The Cycle Superhighway and Quietway names have been dropped for cycling infrastructure in London, with routes instead being unified under a single brand, Cycleways, it has been confirmed to road.cc.
The renaming is partly aimed at removing negative connotations of the word “Superhighway,” which opponents of planned infrastructure have often seized upon to conjure visions of speeding cyclists mowing down pedestrians.
In March last year, the London Assembly Transport Committee recommended to Mayor Sadiq Khan in a report on cycling infrastructure that he “change the name of Cycle Superhighways to something more inclusive.”
In the report, the committee said: “We have heard that the term ‘Superhighway’ creates the wrong impression for what this infrastructure is supposed to deliver.
“It appears to emphasise cycling long distances at high speed, which may not be the best way to attract a wider range of inexperienced people to cycle.”
News of plans to unify the network under a single brand emerged before Christmas as the mayor published his Cycle Action Plan, which aims to double the number of trips made by bike in the city.
> Sadiq Khan launches action plan to double levels of cycling in London
At the time, Transport for London (TfL) said that the decision to rebrand resulted from “clear feedback from Londoners on the current brands, which can be misleading – especially for those new to cycling – and is in line with best practice from the world’s top cities for cycling. The identity for the new network will be revealed in early 2019.”
While the cycling page on the TfL website still makes reference to Cycle Superhighways and Quietways, buried deep in yesterday’s press release from the Mayor’s office announcing funding for 11 new Liveable Neighbourhood schemes were references not to the planned Cycle Superhighway 4, for example, but instead to Cycleway 4.
> London’s lethal Holborn gyratory to get £12.6 million makeover for safer cycling as TfL unveils 11 new projects across the capital
This morning, the Mayor’s office confirmed to road.cc that the name had been chosen as the new branding for Cycle Superhighways and Quietways.
When the Cycling Action Plan was launched in December, London’s cycling & walking commissioner Will Norman told the Evening Standard’s Ross Lydall that the likelihood was that all new routes would in future be known as “cycleways.”
He also said that physical segregation of cycle lanes would take place where the danger to cyclists was deemed to be highest, based on factors including the space available, the speed and amount of motor traffic, and the presence of side roads and lorries at the location in question.
“Not all Quietways are quiet and not all Superhighways are super,” he explained. “This will result in more segregation across the network.”
We are checking with the Mayor’s office whether existing Cycle Superhighways and Quietways will have their names changed to Cycleways, or whether the rebranding just applies to future infrastructure.
I'm personally glad not to have to read this particular username again.
It really isn't a dilema. Most of the motorbikes I see being ridden off road are no wider than a push bike - they are either homemade e-bikes,...
... it won't catch everyone, but the police are apparently now going to start checking drivers' eyesight. Something that I really thought they were...
My wife has an unltrasonic cleaner at work (she's a dentist). I wonder if she would mind me popping my cassette and chain in there?
Demonstration was great but not so keen on husband recent stuff
British Cycling are far more concerned about the culture wars than cycling. Well past their sell-by date.
No doubt, being Bath, the charges will relate to damaging a UNESCO site and nothing to do with motor offences.
Aye! It's tough for drivers oop in t'North. In Lancashire, even the MOT testing garages can't afford MOTs!
Maybe they'll employ some sniffer dogs? Note - it's the City of London rather than being London, the city which would be much better.
I would definitely recommend looking at the hase pino, they do a kit to put kid sized pedals on the front so your child can participate. But unlike...