Agenda item

Resolved: that the report be noted.

5.1      Nick Harvey (Cycling Programme Manager) introduced the update. The following key points were noted:

·         The second draft cycling strategy was consulted on in October, it was based on comments from key stakeholders – including the select committee and Lewisham Cyclists.

·         There were 53 individual responses to the consultation. 80% of the respondents were Lewisham residents and 85% of respondents were cyclists or cycled at least once a week. 86% of the respondents said that the strategy had clear aims and 75% agreed that these were the right aims. 55% of respondents found the strategy easy or very easy to understand a further 36% found it neither easy nor difficult.

·         There were a number of suggestions for changes to the strategy, including: concern about the lack of a delivery plan (which would be included in the Local Infrastructure Plan annual submission); the identification of funding for the different elements of the delivery of the strategy (more information would be included in the finalised version for the strategy); the standards for new infrastructure (the London design standards would be used); disability cycling and the use of non-traditional cycles (further information about this would also be included in the finalised strategy – and all new infrastructure schemes would give consideration to non-traditional cycles); the general maintenance and condition of the roadway (this fell down the list of current concerns for highways inspectors, changes would be made to improve the way that the Council dealt with repairs, missing signage and alternative arrangements during traffic diversions).

5.2      Nick Harvey responded to questions from the Committee, the following key points were noted:

·         There were a number of sustainable bike days and bike to work days in the UK. The Council’s road safety team were responsible for promoting these activities locally.

·         There were proposals to bring ‘dockless bikes’ (as opposed to the Mayor of London’s bikes, which were checked in and checked out at docking stations) to Lewisham.

·         There was a joint partnership with Southwark Council to supply and deliver bike hangers in Lewisham. Initially it was considered that it would be straightforward to deliver new hangers but it was actually very complicated.

·         A new tender for delivering bike hangers was currently being finalised and would be delivered in the near future.

·         Consultation for all new controlled parking zones would include options for electric charging points and bike hangers.

·         The Council received regular complaints about inconsiderate cycling. Officers had commissioned an awareness campaign in one part of the borough to encourage people to cycle more considerately.

·         Work was being carried out to ensure that dockless cycle services were managed effectively in future.

·         The design standards for cycle superhighways were implemented to encourage considerate cycling. Cycle superhighway four (due to be constructed across the north of the borough) would have a high level of design quality.

·         There was currently a bid in place for funding to create a new greenway in the north of the borough.

·         Officers would consider how cycling infrastructure could be improved in less well served areas, including Forest Hill.

·         Cycling on the pavement was illegal. The Council could never have a policy that encouraged cycling on the pavement.

·         Segregating cycle routes was expensive and difficult to implement. Each area required its own solution to enable cycling.

5.3      Resolved: that the report be noted.