Cyclists in London say they are “incredibly disappointed” after councilors voted to allow taxi drivers access to the previously notoriously dangerous Bank Junction, where traffic restrictions have been in place for seven years restricting the intersection to cyclists, pedestrians and buses.
In May 2017, the junction and surrounding streets, which are in the heart of the City of London, were closed to all vehicles except buses and bicycles on weekdays between 7am and 7pm, as part of an experimental trial introduced to accommodate come amid widespread calls to improve safety at the intersection following the tragic 2015 death of cyclist Ying Tao, who was killed in a collision with a truck driver on her way to work.
After the trial period, the number of people killed or injured at the intersection fell by more than half, while air pollution in the area plummeted and bus journey times were cut by as much as five minutes, the 12-hour traffic restriction on weekdays. was made final.
That decision was made despite vocal opposition from London’s taxi drivers: of the 12 percent of residents who opposed making the intersection virtually traffic-free during the consultation, 79 percent were black cab drivers.
Bank Junction before it was closed to traffic other than buses and cyclists
According to a recent survey of the junction, commissioned by the City of London, the restrictions had reduced the number of casualties in the area to “virtually zero” over the past seven years, with just one collision in the eleven months leading up to the junction took place. until November 2023.
Despite the scheme’s apparent success from a road safety perspective, City of London councilors voted on Thursday afternoon to allow taxis access to Bank Junction for a trial period, pending approval from Transport for London.
If Transport for London gives the go-ahead, the change, voted for by the City Corporation’s Court of Common Council, is expected to come into effect for 18 months from spring 2025 and allow taxi drivers to use the junction between 7am and to enter at 7:00 PM. , from Monday to Friday, next to buses, cyclists and pedestrians. Private motorists will not be able to use the intersection during that time.
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Ahead of the vote, plans to lift the restrictions were opposed by the London Cycling Campaign, which argued that the current situation offers safety, environmental and economic benefits for the area, along with – in particular – financial and media giant Bloomberg, whose European headquarters are located next to the intersection.
“As a major employer in the region, our priority remains the safety and well-being of our employees, visitors and the local community,” Bloomberg said in a statement earlier this week.
“We therefore support the current restrictions, which improve road safety and reduce CO2 emissions, and do not want these changes to be reversed.
“We continue to assess our own activities that impact traffic in the area, such as the frequency and consolidation of our deliveries to the building, and encourage the use of low-emission vehicles and public transport where possible.”
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Nevertheless, in today’s vote, 57 percent of councilors voted in favor of reopening the interchange for taxi drivers, while 21 percent backed a plan to keep the restrictions as they are.
“The overall program of work at Bank Junction has already resulted in the intersection being a safer and more pleasant environment to travel through and we will be closely monitoring the impact of the reintroduction of taxis to this vibrant area,” said Shravan Joshi, chairman of the city. from the Planning and Transportation Committee of London Corporation, said a statement.
“For those unable to actively travel, or who require transportation when public services are unavailable, black cabs have the potential to enhance this public space in line with our Destination City policy to make the Square Mile a desirable, safe and inclusive visitor destination, stimulating economic growth.”
Meanwhile, Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association chairman Paul Brennan told the BBC after the vote that “common sense has prevailed” and that lifting the restrictions was “an important step in ensuring that the City of London is open and accessible. ”.
“We are confident that this trial, once it starts, will demonstrate the importance of access to taxis and benefit the immediate area and the wider Square Mile,” Brennan said.
However, Simon Munk of the London Cycling Campaign said he was “incredibly disappointed in the decision”
“This goes against the city’s own transportation strategy and the city’s 2040 plan,” he said.
“It is likely that if this trial goes ahead in 2025, there will be more danger on the roads for those walking and cycling, there will be delays on buses, and we will see fewer people strolling, sitting, snacking at Bank – and a wall of taxis instead.”