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The London Cycling Campaign has launched Love London, Go Dutch to "make our streets as safe and inviting for cycling and walking as they are in the Netherlands where 47% of journeys are made by bike and foot," said a statement from the organisation.
To illustrate how London could look with cycle and pedestrian friendly infrastructure, LCC commissioned 3D views of transformed London locations, including Parliament Square.
"We want to turn Parliament Square into one of the world’s premier destinations, not just an unpleasant and uninviting roundabout," said LLC campaign materials.
The LCC would like to see motor traffic removed from two sides of Parliament Square to provide more space for cyclists and pedestrians.
"Our new look Parliament Square creates a public space that’s over 15,000 square metres. It’s safer, calmer, quieter and more attractive to Londoners and visitors," said an LCC statement.
According to a YouGov survey for the LCC published today, the next Mayor of London must prioritise safe and convenient bike lanes and make junctions and roundabouts less dangerous if he or she wants to encourage more cyclin.
A Love London, Go Dutch petition calls on the mayoral election candidates to commit to more people-friendly streets and continental-standard cycle facilities in the capital. 51% of Londoners said the next Mayor can take action to encourage them to cycle more, with 78% of those people naming safe and convenient bikes lanes all over London or safer junctions and roundabouts as their top priority.
Concern about sharing road space with fast-moving motor traffic was the number one reason why Londoners said they don’t cycle more often. The re-imagined street designs join a people-friendly redesign of the controversial Blackfriars junction which LCC produced last year.
LCC chief executive Ashok Sinha said: “There’s a real danger London will be left behind by other global cities such as New York, Paris and Amsterdam if the next Mayor doesn’t look beyond outdated solutions that always favour motor traffic over cyclists and pedestrians.
“We’re calling on the next Mayor to provide safe and convenient bike lanes on main roads, safer passage for cyclists and pedestrians across roundabouts and junctions, and more people-friendly streets where people work, shop and live.”
The campaign is sponsored by Brompton Bicycle and Bywaters, and supported by the Dutch Embassy.
