Proposals

Introduction

Westminster City Council is excited to trial a new and innovative cycle safety feature along the existing Cycleway 27 route on Sussex Gardens, located in the Hyde Park ward. The trial will see the installation of the ‘Blooming London’ tulip-shaped light segregation wands, a project developed by Pitman Tozer Architects and designed to improve the safety and experience of people cycling.

The project aims to bring this section of the route up to the latest design standards for cycling infrastructure, providing improved protection for cyclists. This is done by introducing flexible Tulip Cycle Wands made from recycled plastic to provide separation between cyclists and motor traffic. These wands were inspired by the poppies of The Tower of London and the sunflower fields of the Tour de France, making them a distinctive and vibrant feature in the urban landscape.

This trial will last for 24 months, during which we will assess the effectiveness of the wands in terms of safety, public perception, maintenance, and overall aesthetic quality. Feedback will be collected from the community to evaluate the impact of this new infrastructure.

The trial is an important part of Westminster’s ongoing commitment to enhancing cycling safety and supporting greener, more sustainable transport options across the city.

This Scheme

The proposal to install the tulip-shaped segregation wands along Sussex Gardens aims to address the current lack of protection for cyclists along this section of Cycleway 27.

The trial will run for 24 months, during which the following factors will be closely monitored:

• Safety and Perception of Safety: Assessing how the new segregation wands improve safety for cyclists and the perception of safety for all road users.
• Durability and Build Quality: Evaluating the performance and longevity of the wands under normal traffic conditions.
• Maintenance: Testing how well the wands integrate with the existing infrastructure, including ease of maintenance and repair.
• Aesthetic Impact: Reviewing the visual impact of the wands and their contribution to the local environment.

 These wands will also be compared with a neighbouring installation of standard segregation wands to measure and understand the effectiveness of the tulip wands in a real-world setting. Feedback and data collected over the two-year period will inform a recommendation to the Cabinet Member on whether to make the wands permanent and/or expand their use to other areas within the borough. 

Find out more: Tulip Cycle Wands – Home