EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

April 2017 Lee Valley Regional Park Authority EB505

Prepared by: Prepared for:

Steer Davies Gleave Lee Valley Regional Park Authority 28-32 Upper Ground Myddelton House SE1 9PD +44 20 7910 5000 Enfield EN2 9HG www.steerdaviesgleave.com EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

Executive Summary increasing across London. More closely to the Lee Valley, the 2012 Introduction Olympics has left a legacy of The Lee Valley Regional Park (the sports facilities and participation. Park) provides a 26 mile spine of At the local scale, eight local transport green space through north east authorities border the Park. Each London from Ware in to has specific plans for cycling that East India Dock Basin on the River they are bringing forward and we Thames. It attracts in excess of six have engaged with each throughout million visitors per year, including the development of this strategy. many cyclists who come to use Working closely in partnership with existing routes or visit attractions these neighbouring boroughs as such as the Lee Valley VeloPark. well as other local partners such This document outlines how the Lee as Canal & River Trust (C&RT) and Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) Sustrans, will be a core component can build upon the existing good in the delivery of this strategy. facilities for cyclists, remedy issues and barriers and provide a more Vision joined-up offer to cyclists. Improving its cycling offer has the potential to Our vision is for the Lee increase visitor numbers, bring in Valley Regional Park more revenue for the Park’s visitor to be a world class attractions and improve the health and wellbeing of those visitors. destination for cycling

Policy context Objectives of this strategy This strategy sits within a national 1. Improve access to the Park for context of support for active leisure people who want to cycle there (i.e. and active travel. The Department help people to get there by bike). for Transport’s goal is for walking and cycling to be the natural choice 2. Improve access within the Park for for short everyday trips, while the people cycling: make it easy for Department for Health see increasing people to cycle around the park. physical activity as a core element 3. Improve awareness of the Park’s in tackling childhood obesity. cycling offer, particularly among On a regional level, the Mayor of residents of neighbouring boroughs London is promoting cycling as a and capitalise on the success of means of transport through increased and interest generated by the Lee funding, and cycling numbers are Valley VeloPark and the range of cycling events that take place. EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

4. For the Park to be accessible to Issues and opportunities all (i.e. so that disabled people can While there are many strengths also enjoy cycling in the Park). to the existing offer for cyclists in 5. Promote safety and security the Park, there are outstanding among those cycling and issues and barriers: walking in the Park. • Physical barriers to accessing the Park. The West Anglia Existing conditions for railway line, major roads, and cycling in the Park industrial, trading and housing The Lee Valley Regional Park already estates restrict the number of has a strong cycling offer. The existing access points into the Park. cycle network includes National Cycle Network routes 1 and 61, as well as • Informational barriers to many other local cycle routes. Paths in accessing the Park. A lack of the Park tend to be well-surfaced and awareness of the Park’s facilities of sufficient width for two cyclists to or access points for cyclists pass, although there are some reports can be a barrier to use. of minor pedestrian - cyclist conflict. • Missing cycling connections. Many cyclists come to the Park for Sections of the cycling network leisure rides or to visit one of the Park’s are incomplete or there are attractions such as the Lee Valley no alternative routes. Velopark or White Water Centre. There are also some cyclists who commute • Barriers to movement within the through the Park. It is possible to travel Park. Metal barriers, cobbled speed with a bicycle on one of the trains on traps, steps, encroaching vegetation the parallel railway line to the Park. or narrow pinch points can impede movement within the Park. • Signage and wayfinding. While there is some signage in the Park, in places it is not comprehensive enough to be relied on for route finding. • Lighting preventing night time or winter use. Almost none of the paths in the Park have artificial lighting, which makes their use after dark difficult. EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

Measures to develop the 5. Introduce new routes to cycling offer in the Park develop the existing network. This section sets out what We shall create a more complete we will do to encourage and cycle network by completing promote cycling in the park: missing cycling connections and providing alternative 1. Develop key gateways to the routes through and across the Park. We have identified a set Regional Park for cyclists. of key gateways to improve the 6. Improve the quality of paths for quality of access points into and cycling. We will address specific out of the Park. Key gateways will barriers to cycling within the Park be characterised by clear access and assure the implementation and good quality wayfinding. of cycle routes that conform 2. Remove physical barriers to to good practice and cater for access. We shall work with future increases in demand. partners to create ramped 7. Encourage considerate sharing access across the railway of paths. To continue efforts to line, major roads and through minimise conflict, we will work estates, which currently closely with C&RT to implement hamper access to the Park. awareness-raising campaigns. 3. Raise the profile of cycling 8. Develop cycle parking and in the Park. We shall increase hubs. We will increase the awareness of the Park’s cycling provision of cycle parking at offer through advertising and key visitors attractions and publicity, particularly focussed gateways, as well as supporting on neighbouring residential areas the development of cycle hubs and new developments near by neighbouring boroughs. to the Park, as well as events at the Lee Valley VeloPark to 9. Explore options for cycle hire. raise the profile of cycling. We shall explore options for further cycle hire locations in the Park. 4. Improve signage and wayfinding.Working closely with partners such as C&RT, Sustrans and neighbouring boroughs, we shall develop more comprehensive, consistent wayfinding. EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

In order to realise the measures Transport for London outlined in the previous section the funding (London) LVRPA, working with partners, shall • Cycle Superhighway / seek funding from various sources Quietway programmes including but not limited to: • Mini-Hollands Department for Transport grant funding (outside London) Local Authority / London Borough funding • Local Growth Fund (capital schemes) • Local Implementation • Access Fund (revenue funding) Plan (LIP via TfL) • Cycle-Rail funding in conjunction • Developer contributions (Section 106 with rail operators / Community Infrastructure Levy) • Potential future funding announced Sporting / leisure sources: from DfT related to the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy • Sport • Big Lottery Fund EB505

Contents

1. Introduction 2

About the Lee Valley Regional Park 2 Why a cycling strategy for the Lee Valley Regional Park? 2

2. Policy context 4

National active travel and health strategy 4 Regional support for active travel 5 Local policy context 5 What does this mean for the Lee Valley Regional Park? 10

3. Vision and objectives of our strategy 11

Our vision for cycling in the Lee Valley Regional Park 11 Objectives 11

4. Existing conditions for cycling in the Park 12

Issues and opportunities 15

5. Measures to develop the cycling offer in the Park 19

6. Implementation 34

Sources of funding 34 Action Plan 35 Monitoring and evaluating our progress 35 Appendices 36 EB505

2 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

1 Introduction

About the Lee Valley The Park already has many cyclists Regional Park who visit the park throughout the year. Some come to ride along the Created 50 years ago on the 1st north-south National Cycle Route January 1967, the Lee Valley Regional 1, which runs the length of the UK, Park (the Park) provides a spine including much of the length of the of green space through north east Park, whether on a day ride or as part London. It covers 26 miles of parkland of a longer tour. Some come to visit from Ware in Hertfordshire to East India the world-class Olympic legacy venue Dock Basin on the . The – the Lee Valley VeloPark – which park includes over 4,000 hectares of offers a velodrome, BMX track, road park and marshland, sport and leisure circuit and mountain biking as well venues, nature reserves and trails. as indoor static bikes and children’s The Lee Valley Regional Park balance bikes. Some ride through Authority’s vision is for the park to be every day to and from their place of “a world class leisure destination: at work, perhaps along the towpath the heart of this, we are a place for of the Lee Valley Navigation Canal recreation, leisure, sport and nature”. offering a direct traffic-free route into and out of . Some come The Park attracts in excess of six to ride circular traffic-free routes with million visitors a year, having risen their children, taking advantage of from around four million 10 years one of the many suggested routes. ago. Visitor numbers are forecast to increase further – seven million Why a cycling strategy expected by 2020. Visitors come to visit the high quality leisure and for the Lee Valley sporting sites such as the Lee Valley Regional Park? White Water Centre, the VeloPark and Ice Centre. They come to Cycling is already a popular activity escape the city in the extensive green and attraction for many of the visitors space. They run after work or play to the Park. There are already cycling football on the weekend. They walk routes in the Park, the absence of along the river and in neighbouring traffic attracts cyclists from nearby woodland. They experience local roads and there are many leisure nature and wildlife. They come to venues to which (and at which) visitors enjoy a family afternoon out. cycle. However, there are barriers to cycling in the Park, and more could be done to attract more cyclists. EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 3

This document outlines how the Lee Improving the cycling offer of the Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) Park will bring more visitors into the can build upon the existing good Park, increasing the number of people facilities for cyclists, remedy issues and who benefit from its spaces and barriers that exist and provide a more facilities. It also has the potential to joined-up offer to cyclists. It sets out bring in more revenue for the Park’s the LVRPA’s plans for cyclists going facilities. In addition, making cycling forward, the schemes that the LVRPA more attractive in the Park has the will promote and bring forward, and potential to contribute to improving how it will integrate its schemes with the health of residents of adjacent the plans of neighbouring boroughs. boroughs and visitors alike through This strategy will identify ways to increased levels of physical activity, increase the attractiveness of cycling reduced pollution, improved air quality in the Park, it will look for ways to and lower levels of congestion. make cycling to access the Park easier, and it will look to improve cycling links between venues. EB505

