Key information
Petition presented by: Roger Evans
Date petition submitted: Wednesday 4 December 2013
Petition presented at: London Assembly Plenary
Summary of petition
“We, the undersigned, call on TfL and Wandsworth Council to make changes to Mitcham Lane so that cycling can be an option for everyone, not just the fit and the brave.”
Response information
Name of person responding: The Mayor
Response date: Thursday 6 February 2014
“Dear Roger,
Re: Petition received at the London Assembly (Plenary) Meeting on 4 December 2013
Thank you for the petition which you presented to the London Assembly on 4 December 2013 on behalf of Richard Tracey AM.
I fully appreciate that some cyclists are less confident riding on busy roads, such as Mitcham Lane. As you are aware, I publish plans to improve cycling in the Capital in London in March 2013 which set out my ambitious plans to improve cycling in the Capital by providing more and safer routes for cyclists. One key part of my Vision is the development of a 10 year programme of Quietways specifically aimed at new and/or less confident cyclists. Quietways will form a network of pan-London, high-quality cycle routes on low-traffic back streets. They will be direct, better-surfaced and clearly signed. There will be radial and an orbital network of routes within and between outer and inner London, and every London borough, including the London Borough of Wandsworth, will benefit from the programme.
My Cycling Commissioner, Andrew Gilligan, recently met with Wandsworth to discuss opportunities to improve cycling infrastructure in the borough and the Quietways programme was one of the main topics of discussion. Sustrans was appointed in September 2013 to coordinate the pilot phase of the Quietways programme over the next year, and has now met will all the London boroughs, including Wandsworth, to compile a list of potential Quietways routes.
Mitcham Lane is located in both the London Borough of Wandsworth and the London Borough of Lambeth. As the responsible highway authorities, it would therefore fall to them to introduce any new measures to improve cycling and it might be useful for Richard to speak to them directly if he has not already done so. While a Quietway is not currently being proposed on Mitcham Lane itself, Quietway routes on quiet roads running parallel to Mitcham Road are being developed.
TfL, working with my Cycling Commissioner, will be able to make a decision on the first phase of routes it will deliver early this year. TfL will also appoint a delivery agent to continue the work undertaken through the pilot phase and work with the boroughs to deliver the Quietway routes across London. Construction will start on first Quietway route this year and TfL plans to have a third of the Quietways network in place by 2016.”