The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a Consultation for a new segregated cycle superhighway that is intended to bring safer cycling to west London. This forms a key part of the Mayor's work to encourage more people in London to walk and cycle by making the streets safer and more welcoming.
Cycle Superhighway 9 will add almost six kilometres of segregated track to London's roads, linking Kensington Olympia to Brentford. The project will make it safer to cycle and easier to cross roads, while reducing through traffic on some residential roads, by introducing new traffic light crossings and making improvements to pedestrian crossings. The news was welcomed by organisations such as the London Cycling Campaign, who believe that the proposals will enable people of all ages and abilities to cycle in areas where cycling infrastructure is currently non-existent.
Leon Daniels, Managing Director of Surface Transport at Transport for London, said: "Giving more people access to safer cycling and easier walking gives huge benefits to London. This is why I'm so pleased we're able to announce our latest proposal for west London. We want people who live and work in this area to let us know what they think to our plans so we can make them work for as many people as possible."
Cycling is considered an extremely effective use of road space, with recently completed cycle lanes in London having shown to be five times more efficient at moving people than a standard traffic lane. However, safety concerns have been identified as the main obstacle to cycling. These concerns can be overcome by having a high-quality cycling infrastructure, as the East-West and North-South Cycle Superhighways have seen a significant increase in cycling as a mode of transport along those routes.
The Consultation closes on 31 October. Subject to the results of the consultation, Transport for London and partner boroughs plan to begin construction of the superhighway late next year. A consultation on extending the superhighway into Hounslow will be held next year.
The link for the Consultation can be found on the Transport for London website here.
