Work on the A21 aiming to improve cycle safety and bus times from Lewisham to Catford is set to start on August 24 and cost a quarter of a million pounds. 

Part of the Mayor of London’s Streetspace programme, which aims to aid social distancing and promote active travel in the wake of Covid-19, the 2km stretch of road will have 24/7 bus and cycle lanes. 

Cyclists will have a completely segregated section between Molesworth Street and Ladywell Road, but will have to share with buses for much of the way. 

On whether this will be safe for cyclists, a spokesperson for TfL said the changes will be an “improvement on current conditions”.

“Making it easier for people in the area to walk, cycle and use public transport is vital to the capital’s recovery from coronavirus. 

“The busy A21 corridor between Lewisham and Catford has the potential for thousands of new journeys by bike every week, but it is currently an intimidating environment for people cycling.

 “The A21 scheme is an improvement on current conditions and we will continue to work with Lewisham on longer term proposals,” she said. 

On cost the spokesperson said: “We are currently working through detailed designs but expect the scheme will cost around £250,000.”

TfL says around half of the journeys on the stretch of road are under 10km, “meaning there is significant potential for switching some of these journeys by car to journeys by bike”.  

The cycleway runs from just outside the Broadway Theatre in Catford Road, though doesn’t extend to the station, to Molesworth Street in Lewisham. 

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The corridor will also have a new speed limit of 20mph, while side roads will be made exit only.  

Bus lanes will be extended along the corridor, while there will be a bus stop bypass so cyclist don’t have to overtake dangerously.  

There will be a left turn ban from Ladywell Road to A21 and a right turn ban from Courthill Road to A21 except for buses, cyclists, and taxis, as well as a southbound right turn ban into Wildfell Road.  

Rosenthal Road, Feldlay Road, Roxley Road, and Mount Pleasant Road will all be made exit only except for cyclists.  

Parking and loading bays will be removed from the corridor to side roads “where possible”.   

TfL said it “will monitor the impact of the changes, including banned turns, to ensure that local impacts can be addressed”.  

The changes are expected to be in place by mid-September.

Public transport capacity is limited so supporting more people cycle will improve air quality, reduce congestion, improve the environment for pedestrians, and prevent a car led recovery from Covid-19

Councillor Sophie McGeevor, Lewisham’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “We are pleased that TfL has recognised the huge potential for improving the safety of cyclists on the busy A21 corridor between Lewisham and Catford.  

“With more people cycling for the first time as a consequence of Covid-19, enhancing cycle safety is a priority for Lewisham Council.  

“Public transport capacity is limited so supporting more people cycle will improve air quality, reduce congestion, improve the environment for pedestrians, and prevent a car led recovery from Covid-19.  

“We have asked TfL to monitor the impact of these changes closely and we will be working with them to review the scheme.”