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Sadiq Khan may reconsider current cycling superhighway plans

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has reaffirmed his commitment to making London ‘a byword for cycling’ but may reconsider some of cycling proposals currently on the table.

In an announcement encouraging businesses to sign up for the new Santander Cycles Business Accounts scheme, the new mayor has also admitted that schemes such as the cycle superhighway from Paddington to Acton, proposed under former Mayor Boris Johnson, would face renewed scrutiny.

It comes as the Evening Standard reports that the 4.5 mile track, which forms a significant part of the second phase in the capital’s grand cycle superhighway plan, may have been jeopardised due to protestations from Westfield shopping centre relating to traffic congestion fears.

The track, which would be added to the A40 Westway flyover if it were constructed, would be the only segregated bike lane connecting West London with the centre of the city.

However, the Standard claims that Westfield is concerned about the impact the addition of a dedicated cycling lane would have on shoppers who travel to their Shepherd’s Bush shopping centre.

In today’s statement, the Mayor outlined his intention to ‘run the rule’ over the results of public consultations on three major superhighway plans, as well as two cycling transformation works at major junctions in the capital. These include:

• The aforementioned 4.5 mile Paddington to Acton track that forms part of the East West Cycling Superhighway phase 2 plans
• The 1.5 mile extension from Stonecutter Street to Kings Cross which is a central pivot of the North South Cycling Superhighway phase 2
• A 2.5 mile route from Swiss Cottage to West End (Portland Place) which would provide a continuous through Regents Park to the West End.

The Cycling Superhighway, which officially opened earlier this year, is one of Johnson’s most prominent legacies from his eight-year reign at City Hall, but it seems clear that Khan is more than willing to go back to the drawing board and rethink proposals that are already on the table if necessary.

Khan said: “I want to make London a byword for cycling by making it an easier and safer choice for more Londoners.

“Although a great deal of progress has been made, we need to increase the pace of change and make cycling to work the obvious, affordable and safe choice for thousands more Londoners.”

He added: “Getting more people cycling in London is going to be central to achieving a greener, more modern and more affordable transport network.

“I’ve got an inbox full of cycling schemes to consider and I am determined to learn the lessons from previous projects as I increase TfL’s spend on cycling safety, triple the current superhighway provision, roll out new town-centre cycling improvement plans, and promote safer, cleaner lorries.”

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