The Kensington High Street cycle lane RETURNS: Controversial west London bike route will come back after furious two-year battle (but cars can still enter the ‘advisory’ road markings)

The Kensington High Street cycle lane RETURNS: Controversial west London bike route will come back after furious two-year battle (but cars can still enter the ‘advisory’ road markings) The cycle lanes were initially removed seven weeks after first being installed By Eirian Jane Prosser Published: 12:55 EDT, 1 August 2023 | Updated: 14:50 EDT, 1 August 2023 e-mail 8 shares 31 View comments A controversial cycle lane that was axed just weeks after being installed is set to make a return to Kensington High Street after motorists and cyclists engaged in a furious battle with the west London council for two years. Permanent cycle lanes will be installed on parts of the busy road after more than 60 per cent of people who responded to the survey supported the proposal. But cyclists have slammed Kensington and Chelsea Council’s decision to install ‘advisory cycle lanes’ that indicate the track using broken white lines instead of having a physically protected lane to stop motorists from entering.

Temporary cycle lanes on the busy road had previously been installed after the council was awarded more than £300,000 from Transport for London ‘s Streetspace scheme. But after receiving 322 complaints from residents and two businesses, the lanes were ripped out in December 2020, just seven weeks after it was first installed. The controversial cycle lanes will return to Kensington High Street this year, with work beginning on August 14 The temporary cycle lanes first installed in 2020 were ripped out following complaints from motorists and residents The decision to remove the lanes, which were being used by more than 4,000 cyclists a day, sparked backlash from the borough’s cyclists who organised a protest after the decision was announced.

The active travel campaigners even took the council to the High Court alleging that the decision to close the pop-up lanes had been illegal, but this was thrown out by judges earlier this year who dismissed the claim from the Better Streets for Kensington and Chelsea Group. The announcement of new lanes follows a public consultation over whether to install new ‘advisory’ cycle lanes on Fulham Road and the eastern and western sections of Kensington High Street. More than 1,770 people responded to the public consultation with 66 per cent of people supporting the proposals for all or part of Kensington High Street to become more cycle friendly.

On Fulham Road, 71 per cent of respondents supported the proposals. The council announced on Monday that work to paint the white dashed lines on the high street will begin on August 14. The local authority added that work will take place between 9pm and 6am to minimise disruption.

The renovations will take approximately three nights, with the work on Fulham Road taking place later on in the year. Cllr Cem Kemahli, lead member for planning, place and environment, said: ‘This new painted cycle lane allows space for everyone who uses our roads as well as aims to become a greener, safer and fairer borough. More than 1,770 people responded to the public consultation with 66 per cent of people supporting the proposals for a full or part of Kensington High Street to become more cycle friendly ‘There may be some minor disruption while we get the paint on the ground, but the design has been created to strike the right balance between making room for cyclists and keeping the major thoroughfare of Kensington High Street moving.

‘ But cyclists remain unhappy about the decision. Simon Munk from the London Cycling Campaign told The Evening Standard: ‘This is still a borough where the approach to cycling still seems to be doing the least possible and revving up residents to perceive cycling as an issue for their driving rather than an opportunity to cut car use and climate emissions. ‘The approach that is now proposed is ‘advisory cycle lanes’, not physically protected cycle tracks – which goes against the Government’s guidance on cycle safety and scheme design – and the schemes proposed still have big gaps and safety issues.

‘ Justin Abbott, a member of Better Streets for Kensington and Chelsea who launched the legal challenge against the council, added: ‘They’re the only borough in London with no protected cycle lanes and this is obviously. . .

just a policy decision they’ve made, which we disagree with. ‘It prevents a lot of journeys being safe, that would otherwise be safe. ‘ The cycle lanes on Kensington High Street, protected by plastic barriers, were installed in October 2020.

Less than two months later, motorists rejoiced as workmen ripped out the installation and removed the painted cycle lane markings. It came after residents’ groups and local businesses said the scheme was ‘not working’ and was harming the local economy. MailOnline has contacted Kensington and Chelsea Council.

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