Cycling campaigners condemn ‘dangerous’ Kingsbury Bridge diversion

Kingsbury Bridge diversion campaigner. Photograph: London Cycling Campaign

Cycling campaigners are marshalling a diversion on a busy route to highlight their concerns over safety.

The diversion was put in when Kingsbury Bridge closed last December for repair work.

The bridge is part of the popular cycleway that links the City and Tottenham.

Campaigners say the diversion along King Henry’s Walk and Balls Pond Road is not safe for cyclists.

The route is on the border of Islington and Hackney, and campaigners have been lobbying both councils, as well as Network Rail and the Mayor of London.

Cycle Islington and Hackney Cycling Campaign say large potholes and right-hand turns can be dangerous and “are generally excluded from safe cycle design standards”.

Resident Suzie Von Strandmann said: “I’m too anxious to follow the diversion since coming off my bike but there are no safe alternatives so I avoid using it if I can.

“I’m an experienced cyclist so I blame the potholes along the cycle diversion for an incident I was involved in at the start of the year.”

Campaigners donned high vis and held giant pointers to direct cyclists to an alternative route during the rush hour.

One parent told the London Cycling Campaign: “The diversion is very unsafe. We have to come onto the Balls Pond Road and it’s a gauntlet of traffic, particularly with kids. It feels very dangerous.

“There’s not enough room for cyclists and cars, there’s potholes everywhere, and it’s been going on for quite a long time.”

Another parent said he was resorting to cycling on the pavement with his young children on the school run.

He said: “I cycle to school, and I normally use the cycle path but I’m having to ride on the footpath with my daughter on her bike and my son on the back [of my bike], because this road is super dodgy and I don’t trust the cars.

“It would be great if they can fix that bridge.”

John Hartley from Cycle Islington said: “It’s unacceptable to put people’s lives at risk in this way.”

Network Rail told campaigners they plan to take the bridge down at Christmas and replace it at Easter.

Cycle Islington said this was a “reasonable timescale”.

The rail authority also agreed to fund upgrades to the diversion.

Islington Council said it is “committed to making Islington a greener and healthier borough where it is easy and safe to walk, cycle, and wheel.”

A spokesman said: “We thank local people for their patience while Network Rail carry out works on Kingsbury Bridge, and for raising their concerns regarding the current diversion route.

“We’re proactively working with both Network Rail and Hackney Council to determine the necessary improvements to the diversion.”