Oli Greenaway•6 months ago I am writing to request that the Council prioritise the creation of a fully segregated cycle lane along the A202 (Peckham Road) between Camberwell Green and Peckham Square.At present, this section of the A202 is extremely unsafe for cyclists. The current arrangement, consisting only of intermittent painted markings, offers little to no real protection from traffic. The cycle lane does not form a continuous, coherent route and often disappears altogether at junctions or bus stops, forcing cyclists to merge unpredictably with moving vehicles. The volume of buses, lorries and general traffic along Peckham Road makes this one of the most intimidating and hazardous stretches for anyone travelling by bike.A fully segregated, unbroken route would transform this corridor. It would provide a protected connection between two of Southwark’s most important neighbourhood centres, linking Camberwell’s and Peckham’s high streets, universities, schools, health services and major residential areas. Creating a safe, comfortable link here would directly support the Council’s Climate Action Plan, Movement Plan, and Healthy Streets objectives by making cycling a realistic and attractive option for thousands of local journeys that are currently made by car or bus.Experience elsewhere in London clearly demonstrates the benefits of physical segregation. The Cycleway 4 route between Tower Bridge and Greenwich, and Cycleway 7 between Elephant & Castle and Clapham, have both delivered significant increases in cycling volume: up to +60% in the first year of completion according to Transport for London data : while also reducing collision rates by over 30%. Similar gains were achieved in Southwark’s own borough on Cycleway 17 (Blackfriars Road), where fully kerb-separated lanes have proved popular, safe, and visually well integrated into the streetscape.There are several effective and proven methods of separation suitable for this corridor, including:
Raised kerbs, barriers or stepped cycle tracks, providing a continuous height difference between cyclists and motor traffic.
Planter buffers or landscaped strips, introducing greenery and rainwater drainage benefits.
Modular separators (“armadillos”) or concrete blocks for interim or trial phases.
Flexible bollards or wands for visibility and quick deployment at junctions.
Numerous studies confirm that perceived and actual safety is the single greatest barrier to cycling. TfL’s 2023 Attitudes to Cycling survey found that 72% of Londoners would cycle more if protected lanes were provided, and the National Travel Survey shows that over two-thirds of potential cyclists cite fear of traffic as the main deterrent. Until the risk and stress of sharing road space with heavy vehicles are removed, meaningful growth in cycling uptake will remain limited.To move forward, I propose this section of the A202 be established as a pilot scheme, running from Peckham Square to Camberwell Green. Once proven successful, in terms of safety, usage, and community support, the project could then be extended eastward towards New Cross and westward towards Brixton and Vauxhall, linking into the wider network of Southwark and TfL Cycleways.A continuous, protected corridor along Peckham Road would not only save lives but also deliver cleaner air, reduced congestion, and a stronger sense of connection between two vibrant South London communities.
