Hackney Council are proposing to turn Wick Road, a busy one-way street in Hackney (E9), into a two-way road. Their plans include removing a cycle lane, increasing total traffic - and therefore air pollution - and no joined-up approach for tackling traffic congestion in the whole area.

We need YOU to tell Hackney Council that the new plan is not good enough. 

Wick Road has two primary schools adjacent and several secondary schools close by, with children travelling on foot and by bike. The proposed scheme includes NO cycling provision, narrowing of the pavements and more traffic. 

Hackney Council are apparently spending £700k on the new scheme. This area could be rejuvenated with a forward-thinking plan bringing together walking, cycling, taking public transport and driving safely. 

What you can do

1. Sign the Petition

2. Respond to the consultation and get your voice heard. Tell Hackney Council "No! This scheme doesn't work" http://tinyurl.com/wickroadno. Their online consultation closes on 10th July 2015.

3. Email your councillors if you are a Hackney resident or a Wick ward resident

Christopher Kennedy (christopher.kennedy@hackney.gov.uk)

Nick Sharman (nick.sharman@hackney.gov.uk)

Jessica Webb (jessica.webb@hackney.gov.uk)

4. Share. Tell everyone about what’s happening and get them to sign the petition.

What's wrong with the proposed plan

30% more traffic on the road. Hackney Council say they expect this increase with the change from one-way to two-way. This will decrease air quality in an already polluted area and make it more dangerous for cyclists. 

Removal of a cycle lane. A safe cycle route across Wick Road will be removed. Cyclists (including children on their way to school) will have to run the gauntlet of two-way traffic. We need proper cycle routes and segregated cycle lanes for safe cycling for all. A cyclist died on the parallel two-way road Homerton High St in 2014.

"Informal crossings" instead of proper crossings on large stretches of the road. The current one-way traffic means that, due to traffic lights, there’s long gaps in the traffic, which makes it safe to cross the road. With two-way traffic, this will not be the case.

Proposal of 20mph zone. Numerous streets alongside Wick Road are 20mph limit which does not make any difference to speeding traffic, as the limit is not upheld. Putting in place a 20mph speed limit does not mean safer roads.

Lack of public consultation. For £700k project, this major scheme has had only a 2-hour in-person consultation and an online survey. It's not enough.

No wider plan for the whole area. Wick Road is part of a bigger congestion problem. Hackney Council are not showing what they are going to do for Victoria Park Road, Cassland Road, Well St and Homerton High St.

Read the consultation

https://consultation.hackney.gov.uk/streetscene/wick-road-two-way/consult_view

Hackney Council say that they are "committed to promoting sustainable forms of travel such as walking, cycling and using public transport”. We want them to show this with their plans for Wick Road.

Read some blogs about what people think about the plans

http://hackneycyclist.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/wick-road-consultation.html​

https://bettercyclinglondon.wordpress.com/​

http://rachelaldred.org/writing/wick-road-consultation-hackney/​

http://rachelaldred.org/writing/wick-road-full-consultation-response/