Santander Bikes expansion to Rotherhithe and Bermondsey

The long awaited Santander Bikes expansion to Rotherhithe and Bermondsey was announced by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who also confirmed that construction of the next section of Cycleway 4 will start ahead of schedule, helping communities in south-east London enjoy the benefits of this major new route between Tower Bridge and Greenwich sooner.  

Sadiq said work on the Creek Road section will start later this year – instead of April 2020 as originally planned – during a visit to see the ongoing transformation of Rotherhithe roundabout which has one of the worst safety records in the capital.

Once complete, Cycleway 4 will add 10km of segregated cycle route to London’s network – enabling thousands more people to make everyday journeys by bike. New pedestrian crossings are set to make the area much easier for people walking to get around.

Cycleway 4 works in Rotherhithe and Bermondsey

Work on the first sections of Cycleway 4 began in July, with work currently taking place to create 3.6km of segregated Cycleway along Tooley Street and Jamaica Road. Work is also underway on a complete overhaul of  Rotherhithe roundabout, which is included in the Safer Junctions programme, to create segregated cycle lanes around it. This section is set to be complete by spring next year.

Expansion of the Santander Cycles

The Mayor also announced that London’s cycle hire scheme, Santander Cycles, is set to be expanded along the new route between Tooley Street and Canada Water station when the Cycleway opens. New docking stations along the route will make it even easier for people to start cycling in south east London and it will be the first time that the scheme has reached Bermondsey and Rotherhithe. Last year saw the highest ever numbers of people using the scheme, with over 10.5 million hires over 12 months. The scheme currently covers 100 square kilometres of London, making it Europe’s largest cycle hire scheme.

TfL has been working closely with its contractor, Kier Highways, and Southwark Council to keep any disruption caused by construction work to a minimum. Much of the work has been planned to take place over the school holidays, when there are fewer people using the roads. TfL is also monitoring traffic along the route regularly, adjusting traffic light timings where necessary to help keep people moving.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m delighted that we are bringing forward construction on this latest segregated cycle way so that people can enjoy the benefits of this major new Cycleway route sooner. By creating new crossings and segregated routes we will make it safer and more convenient for many more Londoners to walk and cycle, which is crucial to clean up our toxic air. Expanding the Santander Cycles scheme to Bermondsey and Rotherhithe for the first time will provide a further boost for cycling in south east London.”

Julie Lewington, TfL’s Head of Projects and Programmes, said: “Cycleway 4 will provide a real boost for people walking and cycling in south-east London, making it much easier and safer to switch to cleaner, greener ways of moving. We’re making good progress with construction work and I’m looking forward to seeing the first people cycling on the route in the spring and hiring Santander Cycles along part of the route. I’d like to thank everyone in the local area for their patience during the work.”

Cllr Denise Scott-McDonald, Cabinet Member for Air Quality, Sustainability and Transport, Royal Borough of Greenwich, said:  “With the extension of Cycleway 4 along Creek Road, Greenwich town centre will be connected to Tower Bridge with a continuous cycle route segregated from traffic the entire way. It will make it even easier and safer for more Royal Greenwich residents to cycle as part of their daily routine. Making journeys by bike is affordable, healthy, great for the environment and helps ease congestion and pollution too.” 

Southwark council Cycleway route proposal

Southwark Council is currently asking people for their views on their proposals for the final section of the route along Lower Road.

Cycleway network

Cycleway 4 is one a number of new cycle routes which are either under construction or in development across the capital. The amount of protected space for cycling in London has doubled over the past three years and TfL is on course to triple this by next year. Construction work on a new Cycleway between Acton and Wood Lane is set to be complete by early 2020, with construction work on another major new route between Brentford and Olympia set to begin this autumn. TfL has recently asked people to have their say on proposals for other major new routes between Hackney and the Isle of Dogs, Ilford and Barking Riverside, and Lea Bridge and Dalston.

While construction work on Cycleway 4 is taking place, drivers and bus users should expect some delays in the area and should allow plenty of time for their journeys. Where possible, TfL advises using Tube or rail, or to cycle or walk, for shorter trips. Using alternative routes and travelling outside peak hours may also help reduce delays. Local businesses are also advised to plan ahead to help minimise any impact on their operations.

Simon Munk, Infrastructure Campaigner at London Cycling Campaign, said: “Cycleway 4 is set to be a much-needed addition to London’s network of protected space for cycling, connecting south east London into the network, and helping fulfil the Mayor’s promise to London Cycling Campaign members, supporters and all Londoners to triple the mileage of protected space on main roads. News that the scheme is being delivered faster than originally planned and that Southwark Council has now also brought forward high-quality plans for the Lower Road section are particularly welcome. Next we look forward to forthcoming plans to extend the scheme to Woolwich, including tackling the infamous and lethal Angerstein roundabout

• Work on Cycleway 4 in Creek Road, Greenwich is set to begin later this year, several months earlier than initially planned
• London’s record-breaking Santander Cycles bike hire scheme will be expanded to Bermondsey and Rotherhithe for the first time

Source: TFL press release / 27 August 2019