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Sadiq Khan unveils plans for new Cycle Superhighway in south-east London

CS4 will run from Greenwich to Tower Bridge and will have four kilometres of protected cycle lanes

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has opened a second consultation in the space of a week for a new Cycle Superhighway, the latest one providing a link from Greenwich to Tower Bridge.

The planned route of Cycle Superhighway 4 (CS4) will run along Creek Road, Evelyn Street, Lower Road (which will be subject to a separate consultation next year), Jamaica Road and Tooley Street.

A segregated cycle lane on Tanner Street in Bermondsey would link to Quietway 14, enabling cyclists to follow that route to the North—South Cycle Superhighway at Blackfriars Road.

Cycle Superhighway 4 Jamaica Road.jpg

CS4 Jamaica Road

The launch of the CS4 consultation comes a week after one was opened for Cycle Superhighway 9, running from Brentford to Kensington Olympia.

> Plans for new West London Cycle Superhighway unveiled - but there's a missing link through Kensington

The mayor said: “I’m delighted to be able to announce plans to bring more than 4 kilometres of segregated cycle lanes to south-east London.

“We need more Londoners to cycle and walk for the good of their health and our air quality, and that’s why we’re working so hard make cycling safer and easier right across the capital.

“By bringing this route to an area of such high demand, this superhighway really will open up cycling to thousands more Londoners,” he added.

Cycle Superhighway CS4 overview map.PNG

Transport for London (TfL) says that the future consultation on the Lower Road section will be included for one for the planned regeneration of Canada Water.

That will be of particular interest to many of south London’s cyclists, given the potential it provides for safe routes to the proposed cycling and walking bridge spanning the Thames from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf.

> Sadiq Khan calls for Canary Wharf-Rotherhithe cycling bridge to be brought forward

News of the proposals, which will provide more than 4 kilometres of separated cycle lanes on what is a busy commuting route, has been welcomed by campaigners, with London Cycling Campaign (LCC) highlighting that it will make locations such as the Rotherhithe roundabout junction safer for cyclists.

Simon Munk, LCC infrastructure campaigner, commented: “This route will dramatically improve dangerous junctions in south-east London, including the Rotherhithe roundabout. It will make them far safer for the thousands who already cycle through them daily.

“And CS4, like CS9 announced last week, won’t just calm collision hotspots for those who already cycle – it will unlock the potential for far more people to cycle, for far more journeys.”

He added: “CS4 and CS9 take a big step towards fulfilling the mayor’s commitment to our members to triple the protected space for cycling on main roads, which is key to lots more everyday journeys happening by bike.”

According to TfL, the proposed route of CS4 along the A200 is within the top five per cent for cycle demand in London, with an average of almost 3,500 trips for bike each day. It is hoped that the new route will encourage people to switch to cycling from other modes of transport.

However, the need for protected infrastructure is underlined by the fact that in the three years to August 2016, there were almost 100 reported collisions involving cyclists along it.

TfL added that its Safer Junctions programme had identified Rotherhithe roundabout, as having one of the worst safety records in the capital.

Cycle Superhighway 4 Rotherhithe.jpg

CS4 Rotherhithe

> More London junctions set to be made safer for cyclists, says TfL

London’s cycling and walking commissioner, Will Norman, said: “I’m so pleased that we can share our plans for Cycle Superhighway 4 just one week after announcing Cycle Superhighway 9.

“These new routes are a key part of our work to make cycling more accessible across London and will add more than 10km of segregated lanes to the capital’s roads.

“South-east London is an area of huge cycling potential so I know that CS4 will make a real difference to so many cyclists and budding riders by providing a safe segregated route that links straight into our growing cycling network.”

Construction is expected to start late next year, with the consultation, which can be found here, open until 19 November 2017.

Trivia: The first person to answer this cycling-related question correctly in the comments below will win a pair of road.cc socks (usual rules apply).

"Once built, CS4 will be the first of London's Cycle Superhighways to share the entirety of its route with part of a ... what?"

