London will get 12 new bicycle lanes and "borough cycling zones"
While car, truck and SUV (or, better said, car, lorry and 4x4) drivers in the UK are dealing with the new congestion charges that are coming to London, bicycle riders in the country can celebrate a huge increase in bicycle spending, £140 million worth, to be exact. The trouble is, that money is the funding given to Cycling England for three years of projects in all of England.London mayor Ken Livingstone announced this week that a dozen segregated cycling highways and "borough cycling zones" will be built in some of the many "less-traveled" routes in the city. Livingstone told Cycling Week magazine that people in his city shouldn't get mad at the space being assigned to two-wheeled, human-powered transportation.
"People shouldn't assume that this is cyclists taking something away from people with cars. This is aimed at people with cars, getting them to give up their car and actually cycle. And everybody who switches relieves road space," he said. This is the kind of plan that will actually reduce congestion, something the congestion charge is supposed to do.
[Source: Cycling Weekly via EVWorld]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rgseidl 1:51PM (2/15/2008)
Well, it's a start. Red Ken has announced plans to spend an additional GBP 1 billion on bicycle-related infrastructure investments, perhaps in the context of the 2012 Olympics there.
Perhaps some of that will be spent on reducing pollution from buses. With limited road space available, it will not be possible to offer both bus and bike lanes in many parts of the inner city. However, cycling is exercise and, riders inhale more diesel soot and accumulate it lower down in their lungs. LPG or CNG would be a preferable fuel for buses, especially if coupled to hybrid systems.
Moreover, cyclists could be awarded right-of-way when signaling and then pulling out of their lane to pass a stationary bus at a bus stop. Constantly having to stop and accelerate again at traffic lights is bad enough.
Finally, how about a dedicated bicycle path along the river Thames, running underneath the many bridges? It could be composed of a series of large interconnected pontoons anchored in both the riverbed and the embankment. Access would be via spurs and gentle inclines attached to the embankment. If the pontoons are wide enough, there should be enough room for some shrubbery and a romantic pedestrian promenade. Railings on either side would prevent accidental encounters with the water.
Best of all, the pontoons could be built at a suitable dry dock and towed into position. That should reduce cost, incl. that of maintenance, and also facilitate expansion and remodeling. Note that the whole thing could be removed at a later date if desired.
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Mark 3:31PM (2/16/2008)
There will be £500 million spent over the next decade on cycling in London according to this article: http://www.epolitix.com/EN/News/200802/456bc2a7-f64a-4d20-940f-44afbbdd63d0.htm
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