[cross-posting to uk.rec.cycling *removed*]

On Jun 5, 5:41*pm, Mizter T wrote:
Mayoral press release:
http://london.gov.uk/view_press_rele...eleaseid=22318

Excerpts...
---quote---
London's Cycle Superhighways - First two routes unveiled
5-6-2009

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today unveiled proposed routes for
the first two of London’s twelve Cycle Superhighways - the corridors
for cyclists that are a key part of his policy to stimulate a cycling
revolution in the capital.

[snip]

OK, I've taken uk,rec.cycling out of the loop now - I hadn't quite
realised what a magnet for trolls said newsgroup is. Nevermind,
perhaps we at utl can manage a more civilised discussion! So if any
other utl-ers want to respond to my original post, might I suggest
they also remove uk,rec.cycling too.

This is the BBC News story on the "Cycling Superhighway" initiative:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8084996.stm

---quote---
Cycle superhighways 'a gimmick'

Cyclists have dismissed Mayor of London Boris Johnson's announcement
of two new cycle superhighways through the city as a "marketing
gimmick".

From May 2010, two corridors of cycle lanes will lead from south
Wimbledon to Bank and Barking to Tower Hill.

But Transport for London (TfL) admitted much of the route would not be
covered by the lanes through lack of space.

The pilot routes are the first of 12 superhighways earmarked to be
developed before the Olympics in 2012.

TfL is consulting with the eight boroughs they will pass through to
finalise the exact layout.

Mr Johnson, who rides to work from Islington to City Hall, said: "I'm
not kidding when I say that I'm militant about cycling, and these
superhighways are central to the cycling revolution I'm determined to
bring about.

"No longer will pedal power have to dance and dodge around petrol
power - on these routes the bicycle will dominate and that will be
clear to all others using them."

Where possible, cycle lanes will be separated from motor traffic and
painted blue.

'Not groundbreaking'

But Transport for London told the BBC space constraints made it
impossible to build cycle lanes the length of the routes.

They said it was too early to confirm what percentage of the
superhighways would comprise cycle lanes.

Andreas Kambanis, who writes the London Cyclist blog, said: "It sounds
cool but it's not exactly groundbreaking.

"It is a bit more of a marketing gimmick than a real help for
cyclists.

"But anything that raises awareness of cycling - and gets drivers to
take a bit more notice of bikes - is a good thing."
---/quote---


I think the comments from Mr Kambanis are are a reasonable reflection
on it all (apart perhaps from the "it sounds cool" bit!). Not quite so
sure about Boris' comment that "on these routes the bicycle will
dominate"... hmm...