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Westway cycle superhighway plans scrapped

Plans for alternative route featuring improvements for pedestrians to be announced ‘shortly’

Plans to extend London’s east-west cycle superhighway by removing a lane from the A40 Westway flyover have been abandoned. Writing on his blog, the city’s former cycling commissioner Andrew Gilligan predicts that the news “probably spells the death of any meaningful cycle route through the area.”  

Last month Deputy Mayor for Transport, Val Shawcross, told road.cc that the route of the east-west extension was likely to change and Gilligan says this was confirmed at a meeting with British Cycling’s Chris Boardman earlier this month.

The idea to remove a lane of motor traffic from the Westway to create segregated cycle lanes got 71 per cent support in a Transport for London consultation and Gilligan says it will be a challenge to find an alternative route. The surface roads are owned by Kensington and Chelsea, a borough which previously opposed proposals for a segregated cycle lane between Hounslow and Hyde Park.

“We could have had the Westway superhighway by next year,” writes Gilligan. “But a rerouting will mean perhaps two years’ delay for new designs, new traffic modelling, and a new consultation that will make the row with the local nimbies over CS11 look like a child’s tea-party.”

Shawcross was keen to emphasise that the change did not amount to a cancellation however, tweeting:

Green assembly member Caroline Russell told the London Evening Standard: “Taking bikes up and over the Westway isn’t necessarily the best route. If Val, who is very persuasive, has managed to get a street-level route, that is not a problem. If she hasn’t, that is very disappointing.”

Confirming changes to the plans, the mayor’s office said details would be available ‘shortly’.

A spokesperson for the Mayor said:

"Sadiq is absolutely committed to making cycling in London safer and easier – that's why he has asked TfL to increase spending on cycling compared to the previous administration in which Mr Gilligan was the Cycling Commissioner.

"The Mayor has already approved the next two cycle super-highways and is committed to delivering a new East-West route."

Shawcross previously told road.cc that the standards of cycle superhighways would be improved and in future would pay “proper attention to the needs of pedestrians in London.”

This is part of a policy shift under Sadiq Khan with priorities she described as being “walking, cycling, public transport and essential traffic.”

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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7 comments

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leqin | 7 years ago
0 likes

Brilliant - just what I need - I'm sick and tired of having to avoid untold numbers of SUV's parked in the street while the fat slobs who drove them here empty out their spawn for a day at school - what you mean its Westway down in London - I don't give a rats ass about London - I want a superfast highway on Westway in Holmes Chapel Cheshire :.)

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ConcordeCX replied to leqin | 7 years ago
3 likes
leqin wrote:

I don't give a rats ass about London - I want a superfast highway on Westway in Holmes Chapel Cheshire :.)

you probably should do since it is mainly London cyclists over the last forty years or so who have slowly dragged this city until it's almost out of the Stone Age, with other cities following. Without Londoners setting the pace you'd be nowhere.

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Accessibility f... | 7 years ago
1 like

I don't live in London but I'd rather cycle at street level.  Imagine if you got a puncture up on that thing.  Down on the ground it'd be easy, but up there?  Horrible.

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arckuk | 7 years ago
2 likes

I live a couple of miles from the Westway, but wouldn't like to use it for this purpose - there are a limited number of on/off ramps and it would be dangerously windy and really cold up at that level. 

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davenportmb replied to arckuk | 7 years ago
5 likes
arckuk wrote:

I live a couple of miles from the Westway, but wouldn't like to use it for this purpose - there are a limited number of on/off ramps and it would be dangerously windy and really cold up at that level. 

So fast though! Think of the ground you could cover without having to stop at junctions and red lights (assuming one does).

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80sMatchbox | 7 years ago
1 like

I'm not that surprised. I live in West London and never thought it was a great idea.

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Gus T | 7 years ago
1 like

Hmmm, the Dutch don't have problems with this, have a look at the Reewag flyover near Rotterdam, similar issues but still built a protected cycle track alongside the roadway. It's a heck of a haul when fully laden for 2 weeks touring. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.870917,4.4287083,3a,75y,180h,85.69t/am=t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slu50Ag_7UVRgNTjNVMbWFA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

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