Cycle Superhighway 2

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CS2 on Stratford High Street, facing East towards Stratford Town Centre

Cycle Superhighway 2 (CS2) is a 6.8km (4.3 mile) bike freeway in East London. It runs from Stratford in the east to Aldgate at the edge of the City of London. It is a major commuter artery into the city, with around 4800 cyclists using the route each day in 2019. The entire route features protected lanes, upgraded junctions and bus stop bypasses. It is marked with blue paint along its full length, as part of TfL's now defunct Cycle Superhighway scheme.

History

Planned to run between Aldgate and Ilford, CS2 was originally built in 2011 between Aldgate and Bow Interchange as part of the first generation of cycle superhighways, consisting mostly of just blue paint and unprotected, if mandatory, cycle lanes. It was extended along Stratford High Street to Stratford in 2013, using segregated lanes. After a number of high profile deaths along the route, including two in three weeks at Bow Interchange in 2011, the original section was upgraded to full segregation in 2016. In 2019, with the removal of the Stratford gyratory, CS2 was marginally extended to the start of Romford Road.

Route

CS2 begins at the junction of Romford Road, Stratford Broadway and The Grove, on the former Stratford gyratory. Newham Council converted the former one way gyratory to a two way system in 2019, introducing segregated tracks around all the major roads. CS2 uses with flow cycle tracks along the Broadway towards Stratford High Street. A fully signalled junction with Great Eastern Road provides access to Stratford station, before the route continues down the wide High Street, passing Stratford High Street DLR, towards Bow interchange. This section was built in 2013 with protected tracks from the outset. The road rises to cross the Greenway, a cycle and walking path also branded as Quietway 22 to the A13. The superhighway passes through Bow Interchange at ground level, crossing over the A12 East Cross Route whilst avoiding the Bow flyover After the interchange, CS2 proceeds along the A11 Bow Road using both kerb and wand separation from the road. It passes Bow Church DLR and Bow Road stations, before reaching the junction with the A1205 Burdett Road/Grove Road, which will have cycle tracks on in the upcoming few years, as part of a cycle route between Hackney and Westferry/Isle of Dogs. Beside the junction is Mile End station. CS2 then passes under the green bridge of Mile End Park and continues on Mile End Road towards the city. A section outside Queen Mary University uses bus lanes instead of segregated lanes. It passes Stepney Green station before reaching the A107 Cambridge Heath Road. The A11 again changes name to the Whitechapel Road, and CS2 continues along it, past Whitechapel station and market. At this point, the eastbound lane lacks a protected cycle track. CS2 then approaches Aldgate, crossing the A13 Commercial Road, passing Aldgate East station and then reaching the A1210 Aldgate Gyratory. The route ends at Mansell Road, with onward routes leading towards the city with no protection. Whilst well protected for its entire length, CS2 lacks connections at either end, with its Aldgate terminus just 500m from CS3 (the East-West Cycle Superhighway) which is frequently criticized, and the Stratford end leading to busy unprotected roads or quiet back streets towards Forest Gate or Leytonstone.

Destinations

Newham

• Stratford Station
• The Greenway
• River Lea Navigation

Tower Hamlets

• Bow Church DLR
• Bow Road station
• Thames Magistrates Court
• Mile End station
• Mile End Park
• Queen Mary University
• Stepney Green station
• Royal London Hospital
• Whitechapel Station
• Whitechapel Gallery
• Aldgate East Station

Future

In the future, CS2 will be rebranded as C2, in line with TfL's new brand of cycleways. CS2 will connect with C37 from Hackney to Westferry at Mile End. In addition, the Strategic Cycling Analysis prioritised the completion of the original CS2 alignment along Romford Road to Ilford, as one of the top 25 potential cycle corridors in London.

References

This article "Cycle Superhighway 2" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Cycle Superhighway 2. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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