A cycle lane brought in as lockdown measures eased to try and reduce car numbers in London is being removed after causing traffic chaos.
Less than six months after Transport for London announced a series of measures to cut traffic in the Capital, the Euston Road bike lane is set to be removed.
Changes to streets, which saw some roads closed to traffic except for pedestrians and cyclists, have caused major problems in parts of London, as workers returned to offices, but avoided public transport to ensure they were complying with social distancing measures.
But after today’s reversal, announced by TfL commssioner Andy Byford, there are calls for other schemes to be axed, including in Park Lane.
Tonight Transport for London has said all of its Streetspace schemes are ‘temporary,’ as it expects to make changes on Euston Road over the ‘coming weeks’.
Large cycle lanes on Euston Road have remained mostly empty, the lanes were created at the cost of space on the carriageway for passing motorists.
Tony Devenish Conservative London Assembly member, told Mr Byford: ‘It would be really helpful, in terms of congestion, if you could get that one removed.’
Pop-up cycle lanes on either side of Euston Road were opened by TfL in July, with 20mph speed limits for passing motorists, but just three months later, London’s transport commissioner has announced it will be removed.
The lanes were set to be removed in late 2021 as part progressed on HS2, but they’re due to be cut short a year earlier than expected.
Transport for London told MailOnline tonight it has no plans to remove the Park Lane cycle scheme.
When Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced the new Streetspace measures – designed to widen pedestrian and cycle lanes at the expense of carriageways – his office boasted cycling could increase ’10-fold,’
Pictures taken last month showed how many of London’s cycle lanes remain empty, with adjacent roads packed with motorists.
On Monday morning TomTom data revealed there were 527 miles of traffic jams across the capital as of 9am with 1,340 jams in total – and congestion levels at 66 per cent.
Park Lane’s pop-up cycle route also has remained relatively unused – prompting calls for it to be shut. Traffic levels continue to rise during the rush hour in London
This figure was up ten percentage points from 56 per cent at the same point last week, and up from an average of 43 per cent from the same time last year.
Public transport usage during the coronavirus pandemic is well down on normal levels, according to the most recent data from Transport for London.
Last Monday morning to 10am, Tube usage was down 3 per cent on the previous week to 732,000, which was 32 per cent of normal demand.
Meanwhile bus usage was down 1 per cent on the previous week to 964,000, which was 55 per cent of normal demand.
A TfL spokesperson said: ”All the Streetspace schemes have been put in as temporary measures.
‘We constantly review any changes to the road network to make sure they’re achieving their aims and benefiting as many people as possible.
Tube passengers on board a Jubilee line train in East London as they travel to work on Monday, commuter numbers on public transport are well down on normal levels
‘Our Streetspace programme has played a significant role in the huge increases of cycling seen across London since the pandemic began.
‘We appreciate the challenges for buses and freight on Euston Road, which our lengthy monitoring of the area has highlighted.
‘We have also not seen the same high increases in cycling on this stretch as in other areas.
‘As a result, we are looking at options to remove all or part of this temporary cycle lane over the coming weeks, and improve access to the adjacent protected cycle lanes, which will ensure that people can continue to cycle safely along this corridor.
‘We will continue working with boroughs across London to ensure our Streetspace schemes are supporting a shift to active travel.’