An official petition and campaign has started to get Kings Cross emerge into a 20 Miles only area. The campaign initiated by the local Kings Cross Lib Dem Team is the result of witnessing a rather tragic event of a fatality near Marchmont Street.
All streets at Kings Cross on which people live should be reduced in speed. This should also include streets that are part of Transport for London, like Acton Street for example, where two, almost three uni-directional lanes invite motorized traffic to speed up beyond even the current the 30 miles limit.
The campaign can be signed here:
Local Labour councillors have also been trying to raise this issue before, although this petition is a first so far. The neighbourhood can only hope that Labour can unite with Lib Dem on this issue as it would truly serve the interest of many vulnerable Kings Cross residents, such as those with children, disabilities, cyclists and many others, and would improve quality of life without a doubt. It could be even conceivable that the campaign would include both sides of wider Kings Cross (Camden and Islington) as similar problems exist on Caledonian Road where a single lane merges into a uni directional dual lane.
In a discussion with me, Lee Baker, who co-organising the petition, agreed with me, that in the case of TFL not willing to reduce speeds on TFL roads, the least they could do is insure that nobody is able to exceed 30 miles any longer. I suggested that ways to do this include a reduction of the width of the streets (for example to open up space for proper cycle lanes and / or popular residential car parking).
Regardless of party loyalties, if traffic is too much, and too fast for you at Kings Cross, go and do support this opportunity of a petition to voice our concerns !
There was all-party support to introduce 20mph limits on Islington roads when this was debated at a full meeting of Islington Council earlier this year. A consultation exercise has just been completed across the Borough and the outcome for the 4 western wards will be reported to the West Area Committee on Sept 15th. By and large there's widespread support.
However, the Council has rather cravenly surrendered to TfL in relation to Wharfedale Road and Caledonian Road which make up the Islington part of the much hated northern KX gyratory (York Way being a Camden controlled road). The justification is that the gyratory forms part of the priority roads network and, even though these are Borough roads, TfL's wishes seem to hold sway. In my view, the leadership of Islington Council seems unwilling to take on TfL's orthodoxy and even lacks the courage to challenge their own highways and transport officers. These seem fixated by the belief that their prime mission is to protect vehicle flow by maintaining traffic speeds.
Even on the 20 Mph limits, Islington's traffic engineers are still trying to sabotage the policy arguing that, as the limits are not self-enforcing (i.e. no physical measures like speed bumps) they are either costly (you need cameras or police etc to enforce) or ineffective. There is a significant distinction between 20 mph "Zones" and roads that have 20mph "limits". For a "Zone" you need to implement physical speed reduction measures; but roads that have "limits" do not.
I completely support the campaign(s) to introduce 20mph limits on Camden's roads around KX. But, as a Labour Councillor in Islington's Caledonian Ward, I'll probably not actually sign the Lib Dem petition but do my best to promote the campaigns with cross-party unity.
Posted by: Paul Convery | 09/13/2009 at 10:28 AM
While I understand the safety element of lower speeds, I'm concerned about the pollution levels of traffic on main roads going along in a low gear and the jams which will inevitably result. Surely this will not improve the quality of air for residents, cyclists and pedestrians? Width restrictions (including wider cycle lanes) on main roads already crowded with traffic will also increase the jams and pollution even more.
Posted by: Sue Cartwright | 09/13/2009 at 10:35 AM
Dear Paul thank you very much for your insight. I had similar replies from TFL when I wrote them, even in Livingstone days. The point however about those roads is, and here I am also partially addressing Sue that I experience too often that cars and motorbikes begin short races when they feel the enthusiasm of a wide two lane road and when red route is enforced even three lane uni directional way.
It does not take a speed camera to know that the speeds reached on Acton Street, Swinton Road, Caledonian Road,and Kings Cross Road where the lanes are double often are nearer the 40, even 50 mile mark, at times when the streets are not congested.
Further to Sue, I'd say that Pentonville Road West Bound, Kings Cross Road North Bound, Caledonian Road South bound up to Wharfedale Rd, are all single lane in each direction. Why should the roads open up to two lanes in one direction, and that in particular in areas where people live? Why not go for an additional safe cycle lane in such case and provide a consistent single lane?
