British Cycling is encouraged by Transport for London’s announcement of almost £1 Billion for cycling infrastructure improvements over the next ten years.
Transport for London (TfL) announced the funding, which subject to approval by the TfL board on 12 December, will commit £913 million over the next decade, with £640 million of addition capital joining the existing £273 million announced earlier in 2012 in TfL’s base spending plan.
The money will be spent on a range of measures including:
"The redesign of problem junctions to meet Dutch style standards, more cycle super highways, and the extension of the bike hire scheme, will all contribute to making London a more cycle-friendly city."
Ruth Jackson, Campaigns Manager, British Cycling
- Safety improvements at 100 key junctions as part of the Better Junction review
- The completion of all 12 Barclays Cycle Superhighways
- The introduction of a central London cycling grid of well-marked routes, including a new east–west cycle superhighway
- Introducing cycle safety improvements through Biking Boroughs
- Upgrades of a range of cycle routes to cater for cyclists’ preferences and ability, from off-road green routes, quiet backstreet routes to principal cycling routes
- Further expansion of the Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme, to 2400 bikes by 2014
- A feasibility study into an outer London hire scheme
- More cycle parking at railway stations, transport interchanges, schools, workplaces and residential areas, with the aim of creating 80,000 more cycle parking spaces by 2016
(Source: Transport for London Draft Business Plan, December 2012)
The extra money for cycling has come from a combination of government grants and ongoing efficiency savings.
Putting the extra investment into context, TfL who said: “This is broadly in line with the levels of per capita investment that have been seen in other cities, such as Copenhagen, to deliver their cycling transformation over several decades, recognising that London is still in the early stages of that process.”
Reacting to the news, Ruth Jackson, Campaigns Manager at British Cycling said: “British Cycling is pleased to see Transport for London’s commitment to cycling in the Business Plan and the earmarking of almost £1 billion for cycling over the next decade. The redesign of problem junctions to meet Dutch style standards, more cycle super highways, and the extension of the bike hire scheme, will all contribute to making London a more cycle-friendly city.
“We would like to see similar leadership at a national level with a commitment to putting cycling at the heart of policy, much like Denmark and the Netherlands already do.”
The precise level of funding will be decided when the TfL board meets on 12 December.
The full Transport for London 10 year spending plan can be read here.
