Another world is possible

The campers’ banners in Finsbury Square and in other cities around the world remind us, in case we need reminding, that for too many people unfettered capitalism simply isn’t working ("Occupy Finsbury Square - Night at the protest camp" Tribune 28th October and "We'll stay as long as it takes, say Finsbury Square protesters" Gazette 27th October). Too many decisions in the UK are made to help somebody make more money rather than to benefit the country or the community. The UK Uncut campaign points out that the current government cuts will undermine a generation to pay for the irresponsibility and tax-dodging of the very rich, and, as it happens, that campaign started life in Islington’s St Mary’s ward, where there will be a by-election next week. Islington Green Party would urge St Mary’s voters, before they put an X in the box, to think about which parties would rather cosy up to big business than regulate it or which think economics should be made to work for people rather than the other way round. The campers’ banners also say “Another world is possible”. The Green Party would agree!

Kings Cross

For all of us in London who campaign on behalf of pedestrians and cyclists for more people friendly streets, yesterday evening's ghost bike placing in Kings Cross for Deep Lee (Min Joo Lee) was a poignant and sad reminder of the fragility of life and the unacceptable price that can be paid for cycling to work or crossing the road.

Many of us crowded on the traffic island surrounded by vehicles last night had taken part in the 2007 Kings Cross street audit resulting in a report to Transport for London (TfL) in 2008, which was only made public after it was FOI'd by local campaigner, Wil Perrin.  It appears TfL were sitting on it - perhaps loathe to impede the flow of the huge number of construction lorries that thunder through Kings Cross daily.

The problems at Kings Cross are visible in minutes of standing at the junction:

Vehicles from Grays Inn Rd heading to York Way filter from two lanes to one lane as they pass through the junction where Deep Lee died.  The lane changing should happen further back down Grays Inn Rd to eliminate jostling at the junction and to leave clear space for bikes.

Vehicles turning from Euston Rd into York Way hoot aggressively to get past huge numbers of pedestrians spilling off the pavements waiting to cross.  The frequency of the green man phase should be increased to disperse pedestrians more efficiently. It is not acceptable to have such delay for pedestrians especially when they risk falling into the path of huge vehicles as pavements become congested.

Cyclists currently have no option but to "weave" through the traffic to reach an appropriate lane to travel through the junction.  By reducing the number of lanes well before the junction, space can be found for cyclists to travel in safety.  An advanced stop line (ASL) is no use to cyclists if it is inaccessible.

Jenny Jones has written to Boris twice asking him to join her to look at the road layout at Kings Cross.  He has refused and appears to think that there is nothing to suggest that the likelihood of collision at the Kings Cross junction is higher than anywhere else in London.  I beg to differ.  Addressing the three suggestions outlined above would make an immediate difference to all the people passing through the area around Kings Cross, making it fit for purpose to welcome visitors to London emerging from St Pancras.

At last - Islington Labour support people-friendly streets?

I was delighted to see Councillor Convery speaking out against the Mayor's "brutal pro-traffic agenda" (Wake up call over death-trap roads Tribune Oct 21st).  In particular his support for people taking priority, slowing down vehicular traffic, widening pavements, extending crossing times and creating cycle safety zones.  

After ten years of steady decrease, the last two years have seen a tragic rise in the numbers of people killed and seriously injured on Islington's roads. Whether this is due to cuts in road safety budgets, the Mayor's traffic flow smoothing agenda or a perception of a war on the motorist remains unclear. What is critical is that we take action immediately to reverse this unacceptable  trend.  

Islington Council and Transport for London should consider an immediate speed limit reduction to 20mph on all their main roads where people live work and shop.  This would reduce the severity of any collisions, traffic noise and pollution.  The police have a part to play too.  The Borough Commander has stated that he puts no resource into policing traffic infringements.  Inconsiderate behaviour while driving (speeding, texting at the wheel and ignoring zebra crossings) creates unacceptable danger to people on foot and on bikes and should be taken more seriously.  

There are some excellent examples of street improvements in Islington: We are the only borough in London with 20mph limits on all our residential side roads; Upper Street at the Angel has been transformed recently into a pedestrian friendly place where it is easy for people to cross the road and where despite less road space for vehicles, the traffic is flowing smoothly because there is no lane changing.  

Valuing our streets as precious public space, by prioritising people over vehicles when designing them would help reduce the awful death toll and make Islington an even better place to live.

I look forward to Councillor Convery's support for reduced speeds on main roads, installation of more zebra crossings and pavement widening.

Sharing the Towpath - perhaps we all need to walk?

In a borough with very few parks and not much green space, the Regent's Canal towpath provides a precious, green lung running though Islington.  The towpath is far from ideal as a shared space - it's too narrow and has a body of open water running alongside, so it is hardly surprising that relations between pedestrians and cyclists are, to say the least, somewhat strained, with many residents calling for an outright ban on towpath cycling.

British Waterways Board (BWB) have run an excellent Two Tings programme since 1987.  This has attempted to foster understanding and considerate behaviour between people on bikes and those on foot.  It has been widely supported by members of the community, Councillor Martin Klute and local organisations : Islington Cyclists Action Group, Friends of Regent's Canal, and Islington Living Streets.

The latest intervention by BWB was the recent installation of speed humps,  which has received a major thumbs down from pedestrians and cyclists alike as covered in the Tribune last Friday Bumpy start for speed humps as Regent's Canal towpath cyclists give them a miss.  The speed humps fail to deter cyclists from travelling too fast and perhaps more significantly, present  a serious obstacle to those with mobility impairment.  Among pedestrians there is a significant number of vulnerable people, or those caring for the vulnerable: the young, the old, those with hearing, sight or mobility impairment; few cyclists can be so described.

As Chair of Islington Living Streets, I've ensured we've joined the debate and supported Two Tings, while refusing to see this as a polarised "us and them" situation between pedestrians and cyclists.  Recently, the Islington Living Streets Committee has realised that many pedestrians have effectively been excluded by the overall volumes of cyclists on the towpath and this we anticipate will get worse.  Whether or not this is because of the poor behaviour of a minority of cyclists is not altogether clear, but as an organisation representing those on foot we feel we should try to seek alternative solutions.

This prompted my recent letter to the Tribune Regent's Canal towpath cyclists need an on-road route that's safe, which suggested that people who are cycling either dismount and push their bikes through the narrow Islington section of the towpath or take an alternative on-road route.  For what is in effect a ban on cycling - not cyclists -  to be perceived as fair, the on-road provision has to be safe, high quality cycle infrastructure that is a pleasure to use.  Whether anything like this (and the consensus to make it happen) is achievable remains to be seen.  I'm heartened by the response of BWB who've called a meeting next week. Hopefully we can get rid of the unwelcome humps and find a way for all residents whatever their age or mobility to enjoy the peace and tranquility of a walk along the towpath.