4 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

2 Policy context

This section situates the Lee Valley The DfT believes that to realise this Regional Park’s Cycling Strategy goal will require sustained investment in the national, regional and local in infrastructure coupled with a change policy context. It starts by introducing in the approach to transport planning relevant national policy relating that sees cycling and walking as to active travel and health before transport modes in their own right, discussing trends in cycling policy in integrated into the transport network. London. The Park borders eight local The Department for Culture, Media transport authorities, the plans and and Sport (DCMS) published its New collaboration of which are relevant Strategy for Sport for consultation to the development of cycling in the in summer 2015. This document Park. This section reviews their local is structured around several key policies and strategies for cycling as themes relating to sport, of which these provide context for how cycling two relate to cycling in the Park: is promoted and encouraged locally. • Participation: the first and National active travel most crucial theme was that participating in sport should and health strategy be open to all, and that giving Encouraging more people to cycle everyone this opportunity will create for leisure and for transport fits into a happier, healthier country. several of the national government’s • Physical Activity: promoting objectives for transport and health. physical activity, and not only sport, The Department for Transport (DfT) is a core component of strategies published its draft Cycling and to improve the health of the nation. Walking Investment Strategy for consultation in spring 2016. This The Department for Health (DfH) document sets out the government’s published its Action Plan on approach for investing to improve Childhood Obesity in summer 2016. conditions for walking and cycling It identified the cause of obesity as in the coming years. It sets out the an energy imbalance: taking in more DfT’s commitment to making England energy through food than we use a walking and cycling nation: through activity. It therefore singles out promoting and increasing more physical activity as a core element “Our long term goal up to 2040 in tackling obesity in children. is that walking and cycling should be a normal part of These three documents demonstrate everyday life, and the natural how cycling plays a central role in choice for shorter journeys such meeting government objectives, as the commute to school, whether it is cycling for practical college, work or leisure trips.” purposes, i.e. commuting, or for leisure or sport. EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 5

Regional support often. Londoners want to try cycling for active travel or to cycle more, and are demanding better networks, and so ensuring that There has been a step-change in funding for cycling is used in the best funding and support for cycling in possible way. TfL is in the process of London in recent years. The 2013 identifying long-term strategic cycle publication by the routes across London with the aim of Authority of the Mayor’s Vision for providing a comprehensive network Cycling in London was widely reported for utility cycling across London. as a ‘game changer’ for cycling in the Further to this, and of relevance to the capital. In his foreword, Transport for southern portion of the Park, is the London (TfL)’s Commissioner, Sir Peter effect of the London 2012 Olympic Hendy, stated that TfL is committed to legacy. This involves physical changes funding and delivering the ambitions to the built environment in the Queen set out in the Vision, noting that Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP), which implementation of the Vision is not just is now fully open and includes the Lee about cycle routes but about realising Valley VeloPark among other legacy the “huge health and economic sporting venues, which are attracting benefits that greater cycling can bring.” more and more leisure and sporting Now, in 2016, many of the schemes visitors to the Park. In addition, the put forward in the Mayor’s Vision large new residential developments for Cycling are being realised; from such as the Olympic village bring more the East-West and North-South people into close proximity to the Superhighways to Quietways and Park. In a wider sense, there is also mini-Holland boroughs; two of which the legacy of Olympic success both – Waltham Forest and Enfield – border in London and recently in Rio which the Park. So now is an exciting time contributes to the increasing popularity for cycling in London, and there is a of cycling for recreation and sport. momentum to be capitalised upon. The arrival of Mayor Khan in May Local policy context 2016 has confirmed a continuation Eight local transport authorities of this direction of travel as he has adjoin the Park; this section details pledged to continue the progress their local strategies and plans that made so far for walking and cycling. are relevant to cycling in the Park. Between 2016 – 2022, 5.5% of TfL’s budget (£770m) has been pledged London Borough of Tower Hamlets to cycling, equivalent to £17 per The London Borough of Tower Londoner. There is therefore now, Hamlets’s Core Strategy to 2025 like seldom before, the political will, includes the improvement of access ambition and funding to get more to strategically important public open people cycling, more safely and more spaces, which include the Park. EB505

6 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

Tower Hamlets Council has a vision to route 6 will run through the centre of develop Fish Island, between Victoria the QEOP connecting to Honor Lee Park and the Olympic Park, into a Avenue and further east into Newham. sustainable, mixed-use community. The Newham Greenway, which As part of these plans, they will crosses the southern edge of the enhance greenway and towpath QEOP, currently provides a crossing connections as well new bridges to and access points for cyclists to the make Fish Island a more accessible Park. The link between Stratford place on foot and by bike, which High Street and the View Tube will maximise the connections to the is currently closed but will open Olympic Park and . following the completion of Thames Water works at Waterworks River. There is also a ramped connection The London Borough of Newham being installed west of Abbey Creek currently has low levels of cycling, to improve the connection to the although TfL has identified Newham Channelsea path. Newham has as a borough with a very high potential also secured TfL funding to install to increase cycling numbers. Newham lighting and CCTV along the length Council’s Core Strategy to 2027 seeks of the Greenway to improve safety. to promote new or enhanced open space and walking and cycling routes London Borough of Hackney throughout the borough, including The London Borough of Hackney has along the Lower . In doing the highest cycling mode share of all so, the borough wants to better London boroughs. Hackney aims to connect residents of Newham to the continue to create the best conditions River Thames, the Olympic Park and to encourage more walking and the Park. To increase accessibility to cycling, and all new transport schemes the Park from surrounding areas, the and development proposals are borough wants to place new bridges assessed against the need to promote over rivers and barriers to better these modes of transport. Hackney connect neighbouring communities. aims to improve conditions for cyclists Newham is working to improve and further by creating more 20mph zones, complete cyclist connections through continuing its implementation of cycle the . Specific schemes permeability schemes, training cyclists include continuing towpath access and improving cycle parking facilities, to south of Cody and promoting greenway routes Dock and two cyclist and pedestrian such as the Lee Valley Path North. bridges across the to Tower Hackney Council recognised the Hamlets – one at Poplar Reach and importance of utilising green spaces one at Leamouth to connect to the and parks for cycling routes in their City Island development. TfL Quietway 2015 Cycling Plan. They pledge to EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 7

continue working with partners such stations. They are developing as the C&RT to develop and improve improved wayfinding and mapping of the routes for cyclists in the Park, cycling in the borough, and they intend removing pinch points and working on to make the most of opportunities to campaigns to promote considerate work in partnership with the LVRPA cycling to minimise conflict with other to maximise visitors using the Park. path users. Hackney’s recently realised New regeneration proposals for Wetlands to Wetlands Greenway areas such as Lea Valley Eastside project connects into the Park at will enable cycling enhancements Springfield Park east to . and benefits created in the QEOP to be extended further north into London Borough of the Park, up through to Waltham Forest Road whilst also creating better links Waltham Forest Council acknowledges for new residents and visitors. that there are barriers to accessing The Council has pledged to work the Park from the borough; railway with the LVRPA to enhance the green lines, major roads, waterways, links between to the Park and to industrial areas and reservoirs limit ensure easy and sustainable access accessibility to the Park for cyclists to green spaces across the borough. and pedestrians. The borough wants to improve pedestrian and cycle London Borough of Haringey access to green and open spaces, Haringey Council wants to improve particularly to the QEOP, the Lee Valley the legibility of the borough’s principal Regional Park and . roads, cycle paths and footways The borough wants to develop a as well as improve the accessibility network of safe walking and cycling and permeability of public spaces routes that are well designed and for walking and cycling. The legible, and has been progressing its Council completed the Greenway Enjoy Waltham Forest project with project, which links green spaces mini-Holland funding from TfL. across the borough from the Park Enjoy Waltham Forest delivers in the east to the Parkland walk to improvements for cyclists across , via . the borough, including improved Within Haringey Council’s Corporate cycle facilities along the major roads Plan is the objective to make which lead into the Park: Lea Bridge Haringey one of the most cycling Road, Forest Road and Ruckholt and pedestrian friendly boroughs in Road. In addition they are developing London. In its Local Implementation cycle hubs and Brompton cycle Plan 2011-2031 , Haringey identified hire at stations across the borough, the Park as a significant recreational including at Blackhorse Road and waterway and cycle route, which can serve to link Haringey with EB505

