At Clarendon serviced apartments we work with a lot of different businesses and travellers. We know utmost in their minds is being able to travel quickly, easily and sustainably around London. So we’ve been learning about Mayor Boris Johnson’s plans for a cycle superhighway with interest. Here, we examine what the proposals would mean for London and how they are being received.
Cycling has been championed by the Mayor of London since he took up office. His ambition is to make the capital a “cycle friendly city” in a similar way as other European cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen are. The “Boris bikes” and the development of designated cycle lanes across the city have made it easier to cycle across London and made cycling itself more accessible.
Now Boris is hoping to take it one step further. A cycle superhighway is proposed stretching from Tower Hill in the east of the city to Royal Oak in the west. King’s Cross in the north would also be connected with Elephant and Castle in the south. This criss crossing design would make it safer for cyclists in London and would reinforce the focus on sustainable travel.
Motorists are opposed to the idea. They argue cycle highways will lead to more traffic on the road. The rush hour commute from Hyde Park Corner to Limehouse link could be lengthened by 16 minutes longer. It is an expensive project, with a £48 million price tag being floated by some.
Yet many corporate businesses have voiced their support of the project. Deloitte, Orange and Cemex are among those who believe it is a good idea. London’s population is growing and estimates suggest it could reach 10 million within the next few years. The capital’s public transport infrastructure will need to grow to support it. Cycling helps to meet that need. It also helps to tackle the obesity crisis and ensures people get more regular exercise. A cycle to work in the morning is predicted to make people more productive.
At Clarendon we support Boris’ plans as cycling is an efficient and a healthy way of getting around the City. More needs to be done to ensure cyclists are safe, especially at particular junctions but helping the city evolve to become more cycle friendly will help to counter the visibility of cyclists. Safety is a concern for both cycling groups currently and motorists in the future but new cycle superhighways offer segregated corridors allowing cyclists to travel alongside free-flowing vehicles and whistle past pedestrians on broad pavements.
If you’re currently a resident at one of Clarendon’s serviced apartments in London you can find out where to hire a Boris bike http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/barclays-cycle-hire