10 October 2012
Brent proposes the following (diagram of proposed changes in PDF at the bottom of page):
Burnley Road Junction:
· Re-mark the southern approach to improve the junction approach lane alignment. Install an-additional set of lane directional arrows. Extend anti-skid surfacing on the southbound left turn into Burnley Road. Provide ‘SLOW’ markings in the southbound carriageway. Provide a ‘Get In Lane’ sign for northbound traffic on an existing signpost. Revise the central carriageway hatching and all the line marking in Dudden Hill Lane from the junction with Burnley Road to the junction with High Road.
Cooper Road North and South Junctions:
· Provide a right turn ‘pocket’ into the college access area. Provide a traffic island in Dudden Hill Lane, north of the college entrance to enforce driver lane discipline. Provide a hatched central area of carriageway to reduce width and speed. Provide a right turn ‘pocket’ into Cooper Road North. Modify the junction radius to enforce one-way and provide a raised entry treatment on Cooper Road North.
· Make Cooper Road south one-way out, modify the junction radius to enforce one-way. Provide a raised entry treatment on Cooper Road south and a footway build out in Dudden Hill Lane to improve the sight line. Re-align the bus lane and traffic lanes to improve pedestrian/driver’s visibility.
Denzil Road
· Reduce junction width by tightening radii and providing a pedestrian island.
· Bus Stop consolidation to enable the provision of a pedestrian (island) crossing point on Dudden Hill Lane outside Nos.81 & 83.
· Review waiting and loading restrictions.
· Provide a raised table at the junction of Colin Road.
· Mark out opposing right turning ‘pockets’ into Colin Road/Villiers Road.
· Provide a pedestrian island on Dudden Hill Lane to enforce driver lane discipline.
· Provide a central hatch marking on Dudden Hill Lane and a right turn lane into Meyrick Road.
Brent Cyclists' opinion
This would be a disaster for cycling. This road is impossible to avoid when cycling between Neasden and Willesden, and is very nasty at the moment, narrow, with high vehicle speeds, lots of heavy vehicles, and terrible road surfaces. Brent's scheme would make it even more hazardous with new islands where cyclists would get caught in 3.1m wide lanes with no room for motorists to safely or legally overtake them, a particular problem as the road is uphill northbound, and waste a load of road space with centre hatching. And there's a new one-way in Cooper Road proposed with no cycle exception.
If there is room for lots of road space to be wasted with hatching, there is room for mandatory cycle lanes or even segregated cycle tracks on one or both sides of the road. This would narrow the road, as the designers want, but without making it more dangerous for cyclists. The road could be narrowed from the side, not from the centre, with islands that cycle lanes could pass behind (making them semi-segregated), which would be far safer for cyclists.
This scheme has already gone through a round of pre-consultation with Brent Cyclists, but no changes have been made in response to our objections. This scheme seems to show that Brent traffic officers, though well-intentioned in trying to reduce casulaties, have very little understanding of cycling and what makes roads safe or dangerous for cyclists.
We urge all cyclists to object ot these plans. The closing date is 31 October. Email or call Gurdev Bharj, senior engineer, gurdev.bhaj@brent.gov.uk, 020 8937 5186.
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