8 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

1: The Enfield Plan: developments in , in on either side of the West Anglia Core Strategy 2010 – 2025, p.144 particular the QEOP. The Council railway to schools, developments, intends to improve links between greenways and the Park. This the regeneration area in includes a strategy to deliver a path and the Park, for example, through along the western bank of the River improving cyclist access across the Lea by requiring new developments railway line at Northumberland Park seeking planning permission to and improving the link at Marigold provide a strip of land in perpetuity. Road. They cite the existing barriers By supporting the work of the LVRPA, of the railway line and major roads the council hopes to realise the as hampering current connections potential of the Park and ”make the between the borough and the Park. best use of the waterway network in the upper Lee Valley, seeking to fully London Borough of Enfield restore the waterways and improve Encouraging cycling is a key their pathways and facilities for freight, transport priority with Cycle Enfield, recreational and educational use1”. supported by mini-Holland funding, combining extensive physical network The London Legacy improvements and additions with a range of supporting measures The London Legacy Development including cycle training, hire and Corporation (LLDC) was created maintenance. The new cycleway to assure the legacy of the 2012 network will provide improved access Olympic Park; its remit covers the to important destinations like the Park. QEOP and its immediate surrounds. One of the strategic objectives of Its vision is to create a dynamic new Enfield Council’s Core Strategy 2010- metropolitan centre for London, in 2025 is to improve access to green which the QEOP will be a catalyst areas and waterways, in particular for for growth and regeneration in the the communities close to the Park. area, seeing the creation of new They, like other boroughs, identify homes, jobs and visitor attractions. barriers to pedestrian and cyclist The QEOP is therefore in the process access to the Park from the borough: of change in terms of its physical the West Anglia railway line, industrial environment, with improved public and housing estates, north-south and green space, 2,500 new homes roads and the North Circular road. and two new schools planned and In addition, a large part of the Park 13,000 new jobs forecast (mostly in in this area consists of reservoirs the Here East development) by 2025. to which access is restricted. Enfield will work with stakeholders Hertfordshire County Council to prioritise pedestrian and cyclist Hertfordshire County Council’s cycling schemes that link communities strategy states the county has the EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 9

lowest level of cycling to work in the the year. The UTP identified several region, but with over planned cycling and pedestrian routes 40% of journeys beginning and ending that are intended to link together in the same town. There is therefore the fragmented cycle network and a significant untapped potential for upgrade existing infrastructure. cycling. Urban transport Plans (UTPs) Cycle data captured for the Travelsmart for districts within Hertfordshire (2010) initiative for the highlight that sections of path in the and area shows that cycle Park are of poor quality, that east-west levels increase during the weekend, links could be improved, specifically with trips for leisure being the largest in terms of crossing the West Anglia share. The Council’s vision for the railway, and that links from town Broxbourne area, set out in their centres to the Park could be improved. emerging Broxbourne Cycling Strategy, The Hertford and Ware UTP (2010) is to improve walking and cycling along identified various barriers to accessing three major routes: along the New the Park. The A414 is identified as River, which flows parallel to the Park, one of the main barriers for north- along the eastern side of the A10 and south cycle traffic. In Ware, cycle along the eastern side of West Anglia provisions to cross traffic-dominated railway. All these areas are within or streets around the railway station are border the Lee Valley Regional Park. lacking. To enter the Park from the north, cyclists have to cross traffic- County Council dominated Star Street, and to enter Essex County Council recently the park from the west, cyclists have published a new Cycling Strategy to cross Viaduct Road. Furthermore, for the whole county, which aims to the river can currently only be crossed double the number of cycling trips via Bridge Foot to Star Street, and from 2014 to 2025. The strategy there is no pedestrian or cycle access seeks to promote cycling both as under Bridge Foot, and instead cyclists a practical means of transport for have to cross the traffic dominated short journeys and as an enjoyable road to access the riverside path. The participation activity for sport. UTP identifies the width constraints Within the countywide strategy sit on towpaths in the Lee Valley as the district level Cycling Action Plans, main reason why these paths are whose aim is to improve the cycling not used by commuting cyclists, network in local areas. The Epping as it can cause conflict between Forest District Cycling Action Plan cyclists and pedestrians. Furthermore, is of most relevance for the Park poor surfacing of the path and the given its proximity. Essex County impact of poor drainage could make Council is seeking to improve links it unattractive to use throughout with NCN1 and to establish making EB505

10 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

2: https://canalrivertrust. org.uk/about-us/our- good links to the other urban areas What does this mean campaigns/share-the- of the . They for the Lee Valley space-our-towpath-code identify the busy road junction of the A121 and Meridian Way as a location Regional Park? in need of improving for cyclists. The policy context described in this The Council highlights intensive section illustrates a positive one for housing development forthcoming promoting and developing cycling in and around Harlow in the coming measures in the Park in coming years. With this development, they years. Increasing cycling for leisure intend to produce a Harlow Cycling and practical purposes fits in with Action Plan alongside an updated the national government’s agenda for Epping Forest District Cycling Action transport, physical activity and health. Plan, which will seek to make better This is consistent at regional level too, use of and improve the existing as London has improved rapidly in its River Stort towpath leading into the provision for cyclists in recent years. Park from Harlow via Roydon. At a local level, there are consistent themes that emerge from local policy Canal & River Trust and planning. All of the neighbouring The C&RT has responsibility for the boroughs want to promote and towpaths in the Park. They recognise improve their cycling facilities, with that there are competing users of the many having new planned routes towpaths: walkers, cyclists, boaters, stretching across their boroughs. anglers, wildlife who interact with There is a general intention to each other and can sometimes come improve links into the Park, although into conflict. Among them, boaters many boroughs identify barriers pay for their space adjacent to the which impair cyclist and pedestrian towpath, while other users do not access, such as the railway line, pay directly for its use. The C&RT major roads or industrial or housing promotes considerate sharing of estates which lack permeability. the towpaths as their experience has shown that drawing lines on the We have developed our strategy towpath to segregate it between users with this context in mind. It is clear is not very effective. Their ‘Share the that working closely with local Space, Drop your Pace’ towpath partners will be crucial to improving code is designed to to promote cycling conditions in the Park. considerate sharing of the towpaths2. EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 11

3 Vision and objectives of our strategy

This section introduces our vision Objectives and objectives for the Lee Valley Regional Park cycling strategy. 1. Improve access to the Park for people who want to cycle there (i.e. Our vision for cycling help people to get there by bike). in the Lee Valley 2. Improve access within the Park for Regional Park people cycling: make it easy for people to cycle around the Park. Our vision is for the Lee 3. Improve awareness of the Park’s Valley Regional Park cycling offer, particularly among residents of neighbouring boroughs to be a world class and capitalise on the success of destination for cycling and interest generated by the Lee Valley VeloPark and the range of Our vision ties in with the overarching cycling events that take place. vision for the Park that it should be 4. For the Park to be accessible to a world class leisure destination. all (i.e. so that disabled people can The underlying outcome of this also enjoy cycling in the Park). vision is that more people will visit and enjoy the Park. 5. Promote safety and security among those cycling and walking in the Park. EB505

12 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

4 Existing conditions for cycling in the Park

The Lee Valley Regional Park already Marshes. However, in some sections has a strong cycling offer. Along of the Park choice is limited to one its length from the River Thames path, e.g. next to the reservoirs near to Hertfordshire there are different Tottenham. The exception to this sections which offer differing continuity is in the southernmost experiences; whether it is moving section of the Park, where there isn’t through the changing inner city currently a continuous path south environments around Bow and the of Twelvetrees Park / Cody Dock. Olympic Park, through the marshland between Hackney and Walthamstow, cycling adjacent to the reservoirs near Tottenham or dissecting the lakes north of .

North-south cycling routes The principal cycling route, which covers almost the entire length of the Park, is the National Cycle Network (NCN) route 1, which becomes NCN61 for the northernmost stretch of the Park from Rye House to Ware; NCN1 forks east across the Park towards Roydon. East-west cycling routes NCN1 joins the Park at ; Several east-west cycling routes do from there, for the majority of the cut across the Park, although north- length of the Park, it follows the path south links are more established than next to the River Lea or the River Lee east-west links. Existing east-west Navigation canal. NCN1 also deviates connections are generally good around to take in scenic areas of the Park, the QEOP and north of that into for example around Walthamstow Hackney and . Marshes. For the most part NCN1 is Given the barriers created by the on traffic-free routes, signposted by reservoirs, east-west connections are fingerposts showing the red-boxed ‘1’. poorer between Haringey and Enfield The towpath next to the River Lea/ in the west and Waltham Forest in the canal provides a east. North of east- linear, traffic-free, north-south route west connections are slightly more through the Park. For sections of frequent. For the last section from the Park, there are multiple other Rye House to Ware they are fewer, paths that cyclists can choose, for impeded by the railway line, although example between Cheshunt and there is less demand to make east- Broxbourne or through Walthamstow west movements given the sparser EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 13

population. Access points into and out of the Park for cyclists and pedestrians are also more limited further north in the Park than in its southern section.

