Consultation ending on Jan 31st, 2024

This is an important new plan with the aim that: “By 2030, cycling will be the fastest and most direct way to travel in the borough. Cycle journeys will be the default choice for all trips”. Unsurprisingly we strongly support this. Please fill in the Online Survey making it clear you support the plan.

If you have time, we suggest you read the more detailed comments below and the responses we will be making as a Group. Use these to guide your answers on the Survey. The full Southwark Council Cycle Plan can be read here.

Southwark Cycling Plan – Consultation response

Southwark Cyclists have prepared this suggested consultation response to help you respond to the consultation, which is open until 31st Jan 2024. 

You can read about the Cycling Plan and access the consultation here Streets for People – Cycling Plan – London Borough of Southwark – Citizen Space. Although the consultation is quite long, it can be filled in quickly. (If you are really short of time, you could email your views on the Plan directly to highways@southwark.gov.uk.)

Summary

Overall, we support the new Cycling Plan and want to see it delivered promptly. This is the most important message to convey. There are areas that could be improved, but it sets an ambitious vision, and we want to show our support.

Detailed consultation response

This goes through the consultation question by question. It is best if you adapt the responses to your own words, rather than just cut-and-paste.

Be involved

Q2. We will be organising focus groups to have more detailed conversations about the Cycling Plan. Would you be interested in taking part?

  • Please participate if you can.

Vision

Q3. Do you have any comments about the Vision for Cycling?

  • I support the vision that cycling will be the most direct way to travel in the borough. It does not need to be the fastest: most cyclists prioritise safety over speed.
  • This relies on the cycle network being accessible by all types of bikes and safe for all users. Feeling unsafe is the main barrier to more people cycling: good cycling infrastructure, less traffic and slower traffic are main ways to achieve this.
  • The Plan needs to prioritise safe junctions. All light-controlled main road junctions must have a safe phase for cyclists.
  • Protected cycle lanes need to be present on all major roads, so that people can cycle safely.
  • Limiting traffic in residential areas is essential, so that cycles and buses can travel safely and quickly. Car traffic should only use residential roads when the destination is in that neighbourhood.
  • But the vision is only good if it is delivered: I want to see the Council accelerate implementation of this Plan.
  • Please clarify how you will monitor improvements in how safe people think it is to cycle.

Section 1: Getting ready to ride

Providing support and training to enable and improve access to cycling

Objectives 1-3

Q4. Look at the list of things we have said we will do above. Do you think doing these things will change your local neighbourhood? What kind of change do you think it will make?

  • Improving cycling skills, making cycling affordable, and providing cycle hire options are all important if we are to get more people cycling.

Q5. Do you think we should change any of the things we will do? If so, please tell us which ones you would change and why (please refer by number)

  • Change your terminology. Southwark should be referring to collisions, not accidents. And include reference to the problem of under-reporting as more cyclists will be seriously injured on Southwark’s roads than are reported to and by the police. 
  • I am keen that you will do what you say you will do, quickly.

Q6. Which of the things that we have said we will do are the most important? Why are they important? (please refer to the numbers)

  • Teaching children to cycle safely is a great way to get families cycling (1.1 and 1.2)
  • Encouraging people to cycle to work reduces the load on public transport and builds-in cycling habits (1.5)
  • Access to affordable, local cargo bikes is essential if people are to switch away from cars (2.3)
  • Making sure that cycle parking is always cheaper – and more convenient – than car parking is important (2.5)
  • More cycle hire schemes are needed in the south of the Borough (3.1)

Q7. Is there anything else you think we should do?

  • Reaching out more proactively to the communities in Southwark where levels of cycling are currently lower than average
  • Keep listening to residents and respond to their reasons for not cycling
  • Focus on the areas of greatest need and deprivation in the Borough.
  • Cycling is not affordable if your bike gets stolen. Southwark needs to address cycle theft, which is high in the borough.

