being injured.
“We aimed to supply a safer facility for cyclists, while balancing this with the wants of different highway customers together with buses, taxis, and native companies. We consider {that a} good stage of service has been maintained for all highway customers: that is borne out by the truth that the efficiency of community has remained secure for the reason that scheme was launched.”
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