London gets first two Cycle Superhighways

London’s first distinctive blue cycle lane ‘Superhighways’ opened this week from Merton to the City, and Barking to Tower Gateway.

Over 5,000 cycle journeys are already made each day along the routes, but the Superhighways are expected to boost this number to 27,000 cycle trips a day by 2013.

What is a Cycle Superhighway?

London’s Superhighways differ from conventional cycle lanes as they feature:

• Wider lanes
Highly-visible blue cycle lanes at a minimum of 1.5m wide
• Safety mirrors
The use of cycle safety (‘Trixi’) mirrors at junctions to give drivers of lorries better visibility of cyclists when turning left
• ASLs
Advanced Stop Lines at least 5m deep to allow cyclists to wait ahead of other traffic at lights
• Segregated sections
Segregated sections of cycle lane at busy intersections
• Space

Re-aligned traffic and bus lanes to create more space for cyclists on busy stretches of the Superhighways

At the launch of the Superhighways, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “You have got to have a powerful and visible statement on the roads that asserts to every Londoner, whether on two wheels or four, that the Capital is a cycling city. The road space is there for everyone and I am confident that our Superhighways will help switch legions of Londoners on to the pleasures of a pedal-powered commute.”

The two routes are the first of 12 superhighways, which will be up and running by the end of 2015.

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