Quality and experience of cycling routes For the most part, paths through the Park have sufficient width for one cyclist to pass in each direction. Typically, the canal towpath does not offer enough space for a wider path than this. Where cycling routes follow paths that are not towpaths, they tend to be wider, allowing two cyclists to pass one cyclist in the other direction, i.e. three cyclists wide. Sharing cycling routes Paths in the Park are typically either Towpath routes are managed and tarmac or smooth gravel. There maintained by the C&RT. They are small sections where surface is promote their Share the Space, Drop rougher, with cobbles, or where the your Pace campaign via signage path narrows to a pinch point or an which reminds cyclists that paths obstacle. We discuss these issues are shared with pedestrians and that further in the following section. pedestrians have priority. These signs tend to be placed at pinch points on the path, for example, under bridges to remind cyclists to slow down and be alert for pedestrians. Another aspect of sharing the towpath is interaction with boat users or anglers, who can be disturbed by passing cyclists, particularly if they are moored at a narrow stage of the towpath. Stakeholders do report some minor experiences of conflict, however the majority of stakeholder feedback and experience on site visits indicate few significant problems with pedestrian/cyclist conflict on the shared paths in the Park. EB505

14 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

Visitor attractions There are opportunities for leisure The Visit Lee Valley website has rides in the Park which include short information on the Park’s offer for family rides with children – perhaps cycling, including information about taking advantage of the suggested the Lee Valley VeloPark, locations cycle routes on the Park website where you can hire bikes and detail – or days out to venues within the for a suite of planned short cycle Park, such as the Lee Valley White routes. The Lee Valley VeloPark is an Water Centre. Some road cyclists or exceptional attraction for recreational mountain bikers utilise sections of cyclists; it offers track cycling on the the Park to leave London on a traffic- Olympic velodrome, a road cycling free route as part of longer rides circuit, a BMX track and mountain bike out into the countryside beyond. trails nearby. There are many other - visitor attractions in the Park, including Cycle rail integration the Lee Valley White Water Centre, It is possible to travel with a bicycle on Lee Valley Boat Centre, the Lee Valley the London Overground and Greater Ice Centre and nature reserves to be Anglia rail line running parallel to the found along the length of the Park. Park. Restrictions apply on peak time weekday services between 0730- Members of the public can hire cycles 0930 and 1600-1900. Outside of in Broxbourne, in the north of the these times train passengers can bring Park by the hour or for several days. their bike with them. This can facilitate The service is popular and offers leisure trips, allowing access to more adapted mountain bikes, well-suited distant parts of the Park, or allowing to the trails in the Park. There is also a one-way cycle, with a return on the cycle hire located at the View Tube train. The existing rolling stock on off the Newham Greenway, offering these lines does not include specific cycle hire by the hour or per day. bike spaces, although there is space in The Santander London cycle hire each door vestibule to accommodate scheme now extends into the QEOP, a bicycle. This can make travelling by including the Lee Valley VeloPark. train less comfortable as the vestibules Types of cyclist The Park attracts a mix of cyclists who use it: many cyclists come for leisure rides as well as some who commute through or along the Park. There tend to be more leisure cyclists towards the northern end of the Park, and a greater proportion of commuters in the southern section, given its proximity to . EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 15

are not specifically designed to In addition, Network Rail intends to accommodate a bicycle, passengers remove many of the level crossings also need to monitor their bike to in the coming years, replacing keep them out of the way of other most of them with bridges. passengers and it can be hard to • Major roads also impair access find space on crowded services. creating a hostile environment for cyclists to cross. Issues and opportunities • Industrial, trading and housing While there are many strengths to estates are another factor in poor the existing offer for cyclists in the accessibility into the Park as Park, there are outstanding issues they can be quite impermeable and barriers, which may prevent for pedestrians and cyclists. more cyclists from enjoying the Park and detract from the overall Informational barriers to experience of cycling in the Park. accessing the Park Working with our partners and Further to these physical barriers stakeholders we have identified the is the fact that potential visitors to following issues and opportunities. the Park, in particular neighbouring residents, may lack awareness of Physical barriers to what the Park offers. This is partly accessing the Park because existing access points and Accessing the Park from adjoining attractions could be better signposted areas could be improved. The or better publicised. Even if access consensus among stakeholders in the points are suitable for cyclists, they neighbouring boroughs is that there are may not be very prominent or visible, too few access points for pedestrians and cyclists may not know that by and cyclists to join routes in the Park, following a given path through a particularly in the northern section housing estate, they can actually of the Park. This limited access is in access the Park. Knowing a cycle large part due to significant physical route’s destination and the distance to barriers which exist to accessing reach that destination is reassuring and the Park. These barriers include: encouraging for cyclists, particularly • The West Anglia railway line, which those who don’t cycle regularly. impedes access to the east of the Park around Walthamstow and then Missing cycling connections creates a barrier to the west of the While the Park has a good existing Park north of Tottenham. Currently network of routes for cycling, there there are some level crossings are sections of the Park where the and some footbridges across the cycling network is incomplete. The railway line, the latter of which are two sections where this is most not well suited to cyclists’ needs. pronounced are the Lower Lea Valley, EB505

16 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

south of Twelvetrees, and between Barriers to movement Springfield Park and : within the Park • South of Twelvetrees there is Once cyclists have entered the currently a towpath that runs to Park, there are issues which hamper Cody Dock, but no further, meaning their movement around it. These that Canning Town and Leamouth include sections of path with a poor are not accessible via the River Lea. surface such as damaged surfacing Historical industrial landuse and the or where cobbles have been used meandering river are the principal to create ‘speed bumps’. Other causes for this gap in the network. barriers to movement include barriers and metalwork designed to prevent • North of Springfield Park, cyclists powered two-wheelers accessing can use the towpath along the the paths, pinch points where the western side of the Park but there path narrows, e.g. under a bridge, are no alternative routes due to and encroaching vegetation which the reservoirs and waterworks effectively narrows the path. Sections in this section of the Park. of path where the path narrows can EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 17

bring any potential conflict between Lock where NCN1 deviates into the path users to a head and pinch park and later rejoins the towpath. points or metal barriers can be a More generally, it is also difficult source of frustration or discomfort for cyclists wishing to explore the for cyclists, deterring them from existing paths on their own to do so returning to use this route in future. easily as mapping or signage isn’t comprehensive enough for them Signage and wayfinding to make up their own routes, or to A range of signage can be found know that certain routes exist. There across the park, originating is an example of this in the lower Lee from multiple organisations and Valley, where the joins installed over at different times. the River Lea; there is a continuous Signage includes directional cyclable path that joins up with the boards, maps, fingerposts as towpath to Hackney Wick. However, shown below and poster cases. it is not clearly signed and there are Our observations have highlighted points where the path is not intuitive or gaps/issues including: legible, e.g. near Studios. • Lack of information and signage Wayfinding and signage provision at key decision points within the park should: • Clutter and repetition of • Provide consistent identification, information and signage; orientation and navigation; • Accessibility; • Encourage visiting, exploring • Consistency of content, hierarchy and appreciation of the and sign placement; and natural environment; • Attractiveness. • Serve all park users regardless of ability; and System gaps can be seen especially in cycle wayfinding provision. Cycle • Reduce clutter and routes have no corresponding redundant infrastructure. wayfinding information or signage Lighting preventing night on the ground to support journeys. time or winter use Similarly, signposting of NCN1 Almost none of the paths through is counterintuitive in places with the Park have artificial lighting. This cyclists being directed away from the means that their use after dark or in continuing towpath, which appears winter evenings is difficult. This lack suitable for cycling, only for it to re-join of lighting is due to concerns over the same towpath further along having wildlife disruption and that, given the taken a detour into another section of predominant use by leisure cyclists, the Park. This happens, for example, night time use may be less of a priority. around Gunpowder Park near Enfield EB505

18 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 19

5 Measures to develop the cycling offer in the Park

This section sets out what we will do to • Clear wayfinding. This will involve encourage and promote cycling in the clear signposting to the gateway park, drawing on the policy context, itself from nearby, and a map panel existing situation and the issues and showing cycling routes in the vicinity considerations identified previously. of that gateway . The visitor car park at Enfield Lock currently has a map 1. Develop key gateways panel in this style, as shown below. to the Park However, the current panel would Improving the number and quality of be better to devote more space to access points into and out of the Park nearby routes and less space to text. is a crucial component in increasing • Cycle parking – where cycle cycling visitors to the Park. Effective parking is appropriate, at the least partnership working with neighbouring a bank of Sheffield stands, and, boroughs will be needed in order to where suitable, larger facilities. achieve this. Neighbouring boroughs have their own planned cycle routes, The majority of gateways should which need to be taken account of best cater for the needs of leisure when considering where to improve cyclists however some will see higher or add new gateways to the Park. For commuter use due to their alignment example, Enfield Council is looking on commuter routes originating in to improve the route along the river neighbouring boroughs. Gateways into Broxbourne as well as providing targeted at leisure cyclists will have gateway links at Lea Valley Road and wayfinding which highlights leisure , while Waltham Forest routes and visitor attractions in the Council is developing segregated vicinity of that gateway. Gateways cycle tracks that cross the Park which cater for more commuters will along Forest Road and further south have wider access, to accommodate at . It is therefore higher peak time flows of cyclists important to work with them to and avoid conflict arising at these maximise the potential for interchange times between different users. and connection at these sites. Stakeholders identified the following We will work towards developing sites as key gateways to the Park. key gateways to the Park, which While many of them exist already and will be the main access points some are well-used, many would to the Park, in addition to many need an overhaul of their signposting other smaller entrances. These key and mapping. Some would need gateways will be characterised by: physical infrastructure improvements to make them feasible. Those which • Clear access for cyclists to the we anticipate to see higher commuter Park in the form of a wide, clear, flows are marked by a [c]. Each key unobstructed path with a good gateway is highlighted on the attached surface. Key gateways should mapping of the Park in Appendix A: be fit for purpose to encourage use by disabled people. EB505

