Forum topic: Cycle Enfield - how the Triangle area might look
Cycle Enfield - how the Triangle area might look
PGC Webmaster
08 Sep 2015 16:45 #1561
Share
Share by email
On the Cycle Enfield website the introductory page for the A105 consultation has been revised and now has a "visualisation" of how Palmers Green Triangle might look after implementation of the cycle lanes scheme. The option that is illustrated is the one that retains the Triangle traffic island.
On the Cycle Enfield website the As the Council has emphasised from the outset, the proposals include improvements not just for cyclists, but also for other road users. The Triangle proposals, for example, would provide safer and more convenient crossings for pedestrians.
Key to artist's impression (source: cycleenfield.co.uk/have-your-say/a105-scheme-consultation)
- Palmers Green Triangle - a more people-friendly Triangle with less clutter. more greenery and easier access including a new crossing on Green Lanes
- If the scheme goes ahead. co-design workshops could be held for the community to influence the specific look and feel of be Triangle. including public art and interpretive signage celebrating the history of the Triangle
- Cycle lanes in both directions provide an attractive and safe environment
- Decluttered and reorganised pavements to improve the public realm
- New trees and greenery could be planted to improve the attractiveness of the Triangle area and create more of a 'place' function.
- Seating retained and enhanced in the Triangle.
- Advanced Stop Line (ASL) for cyclists at signalised junctions.
- Original features such as the old signpost retained in the new layout to celebrate the heritage of the Triangle
- New wide crossing provided across Green Lanes to enhance pedestrian movement in the area
- Raised table road treatment to visually highlight pedestrian priority in the area
- On-street parking incorporated along Green Lanes. Increased parking in a redesigned Lodge Drive car park.
- Right turn lane moved to south of the island to accommodate pedestrian crossing on Green Lanes
Further information about this option can be found on the same page in the "Improved Public Spaces" section:
The Palmers Green Triangle would be transformed into a more people-friendly space with wider pavements, better quality surface treatments, more seating and other public amenity. There would be more greenery included with new trees and flowerbeds. The space would be decluttered by removing guardrails and any redundant street furniture. All of these measures should result in the Triangle feeling more like an attractive ‘place’ rather than a busy junction. The old clock and signposts would be retained. Public art and interpretive signage would potentially be added to celebrate the history of the Triangle.
The "Dutch Roundabout" option
The same section also makes a brief reference to the second option for the Triangle:
An alternative layout has been proposed which would see the Triangle replaced with a roundabout type design. It would be a Dutch style ‘shared-space’ roundabout with priority crossings for pedestrians and cyclists acting in a similar way to Zebra crossings but without as many signs and road markings.
The lack of detail about the roundabout option suggests that it may no longer be a serious option. It has been criticised not only by many people who regard the Triangle island as the sacrosanct heart of Palmers Green and by "Save Our Green Lanes" (who apparently wish to see no changes whatever to the A105), but also by some cycling campaigners, who say that the proposed design is not a true "Dutch roundabout" and would in fact be hazardous for cyclists.
Response to various criticisms of the proposals
The revised introductory page also has sections responding to some of the concerns that have been raised about the scheme, eg the effects on parking, pedestrians, bus passengers. We will look at these in a separate article.
The consultation
Residents have until 9th October to respond to the consultation. The online questionnaire includes detailed drawings for each section of the route. Responding in detail could take some time, but it is possible to interrupt the form-filling and save your comments up to that point. It is also possible to download a large PDF file containing all the drawings.
Large-scale paper versions of the drawings are on permanent display at the Civic Centre and can be viewed from 9am to 5pm each day. Cycle Enfield will be at the Enfield Town Show this weekend - Saturday 12th September and Sunday 13th September from 11am to 6pm.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Cycle Enfield - how the Triangle area might look
Maggie Westhead
10 Sep 2015 19:49 #1562
Share
Share by email
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Cycle Enfield - how the Triangle area might look
Garry Humphreys
11 Sep 2015 23:08 #1565
Share
Share by email
On a general note, I'm all for encouraging cycling, but not at the expense of other members of the public, particularly shoppers who will be seriously inconvenienced by the removal of the Fox Lane bus stops, and have to plod up to Bourne Hill or down to Lodge Drive every time, perhaps with bags of shopping. (Strange, actually, that the road is significantly wider at this point than elsewhere, and ought perhaps more conveniently be able to accommodate both bus stop and cycle lane than the retained stops either side!)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Cycle Enfield - how the Triangle area might look
Tom Mellor
12 Sep 2015 08:05 #1569
Share
Share by email
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Cycle Enfield - how the Triangle area might look
Sue Younger
14 Sep 2015 00:23 #1574
Share
Share by email
Further consultation with the local community over a new Triangle design is very important.
The main crossing from the Triangle to Green Lanes doesn't seem to be very pedestrian friendly as the cycle lanes have to be negotiated at the start and before the end of the crossing. Even if there is a raised area prior to the crossing cyclists may assume that they can keep riding and weave between the pedestrians? Without a refuge in the centre of the road it'll be difficult for the elderly, disabled and those with buggies or heavy shopping bags/trolleys to get across in time.
As regards the Fox Lane bus stop it is one of the busiest stops on Green Lanes and its removal will not only create a longer walk for bus users but also probems of overcrowding at the earlier and later stops. Heavily used bus stops next to shopping parades should not be removed.
The bus stop 'boarder' is still a safety hazard as bus users have to queue across the cycle lane when boarding or alighting from the bus.
As with other proposals the bus passengers are being disadvantaged to allow for continuous cycle lanes.
Sue Younger
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Cycle Enfield - how the Triangle area might look
Karl Brown
15 Sep 2015 08:51 #1579
Share
Share by email
I wouldn’t want to see adverse impact to bus travel which is so important although in my experience any delay to bus times has inevitably been caused by congestion due to too much traffic. There is an underlying view in much of society that cars are simply with us, like rain clouds or sunshine, and so must be endured or enjoyed as the case may be. It’s not so, useful as they are.
But we are not alone in this small part of the world with our challenges. Last week’s Economist printed two articles highlighting many of the cycle-centric issues bouncing around worldwide, the trends and not least the, “females don’t (currently) cycle” issue often raised. “As rich cities are, at last, undoing their past planning mistakes” being unusually strong for this newspaper.
As I’ve said in several channels, the trends and benefits are clear; the challenge is to work with them, not attempting that old stopping-the-tide trick.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