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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35 comments

Avatar
Simontuck | 7 years ago
2 likes

I used to commute from Chigwell to Stockwell. By the time I moved last year it was protected cycle lanes pretty much from Leytonstone to Stockwell. I used to ride off-peak and it was fine not having to worry about drunks driving into me at 4am on my commute, but I imagine at peak times it wasn't much fun to go in a pack along the cycleways that were barely two bikes wide!!

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londoncommute | 7 years ago
3 likes

Really stupid questions but can any of you living on existing superhighwasys chime in.  Are they actually that helpful?  I've commuted along here for years and tank along the bus lanes with no problems on what I think is a really safe road (compared to the Old Kent Road I used to use).

There are occasional pinch points (Lower Road more than the bits they're currently consulting on) but I generally like things as they are.  The bits of bike lane I've used before are constanly up and down kerbs and covered in detritus.  Guessing the segregated ones get more traffic and are maybe cleaned a bit so better but wouldn't a better solution be to kick taxis and motorbikes out of the bus lanes and extend them where possible etc?  Benefits bus users as well and how can you beat a huge red lane?

The bus lane eastbound in the evenings is gridlocked so I guess the proposal to stop some of the turns onto the road would help buses, but that's a seperate issue to the bike lane.

I also don't understand the cycle focus on the Rotherhithe tunnel.  It's always completely gridlocked so completely safe to cross through the stationary traffic!

Don't want to sound ungrateful but could we just leave things as they are?  Being less selfish, will this really get loads of new cyclists who are currently put off so should be encouraged?

Avatar
Dnnnnnn replied to londoncommute | 7 years ago
0 likes

londoncommute wrote:

Really stupid questions but can any of you living on existing superhighwasys chime in.  Are they actually that helpful?  I've commuted along here for years and tank along the bus lanes with no problems on what I think is a really safe road (compared to the Old Kent Road I used to use).

The two-way tracks which intersect at Blackfriars are great off-peak, although there's a lot of aggressive passing at busy times. Most of the day though, they're lovely for gentle riding to/from the centre. 

I also used to commute on the Old Kent Road - most of it had bus lanes so it was fine for me. Went a lot quicker too - it's a different atmosphere.

Avatar
Crippledbiker replied to londoncommute | 7 years ago
1 like
londoncommute wrote:

Really stupid questions but can any of you living on existing superhighwasys chime in.  Are they actually that helpful?

I think so. Certainly, with regards to CS3, it is the safest, quickest, most reliable way to get from Romford/Dagenham/Barking into central.

As to bus lanes - I've been smidsy'd by somebody going the opposite direction into a side road whilst in a bus lane - never had anything like that whilst in a segregated lane.

If I had segregated lanes all the way from home to work, I might actually be inclined to use my proper handcycle, rather than an upright bolt on - and I know I'm not the only one, a lot of other disabled cyclists would be able to get to work that way, rather than by driving or public transport.

The problem with some of them, in particular CS2, is that they're too bloody narrow! You can't get a recumbent around the bus stop loops without using the entire width of the lane to cut across - and if you screw it up, you'll flip. It's safer to stay in the road there, unfortunately.

Avatar
HurdyGurdy | 7 years ago
1 like

The overal plans seem ok but the design of the section from Southwark Park Road towards the rotherhithe roundabout and the roundabout itself are not sensible

Westbound traffic from rotherhite peninsula need to cross six different sections to join CS4 parkside. I'd rather just join the roundabout and merge back in.

Similarly eastbound cyclists need to cross over at SW Park road and then cross over both lanes to be able to go back onto rotherhithe street. Any sensible cyclist is just going to stay on the eastbound bus lane than do all that criss crossing.

Not sure why they don't plan to do a priority circular route on the outside of the roundabout like any Dutch or Belgian roundabout. Less complex and way more sensible

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kwyken | 7 years ago
1 like

Roman Road

 

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kwyken replied to kwyken | 7 years ago
1 like

kwyken wrote:

Roman Road

..... oh dear its already won  1

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Al__S | 7 years ago
0 likes

Ah, that "entirety" is an important modifier- as 2014 went down what is now part of CS3

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captain_slog | 7 years ago
3 likes

Ancient ley line of mystical power. (Worth a stiff tail wind in either direction.)

