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London to be cycling capital

London: London is likely to become one of the most cycle-friendly cities in the world, with a series of two-wheeler superhighways cutting a swath through traffic and congestion.

Plans for the super-cycleways will be unveiled next week as part of an initiative to stimulate a 400 per cent increase in the number of people pedalling round it by 2025.

At a cost of £400 million, the 12 routes are intended to be the motorways of cycling and are likely to be emulated by other cities across the U.K. Londoners without bikes will be able to use free bicycles.

“We want nothing short of a cycling transformation in London,” said Mayor Ken Livingstone. “We are announcing the biggest investment in cycling in London’s history, which will mean that thousands more Londoners can cycle in confidence, on routes that take them quickly and safely to where they want to go.”

The cycle scheme is one of several environmental announcements expected in the capital over the coming weeks, including a decision on plans for a £25-a-day congestion charge on the highest-polluting vehicles and a proposal to re-fit 900 civic buildings across the capital to make them more energy-efficient.

The superhighways will link popular residential areas to the city centre. The routes are based on a 12-month study of the most popular roads already used by cyclists and will have continuous, wide cycle lanes, dedicated junctions and clear signs.

Planners hope the changes will encourage a “critical mass” of cyclists to use the routes, creating a safe and accessible environment as well as cutting congestion and pollution across London.

In the city centre there will be a bike hire scheme based on a similar initiative in Paris. It is understood the hire bikes will be based at various stations in the centre of London and will be free to use for short journeys once people have signed up to the scheme. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2008

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