Agenda item

Simon Moss (Transport Policy & Development Manager) introduced the item, highlighting the following key points:

·         TfL have produced a Roads Modernisation Plan, which introduces a new approach to roads including a new typology of road. This comes in response to findings of the Roads Task Force.

·         It is not possible to take one style of cycling infrastructure apply that across the borough as there are different situations within the borough that require specific approaches and solutions.

·         TfL has two approaches to cycling infrastructure. The Cycle Superhighway is about improving cycling along major arteries, with proposals to bring two Cycle Superhighways to Lewisham. The other approach is Quietways, which uses quieter streets and/or parks to develop safer routes around the borough. There is a pilot Quietway being put into the north of the borough.

During questions Cllr Curran vacated the Chair, with Cllr Walsh taking over chairing responsibilities.

In response to questions from the Committee, Simon Moss, Liz Brooker and Tamsin Williams (Senior Air Quality Officer) provided the following information:

·         Officers are carrying out a study on how to allocate carriage space for cycles on roads. However, the costs involved mean it will take a long time to put improvements such as these in place.

·         Cycle training is important, quite often people don’t know the best routes to take to get them where they want in a quick and safe way. So route planning is a focus for training for adults. Cyclist training involves teaching them how to use the road more safely. However education for drivers about cyclists is also important so they are more aware of cyclists. In Lewisham the drivers on the door2door service have all done training so they are more aware of cyclists and techniques they use to ensure they stay safe. The aim is to encourage mutual respect between road users.

·         Lewisham hasn’t signed up to the cycle to work scheme offering bicycles at a reduced price due to tax reductions, but does offer an interest free loan to purchase a bicycle. Lewisham also offers a £10 bike loan scheme which encourages new cyclists.

·         The bulk of funding for promoting cycling comes from TfL, including most money for new infrastructure.

·         Quietways is a branded route that is well signposted with easily identifiable signs and directions. The aim in Lewisham is to align Quietways to a variety of routes. This can be done by using separate pedestrian and cycle paths, routes through parks as well as cycle lanes. The improvements needed can be built into the Local Implementation Plan and fits into the corridor approach that is being taken to improving infrastructure.

·         The speed that other vehicles travel at on roads can be a key deterrent for cyclists.

·         The aim for Lewisham is to get as many routes as possible as part of Quietways due to the strong branding that they have and the support from TfL. However there are a lot of other branded and signposted cycle routes, including London Cycling Network, Waterlink Way, Heritage Trail and Green Chain.

·         89% of schools in Lewisham have accredited school travel plans, which the schools create themselves. Parents often need convincing that cycling to school is a safe way for their children to get to school.

·         The Bikeability scheme offers training for children in the playground and then out on local roads, which allows them to get used to the environment around their school and become more confident on the road. There also 1-2-1 sessions for older children.

·         One off cycling events could help raise the profile of cycling and encourage those who are not confident to start cycling. There does need to be a balance between encouraging people to start cycling with smaller and introductory events for those who don’t cycle often but may want to and improving routes for those who cycle frequently.

·         There are currently 12 cycle hangers in the borough. This is a pilot approach that has been very successful so far and there is funding available to deliver more.

·         Work is being carried out with Public Health on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment on transport and active travel.

·         The cycle loan scheme shows that the majority of those taking advantage of this are moving off public transport to start cycling. Officers are looking for a ripple effect, where drivers move to public transport, who then move to cycling.

·         The example of the A2 near Blackheath shows the confluence of a number of transport issues. It is very busy, with many buses and cars idling which increases air pollution. Exposure to air pollution can be as bad in cars as for cyclists in this situation. The busyness can also put off cyclists and the introduction of a 20 mph limit could also ease congestion by smoothing out the raffic flow. There is a need to join all this up, so that different routes can be encouraged.

·         It is difficult to have an impact on air quality locally, especially on traffic aspects and it does require a London wide approach. There is currently consultation on an ultra-low emissions zone in the congestion charge zone. Lewisham has expressed support for this and has advocated expanding this ultra-low emissions zone, along with a number of other boroughs on the edges of the proposed zone. The ultra-low emissions zone will require a political decision due to the impacts of it.

·         85% of the borough is in a 20 mph zone already, under the borough wide 20 mph proposal only TfL roads will be exempt.

·         Officers will need to work with traffic police around enforcement as there will not be extra capacity to enforce the 20 mph limit, it will be the same capacity as for enforcing current limits. The aim is for roads to be self-enforcing, the key to which is to make them feel like they are 20 mph roads and for drivers to adjust their speed. One issue is that some roads currently don’t feel like 30 mph roads and have speeding issues.

·         Officers are identifying roads where they think there might be problems with the new limit and targeting these areas where compliance is a problem for enforcement and improvement. There will be an audit of road signs to ensure there is clear and appropriate signage of the new limit.

·         The current timetable will have the new limit in place by summer 2016, although there will be further work around enforcing and taking remedial action after this point.

The Committee then discussed a number of points:

·         The need to look at roads and infrastructure in order to properly cater for cycling.

·         The communication of routes and the availability of different and quieter routes to cyclists is important.

·         School Travel Plans should be realistic about how children, especially younger children, will get to school. Younger children will often need to be taken into the school building itself by parents.

·         Air quality and the perception of poor air quality due to heavy traffic, can have an impact on the willingness of people to walk or cycle to places.

·         If young people start cycling at an early age they are more likely to cycle for life.

·         The cost of buying a bike, especially the need to upgrade a bike quite regularly for children, can be an impediment to increasing cycling. A scheme that offers recycled bikes at a reasonable price could be a way of dealing with this issue.