20 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

1. Canning Town [c] 12. Pickett’s Lock 2. Bow Roundabout [c] 13. Lea Valley Road (both east () and west) 3. Newham Greenway 14. Enfield Lock / 4. Hackney Wick / Here East [c] 15. Waltham Cross – 5. Ruckholt Road / Eastway [c] access from A121 6. Lea Bridge Road (both east 16. Cheshunt station [c] and west of Park) [c] 17. Turnford Brook 7. Coppermill Lane [c] 18. Lower Nazeing / Nazeing Road 8. Springfield Park [c] 19. Broxbourne [c] 9. Forest Road / 20. St Margarets 10. / Stonebridge Lock 21. Ware 11. Sandpiper Close / south of Banbury reservoir EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 21

2. Work with partners to address • Harbet Road (north of Banbury physical barriers to access reservoir): access across Improving access and creating key the North Circular Road gateways will need to take account of Access through impermeable trading existing barriers and how to overcome estates or housing estates is another these or work around them. The West barrier to opening up new gateways Anglia railway line currently has many to the Park. We will work with level crossings, which allow access for neighbouring boroughs to identify cyclists without having to climb stairs potential new access routes through or ramps. Network Rail has a long- industrial and housing estates. term plan to remove level crossings across the entirety of its network in 3. Raise the profile of response to safety concerns. If these cycling in the Park are replaced by footbridges with Overcoming a lack of awareness of stepped access then the railway may routes and access points is almost become an even greater barrier to as important as overcoming the accessing the Park than at present. physical barriers themselves. As As such, it will be a priority of the described in the previous section, if LVRPA to work in partnership with potential visitors do not know about Network Rail and neighbouring the routes and access points to the boroughs to secure plans for ramped Park, they won’t be able to use them. access for cyclists to replacement Therefore we shall increase awareness bridges at least at the following key of the Park’s cycling offer through gateway locations, if not at all level advertising and publicity. This will be crossings adjacent to the Park: particularly focussed on adjacent • Theobald’s Grove – Trinity Lane communities to the Park. It could also involve a publicity campaign • Cheshunt across London, Hertfordshire and • Wharf Road Essex to promote leisure routes for cyclists. In particular, this should focus • St Margarets on residents of new developments Access across major roads is a and regeneration schemes near barrier to the realisation of several the Park as their travel and leisure key gateways. Ramped bridges, habits will not be established underpasses or signalised crossings having moved to a new home. (as appropriate) across major roads In our publicity, we shall emphasise would unlock access for cyclists the offer of everyday leisure and green at the following key gateways: infrastructure that the Park provides, • Waltham Cross: access across A121 specifically in terms of health benefits. • Enfield Lock: crossing We will also tailor our publicity to of Mollison Avenue help ensure a broader appeal of EB505

22 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

cycling among the local population. station. This could also include the use of painted arrows on Cycling events centred at the Lee the road, such as those used to Valley VeloPark provide an opportunity mark Quietway routes (see image to promote cycling more widely in below). It should also include the Park. They offer the chance to improvements to the legibility of host sporting events such as charity NCN1 and 61, which can take or sportive rides that incorporate the counterintuitive turns and there wider Park. Guided leisure rides with should also be improved signposting local communities also present an to make it easier for cyclists to join opportunity to introduce more people the NCN routes from nearby. to the cycling offer of the Park. 2. Regular use of mapping panels 4. Improve signage and wayfinding at key locations, in the style Improving signage and wayfinding of Legible London, tailored to to make more of the existing routes the needs of cyclists in the Lee and facilities for cyclists is a key Valley, would allow cyclists to find component in improving the offer their way around more easily. for cyclists throughout the Park, as there are existing good routes for cyclists, but better use could be made of them. Improving wayfinding in the Park, in a way that is suitable to the needs of cyclists, as well as sensitive to the needs of the environment (i.e. minimising clutter), could be achieved through: 1. On the ground wayfinding to provide clearer, frequent signposts to key 3. The suggested cycle routes attractions or nearby places, e.g. on the Park website would be Lee Valley Ice Centre or Cheshunt improved by marking them on the ground, which would make route finding easier rather than users having to carry a printedmap or frequently check progress on their phones. Colour-coded lines could be used to demarcate each route, or coloured arrows at key turnings on those routes. 4. Better use could be made of online mapping so cyclists can EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 23

locate themselves easily on the move. As smartphones are now so common, this will be the way that many cyclists will navigate or plan their routes. There are two potential ways of achieving better wayfinding in the Park. Firstly, the Park could commission a wayfinding strategy to cover the whole Park in a consistent, comprehensive way, with a thorough approach to wayfinding, potentially employing the node points approach suggested in the box below. It would be important that neighbouring boroughs and partners are involved in this process to make sure that the Park’s wayfinding links in well with its neighbouring areas. Secondly, the LVRPA could seek to work with neighbouring boroughs and partners such as TfL, Sustrans and C&RT as they bring forward new routes and use these opportunities to improve wayfinding through the Park that ties in with wider cycling network plans. Whichever approach is taken, the LVRPA will need to work closely with neighbouring boroughs and partners to assure no routes are missed, no duplication takes place, and that wayfinding is consistent in terms of sign design and naming conventions. Node point wayfinding We wil consider the Dutch approach to cycle wayfinding known as ‘knooppunten’, which roughly translates as ‘node points’. The system works by numbering certain key junctions or nodes across a given

Source: The Cycling Dutchman blog (http://thecyclingdutchman.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/i-just-didnt-know-this-was-here.html) EB505

24 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

3: The Lea River Park: area. Small fingerposts signal the way http:// the north-south towpath connections queenelizabetholympicpark. between each node and when the to Canning Town and Leamouth as co.uk/the-park/attractions/ around-the-park/the-leaway cyclist reaches the node there is a well as install new bridges for cyclists map panel showing the surrounding and pedestrians – at Poplar Reach network, from where they can decide and Leamouth. The LVRPA supports which number they will cycle to next. this project and will work with its The advantage of this system is that partners to realise the improved it lets cyclists devise their own route cyclist routes that it proposes. across an area, and if they lose track of As described in previous sections, the specific route they were following, there are parts of the Park where they can easily amend their route. there are several alternative north- south routes. From the QEOP north 5. Improve the cycling network to Walthamstow Marshes there are The LVRPA understands the multiple north-south route options. importance of a comprehensive cycle North of Enfield Lock, the Park opens network, and the Park’s role in the out and there are several routes wider cycle network. It is therefore for cyclists to choose. However, in important to complete the missing the middle of these two sections, cycling connections identified earlier reservoirs limit the scope for extra in this strategy as well as work to route options. Currently, the western offer alternative routes to take the towpath is the only route from pressure off certain stretches of the Springfield Park to Enfield Lock. network. Competing uses by different users, e.g. leisure and commuting An option for an additional north-south cyclists, where there is only one route would be to follow the River Lea route can be a source of conflict. flood relief channel along the eastern Providing alternative routes may allow edge of the Park from its southern for one route to be designated for junction with Coppermill Lane north commuters and others for leisure. to Banbury Reservoir. From there it would trace the eastern edge of the The towpath provides a continuous William Girling and King George V north-south route throughout the reservoirs. A second option would majority of the length of the Park. As be to explore gaining permissive described in previous sections, this access to the routes between the does not extend to the southernmost lower reservoirs, such as Lockwood part of the Park, south of Cody Dock. Reservoir, to allow a more central The Lea River Park project3 aims to route between Coppermill Lane and remedy poor cycling connections in Banbury Reservoir. We understand, this area. A collaboration between the at the time of writing, that progress LLDC, Newham and Tower Hamlets, has been made with Thames Water TfL and the , this towards realising this second route. project includes plans to complete EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 25

