BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Southwark Council is introducing the first double Dutch-style cyclist and pedestrian-friendly roundabouts in the UK.
Councillor Ian Wingfield, Cabinet member for Environment and the Public Realm, visited the award-winning roundabouts at Crystal Palace Parade, which are due for final completion in April.
The junctions at Crystal Palace Parade have had two consecutive roundabouts between Fountain Drive and Sydenham Hill for many years, but they lacked facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. The new Dutch design will enable cyclists to pass through the junctions while remaining completely separated from motorists.
Cyclist and pedestrian crossings run side by side, crossing the roads that lead onto and away from the roundabouts, giving cyclists and pedestrians priority over other vehicles.
The scheme was funded by Transport for London and constructed by Conway Aecom, on behalf of Southwark Council, working closely with the London Boroughs of Bromley and Lewisham, as it sits on the boundary between the three boroughs.
The junctions that these roundabouts connect provide key pedestrian and cycle access to nearby train stations, schools and Crystal Palace Park and National Sports Centre.
Wingfield said: “Crystal Palace Parade is the first example in the country of this innovative double roundabout layout. We hope it will help cyclists and pedestrians feel much safer, whilst ensuring minimal delay to buses and other traffic.”
TfL’s director of project and programme sponsorship Ben Plowden added: “We’re really pleased to see that our funding has helped bring this new design from the Netherlands to Southwark, which will make walking and cycling in Crystal Palace safer and easier. Innovative improvements such as this make a real difference in encouraging Londoners to walk and cycle more often and we’ll continue to work closely with Southwark Council to make walking and cycling facilities across the borough even better.”
