Ashok Sinha, our CEO, comments:
“In 2016, the London Cycling Campaign called on the mayor, Sadiq Khan, to triple the amount of protected space for cycling in London within one mayoralty. We know that fear of collisions is the main reason more people don’t cycle; we also know that a mass shift to cycling is essential to help address the climate emergency.
“So we congratulate Sadiq, and his Walking & Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, on reaching this important milestone. It makes London safer for cycling and will help more people to reduce their carbon footprints by getting on the bikes.”
Pictured: Ashok (centre, red scarf) and Sadiq (fifth from left):
Sadiq comments:
“I’m really proud to have tripled the amount of protected space for cycling – making it safer and more convenient for Londoners across our city to cycle as part of their everyday routine. My record investment to enable more people to cycle is vital to tackle some of the biggest challenges our city faces – including the climate emergency and our toxic air – and has led to record cycling numbers. I’m determined to build on this success which is why I’m committed to expanding our network further so that even more Londoners can enjoy using our high-quality cycleways to get around the city.”
Sadiq and his commissioner haven’t just tripled protected space for cycling in London in four years. Sadiq has also produced funding criteria for its rebranded Cycleway network of main road tracks and quieter routes. This has decisively ended the “blue paint” era on main roads (but has to be improved in order to avoid using heavy ratruns as cycle routes). And ensured boroughs know they need to deliver good schemes to get funding.
As a result, they’ve spread safe cycling routes further into outer London. While boroughs like Waltham Forest, Enfield, and Camden, who were already delivering cycle tracks, have accelerated their progress, they’ve also been joined by boroughs such as Lambeth, Hounslow and Newham.
We need a joined-up network of routes that enables far more people to go from front door to office or shops without ever facing hostile driving and dangerous road conditions.
This will be key to enabling many more Londoners to cycle, and enabling our city to play its part in avoiding the worst of climate breakdown. A network of truly safe, comfortable and direct cycle routes is what has been needed to get other cities to mass cycling levels.
That’s why one of the key pledges we will be asking Sadiq and the other Mayoral candidates to commit to in the run-up to the upcoming elections in May will be the rapid expansion of the cycle network, alongside other improvements to ensure by 2030 our roads transport system is carbon neutral. Find out more about our 2021 Mayoral Campaign.
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