Both indicative alignments are shown • Quietway 6: QEOP / Honor on the map of the Park in Appendix A. Lea Avenue (TfL) If one of these eastern routes • Lea Bridge Road (Waltham were possible, it would open up Forest – Hackney) a secondary north-south route • Quietway 2: Coppermill Lane (TfL) up the eastern side of the Park, allowing cyclists the option of a • Forest Road (Waltham different route from the towpath. Forest – Haringey) In addition to these routes, we • cycle improvements propose the following alternative (identified in Essex’s Epping Forest north-south routes to take pressure District Cycling Action Plan), in off existing routes (these routes are particular A121 / Meridian Way shown on the map in Appendix A): Additional to these, we have • An eastern route from Ware to identified several east-west Roydon via St. Margarets. alignments where we will work to develop better links for cycling: • Wayfinding of a completed cycle route flanking the eastern side • Leeside Road (Ikea Tottenham) / of the West Anglia railway line Northumberland Park – Sandpiper from Hoddesdon to Waltham Close (south of Banbury Cross, via Broxbourne and reservoir): we understand this Cheshunt using existing paths. will be progressed as part of Meridian Water development As outlined in the previous section, there is scope to deliver additional • Lea Valley Road (A110) connecting east-west connections. Some of these Enfield and Waltham Forest links already exist, and would benefit • Turnford Brook – Waltham Road/ from better wayfinding; some require St.Leonards Road junction infrastructure improvements. Given that east-west connections link into • Broxbourne – Lower Nazeing wider routes through neighbouring • Dobb’s Weir – Hoddesdon boroughs, it will be vital to work closely town centre, identified in with neighbouring authorities to identify Broxbourne Cycling Strategy and understand their planned routes, • Little Amwell – Easneye Farm and to support their development. From our stakeholder engagement, we know of the following east-west routes that will be developed through the Park in the near future, that we support: EB505

26 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

We will look for opportunities to • Removal of obstacles to cycling, work with neighbouring boroughs e.g. barriers, ‘kissing gates’, to progress these connections and steps, especially as these can to link them into wider routes that impede use by disabled people they are planning. In particular, we • A good, even surface; removal shall look to develop further east- of uneven cobbles, speed traps, west cycle routes in the north of rough gravel, uneven ground the Park in collaboration with Essex prone to water pooling and Hertfordshire County Councils, which connect with local nature and • Sufficient width for two pedestrians heritage attractions. This will use the and cyclists to pass (we will aim potential of cycling and cycle routes to meet the minimum widths to link and promote attractions within detailed in the LCDS, however in and beyond the Park’s boundaries, places we must work within the for example a wetland to woodland constrained width of the towpath) link between Fishers Green to • Reliable maintenance of paths Epping Forest, or ‘Birds of Paradise’ to ‘Meercats’ route linking The We shall arrange for officers of the Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne LVRPA and neighbouring boroughs to across to the Farms receive training in applying the LCDS in the . to help ensure that its good practice guidance is implemented in the Park. 6. Improve the quality Paths in different sections of the Park of paths for cycling have different usage patterns, and Improving the quality of paths within so their physical surface may differ the Park will require close working accordingly. For example, those in with partner organisations. The the northern, more rural section of LVRPA supports the C&RT’s work to the Park may have more recreational reduce physical barriers and improve walkers, dog walkers etc. using them, surfacing as part of their Quietways with fewer commuting cyclists, so a project, as well as TfL’s Quietway tarmac surface may not be essential. routes crossing the Park. To facilitate There are also sections of paths where this work the LVRPA will support heritage features may be retained the C&RT and we will be clear in for historical purposes, e.g. cobbles what we aspire to in terms of good may be filled in rather than removed. quality routes for cyclists. The Park recognises the guidance given in TfL’s When assessing the quality of London Cycling Design Standards paths for cycling in the Park we will (LCDS). We will seek to ensure our endeavour to ‘future proof’ paths cycle routes feature the following: to accommodate future increases EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 27

in population and demand, where • Signpost an alternative route 4: DfT, 2012, Local Transport Note 1/12: possible. Paths should therefore be for the section of NCN1 which Shared Use Routes for designed to accommodate higher climbs over Clayton Hill, to allow Pedestrians and Cyclists. cyclists to avoid the incline Atkins, 2012, Shared Use flows of cyclists than they currently Operational Review. do, especially in areas of notable While artificial lighting is not commuter flows. When planning appropriate for much of the Park’s and upgrading routes, it will be cycling network, due its disturbance particularly important to be aware of of wildlife, it may be considered planned new developments which for certain key sections that are will add significantly to the local used by more commuters. In these population, and thus increase the sections sensitive lighting schemes or local demand for cycling. Examples luminous road markings would be an of such developments include appropriate and welcome intervention Meridian Water in Enfield, planned to increase safety for cyclists. developments to the north of Waltham Abbey and north of Turnford Brook. 7. Encourage considerate In addition to working towards sharing of paths general improvements to the The current approach to promoting quality of the cycle network, we considerate sharing of paths between will work with partners to realise pedestrians and cyclists is focussed certain specific improvements: on signs encouraging considerate cycling and pedestrian priority at pinch • Improve the Coppermill Lane points such as bridges. Given that connection to help realise TfL few stakeholders report significant Quietway 2 where it passes problems with pedestrian/cyclist under the railway – currently conflict, it appears that this approach is the clearance is 1.5 metres working relatively well. Further to this, • Improve the legibility and research conducted into pedestrian / wayfinding of the towpath cyclist conflict4 on shared use paths connection from the Limehouse shows that segregating users creates Cut through to Hackney Wick a sense of entitlement to ‘their’ part of the path, which actually exacerbates • Complete link from Waltham Forest’s antagonistic conflict in place of cycle track on Ruckholt Road to negotiating the sharing of the path. connect with Lee Valley VeloPark To continue efforts to minimise conflict, • Remove metal barriers at there is scope to make the presence Stonebridge Lock of signs more comprehensive through • Remove cobbled speed trap at: more frequent reminders where the path narrows and also at points ‐‐ Markfield Park where pedestrian numbers can be ‐‐ Ponder’s End lock higher, for example at Stonebridge EB505

28 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

Lock café or outside the Anchor and number of alternative routes in the Hope pub in Clapton. This will be cycling network is aimed at reducing of particular importance as cyclist pressure on these pinch points. and visitor numbers increase and the paths become more crowded. 8. Develop cycle parking and hubs We will increase the provision of We shall also work closely with the cycle parking throughout the Park, C&RT to implement on-site ranger includingbanks of Sheffield stands campaigns and wider advertising at key attractions as well as key campaigns as appropriate to increase gateways, as previously stated. awareness of how to mitigate and In addition we shall work with key minimise pedestrian-cyclist conflict. attractions in the Park to improve We have identified in previous their facilities for cyclists, i.e. offering sections that locations where high cycle pumps or selling basic spare numbers of cyclists with different trip parts such as inner tubes. purposes, i.e. leisure/commuting We will support the development cyclists come into contact are of cycle hubs in neighbouring potential sources of conflict. Our boroughs. Cycle hubs are secure, proposed approach to increase the

Example of covered secure cycle parking installed in the London Borough of Waltham Forest

Source: Enjoy Waltham Forest EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 29

covered facilities in which cyclists 9. Explore options for cycle hire can leave their bike and sometimes As described in Section 4, there are a fee is charged for this. Haringey currently three options for hiring a cycle and Waltham Forest plan to develop in the Park: Santander cycle hire in the cycle hub facilities at train stations south of the Park, View Tube bikes and near to the Park – Tottenham Hale Broxbourne cycle hire. The former is and Blackhorse Road respectively. part of the wider central London cycle These facilities would permit, for hire scheme, focusing on urban utility example, commuters to integrate cycling for short trips. Broxbourne and cycling into a stage of their whole View Tube are more geared towards commute, or families who live nearby leisure cyclists and are ‘origin to origin’ to leave their bikes securely during where users hire and return the bike the week to use for leisure journeys to the same location. Urban cycle at the weekend. When these kind hire schemes like the Santander cycle of facilities are installed in or near hire scheme often require intensive the Park, their design should be redistribution of returned bicycles sensitive to the Park’s location, as well as supporting funding from for example with a green roof. sponsorship or advertising to support the operating costs of such a scheme. EB505

30 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

Implementing a standalone equivalent • Tottenham Hale to the central London cycle hire • Blackhorse Road scheme with a dense network of docking stations throughout the Park • Enfield Lock is not suitable. Additional cycle hire • Waltham Cross opportunities in the Park need to be appropriate and take into account the • Cheshunt assumption that most users will be • St Margarets leisure cyclists in a largely non-urban • Rye House context. These would likely need to adopt a similar model to the existing • Ware origin to origin cycle hire schemes. It is possible that an integrated cycle We believe there is also scope in hire scheme could be introduced the south of the Park to extend the whereby users could drop their bike TfL Santander cycle hire scheme at a different station from where they to include the Lee Valley Hockey picked it up. However, this would and Tennis centre and expand this likely incur more onerous requirements further up to Lea Bridge Road area in terms of redistribution of bikes establishing a bike hire scheme between sites, and may be unviable. between the Park’s southern venues; of Ice Centre, Riding Centre, Hockey and Tennis Centre and VeloPark. Suitable locations for the additional origin to origin cycle hire points could include rail stations in the Upper Lee Valley allowing visitors to catch a train to the station and then enter the Park on a hired bike from there, bringing the northern section of the Park into easier reach. The following stations could offer this service, although we would not expect cycle hire to be offered at all of them: EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 31