The only place where two lanes may be understandable (where there are currently two, three plus one bus lane, is the last stretch of Grays Inn Rd because it takes in the traffic from several main streets.
Standing traffic is a problem, I agree, but it is a different issue from speeding. Speeding kills and injures and that's that. In Acton STreet, where I live, there are at least 20 families with small children, some of whom do play or walk on the footpath at times.
Also with the changes in engines of the last few years, and very likely further reductions in emissions the long term view in terms of traffic management should take consideration to speed, in fact, with more and more hybrids and electric vehicles on the road emerging fast traffic will be less apparent to hear (for example discussions arose to add an artificial roar to a near silent hydrogen motorbike, for safety reasons).
Being Dutch / German of origin I find inconceivable that a progressive city like London would find it so hard to create an infrastructure that serves all users. Cyclists in particular have been given an extremely low priority in that regard, and yet proper cycle paths put an extra distant layer between pedestrians and cars, increasing safety and also distance from exhaust if you wish.
However the news from Islington of all party consent is very encouraging. One still tends to forget that David Cameron has tried very hard to create a space for environmental policies within the Tory party. So I apologise for not crediting the possibility of all party consent also in Camden.
Posted by: Daniel Zylbersztajn | 09/13/2009 at 01:28 PM
We desperately need clarity here - KX is a densely populated area with at least four schools right here. It needs to be a zone that prioritises pedestrians and cyclists whilst slowing traffic right down and stopping the common practice of aggressive driving that is encouraged by the design of our streets. KX needs to come together - Camden and Islington, the whole area, rather than being picked off bit by bit. Lib Dems, is your petition for the Camden ward of KX or the area of KX that falls into both boroughs? Please tell me it's the latter - you'd win alot of friends if you started recognising our community as one rather than by its bureaucratic and political boundaries.
And when is this country going to become a democratic one? I was under the impression my vote was supposed to be for politicians that led on policy matters. They employ officers who are supposed to ensure those elected politicians wishes are carried out. It turns out that officers at LBI, LBC and TfL hold all the power. They and their wealthy property developer mates are really the ones that make all the decisions.
And politicians wonder why so many of us either stopped voting or never will.....
Posted by: Sophie Talbot | 09/13/2009 at 01:29 PM
What on earth have property developers got to do with reducing or not reducing the speed limit to 20?? Sounds a bizarre thing to say, and coupled with your mini rant on officers of the Council making decisions based on fact rather than whim, tops off a peculiar post, in my opinion.
Posted by: Geoff | 09/14/2009 at 04:23 PM
Lee from the Kings Cross Lib Dem wrote me today: He wrote a.o.: "If people are interested in reading more about the campaign, they can read about it on our website (www.kingscrosslibdems.wordpress.com) Could you perhaps include a link to this on your blog? Thank you"
Well here it is done.
I think Lib Dem should form a coalition with the other parties now, the topic is very important and should not become the issue of one party. As Paul Convery said above, he could not sign up directly on the Lib Dem site, even though he full supported it!
To Geoff and Sophie: Let's not get sidelined into blame games. Fact remains that TFL has so far not been forthcoming about a speed reduction. There were some improvements though, even if they were very slow in their coming, such as the new crossing push button at Swinton Street / Kings Cross Rd, improved zebra crossing lights at Acton Street, and the new street organisation at Pentonville Rd / Rise, and improvements to pedestrian path ways in various locations, most recently on Kings Cross Rd.
Posted by: Daniel Zylbersztajn | 09/14/2009 at 06:30 PM
As a campaigner for the Camden Lib Dems, I can say that we see no reason why residential streets such as Swinton Street and Action Street should not be 20mph. It should be down to TfL to explain why, given the tremendous benefits and very few disbenefits. I am not familiar with the situation in Islington, but we are seeking a meeting with Bridget Fox so that we can find common cause on this.
I would point out that TfL is subject to nominal political control - from Boris Johnson (lord help us).
Posted by: Lee Baker | 09/14/2009 at 06:48 PM