A new cycle superhighway is set to pass through Evelyn Street and Creek Road in Deptford after the council approved the plan last week.
The Cycle Superhighway 4 is set to link Tower Bridge with Greenwich via Deptford with work expected to begin sometime in the autumn.
A public consultation found that an overwhelming 83 per cent of respondents supported the proposal.
The announcement comes after Lewisham council announced a ‘climate emergency’ in March, promising to make the borough carbon-neutral by 2030. According to their Draft Transport Local Implementation Plan 2019-2041, the council is aiming to improve paths for walking, cycling and public transportation in the borough.
The council has been working with Transport for London for plans of the new route with the aim of providing world-class facilities for cyclists and improving pedestrian facilities and public spaces in the borough.
The plan will construct a two-way segregated cycle track on Evelyn Street, as well as changes to bus stop locations and new bus stop bypasses for cyclists. New traffic restrictions and public places will also be installed on Deptford High Street, including new paving and trees.
In a statement, Brenda Dacres, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Lewisham Council has declared a climate emergency, and we are working hard to make Lewisham greener for all our residents. We must encourage people to ditch their cars and pick up their bikes. Cycle Superhighways create a much safer, and cleaner, environment for cyclists and pedestrians.”
On the benefits of CS4, Dacres said: “CS4 will transform cycling infrastructure in Lewisham by creating a clearer and safer route for cycling. This will be complemented with new pedestrian crossings and improved public spaces, bringing benefits to pedestrians too. As well as improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, active travel such as walking and cycling has positive impacts for people’s physical health and wellbeing. CS4 will make Deptford a more pleasant place to live, work and shop.”
I cycle this route twice a day. The cycle lane looks awful and will only slow me down. I will not usitise this cycle lane.
I will be surprised if they sort the where Depford church street and creek road meet. This is a point where drivers decide for themselves what the speed limit is, and perform close passes at 30+ in a 20 zone, either side of any cyclist making a right turn. Planners will likely install a toucan crossing, giving cyclists a choice, get in the cycle lane and give all priority to the slower vehicles i.e. motorists, as they have done at Vauxhall, and parliament square, or stay on the road and get harassed by drivers, cheers!
I’ll stay in the road thanks, the cycle lane at vauxhall turned a 30 second junction into a 3 minute one, not for me.
The current issue with cycling is that it is considered dangerous, not because of the potential to fall off, but the potential of getting hit by a car. What we need to do is change the laws that are not keeping up with the needs of the nation. Drivers know they can just say “sorry officer didn’t see them, they came out of nowhere” when they hit a cyclists and get off free, because proving otherwise is impossible – this needs to end. A lot of motorists believe they NEED to over take a cyclists when they see them on the road, even though the speed limit is 20 and the cyclist is going at 20 – this needs to end. A lot of drivers think cyclists are trying to get on their nerves by dodging potholes and weaving around glass and , they then cut up cyclists as some kind of vigilantism and attitude of: “Im driving a care, I’m bigger, better, more important than you, and can crush you, I DEMAND RESPECT!” – this needs to end immediately.
Change the law, enforce the law, and we wouldn’t need awfully designed cycle lanes.
Thanks.