CAPITAL'S CYCLE ROUTES UNDER THREAT

Cycle route funding for London boroughs has been slashed in half undermining the Mayor?s plans to more than treble cycling levels in the capital, according to the London Cycle Campaign (LCC).

LCC, representing the interests of cyclists, says hundreds of planned cycle safety improvements to junctions and local streets are now under threat.

The organisation is calling on Mayor of London Boris Johnson to reverse the cuts and consult with cycling groups on completing the 500 mile London Cycle Network+ across London.

?Slashing the funding for cycle routes means they will be left unfinished. This will undermine the Mayor?s flagship programmes such as the Mass Cycle Hire Scheme because people won?t feel safe on the roads,? said Koy Thomson, LCC?s chief executive.

The cut in cycle scheme funding comes despite the largest ever transport settlement with the boroughs of more than £168 million pounds. London Cycle Network+ funding for the boroughs is down to £10 million from almost £20 million in 2008/09. Many of the cycle schemes were part of programmes for general improvements to town centres.

The news comes in the same week that Johnson outlined further plans for London's bike hire scheme, where 6,000 cycles are planned to be made available for hire in the city by 2010.