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Kingston Portsmouth Road Mini Holland revised artist's impression March 2015Kingston overhauls Mini Holland plans after criticism
Kingston Council has responded to criticism that its ‘Mini Holland’ plans for a busy road in the borough did not give enough protection to people riding bikes by unveiling revised proposals including a fully segregated cycle lane.
Last month, the council’s former lead member for transport who led its successful bid for £32 million from Transport for London criticised plans that showed only around a quarter of a planned cycle route on Portsmouth Road would be physically separated from motor traffic.
Local cycling campaigners had earlier expressed their disappointment at the plans, shown below, but have welcomed the revamped proposals which were drawn up following a consultation that attracted more than 700 responses.
Under the new plans, 600 metres of Portsmouth Road will be fully segregated, running from the junction with South Lane to the one with Palace Road. Beyond that, and running to the junction with Brighton Road, a 700 metre stretch will have lighter segregation in the form of ‘armadillos.’
The council says that a toucan crossing will be installed at the junction with Palace Road to enable cyclists to switch between the two sections of the route, which will also have floating bus stops similar to those introduced on Cycle Superhighway 2 in east London.
Councillor Richard Hudson, who heads Kingston Council’s Mini-Holland programme, said: “Over 700 people took part in the consultation on our first set of plans and we thank all of those who took the time to consider our original proposals and get involved. I believe that this second proposal shows we’ve listened.
“There was a clear desire for more segregation between cyclists and motor vehicles and the new plans have increased this segregation from 20 per cent originally, to 85 per cent now.
“We have a vision where cyclists, new and experienced, will feel safe and confident taking trips along Portsmouth Road, whether it be for work, study or pleasure. We want to create a route that is fully accessible and attractive to pedestrians and where motor traffic can continue to move freely,” he added.
More information about all of the council’s Mini Holland proposals can be found on its website, and plans are also being exhibited in the reception of the borough’s Guildhall on Kingston’s High Street.
Kingston Cycling Campaign said: “These proposals are a considerable improvement on the original proposals. We will be seeking further assurances about the design but, in the round, we support it.”
However, they did express concerns over the use of armadillos, including “whether they represent a sufficient measure of segregation to encourage family and novice cyclists.”
They added: “We welcome that the Borough are being innovative which is the intention of the Mini Holland programme,” and that “If armadillos are not the success all hope they can be, a greater measure of protected space will be needed.”
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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13 comments
If you can't get 4mtr wide hard segregated cycle lanes then any type of segregation is better than paint alone.
Armadillo's installed in Manchester were incorrectly installed by the council and they all popped out and broke within 48 hours (not good)! since they were re-installed 6 months ago correctly by the manufacturer not one has popped out despite being driven over by trucks, cars and police vans.
If your unsure then check out this video from the installation in Manchester mentioned above taken by the same blogger in Manchester:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLf-Y0gsFY0
Salford in Manchester have agreed to roll more out.
If you think they're fragile then see Youtube link of fully loaded construction trucks driving over them:
http://www.cyclehoop.com/videos/armadillos-and-heavy-duty-lorry/
42 cities and 150,000 units installed in the past 7 years, they compliment where hard segregated cycle lanes are possible as an improvement to paint alone and not in competition with Dutch style lanes. see what cyclist in camden think of them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm61iaXl7MY
I think the fact that they can easily be driven over by trucks, cars and police vans says a lot about them being next to useless as a form of separation. They might not break when a motor vehicle drives over them, but they also don't provide any meaningful protection from those vehicles. There's enough room on that road for a fully segregated bike path.
Did you watch the video's? You will see that the vehicles do leave the cycle lane upon impact with the armadillos ?
They shouldn't be able to get into the lane in the first place.
Imagine being in the cycle lane and hearing a car run over those things just behind you. Very scary.
Anyone FOI'd the consultation response, i'd love to learn just what percentage of thise 700 responses were negative?
Excellent news (mostly). I look forward to riding the new route. It should be much pleasanter and safer.
Not so sure about the "armadillos", especially if they're going to be those little bits of plastic that were trialled in parts of London and that snap in two the first time a car drives over them. About as much use as a line of paint (possibly less).
It was disappointing that the original plans were watered down. This may have been due to the council change; although the Conservatives did back this while in opposition.
There also appears to have been some confusion over the brief for the mini-Holland scheme; one councillor was quoted as saying that this should not be solely to the benefit of cycling. It would seem that consultation feedback, briefing with local cycling groups and a briefing with Andrew Gilligan who is funding the scheme has put that myth to rest.
So looking forward, I'm positive. Yes, there was needless faffing with this scheme. However, I'm optimistic that those in office realise what this scheme is for, that there is a strong desire for it from the electorate and that the scheme will benefit all groups.
Let's see what they come up with for the New Malden - Raynes Park route. This is off road, so no excuses for anything less than a high quality route that show-cases best (and leading) practice.
If you're can make it, the designs will be on show tomorrow in New Malden. Methodist Church Hall, 4:30 -> 7:30pm, Council officers and Sustrans attending.
They were there on Saturday which I couldn't make, so I will try to pop in myself. I'm also quite hopeful for this route, it really is the sort of thing that should work for all categories of cyclists. I've mentioned on this site several times that our cities have lots of potential routes parallel to railway tracks if all the stakeholders can get off their bums. This is one that's local to me that I've been aware of for years.
Make no mistake, plastic armadillos are shite. They do not keep motorists out, any family car can drive over them with only slight discomfort. A HGV will plough over them with impunity.
600m segregation sounds like a lot, but it's about the same distance as six of the countdown markers toward a motorway exit. About a third of a mile. It's pathetic.
Oh right so that was just your first draft was it Richard? and the 'consultation' was people complaining and threatening to take your money away. Well done.
Kingston wins £32 million of public funds based on a bid that incorporates segregated cycle lanes. Kingston then decides to reduce segregation significantly and paint some white lines instead. Lots of bad press (sorry, 'public consultation') leads to decision to reinstate some segregation per the original plan.
Why can't they just be made to implement the plan they submitted to win the funds? Otherwise why award the funds in this way? No doubt a lot of the funds have been wasted on holding public consultations, fees and unnecessary redesigns already...just build what you said you were going to build in the first place!
So the Council seems to imply that wasting money dreaming up the original scheme was normal/expected! Did they use a company based in the New Forest?
The plastic 'armadillos' don't seem to be very good solution for the 700m stretch, if experience in Manchester & Camden is anything to go by: http://madcyclelanesofmanchester.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/salfords-armadil...