Residents to have a say on traffic restrictions for new cycle Quietway

Islington’s transport chief Cllr Claudia Webbe

Residents will soon be asked to take part in a consultation on whether traffic restrictions should be introduced on the planned cycle Quietway 10, which will connect Finsbury Park to Clerkenwell.

The consultation comes after local cycling campaigners presented a 2,000-signature petition to the Town Hall in February.

The petition, handed over by consultant anaesthetist Tabitha Tanqueray from campaign group Cycle Islington, calls for a six-month trial to remove most of the traffic from the Quietway.

Transport chief Cllr Claudia Webbe announced the decision to consult residents on the possibility of introducing such a trial at the full council meeting on Thursday 5 July.

“We want all of our residents to have the opportunity to live longer lives and be able to do so as independently as possible,” she said.

“We see the need to close certain roads to prevent through traffic and rat-running to make a more inclusive cycling route. However, this should only be done after fully consulting the community and securing their support.”

The original petition, which prompted the decision to introduce the consultation, highlighted that restricting traffic on the new Quietway “will create a truly ‘Quiet’ route north to south through Islington”.

The petition specified the need to install traffic filters at “strategic points” on Westbourne Road, Thornhill Road, Gillespie Road and Amwell Street.

“Everyone from school children to pensioners will be able to walk, scoot, and cycle here in comfort and safety,” it reads.

Green Party councillor Caroline Russell. Photograph: GLA

Cllr Caroline Russell (Green) supports the consultation but argues that in addition to specific traffic restrictions on the proposed Quietway, overall traffic reduction across the borough is needed to ensure the success of the new bike route.

“Traffic reduction is the only game in town when it comes to transport,” she said.

“We need to concentrate on an area-wide approach with filtering of side-roads to reduce traffic flows and cut out any rat-running journeys.

“Walking and cycling can also be made to feel much safer by introducing more protected bike lanes and treating side roads so they are safer to cross for pedestrians.”