Boris Johnson defies demand to water down cycle superhighway plan

Plans: the road along Victoria Embankment is set to be transformed (Picture: PA)

19 November 2014

Boris Johnson has rejected calls from business groups to reduce segregation on the planned £50 million cycle superhighway.

The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry said full segregation would restrict access to shops and other businesses along the east-to-west cycle superhighway, particularly the Victoria Embankment. In its submission to the consultation, the LCCI said delays to other road users along the Embankment likely to be caused by the cycle lanes were “unacceptable”.

The LCCI said: “There are a range of amendments that can, and must, be made to the current proposals from reviewing cycle lane dimensions to time allocated to lane usage. We urge TfL to review its current proposals and engage with interested parties to identify solutions that are pragmatic, balanced and in the best interests of the capital as a whole.”

The LCCI said semi-segregated cycle space would reduce the “perceived and actual dangers” experienced by cyclists, yet allow commercial vehicles to deliver as close as possible to their final destination.

But a spokesman for Mr Johnson said: “The Mayor is of the strong view that segregation will save cyclists’ lives and that semi-segregation would not save any more road space.

“He is listening to the concerns raised over delays to other road users and is working with TfL to minimise them where possible.

“Londoners support our plans, with around 80 per cent of respondents to our recent consultation in favour. A large number of London’s leading businesses have also pledged their support.”

Meanwhile, the Royal Parks warned Mr Johnson that pedestrians must remain the priority in the section that passes through Hyde Park and that it must keep to existing roads such as West Carriage Drive and South Carriage Drive. It said that existing cycle routes, such as Serpentine Road, the Broad Walk and Rotten Row were not suitable for “mass cycling”.

Colin Buttery, deputy chief executive of Royal Parks, said: “Whilst [we] acknowledge that the parks provide important transport connections for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, the parks are not transport corridors and should remain pedestrian priority areas.”

Royal Parks, which has suffered large budget cuts, insisted that no additional costs to them should arise.

A spokesman for the Mayor said: “We are working closely with the Royal Parks on these designs and we will be carrying out a full public consultation on this section in the new year.”

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