FAQs

Cycling in London has grown significantly over the past 15 years. There are now more than 670,000 cycle trips a day in London, an increase of over 130 per cent since 2000. 

In 2017, TfL published its latest Strategic Cycling Analysis (SCA) – the latest datasets, forecasts and models showing potential locations across London where cycling demand, current and future, would justify investment.

The SCA identified the area of Camden to Finsbury Park as being in the top 5-10 per cent of most popular cycle routes in London and among the top five per cent of routes in London with the greatest potential for additional cycling, but only if we provide new facilities to help and encourage people to cycle.

Cycleway 50 was originally proposed as a permanent route, running for 7km between Tottenham Hale and Camden with the route split into three phases.

Work on the permanent scheme had reached an advanced stage in design when it was paused in March 2020 due to the COVID emergency. 

In May 2020, the Department for Transport (DfT) issued statutory guidance to local authorities on how to reallocate roadspace following the pandemic. 

Designs for Cycleway 50 were bought forward again to be implemented as a temporary, experimental scheme. 

We have analysed and considered many factors when designing this experimental scheme – including current and future cycle demand; road collision data; road safety concerns raised by boroughs and local communities; bus journey times and bus passenger demand in this area; connectivity of current cycle routes and looked at the social and community hubs at Nags Head and Finsbury Park and how we can improve space for walking and cycling in this area.

We know that the A503 (Seven Sisters Road) is one of the top 10 busiest corridors for travel into and out of central London. One of the key outcomes of this experimental scheme is to improve the efficiency of the road network and maintain bus journey times so we will be monitoring many aspects to understand how the additional cycling space and new Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are affecting overall road network operations.

We want to improve the safety of road and pavement space for all users. Between June 2017 and June 2020, there were a total of 210 casualties among all road users around the Nags Head gyratory. Of these, 31 casualties were cyclists and 54 pedestrians.

There are currently no cycling facilities at Nag’s Head or any way for people to connect into the existing cycle network, making it difficult for people to make longer trips. 

By creating a segregated space for cycling along York Way to Fonthill Road, we will connect existing cycle routes together and create a safer space to encourage more people to give cycling a try. 

This scheme will also deliver other improvements including new and upgraded pedestrian crossings, lower speed limits, enhanced bus infrastructure and more space for walking.

Following the latest Government funding settlement for TfL, which runs until 31 March 2024, we continue to work with all boroughs to support active travel opportunities. 

We are also looking at our own business planning and prioritising which schemes can be taken forward within the funded period. We will need to review the feasibility of the route designed so far between Finsbury Park and Tottenham Hale, taking into consideration safety, impacts on different road users, cost and value for money. This will include a review of current designs for Seven Sisters Road and options to move forward with highway improvements in this location. 

We will ban the left turn for all traffic except cyclists from Tollington Road into Hornsey Road and re-phase the traffic lights to make it easier for cyclists to turn right from Tollington Road to Hornsey Road. Pedestrians wait-times will not change at this junction. 

We hope that this will protect cyclists from left-turning vehicles and make it a safer junction for those walking and cycling. 

We have been in discussion with Arsenal and Islington Council to look at how we manage traffic on matchdays. We are currently working through arrangements that would see the cycle lane close for a period before the match to allow traffic to flow, with added marshalling to help direct motorists.

We will be engaging with local businesses to inform them of Cycleway 50, the changes to road layout during construction and the changes being made to introduce the cycle lane. Together, with our construction partners Eurovia, we will work with local businesses to best support access and delivery arrangements.

Buses are protected through a large part of the Nag’s Head gyratory, and at either end of it, with bus lanes and a bus gate already in place. 

As part of Cycleway 50, this protection has been retained and a short section of bus lane extended which will enable buses to clear the bus stop and reach the stop line quicker.

We will be monitoring bus journey times throughout construction and while the temporary scheme is in place. 

Cycleway 50, once constructed, will connect into an existing cycle network at York Way that runs through to Royal College Street in Camden.

We recognise that there are much-needed improvements to support active and sustainable travel along the entire route and our plan is to bring these forward as a series of smaller, more affordable schemes over the coming years. 

We will lead a review of the feasibility of each section of the C50 route as designed so far, taking into consideration safety, impacts on different road users, funding and value for money. This will include a review of current designs for Seven Sisters Road and options to move forward with highway improvements in this location. 

Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) make it legally possible for us to make changes to the road network, and ETROs allow us to introduce changes temporarily, and on an experimental basis, so that we can better understand the effects the scheme will have.  

The route will be in place temporarily for 18 months, during this time we will gather views and feedback from residents, businesses, local community groups and key representatives. In partnership with Islington council, we will monitor all responses and carry out surveys to see how the route may be helping to increase walking and cycling. 

Our consultation will begin once construction is complete – we will use the consultation to help us decide whether:

• it is necessary to make any changes to the temporary scheme once it is in place, and if so, what these changes might be
• the scheme should remain in place permanently, or if it should be withdrawn at the end of the experimental period

We will be actively listening and talking to local residents, businesses, community groups and other key stakeholders during construction to gather feedback and views as well as during the formal consultation period.

You can find out more about our plans and share your views by visiting our Cycleway 50 page on our Have Your Say website https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/c50-camden-finsbury-park.The page contains maps of the route, a summary of the changes we will be making and a survey for feedback. Over time, we will also feature frequently asked questions. 

Where people provide feedback and suggestions which we believe would make the scheme work better for all road users, we may amend our proposals.  

Construction will last approximately ten months and be carried out in eight small phases along the route to minimise disruption.  

Construction work will take place between 7:30am and 6pm Monday to Friday. We will sometimes carry out tasks on Saturday between 8am and 6pm. Occasionally, to minimise disruption to the road network, we will carry out overnight works between 8pm and 6am.  

Works will be conducted in phases to reduce disruption. We will take steps to reduce noise by introducing acoustic barriers where necessary and scheduling tasks for an appropriate time of day.

There will be traffic diversions in place during certain phases of work. These will be signposted locally in advance of the diversion being put in place.  

Some bus stop suspensions will be required during certain phases of work.

Bus stop suspensions will be clearly marked and the stop before and after will remain open during any suspension.