6 Implementation

Sources of funding Action Plan In order to realise the measures The following table sets out our action outlined in the previous section the plan to implement the measures in this LVRPA, working with partners, shall strategy, how each measure meets seek funding from various sources our stated objectives and how each including but not limited to: measure will be monitored. Many of the actions outlined in this plan will Department for Transport grant require close working with partners funding (outside London) and for the LVRPA to take advantage • Local Growth Fund (capital schemes) of opportunities to implement our • Access Fund (revenue funding) plans in tandem with partners, e.g. to join up with TfL or C&RT when they • Cycle-Rail funding in conjunction are planning a Quietway route, or to with rail operators work with a developer to bring forward • Potential future funding announced improvements in or near the Park. from DfT related to the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy Transport for London funding (London) • Cycle Superhighway / Quietway programmes • Mini-Hollands Local Authority / London Borough funding • Local Implementation Plan (LIP via TfL) • Developer contributions (Section 106 / Community Infrastructure Levy) Sporting / leisure sources: • Sport England • Big Lottery Fund EB505

32 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy developers Partners Neighbouring boroughs, Neighbouring boroughs, Sustrans, TfL, C&RT, developers Network Rail, neighbouring boroughs Neighbouring TfL boroughs, Neighbouring boroughs, developers, C&RT Neighbouring boroughs, developers TfL, neighbouring boroughs TfL, neighbouring Sustrans, C&RT boroughs, Neighbouring boroughs, Sustrans, TfL, C&RT, developers Neighbouring boroughs, Sustrans, TfL, C&RT, Neighbouring boroughs, Neighbouring boroughs, Sustrans, TfL, C&RT, developers Visitor survey question: how did you hear about facilities?; the Park’s Home postcode of respondents to visitor survey; in number of cyclists Increase counted at automated cycle counters near new developments; plan monitoring data Travel new developments from Visitor survey question: ease of navigation in the Park in number of level Increase with replaced crossings ramped access bridges in number of cycle- Increase friendly access points across roads identified major in number of Increase entrances to the Park Visitor survey question: how did you hear about the Park's facilities? Demographics of respondents to visitor survey Strategy document commissioned Visitor survey question: ease of navigation in the Park Increase in counts of cycles Increase using automatic cycle counters at key gateways Monitoring measure Timeframe Short-term (2016-2020) Short- to medium-term (2016-2026) Short- to long- term (2016-2030) Short- to long- term (2016-2030) Short- to long- term (2016-2030) Short-term (2016-2020) Short-term (2016-2020) Short- to medium-term (2016-2026) Short- to medium-term (2016-2026) Short- to medium-term (2016-2026) Publicise the Park's cycling offer among neighbouring residents, particularly of new developments Work with Network Rail and Crossrail with Network Rail and Crossrail Work ramped access for 2 to secure cyclists at key identifed locations replaced when level crossings Implement publicity campaign in the Park routes leisure promoting wayfinding Commission a comprehensive strategy for the whole of Park Implement wayfinding at key gateways improvements access for cyclists across Improve roads near the Park identified major permeability of housing Improve / trading industrial estates appeal of cycling Broaden publicity tailored through with partners to develop consistent Work wayfinding as they bring forward and developments new routes Implement physical infrastructure Implement physical infrastructure to key gateways improvements Action 3 3 3, 4 1, 4, 5 1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 1, 4, 5 1, 4, 5 1, 2, 3 1, 4, 5 Objective met 2. Work with partners 2. Work physical to address barriers to access of 3. Raise the profile cycling in the Park signage 4. Improve and wayfinding Action plan Measure 1. Develop key gateways to the Park EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 33 Partners Thames Water, Waltham Waltham Thames Water, Enfield, Haringey, Forest, Sustrans, C&RT County Hertfordshire Council, Broxbourne District Council, Sustrans, C&RT County Hertfordshire Council, Sustrans, C&RT Hamlets, TfL, Tower Newham, Hackney, C&RT Forest, Waltham Neighbouring boroughs, TfL, Sustrans, C&RT neighbouring C&RT, TfL, Sustrans boroughs, LLDC, Newham, Tower LLDC, Newham, Tower Hamlets, TfL, Mayor of London, Sustrans, C&RT Implementation of new in middle cycle routes section of the Park; in counts of cycles Increase using automatic cycle counters on new route Implementation of specific detailed in improvements strategy document Implementation of new in northern cycle routes section of the Park; in counts of cycles Increase using automatic cycle counters on new route Implementation of new in northern cycle routes section of the Park; in counts of cycles Increase using automatic cycle counters on new route Implementation of new Quietway routes; in counts of cycles Increase using automatic cycle counters on new routes in counts of cycles Increase using automatic cycle counters on new east-west routes Implementation of new in southern cycle routes section of the Park; in counts of cycles Increase using automatic cycle counters on new route Monitoring measure Timeframe Short- to long- term (2016-2030) Short-term (2016-2020) Short- to medium-term (2016-2026) Short- to medium-term (2016-2026) Short-term (2016-2020) Short- to medium-term (2016-2026) Short- to medium-term (2016-2026) Explore the development of Explore between alternative north-south route Coppermill Lane and Enfield Lock specific with partners to realise Work barriers to overcome improvements cycle network in the current Explore the development of Explore between alternative north-south route Cross Hoddesdon and Waltham the development of Explore alternative north-south route between Roydon and Ware Support implementation of TfL 2 and 6, C&RT Quietway routes aspirations for Quietway cycle route Support development and implementation of new east-west by neighbouring boroughs routes Continue to support the realisation of Continue to support the realisation developments the Lea River Park route in the southern section of the Park Action 2, 5 2, 4 2, 5 2, 5 1, 2 1, 2 2, 5 Objective met 6. Improve the quality 6. Improve of paths for cycling Action Plan (cont.) Measure the 5. Improve cycling network EB505

34 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy Partners C&RT, Sustrans, C&RT, TfL, neighbouring developers boroughs, TfL Sustrans, C&RT, neighbouring C&RT, TfL, Sustrans boroughs, TfL, neighbouring C&RT, boroughs, Sustrans, developers Sustrans, TfL C&RT, Sustrans C&RT, Neighbouring boroughs, TfL, Sustrans Neighbouring boroughs, TfL, Sustrans, private sector TfL, neighbouring Sustrans C&RT, boroughs, Increase in counts of Increase parked cycles at key visitors attractions, key gateways Visitor survey question: instances of conflict experienced Implementation of specific detailed in improvements strategy document Newly implemented cycle routes Newly implemented cycle routes meet LCDS design standards in counts of cycles Increase using automatic cycle counters in darkness hours Usage rates of implemented cycle hubs Usage rates of implemented cycle hire; Visitor survey question: what type of bicycle did you use in the cycle? Park: your own or a hired Visitor survey question: instances of conflict experienced Training attended by Training officers relevant Monitoring measure Timeframe Short- to medium-term (2016-2026) Short- to long- term (2016-2030) Short-term (2016-2020) Short- to long- term (2016-2030) Short- to medium-term (2016-2026) Short- to medium-term (2016-2026) Short- to long- term (2016-2030) Short- to medium-term (2016-2026) Short-term (2016-2020) Increase the provision of cycle the provision Increase parking and facilities at key visitor attractions and key gateways Work with partners to realise specific with partners to realise Work barriers to overcome improvements cycle network in the current Explore the development of alternative Explore in the Park cycle network routes to alleviate instances of conflict Assure that future cycle routes meet good meet routes cycle that future Assure possible, practice set out in LCDS, where in demand increases and cater for future the installation of appropriate Explore lighting on key commuting stretches of the Park cycle network Support development of cycle hubs by neighbouring boroughs options for further cycle Explore locations in the Park hire Continue to work with C&RT and Sustrans to minimise pedestrian / cyclist signage and campaigns conflict through Arrange training in use of TfL's London for officers Cycling Design Standards and neighbouring boroughs of LVRPA Action 2, 4 2, 4 1, 5 2, 5 1, 2 2, 4 2, 4, 5 2, 4, 5 1, 2, 4, 5 Objective met 8. Develop cycle parking and hubs 7. Encourage considerate sharing of paths options 9. Explore for cycle hire Action Plan (cont.) Measure EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 35

