The A5, cycle policy and Cycle Highways

The Council has two main concerns with regard to the proposals for providing

additional cycle facilities on the A5.

Firstly, the road layout and traffic conditions on the A5 do not provide a

particularly good environment for cyclists.  The combination of relatively

fast moving traffic and congestion in alternating stretches, numerous busy

junctions, and high bus and HGV flows make it very challenging to find ways

of improving the route.  Furthermore, as some lengths of the road have town

centre type retail frontage with the accompanying parking and loading

requirements and problems, any additional provision for cyclists is likely

to be both difficult to achieve and potentially create a hazardous situation

for cyclists and/or pedestrians.

With these issues in mind, the Council believes it is very unlikely that a

satisfactory and safe engineering solution can be developed for this section

of the A5, particularly where the route crosses the North Circular Road.  It

is precisely for these reasons that other routes such as Brent Terrace have

been identified in the past.

The second main issue is the proposed regeneration of Cricklewood (& Brent

Cross) and West Hendon.  Both these projects are at a stage where detailed

layouts have not been prepared, however they are sufficiently advanced that

the Council is confident that regeneration will proceed and that the scale

of the work involved will be significant.  This means that there is an

opportunity to provide high quality routes as part of the regeneration

schemes, but also that changes to the existing road layout may mean any

improvements for cyclists made now may have to be removed or altered and

would therefore not be good value for money.  TfLSM are aware of the scale

of the changes necessary in the area around Staples Corner.

Ultimately, as joint Highway Authority for some lengths of the A5, and sole

Highway Authority for one section, the Council would have to satisfy itself

that any changes to the road layout are appropriate, safe and value for

money, prior to implementing them.  From past work and local knowledge, our

belief is that experienced cyclists will not get significant benefits from

comprehensive measures on the A5, and may in fact find them unhelpful.

There is also a risk that novice and inexperienced riders may be attracted

to the A5 by the presence of any new cycle facilities and be given a false

sense of security.  The fact that the A5 offers a direct route when viewed

on a map does not necessarily mean that it is the best or most appropriate

route for all cyclists.