Londoners are in for a treat! Well, at least those who enjoy cycling through the city. Plans for creating a cycle superhighway have been released for consultation, marking the start of a safer haven for cyclists.
This isn't the first time London has tried to transform road junctions to make them safer for those on two wheels, but this cycle superhighway is the first of 12 that Mayor Boris Johnson has promised to complete until the end of his term in 2016. The junction in Vauxhall Bridge where first cycle superhighway is planned has been dubbed by Andrew Gilligan, the mayor's cycling commissioner, to be the nastiest in London. It makes great senses then that it would be where the first step would be taken to increase road safety in the city. Just the previous month, 52-year-old Tasfir Butt was killed at the junction after colliding with a truck. He was the sixth to die in London in a cycling-related accident this year.
"In my Cycling Vision I promised that the worst and most dangerous junctions would be made safe for cyclists. Vauxhall is the first. In the same week London hosted the Tour de France, I am perhaps even more excited by this scheme, which will help ordinary cyclists every day for years to come," said Mayor Boris Johnson.
The proposed plans will feature a route 9 to 15 feet wide, with two-way cycle lanes at the north side of the road which will be separated from pedestrians with a ridge and a curb from traffic. Cyclists will be guided by green lights at junctions while traffic on the other side is held by red lights. Some left turns will also be prohibited to vehicles to reduce confusion, while pavements and passages will be widened to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians alike.
The released plans were gladly welcomed, sparking lively discussions on the internet where most cycling proponents positively remarked about the bold designs of the cycling superhighway. The plans didn't escape criticism though, like the shared space sections as well as the large junctions that cyclists have to go through when turning off from their main route. Charlie Lloyd of the London Cycling Campaign commented that if crossing signals were made long enough, shared space sections will be fine.
Plans for the Vauxhall junction may be viewed online and comments are welcome until September 14.
