Our ref: FOI-2676-1718
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 30 March 2017 asking for information about Victoria Embankment.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold some of the information you require.
The junction of Victoria Embankment and Bridge Street is part of East-West Cycle Superhighway.
To provide segregated cycling facilities in this area it was necessary to reduce the westbound traffic lanes on Victoria Embankment from three to one. During the design process our events team raised concerns that this would not provide sufficient width for events such as the London Marathon so the pedestrian island was designed at the same level as the carriageway with infrastructure on the island being removable during an event. This flush island also provides greater network resilience in the case of an emergency or if a vehicle has broken down. No documents relating to this decision are held.
A Road Safety Audit was undertaken on the proposed design for this junction in September 2015. A concern was raised by the road safety audit team regarding the potential for the island to be inviting for vehicles, particularly taxis to wait and pick up / drop off, and therefore may be over-run by motorised vehicles. TfL addressed this concern by introducing street furniture on the island, to act as a deterrent.
Since the Cycle Superhighway opened in both directions between Tower Hill and Parliament Square, we have been monitoring key locations closely to ensure the cycle track is operating as expected. In this location we have observed a number of cyclists travelling from Parliament Square to Victoria Embankment making non-permitted movements which conflict with the pedestrians using the crossing facility on Victoria Embankment.
The new cycle track allows cyclists to travel from Parliament Square to Bridge Street and turn left into the cycle track on Victoria Embankment using dedicated cycle signals at the northern end of Westminster Bridge. Cyclists who choose to cycle in the carriageway on Bridge Street past Portcullis House as you describe, are not permitted to turn left into the cycle track on Victoria Embankment. Cyclists in the carriageway are only permitted to turn left into the Victoria Embankment general traffic lane.
To help address this issue and improve cycle behaviour at this location we are in the process of making some changes to this junction (attached is the Change Control that documents this decision). We are currently making a new Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to make the cycle movement you have described illegal, and we will shortly be undertaking the associated lining and signal amendments to highlight this banned turn to cyclists.
Over the next few months our Enforcement team will be speaking with cyclists who are turning left at this junction, and highlighting the restrictions that will be in place. Where required, our Enforcement team will be able to issue penalty fines.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
