Cycling in London

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Cycling in London has enjoyed a renaissance, particularly since the turn of the millennium. Cyclist's find that they enjoy a much cheaper, and often quicker, way around town than those travelling by public transport or car.

Over one million Londoners own bicycles but as of 2008 only around 2 per cent of all journeys in London are made by bike: this compares to other major European cities such as Berlin (5 per cent), Munich (12 per cent), Copenhagen (20 per cent) and Amsterdam (28 per cent).[1]. Nevertheless this is an 83 per cent increase compared to that in 2000.[2] There are currently an estimated 480,000 cycle journeys each day in the capital.

Contents

[edit] Getting around by bike

Main article: Cycleways in London

On-road cycle lanes in London vary from the good (e.g. clearly defined areas where concrete bollards protect you from the traffic), to the bad (e.g. lanes no more than a couple of feet across, leaving no viable escape route in case of emergency), to the non-existent. Cycle on the road proper wherever the cycle lanes are not safe and liable to get you into strife.

Cycle paths are for gentle and scenic trips. They run through the royal parks (St James, Hyde Park, Regents Park and Green Park), along the Thames Path and London's canals and waterways, and in many other parks and quiet areas.

[edit] Advantages and Disadvantages of cycling in London

[edit] Advantages

London's public transport system is expensive and over-stretched at peak times making cycling cheaper, quicker and a more pleasant alternative for many. Cycling is noiseless, non-emission and non-pollute the immediate environment. A more cycle friendly London will be cleaner city which will benefit the health of all Londoners and reduce the Carbon footprint of the city. Many trips in London are short and can easily be done by bike. Also the weather in London is often cool which makes for good cycling weather and it rains less in London than it does in Amsterdam, where 28 per cent of all trips are made by bike. Though the initial cost of a quality bike and associated gear can be expensive, when it is compared to the cost of public transport over a year it is being cheaper in the long run and a bike lasts for many years beyond. Good second-hand bikes can be found for a cheap price.

[edit] Disadvantages

Cycling in heavy or quick moving traffic can be challenging and it needs a good level of experience and skill, something that riders acquire with time and instruction. Drivers also need to be aware of cyclists and the higher the level of cycling in the city the more aware they will be. Roads must be improved and redesigned to ensure that they are fit for cycling - most importantly reducing speed limits will benefit cyclists, pedestrians and children.

15,000 bikes are reported stolen each year in London - and the Metropolitan police believes the actual number closer to 60,000. Better bike security awareness from the bike owner and better and more secure parking in homes, businesses and communities are clearly needed.

The need to lug a pack or bag with them to hold locks and other gear can be tiresome and for those going on longer commutes a change into, and out of, cycle clothing may be necessary as well. This can be alleviated with new and innovative luggage and gear, with dedicated facilities such as bicycle parking and showers and lockers in workplaces.

[edit] Recent growth in cycling in London

The number of people cycling in the city of London has grown markedly in recent years. This growth has happened for many reasons, and is assisted by governmental encouragement of cycling and the construction of improvements to enable safe and efficient cycling for a more bicycle-friendly London.[3] Other conditions are:

  • Bicycle advocacy
  • cost of public transport and running private cars, including the London congestion charge and petrol price increases.
  • safer roads for cyclists, this includes allowing cycling in bus lanes, 20mph default limits, and active redesign of roads to make cycling safer.
  • better bicycle support facilities, including new cycle parking spaces
  • better bicycles and bike gear, including waterproof bags and panniers, better bicycle lighting systems
  • concern over terrorism on public transport networks since the 2005 bombings

[edit] Future plans to encourage cycling

Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone set a target of a 200% increase in cycling in London by 2020.

On the 2008-02-11 Ken Livingstone announced an estimated £500 million worth of initiatives designed to improve and increase cycling (and walking) in London. To be co-ordinated by the TfL and London boroughs the aims include having 1 in 10 Londoners making a round trip by bike each day and five per cent of all daily trips are made by bike by 2025.

These initiatives include:

  • Central London bike hire scheme: From summer 2010 an initial 6000 bicycles will be made available at docking stations around the city. The docking stations will be spaced at every 300 metres and situated mainly at major attractions and train and tube stations. There will be a charge for hire of the bikes but initially there will be a free period of use to encourage take-up on the scheme. The scheme is similar to the recently launched Vélib' scheme in Paris and other bike hire schemes.
  • Extra cycle parking facilities: There will be 1000s of new bike parking facilities at London train and tube stations.
  • Cycle routes: New commuter cycle routes from inner and outer London and cycle zones around urban town centres will be established, the first will be completed by 2009. This will include around a dozen radial Cycling Corridors across central London. The TfL will be consulting with London boroughs, and other interest groups to define and develop the plans.

The new London Cycle Network+ being developed will, by 2010, provide a 900km network of routes for cyclists over the whole of London.

  • Bike Zones: Throughout greater London 15 Bike Zones will be created for both shoppers and children going to school around "urban town centres"[4]. These areas will have cycle priority streets, 20mph speed limits and "quick, clear and simple" routes along roads, through parks and alongside waterways. This will complement the work of the TfL's school cycle parking programme which was to add 5,000 cycle parking spaces in schools by 2005.

[edit] History of Cycling in London

Like most of the western world cycling's heyday was in the 1930s; this was when the greatest number of cyclists were on the roads of London and Britain in general. It was only after WWII that Britain experienced a decline in the rate of cycling; this was due to the adoption of the US trend toward private motor vehicle use and the subsequent favouring of vehicular traffic by transport planners. Cycling's comeback began in the 1970s when a vocal and committed backlash advocating cycling gradually gained more concessions for cyclists over the ensuing decades and voicing the ecological and social concerns of car use.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mayor of London - Transport Strategy - Cycling
  2. ^ Greater London Authority - Press Release
  3. ^ New Statesman - Vote Cycling on May 1st
  4. ^ Press Release: Mayor unveils programme to transform cycling and walking in London, 11-2-2008