New Chelsea Embankment bus lane will be available to black taxis, confirms Mayor of London
Updated: Feb 4
A newly created bus lane on Chelsea Embankment will become available to black taxis and help speed up westbound journeys.
The capital is all set to receive the new bus lane, following a public consultation led by Transport for London (TfL).
The welcomed stretch of road space sits between Royal Hospital Road and bus stop BC near Beaufort Street, alongside a brief eastbound section. It is hoped that the new lane will enhance safety at the junction of Cheyne Walk and Battersea Bridge.
The introduction of the bus lane is part of TfL's broader scheme to improve road safety, which includes the establishment of pedestrian crossings at the junction. These crossings, while improving pedestrian safety, will necessitate an increase in signal stages during each junction cycle, potentially reducing the junction's capacity.
To counteract the capacity reduction and safeguard journey times for bus customers, particularly those on route 170, the new bus lane will be introduced. It is designed to benefit not only buses but also emergency services, cyclists, motorcyclists, and black taxis, ensuring efficient westbound journeys.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, responded to a written question from a London Assembly Member: “The bus lane will protect customer journey times and can also be used by emergency services, cyclists, motorcyclists and taxis. Both sections of bus lanes will also provide better protection for the large number of cyclists that use this section of road, with evidence showing that cycle collision risks are reduced by 30 per cent when a bus lane is provided.
“The capacity of vehicle movement along this section of Chelsea Embankment is largely determined by the Battersea Bridge junction. Therefore, the addition of the westbound bus lane will offer protection for the 170 bus, while having limited additional impact on general traffic journey times. The bus lane will also support the safety improvements, particularly for westbound cycle movement.”