Lewisham Council and Cycling

Introduction
Lewisham's Cycling Policies
Facts and Figures
What is Lewisham council doing for cyclists?
Lewisham needs a dedicated cycle officer – now!
Room for improvement
Summary
Contacts

Lewisham's Cycling Policies

Lewisham's Cycle Strategy, 2001

“The Government has set a target to double the number of trips by cycle by the end of 2002 and to quadruple the number of trips by the end of 2012. Lewisham Council fully endorses the need encourage cycling and views cycling as a clean, efficient and healthy mode of transport. The Council will actively encourage greater use of cycling and reduce the reliance on the car”

From foreword to the Cycle Strategy, Deputy Mayor, Cllr Gavin Moore (1)

The Cycling Strategy summarises the key issues on encouragement and increasing cycling as summarised above. It outlines out some aims, objectives and mechanisms for fulfilling this strategy. There are few specific details in this document on the actions to implement key points of the strategy. An updated Lewisham Cycling Strategy document is said to be in preparation. Did Lewisham achieve their 2002 target? We do not yet know.

The Lewisham Environmental Statement, 2002 (2)

This document focuses on environmental policies of the council itself and major employers in the borough. It hopes: “ to reduce road traffic in the borough, including that from council activities, and improve opportunities for walking, cycling and travel by public transport”.

Initiatives include encouraging more people who work for the council using bicycles, providing interest-fee ‘bike loans' and providing secure cycle parking and showering provisions at places of work.

Cycling in the Interim Local Implementation Plan (LIP), 2002

Published by Transport and Engineering: a broad ranging document reviewing planning and transport issues in Lewisham, prior to the development of a Unitary Development Plan (UDP) for the borough. Cycling is included within the document (pp. 92-95), reiterating points covered in the Cycle Strategy, and also including further details on how the strategy can be implemented:

“The main thrust of the works in coming years is to improve the quality of the provision. In this respect Lewisham has welcomed the initiative to prioritise whole routes and provide additional funding through the London Cycle Network. For example the National Cycle Network, Waterlink Way was so treated last year and cyclists now have large sections of traffic free paths on which to ride. Lighting has been improved on park sections and deterrents installed to prevent abuse by motorcycles”…

…“ There is a need to take drastic action if we are to move to a position where cycling is seen as an integral part of a sustainable transport policy. Cycling needs to be placed centrally in planning local transport strategies.”

1. Extract of Foreword, London Borough of Lewisham Cycling Strategy 2001, by Colin Chick, head of Transport. For the full policy statement see: http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/transport/cyclingstrategy.asp (accessed 12/2/05)

2. http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/EMAS/documents/environment2002.pdf (accessed on 12/2/05)

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