Sadiq Khan reveals quality criteria for new Cycleways and criticises boroughs ‘wedded to the status quo’

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today revealed Transport for London’s (TfL’s) new quality criteria for Cycleways. He went on to criticise several boroughs who he said were ‘wedded to the status quo,’ and as a consequence were ‘harming the health of Londoners.’

Earlier this year, it was announced that the Cycle Superhighway and Quietway names were to be dropped and replaced by a single brand – Cycleways.

All new cycle routes will have to meet TfL’s new quality criteria in order to be branded and signed as a ‘Cycleway’.

When designing routes, the criteria will be used to decide where protected space is necessary and where changes to junctions and parking are needed.

Decisions will be based on:

• The total volume of motor traffic, to ensure the number of motor vehicles mixing with people cycling is low
• The speed of motor traffic, to reduce the risks caused by vehicles travelling at higher speeds
• The width provided for people cycling, to ensure that there is plenty of space to both cycle and overtake
• The collision risk between people cycling and turning vehicles
• Reducing the interaction between HGVs and people cycling to a minimum
• Minimising the impact of any kerbside activity on people cycling

Speaking at London’s Walking and Cycling Conference, Khan also claimed to have doubled the amount of protected cycling infrastructure built in the capital during his time in office.

“I said before the election that I wanted to increase the pace of change building new cycling infrastructure. I’m delighted that in just three years we have achieved more than the last Mayor did in eight years, already doubling the amount of protected cycle routes on streets across London.

“I want to now deliver even more high-quality cycling and walking infrastructure across all parts of the capital, but even with record investment from the TfL we can’t achieve that on our own. Boroughs across London must recognise the huge benefits of getting more people out of their cars and cycling as part of their everyday routine – getting more people active, improving their health, and reducing the air pollution on our streets which causes so much harm.” 

The amount of protected space delivered since May 2016 comprises:

• 20km in the Superhighways programme
• 5km in the Quietways & Central London Grid programme
• 21km in the mini-Holland programme
• 17km from other schemes, such as Stratford High Street, Highbury Corner and Westminster Bridge South

London’s former cycling commissioner Andrew Gilligan has previously accused Sadiq Khan of presiding over the construction of a “fake cycle network,” arguing that in many areas the mayor has done little more than add Quietway signs to roads and claimed them as new routes. He has also suggested that most of what has been completed was begun before Khan took office.

Construction work is due to begin this summer on Cycleway 4 in south east London and on Cycleway 9 in west London.

TfL and boroughs are also working towards consultations on several other cycle routes between:

• Ilford and Barking Riverside – consultation on first section 2019
• Dalston and Lea Bridge Road - consultation in 2019
• Rotherhithe and Peckham - consultation in 2019
• Camden and Tottenham Hale – consultation in late 2019 / 2020
• Greenwich to Woolwich – consultation in late 2019 / 2020
• Wembley and Willesden – consultation on first section by 2021