Safer cycle lanes and crossings approved for Streatham Hill
By Grainne Cuffe, local democracy reporter
Transport for London (TfL) is going ahead with permanent measures to make Streatham Hill safer for walking and cycling.
Changes include segregated cycle lanes, new pedestrian crossings, and reduced speed limits.
The move follows a public consultation that showed support for the plans.
Of those who took part in the consultation, 83 per cent agreed that the proposals would make people feel safer cycling through the area, with 70 per cent saying the same about walking.
TfL is planning nearly 2km of segregated cycle lanes between Sternhold Avenue and Holmewood Road, creating new pedestrian crossings, and changing access to side roads to tackle rat running on local roads.
It also plans to make the area more attractive by planting trees and improving landscaping.
Work on the permanent changes is set to start in early 2022.
The new scheme is added to the wider measures TfL and Lambeth Council are taking across the borough as part of the Mayor’s Streetspace programme .
In a bid to promote active travel during the Covid-19 pandemic, temporary changes include widening footsteps, school streets, cycle lanes, and low traffic neighbourhoods.
TfL is also working on plans for a Streetspace cycling corridor between Oval and Streatham with the council – work could start in early spring.
Cllr Claire Holland, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for sustainable transport, environment and clean air, said: “I’m delighted that residents have shown their strong backing for this transformational scheme for Streatham High Road which will make it much safer to walk, scoot, wheel or cycle.
“We know that many groups in society are underrepresented when it comes to using a cycle to get around and we know that the main barriers are accessibility and danger, real or perceived.
“Only by delivering transformational main road schemes like this one, together with area-wide low traffic neighbourhoods on our local streets, can we make Lambeth into a borough whereby everyone has access to affordable and safe mobility options.
“We look forward to continuing our work with TfL to deliver on this and much more across the borough to build a fairer, equitable Lambeth.”