Two new London Cycle Superhighways ready in July

Work has begun on two new Barclays Cycle Superhighway routes which should be ready this July.

The new routes will run from Bow to Aldgate (CS2) and Wandsworth to Westminster (CS8), and the Mayor of London and TfL have also announced funding to help boroughs along their length to develop cycling improvements. Five boroughs; City, Tower Hamlets, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster and Wandsworth, can bid for a share in funds in order to provide:

• Cycle parking along the two new routes. This will be a mixture of on-street and residential parking which will be installed within 1.5km of the routes
• Cycle training for residents to help to improve their cycle commuter skills and safety awareness.
• Cycle checks available from the launch of the new highways until autumn 2011 to make sure people’s bicycles are safe to ride.

Since the launch of the first two Superhighways last July, Transport for London have funded the provision of 4,113 new cycle spaces along their length as well as providing 4,206 hours of training and checking the safety of 4,143 bikes.

The two new routes from Merton to the City (CS7) and Barking to Tower Gateway (CS3), should make it easier and safer for cyclists to commute between outer and inner London on direct, continuous cycle routes. Along the first two Barclays Cycle Superhighway routes, TfL says cycling has increased by up to 70 per cent.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London’s transport advisor said: “The striking blue paint is now being laid down for another two of the 12 Barclays Cycle Superhighways the Mayor has committed to delivering. Thousands of Londoners have been using the first two highways and by the end of this summer we will have four direct cycle routes into the centre of the capital. But these are more than just cycle lanes – there is also increased cycle parking and more training, and we are working with businesses along the routes to ensure everyone who wants to can take to the cleanest, greenest form of commuter transport.”

Responding to the announcement of funding for cycling improvements in five London Boroughs along the new Cycle Superhighway, Eleanor Besley, Policy Advisor at Sustrans said:

"We know that creating routes for cycling doesn't work in isolation. People need to be actively encouraged onto their bikes and onto the cycle routes. With this in mind, it's great to see Transport for London announcing that boroughs along the new superhighway will have new funding available for things like cycle training, cycle parking and bike safety checks.

"The Outer London Boroughs have significant congestion, air quality and obesity problems and analysis shows that more than half of the potentially cyclable trips in the capital are in these boroughs. The Mayor recently announced £4million funding for ‘biking boroughs’, which was a welcome pot of money, but split between 13 Outer London Boroughs it will not be enough to maximise the potential."