This is the response to this Brent Council consultation from Brent Cycling Campaign. We are the local group of the London Cycling Campaign, and represent approximately 200 members who live in the borough. We also attempt to represent the interests of all who cycle or would like to cycle in Brent. We have discussed this consultation in a meeting, and on-line.

We responded to a similar consultation on these roads in August 2017, where we supported the scheme proposed at the time, while suggesting amendments. We are pleased that some of the points we made then seem to have informed the latest design, which includes a number of beneficial features for cyclists.

We think some further improvements could be made. The contraflow cycle lane proposed on Rainsford Road appears to be merely paint-separated from the northbound general traffic lane. Some sort of more physical separation such as studs or orcas would be desirable. At the junction of Whitby Avenue, a clear continuation of the cycle lane without a change of level would be preferable to the shared footway with dropped kerbs (though this is better than what was in the 2017 plan).

The advisory cycle lanes in Abbey Road are not adequate on such a heavily-trafficked road. At least they should be mandatory, but it would be better to re-think how all the space on this road is managed. Narrow painted lanes placing cyclists in such close proximity to many HGVs do not provide an inclusive or pleasant cycling environment. It might be better to have a segregated bi-directional cycle track on one side of the road than inadequate cycle lanes on both sides.

It remains unclear how cyclists crossing the canal bridge from the north, on the footway-level cycle lane, are supposed to make the right turn into Twyford Abbey Road bus and cycle lane. Currently there is a railing bounding the southbound cycle lane opposite the entrance to the westbound bus and cycle lane. The problem here can’t be solved by fiddling with sharing on these constrained pavements. There is more space for general traffic in the junction than needed, and some of this space should be re-allocated to cycling, with provision for a protected turn into Twyford Abbey Road. This needs to mesh really with a general re-design of the space on Abbey Road.