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DaveE128 | 7 years ago
0 likes

The plans generally look really good to me, but I am baffled by the gap between sections 8 and 9 in the consultation. If people are able to park vehicles in this gap, or load ot wait, it will be total carnage - literally, I fear. Not that keen on the arrangement at the new mini roundabout at Oxestalls Road, either, I don't know if a toucan crossing with convuluted entry/exit will handle a decent amount of cycling traffic. Wouldn't a junction design like the one with Abbey Street be better? Not sure some of the pedestrian/cycling shared space at the Rotherhithe Roundabout is really necessary either. Good news is that there is very little shared space in the plans.

Avatar
mstrmind5 replied to DaveE128 | 7 years ago
1 like

DaveE128 wrote:

The plans generally look really good to me, but I am baffled by the gap between sections 8 and 9 in the consultation. If people are able to park vehicles in this gap, or load ot wait, it will be total carnage - literally, I fear. Not that keen on the arrangement at the new mini roundabout at Oxestalls Road, either, I don't know if a toucan crossing with convuluted entry/exit will handle a decent amount of cycling traffic. Wouldn't a junction design like the one with Abbey Street be better? Not sure some of the pedestrian/cycling shared space at the Rotherhithe Roundabout is really necessary either. Good news is that there is very little shared space in the plans.

 

Agree about the toucan crossing. I can see many trying to find ways to avoid it. Did a quick skim and didn't see any details about cycle 'traffic lights'. Duration will be important, just hoping they are adequate enough to allow the cycle traffic to flow. A little concerned about how visible the lanes might be as well. If they are not obvious, you might get a fair few incidents with pedestrians stepping across. On the whole seems good and finally something in this part of London, been too long.

Avatar
thesaladdays replied to DaveE128 | 7 years ago
0 likes

DaveE128 wrote:

The plans generally look really good to me, but I am baffled by the gap between sections 8 and 9 in the consultation. If people are able to park vehicles in this gap, or load ot wait, it will be total carnage - literally, I fear.

I imagine it's just an error in the drawings rather than a planned gap.  That's my evening commute and there's no reason I can think of for that short section to be omitted.

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embattle | 7 years ago
0 likes

I always think calling it a cycling superhighway just make it sounds like it is like a public raceway for cyclists and just asking for some hidious cyclist on cyclist crashes.

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scouser_andy | 7 years ago
2 likes

Tour de France 2007,  London-Canterbury stage.

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beezus fufoon replied to scouser_andy | 7 years ago
1 like

scouser_andy wrote:

Tour de France 2007,  London-Canterbury stage.

ah you bastard - I was 2 minutes too late!

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Jitensha Oni replied to scouser_andy | 7 years ago
3 likes

scouser_andy wrote:

Tour de France 2007,  London-Canterbury stage.

enjoy your socks  1

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Simon_MacMichael replied to scouser_andy | 7 years ago
2 likes

scouser_andy wrote:

Tour de France 2007,  London-Canterbury stage.

That's the one - the first Cycle Superhighway to share the entirety of its route with part of a stage of the Tour de France. 

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Must be Mad | 7 years ago
14 likes

Mornington Cresent   3

 

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Simon_MacMichael | 7 years ago
0 likes

Some good answers there but none of them is what we are looking for ... think cycling  3 

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beezus fufoon | 7 years ago
1 like

wider set of pie-in-the-sky promises from Mr Khan

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fixit | 7 years ago
0 likes

nightclub? hohoho

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Leviathan | 7 years ago
0 likes

Sewer.

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Michael Garland | 7 years ago
1 like

A white line!

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Dnnnnnn | 7 years ago
2 likes

Are you guys playing a game? 

Can I join in? (What are the rules?)

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Look555 | 7 years ago
2 likes

Junkie ? Hipster? Hooker? 

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ooldbaker | 7 years ago
0 likes

London Cycle Network route LCN183

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RedfishUK | 7 years ago
0 likes

London Marathon?

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jnthnwd | 7 years ago
0 likes

Tube line (Jubilee)

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SurreyHiller | 7 years ago
0 likes

Pedestrian walkway

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beezus fufoon | 7 years ago
0 likes

national trail

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