Green Party leader Natalie Bennett joined Islington Green Party activists and members of Islington Cycle Action Group to protest at the site of an unfinished and unused cycle path, which could make cycle journeys safer in Clerkenwell.
The cyclists, including Islington’s Green councillor Caroline Russell, met at the farcical stretch of raised concrete on Clerkenwell Road, close to the busy junction with Farringdon Road.
The cycle path was installed by Camden Council 10 years ago at an estimated cost of £30,000, and then quietly abandoned before it could be finished. It now remains unusable.
The path should have continued into the Islington section of Clerkenwell Road and towards Old Street, but Islington Council failed to complete the work.
Slopes to the path have been bricked up at either end, making it virtually unusable. Despite that, it contains two working cycle traffic lights.
Had the path been completed it would have made journeys safer for thousands of cyclists who use the busy route between Shoreditch and central London every day.
Islington Cycle Action Group campaigner Andrea Casalotti decided to draw attention to the unfinished path as part of his plan for a Clerkenwell Boulevard for cyclists. His “Space for Cycling” scheme calls for a route for bikes, buses and local traffic only.
“Conditions along Clerkenwell Road are extremely dangerous for cyclists,” he said. “That’s why it is appalling to think that Camden started to provide a segregated cycle track and then abandoned it, presumably because Islington wasn’t interested in continuing it.
“Since that small unused stretch of path was installed in 2009-2010 the number of cyclists that use this route has probably doubled. Up to 60 per cent of traffic on this route is now cyclists and we need to urgently make is safer.”
Cllr Caroline Russell said she was disappointed that the cycle lane had never been completed. “Anything that starts addressing the traffic domination of our roads and makes them more people- and cycle-friendly has got to be good,” she said. “We understand we must allow for the city to function but safe space for walking and cycling should be a priority.
“The boulevard idea makes sense to me. There are plans to remove Old Street roundabout next year. Perhaps Transport for London could then look at improving the entire east-west route for cyclists.”