A vast new cycle route is planned for north London

If you ride a bike in London, you’ll know that the city could do with a few more cycle routes – it’s not fun having to share a lane with a double-decker bus, a black cab and an angry van driver. So, it’s good news for north London cyclists, Lime bikers and Tadej Pogačar wannabes, because a huge new cycling route has been proposed for the north of the city. 

Enfield Council has revealed a plan to create a safe walking and cycling link between Palmers Green and New Southgate. The council has recently concluded a public consultation on the scheme, which would see the introduction of new cycle lanes and traffic-calming measures. 

The council wants to use quieter residential streets and traffic control to guide cyclists and walkers between New Southgate, Palmers Green and Arnos Grove stations. The proposed route would run along the boundary of the Fox Lane low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN), connecting to the border of Barnet via a cycle path through Arnos Park while also using existing cycling infrastructure along the A406 North Circular.

Busy roads like Alderman Hill, Wilmer Way and Bowes Road would see segregated cycle lanes built, while the rest of the routes would be ‘on-carriageway’, which means a cycle lane would be marked but not segregated from the rest of the traffic. A southbound bus gate is proposed in Palmers Road near Arnos Grove Station, which would block most general traffic while allowing buses, cyclists and vehicles with exemptions to continue.

Ashridge Gardens, Cranford Avenue and Broomfield Avenue would see speed reduction measures implemented, and one of Arnos Grove station’s bus stops would be relocated to the west of the Palmers Road and Bowes Road junction. The council also wants to create nine parallel crossings, combining zebra crossings with cycle crossings, throughout the area.

On its website the council states: ‘This route aims to create safer, greener, and more accessible streets, encouraging more people to walk, wheel, and cycle for everyday journeys.

‘This project forms part of a wider network of walking and cycling routes across Enfield, supporting sustainable travel and reducing reliance on cars. It will help address local concerns such as speeding, lack of formal crossing facilities, lack of cycling facilities, and unsafe junctions, while creating opportunities for safer and more pleasant streets.’

The public consultation closed on December 7. The council will provide an update in due course. 

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