Designs for Cycleway 38 create safer, greener streets in London Borough of Islington

How to deliver high-quality infrastructure for new 1.8km cycle route through Islington

In a bid to create safer, greener, more pleasant streets for cyclists and pedestrians, Islington Council wanted to create a 1.8km cycling route between Finsbury Park and Highbury Fields. This would form part of Cycleway 38 connecting the Borough of Islington with the City of London, linking up with key destinations in the borough and the wider Transport for London (TfL) cycle network. The cycleway will also improve access and safety for pedestrians in the area by adding new crossings close to traffic intersections, schools and other busy walking routes.  

SYSTRA was chosen to carry out detailed design work and construction support for this new cycle route. Our remit included creating dedicated cycle facilities, a continental-style roundabout to slow traffic and segregate cyclists, new junction and crossing upgrades, and associated carriageway improvements. 

Innovative cycleway designed to prioritise cyclist and pedestrian safety

The SYSTRA Infrastructure team produced detailed designs for all cycle routes, pavements, footways, traffic signs and drainage along this section of Cycleway 38. Our designs incorporated cycleway signage, street lighting and landscaping. Working in collaboration with the Council’s Term Contractor, we also re-designed a number of junctions to increase road safety, improve cycling infrastructure and create safer walking routes – using zebra crossings to prioritise pedestrians at key intersections. 

Our solution incorporated north London’s first continental-style roundabout, featuring segregated cycle lanes to separate cyclists from other vehicles and allow uninterrupted passage through the junction. The tight geometry of the roundabout and its raised central island were designed to slow down motor vehicles at this busy junction. The roundabout also features new zebra crossings, widened footways and raised tables to further reduce vehicle speeds.   

We proposed greening and planting areas around key sections, junctions and crossings along the route, helping to mitigate flood risk, support the existing drainage system and make the scheme more resilient to climate change.  

Through value-engineering we achieved savings of around £150,000 for the council, applying innovative construction and engineering methods to assist with traffic management while reducing the works programme. 

Cllr Rowena Champion, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, Islington Council, via islington.gov.uk

“We are determined to create a fairer, greener and healthier future for Islington, where everyone is able to travel easily around the borough and incorporate exercise into their daily routine. This new route will help make it safer to walk and cycle, enabling local people to enjoy our borough in a way that cuts down on air pollution and congestion by reducing unnecessary car journeys.”

Integrated cycling infrastructure built to meet local needs 

Drawing on previous experience of cycle infrastructure design, our team compiled a detailed package of drawings, 3D-level designs and supplementary information. We integrated design standards from guidance documents such as LCDS (London Cycling Design Standards), London Borough of Islington Streetbook and TfL Streetscape Guidance.  

Following feedback from road safety audits on the initial scheme designs, we worked with TfL, the Local Authority, the contractor and local stakeholders to develop an efficient final design. Taking inspiration from Dutch-style infrastructure and lessons learned from other cycle schemes in London, this comprehensive design accommodated the needs of all road users within a safely segregated streetscape.

Cycleway creates people-friendly streets to support net zero transport goals  

The new section of cycleway has created safe, high-quality infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists in the Borough of Islington. The fully segregated cycle lanes enable a clear cycling route, with parallel or zebra crossings at junctions to prioritise cyclists and pedestrians. The continental-style roundabout keeps cyclists safe from motor traffic at the busy intersection of Benwell Road and Drayton Park. 

Safety has also been improved by natural traffic-calming features, such as narrowed streets at pedestrian crossings, raised tables at junctions and raised zebra crossings, as well as by reducing the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph.  

By encouraging walking and cycling as alternatives to driving, the new route is helping to improve air quality and reduce emissions in the borough, supporting the council’s ambition to achieve net zero carbon status by 2030. The innovative scheme also supports council efforts to create more people-friendly streets, making it easier to walk, cycle and use buggies and wheelchairs around Islington.