Monitoring and ‐‐ Lee Valley VeloPark evaluating our progress ‐‐ Lee Valley Ice Centre In order to be able to track our ‐‐ Lee Valley White Water Centre progress, we will implement several ‐‐ Lee Valley Boat Centre means of counting cyclists and gauging their experience of the Park: • Questions relating to cycling in annual visitor survey. We will • Automatic cycle counters. include questions relating to the Working with partners we will experience of cycling in the Park install automatic cycle counters in our annual survey of visitors to at key gateways and locations the Park. This will allow us to gain in the Park. We will aim to install a more qualitative sense of the these before certain improvements experience of cyclists in the Park, are implemented to allow before rather than simply the number and after data to be captured. of cyclists visiting it. Specific • Count of parked cycles at key questions relating to measures venues. This measure will permit are detailed in the action plan. us to monitor the number of people who use a bike to access the following key venues: EB505

36 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

Appendix A: Cycle map of Lee Valley Regional Park

N Babbs Green

Noah's Ark

4 100 B

Kings Hill

Ware

! 21 04 ! B10 Ware

Easneye Newgate Wood Wood A 1 1 7 0

Legend Key Gateway Additional park entrance 0 B18 S Cycletana hire Great Amwell n s teae Levela crossing d R o ! Busy roada d Indicative future route 20 Cycle routes St Margarets National Cycle Route Stanstead St Margarets Local Cycle Network B 181 Tale of Two Rivers Rye Meads Discovery Fishers Green Foray

A

1 Pedallers Paradise 1 B 7 1 0 8 The Artway Route 1 A414 1 The Artway Route 2 The Artway Route 3 Road to Gold Golden Circle

0 Contains data from © OpenStreetMap contributors1 A and OS data © Crown copyright and Rye Meads database right (2016) Cartography by Steer Davies Gleave 2016 0 250 500 750 1,000 m EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 37

A

1 1 B 7 1 0 81

N

0

1 A Rye Meads Roydon

Roydon

A1170

Rye House Amwell Street Amwell

Glen A10 Faba Hoddesdon

eet

r

t

S

h

g i H Admiral’s Walk Lake

Legend Broxbourne Key Gateway Broxbourne Additional park entrance 0

7

1

1 Cycle hire

A 19 Level crossing ! Busy road Indicative future route B194 Cycle routes National Cycle Route Local Cycle Network Tale of Two Rivers Rye Meads Discovery Lower Nazeing Fishers Green Foray 18 Pedallers Paradise The Artway Route 1 Wormley The Artway Route 2 The Artway Route 3

Road to Gold

0 7

1 Golden Circle

1 A Contains data from © OpenStreetMap contributors and OS data © Crown copyright and database right (2016) Cartography by Steer Davies Gleave 2016

0 250 500 750 1,000 m EB505

38 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

N Legend Key Gateway Additional park entrance 0 7

1 6 A10 A10 A10 A10 A10 Cycle hire 7 A1 1 CheshuntLevel crossing B Park Golf ne Ha a lfhide ! Busy road L La Course ne e d Indicative future routei fh l 4 9 a 17 1 Cycle routes H B National Cycle Route Local Cycle Network Tale of Two Rivers Rye Meads Discovery Deerpark Wood

Fishers Green Foray 6

7

6 1

5 Pedallers Paradise B

1 B B The Artway Route 1 The Artway Route 2 The Artway Route 3 Road to Gold Golden Circle Contains data from © OpenStreetMap contributors 16 and OS data © Crown copyright and databaseChurchgate right (2016) Cartography by Steer Davies Gleave 2016 Cheshunt B198 Cheshunt

B

1 0 94 1

A

Turners Hill Turners B176

Cedars Park Theobalds Grove W i nst 4 on 19 Churchill Way B M Lee Valley o n White Water Waltham Abbey a r ch Centre s W A121 ay

0 15 1 Waltham Cross A

M25 Lane M25

A1055 5

5 0 A121

1 Innova A Business

Park e

u

n

ve Gunpowder

A Park

son

i

l

l Turkey Street o 0 250 500 750 1,000 m M 2

1 1 A EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy e 39 u

n

ve

A

n

so

i

l

l

o

M 2

1 1 A

N Enfield Lock Osier Enfield Island Village Marsh Albany Park 14

e u n ve A on lis ol M

Brimsdown Enfield Highway

Durants Park

A1

0 West Essex 1 0 Golf Club

A1055

Southbury

A110

King George V Ponders End Reservoir The Hawk Wood Ponders End 13 Le a V al ley Legend Ro ad Key Gateway

A Additional park entrance 110 Cycle hire

Meridian Way Level crossing 13 ! Busy road William Girling Indicative future routeChingford Reservoir Cycle routes

A National Cycle Route

1 y 1 2 Local Cycle Network ayay Wa w m e 5 a g Tale of Two Rivers th id 05 l R 1 a e A W h Rye Meads Discovery T

7 Fishers Green Foray 3 1 B Pedallers Paradise F 7 r i 3 d d a 0 The Artway Route 1 a 1 o y R A H 12 l

l

i i i i i

l l l l

The Artway Route 2 l

a

l l l l l

h s The Artway Routek 3 r

a

L Road to Gold B14B 1

4 Golden Circle 6 Contains data from © OpenStreetMap contributors and OS data © Crown copyright and database right (2016) A1009

Cartography by Steer Davies Gleave 2016

2

1

1 A A1009 0 250 500 750 1,000 m

9 0 0 1 A EB505

40 Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy

2

1

1 A A1009

Silver Street 9 N 0 0 A406 1 A

Angel Road

Meridian Water

A

1 West 0 5 Mews 5 A406 Banbury Reservoir

A

1

010

Northumberland Park 11

10 B179 Chapel End Lordship Lane 5 05 Tottenham A1 Higham Hill Lloyd Park Lockwood Reservoir Bruce Grove

9 A503 Tottenham Hale

0 1 Blackhorse Road A Legend Key GatewayWalthamstow Central Additional park entrance Seven Sisters Cycle hire Markfield St James Street Level crossing Park 7 Walthamstow A1 0 ! Busy road 0 Queens Road 6 Indicative future route Cycle routes South Tottenham National Cycle Route Local Cycle Network Low Hall Tale of Two Rivers 8 Farm Springfield Rye Meads Discovery Park Argall Avenue Fishers Green Foray Industrial Estate Pedallers Paradise Leyton Industrial The Artway Route 1 d Stamford Hill Village a C Ro h Leyton Thee Artway Routeu 2 A g r 1 ridgd c 0 B h 7 ea The Artway Route R 3 Lea Bridge L o a Road to Gold d Elmwood Court A Upper Clapton Golden Circle 1 Laurel 0 Leyton 0 Court 6 Contains data from © OpenStreetMap6 contributors Abney Marsh and OS data © Crown copyright and Park database right (2016) Cartography by Steer Davies Gleave 2016

old Road Northw 6 Clapton 0 250 500 750 1,000 m EB505

Lee Valley Regional Park Cycling Strategy 41

6 N B161

North Marsh 5 Leyton Clapton Park A 1

1

East 2 Clapton Marsh Park Estate South Marsh Slip

B112 A12 Stratford New Town Homerton Mabley Green 4 102 East Village A A12 Marian Court Homerton Semley Gate Maryland Stratford International Trowbridge Estate Wick Road Hackney Hackney Wick

Stratford

B

1

8 6

1 4 1 Queen Elizabeth A Victoria Park Fish Island Olympic Park Carpenters Estate t Stratford High Street e e Stratford tr S Locton Estate Marsh h ig A H 1 2 0 ad 3 5 Ro ord Old Ford ld F O B Pudding Mill Lane 1 4 2 B1 27 Abbey Road

B 2 1 4 Mill Meads 2 9 Legend B11 A West Ham 1 Key Gateway 2052 0 5 Bow Church Additional park entrance Bow Road Globe Town -by-Bow Cycle hire Mile End Level crossing B Mile End 1 !2 Busy road 0 Bromley-by-Bow Indicative future route Stephenson Street Devons Road Cycle routes Green National Cycle Route Star Lane Local CycleOcean Network 0 Cody Dock Estate B 4 u 1 Tale of Two Rivers r B B d 1 e Canning Town 6 B tt 1 4 Rye Meads2 Discovery 1 R o 1 Stepney a Fishers Green Foray d Pedallers Paradise

B Canning Town

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Langdon Park 125 The Artway Route 1 2

1 A12 The Artway Route 2 B The Artway Route 3 3 A1313 A A1 13 Poplar Road to Gold 203 LimehouseA1 A13 All Saints Golden Circle A East India A1020 1 2 Contains data from © OpenStreetMap contributors 0 3 Westferry and OS data © Crown copyright and A database right (2016) 126 Cartography by Steer Davies Gleave 2016 1 Poplar 0 250 500 750 1,000 m Blackwall EB505

Prepared by:

Steer Davies Gleave 28-32 Upper Ground London SE1 9PD +44 20 7910 5000 www.steerdaviesgleave.com

Technical Support

We engaged the services of Steer Davies Gleave to co-ordinate and develop this cycling strategy.