Boris Johnson approves London cycle superhighway scheme

Plans for a segregated cycle superhighway to run across central London has been approved by the capital’s Mayor, Boris Johnson.

After a lengthy consultation Mr Johnson signed off on the ‘Crossrail for bikes’ after 84 per cent of the 21,500 respondents were in favour of the plans.

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Concerns over delays likely suffered by motorists were allayed somewhat as amendments to the scheme will reduce the ‘worst case’ hold up from 16 minutes to six minutes in the morning rush hour.

Mr Johnson said: “We have done one of the biggest consultation exercises in TfL’s history. We have listened, and now we will act. Overwhelmingly, Londoners wanted these routes, and wanted them delivered to the high standard we promised. I intend to keep that promise.

“But I have also listened to those concerned about the east-west route’s impact on traffic. Thanks to the skill of TfL’s engineers and traffic managers, we have made changes to our original plans which keep the whole of the segregated cycle track and junctions, while taking out much less of the route’s motor traffic capacity – and so causing much shorter delays.”

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The central part of the route, between Tower Hill and the Westway flyover is scheduled for completion by April 2016 and will cost £41m.

The Mayor has been under pressure to improve London’s cycling infrastructure in the wake of a spate of deaths on the capital’s roads.