Citydreams - if you're talking of Boris' superhighways....I'll believe it when I see it. More like a tacit way of getting cyclists segregated and out of motorists way, than a complete infrastructure, I suspect.
[leak..]
To address the difficulties that significantly increased levels of cycling would present for congestion and also to overcome some of the barriers to uptake of cycling, a network of potential ‘Cycling Super Highways’ have been identified. For the most part, these are radial corridors into Central London, where a high degree of segregation and priority can be given to cycle traffic. The map below indicates the identified routes.
[map too big to attach]
These consist of 12 radial routes, terminating in Central London, which are aimed at making cycling, particularly for commuting to work, more attractive. At the time of writing, this work is very new and the programme board has had just one meeting, so many issues remain to be resolved. The work is at the formal scoping stage, with two of the routes being costed in detail as a form of ‘pathfinder’ for the rest. The key principle is that the Super Highway routes should be safe, direct, continuous, and comfortable. Coupled with this, detailed information provision and integration into Smarter Travel packages will be required.
The Super Highways will not be mandatory cycle routes, but will be advisory ones, marked with distinct colours on the carriageway. There will be no segregated road space, indeed much will be in bus lanes, although there will be Advanced Stop Lines at every junction en route. Monitoring using Automatic Cycle Counters will be a feature. There are also plans for co-operation with workplaces along the routes to provide funded cycling facilities, such as lockers, showers, etc.
The Mayor has required that at least one route be completed by May 2010, whilst a Mayoral launch event will take place on 21st April 2009.
It is expected that only a small percentage of cycle trips made will replace those currently made by car, the greatest shift will be from bus, tube and rail. However, the additional bicycles and, potentially, additional congestion on the routes would be expected to reduce the attractiveness of the route for other vehicles. However, sophisticated assessment of likely travel behavioural change as a result of the introduction of the Cycle Highways is not yet available. The Leeds University Institute of Transport Studies is advising Policy Analysis on measures to encourage cycling, which may inform this. This section of the study will be expanded as information becomes available.
Overall, it is considered that cycle highways will have a benign impact on the network. However, there are certain links where ‘flashpoints’ may occur, in which case consideration is being given to re-routing of traffic in order to avoid a negative impact on congestion. Some routes seem to offer alternative routing possibilities that may be more pleasant for cyclists and avoid potential areas of congestion.
As a means to progress this project, and to assess the impact, positive or negative, that Cycling Super Highways may present, an assessment of five of the potential routes has been carried out by the team working on this project. The first two on the list, the ‘Northern Line’ and Barking to Tower Hill are being taken forward for detailed costing and implementation. A summary of the appraisal for each of the five routes is included below:-
Northern Line from South Wimbledon to Southwark Bridge (via A3 and A24)
Capacity for cyclists provided by bus, cycle and wide lanes inbound and outbound, albeit with some pinch points at tricky junctions
Barking to Tower Hill (via A13)
Minimal impact as follows (often segregated) cycle lanes in both directions, occasional pinchpoints possible
Hyde Park Corner to Staples Hill (via A5 Edgware Road)
Inbound route shows minimal impact, due to extensive wide lanes and bus lanes, but a diversion should be considered between the Westway and Kendal Street
Outbound, wide lanes and bus lanes offer capacity for cyclists, but a diversion should be considered between Marble Arch and the Westway
Pleasant route available through Hyde Park 5am to midnight
Tower Bridge to Woolwich Ferry (via A200 and A206)
Inbound route shows minimal impact, due to extensive wide lanes and bus lanes
Outbound route is more problematic, with intermittent wide lanes/bus lanes and significant congestion, but still long sections with minimal impact anticipated
Possibility of offering a pleasant diversion through Southwark Park in daylight hours
Hyde Park Corner to Hangar Lane (via Notting Hill Gate, Shepherds Bush Green and A40)
Wood Lane, Shepherds Bush Green, Holland Park Avenue and Kensington Church Street have little capacity for cyclists and are already congested in both directions
Diversion for Kensington Church Street available on Kensington Palace Gardens, other diversions should be explored (possibly using Holland Park in daylight hours)
Need to clarify extent of cycle path between Hangar Lane and A219 as A40 is unsuitable for cyclists[/leak]
