Brent Cyclists have issued an incredibly thorough and imaginative 'Draft Cycling Plan for Brent' which aims to improve cycling across the borough and cycling links with central London, as well as tackle the major barriers to cycling in Central and North Brent. If their vision is realised it would not just be a cycling 'improvement' but a cycling revolution.
The plan
required to tackle these barriers to link the communities of mid-Brent with
practical cycling and walking routes will be a major piece of work in itself.
Brent Cyclists’ suggestions for priority changes needed for the mini-Holland in
Wembley and Neasden are as follows:
A)
Alterations
to the Neasden north and south roundabouts, to the cycle / pedestrian underpass
at Neasden (or complete replacement) and to Dudden Hill Lane, Neasden Lane
North and Blackbird Hill to create a viable cycle route to Wembley Park and the
north of the borough, from the south and from central London. This will be
discussed later under the heading “Jubilee Line Quietway”. This will be a
completion of a Quietway using main roads and needs to be entirely segregated.
This is a very large scheme in itself.
B)
A new link
between Wembley park and Neasden spanning, or going under, the Metropolitan
Line to fill in the long gap between the North Circular Road and Bridge Road
crossings. This already features in the Wembley area Masterplan, but needs to
be a priority step, before extensive redevelopment.
C)
A new link
across the Chiltern Line between Wembley Park and the Harrow Road area, at
Sherrans Farm Open Space
D)
Extension
and improvement of the cycle route on the Brent River Path in both directions.
At the north end, quality links to both new crossing A) above and to Bridge
Road via North Road. At the south end, an improved, more efficient crossing of
Harrow Road and an improved, safer linkage to the Stonebridge/ Abbey Road cycle
bridge.
E)
Segregated
cycle tracks along Forty Avenue and East Lane, or, where there is insufficient
width, mandatory cycle lanes with removal of all parking.
F)
Prioritisation
of cycling, walking and buses on Ealing road by removing the north-south
through route for cars, forcing them to use Bridgewater Road instead, which is
a more suitable route.
G)
Closing the
through-route via St Johns Road and Llanover Road to cars to create a bike
priority route parallel to the West Coast Main Line and opening up a route
through the North Wembley Industrial Estate from there to Windermere Avenue,
with appropriate crossing facilities at East Lane, to extend this route
northwards.
H)
Linking
Neasden Recreation Ground with Welsh Harp Open Space with a new path built in
collaboration with the Canal and River Trust (who control the reservoir) which
would either use the dam or a new bridge across the Brent. This should also,
with the cooperation in addition of Barnet council, become part of a circular
leisure cycling and walking route all round the reservoir. Brent Cyclists have
already suggested several detailed options for this scheme.
I)
Replacing
one or both of the spiral pedestrian footbridges across the North Circular Road
at Kenwyn Avenue and the St Raphaels Estate with wide cycling and walking
bridges with long, straight ramps. There is enough space in both these
locations for this. These bridges must be connected with good, wide paths to
the minor roads at either end.
These proposals merit serious consideration and would contribute enormously to Brent's Climate Change Strategy by encouraging more people to leave their cars behind and take to their bikes, secure in the knowledge that safe and secure routes are in place. As well as making commuting cycling more attractive it would also increase leisure cycling improving health and tackling obesity.
Brent Cyclists deserve congratulation and thanks for this far-sighted and thorough report which must have required an enormous amount of work by a small voluntary organisation.
It has not been possible to do the full 25 page report full justice in this summary. The full report can be found
