Kensington’s New Cycle Lane to Hit High Street by October
Kensington and Chelsea council is rolling out a bold new segregated cycle lane along the entire length of Kensington High Street. Set to launch by late October, this “experimental” route will be fully separated from traffic using sturdy plastic “wands”.
Floating Bus Stops and Safer Travel
The one-mile cycle lane starts at Olympia London, stretching to the south-west corner of Kensington Gardens. It will feature innovative “floating bus stops” where cyclists pass between the bus stop and pavement, keeping traffic smooth and safe.
Work begins September 28 and will take about four weeks. Transport for London (TfL) will upgrade junctions in phase two, wrapping up before winter.
Council Aims for Boost in Shoppers and Commuters
The council hopes the cycle lane will lure more shoppers and diners to local businesses, while encouraging commuters to ditch public transport for active travel.
“More people are choosing active travel to get around during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Councillor Johnny Thalassites, lead member for transport. “This route offers residents, commuters and visitors a safe option.”
Lessons Learned from Wandsworth’s Controversy
Wandsworth’s similar cycle lane scheme sparked backlash, with residents blaming it for worsening traffic in Balham and Tooting. Businesses struggled with delivery access due to the wands.
Kensington and Chelsea are tackling this head-on. The new lane will have all-day loading bays to ensure businesses keep receiving deliveries. The council is also working closely with commercial waste collectors to smooth out waste collection disruptions.
Tom Frost, chairman of The Kensington Business Forum, expressed cautious optimism:
“We hope the route will bring custom safely back to our shopping locales.”