Section 2: Getting on your bike

Objectives 4-6

Q8. Look at the list of things we have said we will do above. Do you think doing these things will change your local neighbourhood? What kind of change do you think it will make?

  • More cycle hangars – end the waiting list – is a necessary step (4.1)
  • More cycle parking at key hub locations, especially where CCTV surveillance is available (5.1, 5.2)

Q9. Do you think we should change any of the things we will do? If so, please tell us which ones you would change and why (please refer by number)

  • Increased emphasis on storing larger cycles – adapted bikes, cargo bikes, bikes for transporting children etc (4.2)
  • Enough bike storage so that everyone in a household can stores their bike – or bikes (4.3)

Q10. Which of the things that we have said we will do are the most important? Why are they important? (please refer to the numbers)

  • Secure cycle storage is an absolute must – especially with so many people in Southwark living in rented accommodation

11. Is there anything else you think we should do?

  • Focus on the areas of greatest need and deprivation in the Borough.
  • More action to prevent cycle theft, pressing the Met to increase levels of enforcement and improve efforts to reunite bikes with owners. Southwark Cyclists have offered to assist with this.

Section 3: Getting where you’re going

Objectives 7-9

Q12. Look at the list of things we have said we will do above. Do you think doing these things will change your local neighbourhood? What kind of change do you think it will make?

  • High quality and safe cycle infrastructure is the key to getting people cycling. It helps them to feel safe and it makes their journey easier.
  • On main roads there must be protected cycle lanes, so that people can cycle safely.
  • Limiting traffic in residential areas is essential, so that cycles and buses can travel safely and quickly. Car traffic should only use residential roads when the destination is in that neighbourhood.
  • The Plan needs to prioritise safe junctions. All light-controlled main road junctions must have a safe phase for cyclists.

Q13. Do you think we should change any of the things we will do? If so, please tell us which ones you would change and why (please refer by number)

  • Southwark does not need to spend time and effort creating its own “Accessible Cycle Tool”. The national guidance LTN 1/20 for cycle infrastructure clearly sets out the requirements for accessible infrastructure. All future infrastructure should follow it (or any standard that supersedes it).

Q14. Which of the things that we have said we will do are the most important? Why are they important? (please refer to the numbers)

  • The most important thing is delivery of good quality schemes that conform to published standards, eg LTN 1/20

Q15. Is there anything else you think we should do?

  • Southwark can do more to reduce vehicle speed. This can be by introducing Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) on the Council fleet (TfL has retrofitted ISA on their fleet) and its contracts. It can also be helped by Southwark engaging more with the Met Borough Speed Referral scheme and also by helping promote Community Road Watch.
  • Focus on the areas of greatest need and deprivation in the Borough.
  • Increase the emphasis on making junctions safe – it’s not just about segregated cycle ways. Junctions are where most collisions occur.
  • be more explicit about the importance of safety.
  • Southwark should add a fourth Objective of reducing road danger. TfL is clear that it is road danger deterring people from cycling. There is much in the TfL Cycle Action Plan 2 on tackling road danger and Southwark should try and emulate this. And Lambeth has a whole Road Danger Reduction strategy which includes Healthy Streets training and a guide for councillors. Southwark should adopt both of these. 
  • Include more measures to tackle cycle theft–Southwark is one of the pilot boroughs for tackling cycle theft.
  • Say more about what Southwark is doing to reduce lorry danger and what it can do to reduce the risk at junctions (Lambeth’s strategy repeatedly references tightening corners to reduce speed).
  • Include targets and completion dates so we can better understand Southwark’s ambition.

The Cycling Plan and You

Q16. How do you think the proposals in this Plan will change your life? Think about the things you do day-to-day, such as the journeys you make or leisure activities you take part in.

  • It could encourage me to start cycling / make me cycle more confidently / get my family cycling / use the car less …(edit as appropriate)
  • The Plan will only help me if it is delivered as promised. I want to see the Council move to quick implementation of high quality schemes.

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