Work on Cycleway 4 to bring a dedicated cycle lane between Tower Bridge and Greenwich has progressed towards Rotherhithe from Deptford in recent months while an earlier stage languishes and remains closed to cyclists.
Cycleway 4 route
The stretch from Greenwich to Deptford Church Street has long been all but complete, though issues over the Creek Road bridge has held up opening.
Creek Road bridge.
This ensures cyclists are placed in added danger and must continue sharing road space with general traffic.
Cyclist wedged between vehicle and kerb while lane closed
Work is now underway between Deptford Church Street and Deptford High Street junctions.
Render of completed Deptford High Street junction
It’s hoped thousands of new residents (alongside existing) moving to many major developments along the route will cycle if given a safe and segregated lane directly into central London and amenities such as Surrey Quays shopping centre.
A 35-floor tower is currently under construction in the area.
35-floor tower in Rotherhithe now under construction
Convoy’s Wharf is also located a short distance from the new lane, and that site is set to see 3,500 homes. Work is now finally underway on the first plots.
Indicative view of towers on Convoys Wharf site
Another major site along the route is Deptford Landings which will see almost 1,200 homes.
Timberyard site located alongside cycle lane
The red square marks out a separate approved tower next to the site.
At the Greenwich and Deptford end, a number of towers have been approved including 393 homes at Creekside East in November 2020.
Creekside East near Creek Road was approved in late 2020
From a personal standpoint, when I lived in Deptford I used to squeeze onto a train each day to reach work. If a segregated, direct lane existed then I would have cycled and been healthier to boot. It didn’t, and so given the choice was dicing with traffic or a meandering route along the river I took the train. I expect a great deal of both existing and new residents will do likewise in time.
None shall pass
One controversial aspect however of the cycleway in Deptford was removal of a bus lane which TfL admitted will slow down bus journeys.
Bus lane removed
This impacts eastbound journeys.
Bus lane lost
Island bus stops are in evidence along the route.
Island bus stop
Island stops are hardly a radical concept in most of the developed world. There may be issues with partially sited people and those alighting from buses, but that isn’t insurmountable.
When the stretch along Eyelyn Street completes the cycleway will still be some stage from completion along its entirety. Areas around the one-way system in Rotherhithe are still in the design stage let alone moving onto construction.
The stretch from Rotherhithe Tunnel to Tower Bridge is complete and open to use.
It’s hoped further stretches will open this summer.
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I've lived in south east London most of my life growing up in Greenwich borough and working in the area for many years.
The site has contributors on occasion and we cover many different topics. Living and working in the area offers an insight into what is happening locally.
