Council to complete work on cycle routes started in the summer
Locals have welcomed changes approved earlier this year as part of the ‘Healthy Streets’ initiative set by London-wide authorities to provide safer alternatives to driving.
Matt Stephen, a volunteer at Kingston Cycling Campaign (KCC), was closely involved in the development of the Kingston to New Malden cycleway.
He said that the current cycling infrastructure in Kingston is “wholly inadequate” to ensure the safety of cyclists, and discourages people from cycling.
Stephen said: “We hope that the completed cycleway will deliver separated space for people cycling so that they are protected from motor vehicles,
“Sadly many people cycling are injured every year along the route after being hit by a motor vehicle. There is a 1.3km gap in the route which has busy junctions and requires people to mix with lorries, buses and other motor vehicles.
“We have seen many improvements for people walking too, such as new zebra crossings as well as ‘continuous crossings’ built over side roads giving clearer priority pedestrians.”
The Cycle Routes programme, funded by TfL, is a £32m infrastructure project designed to improve traffic and make London’s streets more eco-friendly.
Kingston locals echoed the KCC’s comments, saying there will be less traffic on the roads and pedestrians’ experience will be improved.
Stuart Newton, a New Malden resident and former transport industry worker, said: “Moving more people onto cycling will benefit motorists more than cyclists as it’ll free up road space.”
Simon Clarke, a New Malden local, echoed this optimism, saying it was good to finally see new updates which he hopes will be implemented sooner rather than later.
The KCC also commented on the environmental benefit that the council’s plans will have on the community.
Stephen said: “Reducing the number of people taking their car for short trips and transferring that to a bike would have an immediate improvement on the environment by reducing air and noise pollution whilst improving the health of people cycling too.”
Stephen added that a higher quality cycleway will encourage people of all ages to take up cycling.
However, the KCC raised concerns that the routes won’t be as efficient as proposed, and urged the council to ensure the public’s safety.
Stephen said: “We are concerned that the plans are not as high quality as originally planned as cyclists would share space with buses, taxis and motorcycles and with people walking.”
He added: “We ask that the council works with TfL to further improve the proposals to create a truly high-quality cycleway for people travelling between New Malden and Kingston.”
The works, part of the Mayor of London’s transport strategy for 2041, were approved by council committees in February and March 2024.
