by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
The proposed routes for the first two of London's 12 cycle superhighways have been announced.
The two pilot routes, which will be up and running in May 2010, are from South Wimbledon to Bank via the A24 and A3, and Barking to Tower Hill via the A13 and Cable Street.
Boris Johnson, mayor of London, and Transport for London are consulting closely with the eight boroughs the routes will run through.
The aim of the cycle superhighways is to provide safe, direct and continuous routes into central London from the outer boroughs, making life easier for cyclists and encouraging those who travel into work by other modes of transport to commute by bike, helping to cut congestion, relieve overcrowding and cutting emissions.
Another ten routes, spanning across London and greatly improving the capital's cycling infrastructure, are being developed ahead of 2012, with each route covering between ten and 15 kilometres.
Mr Johnson said: "I'm not kidding when I say I'm militant about cycling, and these Superhighways are central to the cycling revolution I'm determined to bring about.
"No longer will pedal power have to dance and dodge around petrol power - on these routes the bicycle will dominate and that will be clear to all others using them.
"That should transform the experience of cycling - boosting safety and confidence of everyone using the routes and reinforcing my view that the bike is the best way to travel in this wonderful city of ours."
Each route will be given its own identity with consistent and easy to follow road markings and signs.
One can but say that such cycle routes are well overdue for the capital and for the country as a whole. When we look at countries such as the Netherlands where cycling is very high on the agenda and has always been, as well as Germany, then we really lag behind.
In Germany, for instance, it is, basically, possible to cycle from the North to the South of the country and all places East and West on dedicated cycle paths that criss-cross the entire country and, in most cases, are even physically separated from the roads. This, apparently, seems to be something impossible in Britain.
It is time that people in local government in this country and also in central government became serious about sustainable transportation, especially about cycling, ane had a look at what other countries provide and then, without stupid excuses, got down to doing something about implementing the same kind of schemes in Britain, for example.
© 2009
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New 'cycle superhighways' have been announced for London
