Carshalton High Street – Bus Priority Improvements

We would like your views on our proposals to change parking restrictions so we can improve bus journey times on Carshalton High Street.

Use the following buttons to read more about the changes and how they may impact you. You can also view maps, ask questions, give feedback, and find out about other ways to get in touch and take part.

Proposals

We plan to upgrade all single red line sections (no stopping Monday to Saturday, 07:00 – 19:00) to double red lines (no stopping at any time) on Carshalton High Street between The Square and Park Lane. Please see map below for further details of the sections affected.

There would be no changes to existing parking or loading bays, but it would mean there would be no stopping at any time outside these bays. Currently, parking is allowed after 19:00 on weekdays and Saturdays and all day on Sundays. This will no longer be permitted under the new proposal.

Click on map to see a larger version

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Why?

Carshalton High Street is a key bus corridor served by routes 127, 157, 407, and SL7, with up to  40 buses per hour carrying over 12,000 passengers daily.

SL7 Bus on Carshalton High Street

However, bus speeds along this corridor are consistently below scheduled levels, averaging just  3–5 mph especially during weekday evenings and Sunday inter-peak periods. This ongoing decline in speed affects reliability and passenger experience.

To improve journey times and make bus services more efficient and attractive, we’re proposing changes to parking restrictions along Carshalton High Street.

Many of London’s parking controls on the red route network were first set up years ago and as a consequence don’t always give bus services the priority bus passengers need during evenings or weekends. To help make buses a more reliable and appealing choice every day of the week, we’re planning to extend the hours these rules apply. This will help keep traffic lanes clear and improve journeys for everyone using public transport.

There are also a number of additional benefits from reducing kerbside activity like parking:

Faster, more reliable buses by removing pinch points
Reducing chance of ‘dooring’ (this is when cyclists are hurt in collisions in which the occupant of a vehicle opens a door into their path)
Better visibility and safety at junctions for pedestrians and drivers
Improved traffic flow for all road users

London’s streets are some of the most congested in the world, worsening air pollution, delaying vital bus services and freight, and making too many streets unpleasant places for walking and cycling.

Lifestyle changes, increasing use of internet deliveries, Sunday shopping and a rapidly growing night-time economy, have caused changes in travel and congestion patterns in recent years. The congestion problem is not confined to the traditional morning and evening peaks, or just to central London – it affects neighbourhoods and town centres across London.  Action is needed to reduce the negative impact of congestion on the city. Reducing car use and encouraging modal shift is a key part of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy to tackle this.

These changes are designed to support a more efficient and sustainable transport network for everyone using Carshalton High Street. By improving bus speeds, we can ensure travelling by bus appeals to Londoners.

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