Some observations from Highbury’s people friendly streets..... /Thread with photos.... 
Mobility scooters are using the road as predicted. Less motor traffic means both wheelchairs & mobility scooters are more likely to use the road over the pavement.
Pedestrians are now more likely to be walking in the road and feeling less threatened by cars. This is a good thing.
Many, many more people enjoying Highbury Fields.
It’s almost impossible to imagine that Highbury Crescent used be a cut through for cars.
It’s almost impossible to imagine that Highbury Crescent used be a cut through for cars.
Highbury Fields feels like it has been magically expanded by the council. Highbury place is unrecognisable from a year ago.
Getting to the reopened Highbury Pool without using a car will be possible for the many not the few going forward!
Getting to the reopened Highbury Pool without using a car will be possible for the many not the few going forward!
The work on Drayton Park in continuing, the bike lanes continuing to be built, but already there is real change....
Residents are changing how they travel. Feeling that it’s possible to make short journeys differently.
Avenell Road, with its considerable gradient feels calmer.
Seeing a child riding on a road not in the park is another indicator that streets are healthier and that children are being given access to space previously hoarded.
As Covid lifts children will need space to play.
As Covid lifts children will need space to play.
A few deliveries are starting to happen by cargo bike. This will take time to develop but give it six months and we should see further change.
Now let’s focus on the boundary roads:
Highbury Grove was clear today.
This is not the case during the week while major road works on Holloway Road back traffic up (more on that later).
Highbury Grove was clear today.
This is not the case during the week while major road works on Holloway Road back traffic up (more on that later).
Highbury Barn was clear too.
Blackstock Road was pretty clear. The Hackney side of this road has been an LTN for 40 years.
Parking by an @LTDA cab & people driving enormous vehicles does not help but traffic was flowing fine at the Brownswood Road junction.
Parking by an @LTDA cab & people driving enormous vehicles does not help but traffic was flowing fine at the Brownswood Road junction.
The new pedestrian crossing at Somerfield Road & Blackstock is working.
The crossing times for pedestrians are long allowing frail pedestrians to get across ~ something I’ll post a separate video of.
As for scooters.... they are a better solution than the Merc!
The crossing times for pedestrians are long allowing frail pedestrians to get across ~ something I’ll post a separate video of.
As for scooters.... they are a better solution than the Merc!
At the Seven Sisters junction with Blackstock Road, traffic is flowing and frankly that’s the issue, decades of focus on motor traffic through-put make the area difficult for anyone walking or on bike. Despite this, people make do.
Moving around the perimeter of the Highbury LTN, Tollington Rd / Isledon Road continues to be a brutal, motor traffic moat around the Sobell Center.
It is desperately in need of traffic reduction & 🚲 lanes..... the LTN has not changed that.
It is desperately in need of traffic reduction & 🚲 lanes..... the LTN has not changed that.
On Hornsey Road, traffic was flowing fine but moving too quickly and the inconsistent bikes lanes are not fit for purpose.
The excellent @TfL poster felt like an appropriate backdrop to both the challenges and opportunities we face as a community.
The excellent @TfL poster felt like an appropriate backdrop to both the challenges and opportunities we face as a community.
Which brings us around to the South-West side of the Highbury Diamond, Holloway Rd.
Works continue to narrow the capacity of the road on the approach to Highbury Corner.
A major artery reduced to one lane + lots of 🚗 = delays that are square root of nothing to do with LTNs.
Works continue to narrow the capacity of the road on the approach to Highbury Corner.
A major artery reduced to one lane + lots of 🚗 = delays that are square root of nothing to do with LTNs.
On the topic of Holloway Road, it remains amazing to me that anyone dares cycle on it.
Maybe one day @TfL & @IslingtonBC will make this route navigable by people other than the brave.
Maybe one day @TfL & @IslingtonBC will make this route navigable by people other than the brave.
Those works on Holloway are also causing delays to motor traffic on St Paul’s Road.
Three significant roads feed into Holloway Road at its narrowest point by the station. It’s is not surprising that major works have a significant impact.
Three significant roads feed into Holloway Road at its narrowest point by the station. It’s is not surprising that major works have a significant impact.
Overall Highbury’s #PeopleFriendlyStreets are amazing. We are seeing signs during the experiment that quieter, safer streets are enabling behaviour change.
Well done to the councillors involved @AndyHull79 @RoulinKhondoker @OshGantly @SueLukes @CarolineRussell & Cllr DeBono
Well done to the councillors involved @AndyHull79 @RoulinKhondoker @OshGantly @SueLukes @CarolineRussell & Cllr DeBono
Addendum. There are major works on Seven Sisters Road 600m to the west of Highbury.
The Holloway gyratory is the largest in London, monstorus in size and in its impact of those who live in it.
While 600 meters to the West of the LTN it has consequences.
The Holloway gyratory is the largest in London, monstorus in size and in its impact of those who live in it.
While 600 meters to the West of the LTN it has consequences.
1) These works are killing bus times for residents returning from Camden. This has nothing to do with LTN but combined w/ no bus lane at Highbury / Holloway - it's an issue.
2) Residents in the east of the Highbury LTN making 🚗 journeys west are experiencing real delays.
2) Residents in the east of the Highbury LTN making 🚗 journeys west are experiencing real delays.
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