Have your say on a new East-West cycle route through Hyde Park

Section 14 – Hyde Park Corner

Hyde Park Corner is busy junction for all road users, connecting St James’s Park with Knightsbridge and Hyde Park whilst also forming part of the Inner Ring Road and numerous bus routes.

At present, pedestrians and cyclists travel through Hyde Park Corner using shared crossings to access the central roundabout island. We propose to keep this arrangement, but widen some footways to reduce pedestrian and cycle congestion and make the shared crossings simpler. A wider footway would replace one of the existing 3 traffic lanes on Knightsbridge’s eastbound approach to the junction.

We are also proposing to vastly improve provision for cyclists on Constitution Hill by replacing the existing horse ride with a segregated two-way cycle track whilst also creating more space for pedestrians. 

Proposals include:

• Segregated two-way cycle track and wider footway replaces horse ride on Constitution Hill
• Wider footways and simpler shared crossing replace slip road and traffic lanes on approaches to Hyde Park Corner / Constitution Hill junction
• New shared footpath layout on Hyde Park Corner roundabout island
• Extended footway replaces one eastbound traffic lane at the junction of Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner

For a larger version of this map click here

Segregated two-way cycle track and wider footway replaces horse ride on Constitution Hill

• The new cycle track would be between 2.7 and 4 metres wide, and separated from other traffic and the footway by verges.
• The existing cycle track on the footpath would be removed and the footway widened to between 5.5 and 6.9 metres to provide more space for pedestrians
• The footway would be converted into shared use for pedestrians and cyclists. Cyclists would only be signed to use the footway when the new cycle track is closed on occasion during events.
• 410 square metres of new grass would be laid to provide increased protection around the existing trees
• We have worked closely with The Royal Parks and users of the horse ride to develop these proposals

Wider footways and simpler shared crossing replace slip road and traffic lanes on approaches to Hyde Park Corner / Constitution Hill junction

• The slip road from Hyde Park Corner onto Constitution Hill would be replaced by footway, creating more space for pedestrians and cyclists and allowing them to cross in one movement between Constitution Hill and Hyde Park Corner (instead of having to break their crossing at the traffic island as at present). Traffic would still be able to turn left from Hyde Park Corner onto Constitution Hill. They would do so at the same time that other traffic on Hyde Park Corner is given a green light to continue straight ahead
• Paving over the slip road would mean we would need to relocate the existing traffic island on Constitution Hill to make room for traffic turning from Hyde Park Corner. This would mean a reduction from four westbound traffic lanes to two at the junction exit
• The crossing on Hyde Park Corner would be moved 8 metres north of its current location and widened by 4.8 metres to 8.8 metres  to better cater for pedestrian and cycle movements on the roundabout island
• The hedge on the footway would be trimmed to make room for the new shared crossing location (see below)
• The crossing would be converted to shared use for pedestrians and cyclists, formalising what is already a popular movement for cyclists
• The equestrian crossing would remain south of the main shared crossing

New shared footpath layout on Hyde Park Corner roundabout island

• The footway would be widened to 6 metres around Wellington Arch to provide more space and better cater for pedestrian and cycle movements in this area
• The wider footway would mean a section of the existing grassy area would be paved over
• We have worked with City of Westminster and local walking and cycling groups in developing these proposals

Extended footway replaces one eastbound traffic lane at the junction of Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner

The footway would be extended by between 2.3 and 2.6 metres to provide more space for pedestrians and cyclists and reduce the crossing distance.

Impact of these proposals on traffic capacity and pedestrian crossing times

Our latest analysis shows the proposals would mean longer journey times for motorists and bus, coach and taxi passengers along most of the route, both during construction and once complete. There would also be longer journey times for users of many of the roads approaching the proposed route and longer waits for pedestrians at some signalised crossings.

 TfL is developing wider traffic management plans for central London to help reduce the traffic impacts of this scheme and others, including those proposed by London local authorities and developers. This will include investing in advanced traffic signal technology to allow us to better manage traffic depending on differing conditions at any given time. There will also be customer information to enable road users to make informed journey choices and campaigns to encourage road users to check before they travel.

Further analysis of the traffic impacts of the scheme is being undertaken. A summary of this analysis will be available on this website during the consultation period.