Alternatives to the Surrey Canal Walk

We love this path, don't we? Pleasant, free from motor traffic, green, smooth (except for the bits under the bridges!). What more could a cyclist want? Well, at quiet times it probably does fit that description, but use it in rush hour, especially the morning peak, and it's quite different. It's shared use and is as attractive to people who walk to work and school as it it is to those who ride. The problem is, there are loads of both groups at these peak times, and the people who designed the path, I don't believe, had any idea as to just how popular it would become.

Consequently, it just isn't wide enough for people, young (sometimes the very young, just walking) toddlers, dogs, older people, people on mobility scooters and slower cyclists to share it with those cyclists who want, or need to really push the pace on their daily commute.  If that sounds like you (and very occasionally that sounds like me!) there is an alternative.  Trouble is the council haven't signed it very well at all and I'm pretty sure most non locals won't know it's there.  Basically, it follows Sumner Rd, which can be accessed via the fire gate on your left as you start on the Surrey Canal Walk from the South.  Go through  that gate on to Jocelyn Street, follow it round and it takes  you into Sumner Rd...from here it's straight up, over the junction at Commercial Way on to Pekham Hill St from where you can get in to Burgess Park, or back on to Glengall Rd via a right turn through some bollards and thence across the OKR to London Bridge.  Happy to ride it with anyone who doesn't know it.   Southwark and Lewisham Cyclists will be trying to get the council to improve this route further in the future....if you have any ideas tell us (lewishamcyclists@gmail.com). https://www.facebook.com/groups/72380106728/