Transport for London is to invest around £160m to construct four new cycle superhighways and carry out upgrades to the four existing cycle superhighway routes.
TfL says work on the schemes will start in the next month and be complete before the end of 2016. TfL says the schemes will help treble the number of cycle journeys made over the next 10 years and “transform London’s streets and spaces to places where cyclists feel they belong and are safe”.
Sir Peter Hendy CBE, London’s transport commissioner, said: “Cycling is clearly now a major transport option in London, with over 170,000 bike journeys now made across central London every single day.
“These schemes will revolutionise cycling in the capital and further demonstrate how London is leading the way in making its roads safe for all road users.”
Chris Boardman, British Cycling’s policy advisor, described the announcement as a “fantastic day for Londoners”.
He added: “The move brings the capital one step closer to creating a true cycling culture to rival cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam. But most importantly of all, it will set a standard for the rest of the country.”
London’s chosen solutions aren’t necessarily applicable to the rest of the country. This project will cost £160 million to construct, a claimed negative economic impact of £200 million, a claimed benefit of £277 million a calculation that includes ‘environmental benefits’ and ‘less absenteeism from work.’ Increased journey times are claimed to be 6 minutes which will surely have a negative environmental effect. I really don’t think that these figures provide a sound basis for claiming a positive benefit. They are, after all, projections based on selected assumptions.
Paul Biggs, Staffodshire
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