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Our response to London Cycling Design Standards consultation

26 August 2014

Last published in 2005, the revised London Cycling Design Standards (LCDS) is a technical document that should inform design options and promote an integrated and ambitious approach to delivering high quality infrastructure for cycling in all parts of London.


TfL say:

‘Last published in 2005, the revised London Cycling Design Standards (LCDS) is a technical document that should inform design options and promote an integrated and ambitious approach to delivering high quality infrastructure for cycling in all parts of London.

It has now been comprehensively updated to reflect established and emerging best practice, and to help planners and designers meet the aspirations of the Mayor’s Vision for Cycling.’ Well it is a VERY hefty document – but we took time to look through it all, and Haringey Cycling Campaign responded to the London Cycling Design Standards consultation with a number of suggestions and comments. Michael Poteliakhoff, our Coordinator  put together a response with the following highlights:

  • LCDS must be mandatory for ALL NEW WORK.  Perhaps this is not the intention, but there must be NO AMBIGUITY on this.
  • It should be made clear stakeholders need to be consulted on detailed design, including carriageway widths.  On major schemes, consultation should be required at both concept and detail design stages.
  • At all new road layouts, lead-in lanes to ASL’s should be mandatory, or the nearside traffic lane should be at least 4.5m, to allow cycle access. An ASL that cannot be accessed is either pointless or can encourage dangerous squeezing through narrow gaps.
  • Sinusoidal ramps are mentioned here and in Chapter 4, however no section drawing is given. The drawings included in the 2005 LCDS are very helpful for stakeholders, to understand the concept and to allow discussion with engineers who do not always know how to get them right.  Drawings for this and other construction details should be added, also perhaps a mention of the use of profile boards, which are a help for quality control.
  •  Excellent to see “Cyclists Dismount” signs are not to be used, though possibly there should be a qualification to allow them when a cycle route approaches steps.
  •  Granite setts-  Use should always be avoided where straight (as opposed to staggered) jointing and/or degradation from traffic can result in a wheel trap for narrow tyres.

We look forward to seeing the LCDS advice being put in to place in Haringey, and will endeavour to put pressure on Haringey Council to do so.