BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Cycle Superhighway 2, stretching from Whitechapel to Bow, is set to be upgraded to become a semi-segregated cycle path under plans launched for consultation yesterday.
Mayor, Boris Johnson, and medics from the Royal London Hospital gathered on the route to outline a plan which includes 11 cycle priority junctions.
Mr Johnson said: “In East London, it feels like the bicycle is already a fifth limb for anyone under 30. But this route, and the two I announced earlier, will mean that everyone from children to pensioners – people of all ages and experience levels – can share the joy and freedom of cycling, in safety and with confidence.
“I am delighted to be supported today by some of London’s biggest businesses – who know, like me, that this is about much more than cycling.
“It is about the kind of city we want to be. Central London is still dominated by cars, even though they account for only 20 per cent all journeys there. We are reducing that dominance, making the centre more pleasant for the 80 per cent, and allocating road space to reflect the actual usage of central London’s roads – which have seen a sharp fall in motor traffic, and a big rise in cycling."
The upgrade will see full and semi segregation installed along the whole route between Whitechapel High Street and Bow. Eleven cycle-priority junctions would also be installed, including at Aldgate East, Mile End and Whitechapel. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, work would begin in early 2015 and be completed by March 2016.
Along most of the route, a kerb would separate cyclists from motor traffic. Where there is less space, cyclists would be separated from traffic by highly visible traffic ‘wands’ – regularly spaced flexible poles that clearly define the cycle lane. Bus stop bypasses, similar to those already in use between Bow Roundabout and Stratford would also be introduced, directing cyclists behind the bus stop. The plans would also link into work currently underway by the City of London to remove the Aldgate gyratory which encircles Aldgate Tube station and return it to two-way traffic.
Companies announcing their backing of the improvements include Deloitte, Euromoney, the Crown Estates, Balderton Capital, Canonical, Barratt London, UBM (formerly United Business Media) and JLL (formerly Jones Lang La Salle).
Leon Daniels, managing director of Surface Transport at TfL said: “Our vast London-wide cycling programmes have helped to substantially grow cycling during the last decade. However, we know that there is always room for more to be done. This major upgrade of Barclays Cycle Superhighways 2, as well as the proposed new superhighways through central London, would deliver further safety benefits for both cyclists and pedestrians right across London. We will naturally make sure than any impact in delivering these schemes is kept to a minimum and look forward to hearing the responses from local residents, business and all road users.”
