The artical from Boris
The cycle revolution
Which brings me – you knew it was coming – to the possibilities of the bicycle. I love my bike, and in the moments when it is not raining in
London – 94 per cent of the time – I simply can’t understand why people
would want to use any other method of transport.
But I am the first to admit that some cyclists do not go out of their way
to earn the admiration of other Londoners. They jump the lights. They
go the wrong way down one-way streets. They mount the pavements
and terrify pedestrians. If we are going to do so much more to encourage
cycling – and we are – then cyclists must understand that I will encourage
– with my policing hat on – whatever steps are possible and necessary to
crack down on aggressive cycling. At the moment this behaviour is
spoiling the reputation of what could and should be the most efficient and
exhilarating way of getting around town.
Though cycling has increased in popularity, it only represents one per
cent of journeys – nowhere near the achievements of Copenhagen (20 per
cent) or Amsterdam (30 per cent). If we are to attain a level of even five
per cent of journeys by bike, we will need a step change – and that can
only be accomplished with a series of deeply-meditated improvements.
The first is a cycle hire scheme, of a kind begun in Paris. We are on a very
tight timetable, aiming to introduce the new bikes by 2010. We will start
with between 6,000 and 10,000 bikes in the central London boroughs.
The evidence from Paris is that the scheme is attractive to people who
have given up on their bike since school or university. They get the
habit; they are hooked, and then they buy their own.
But then there are huge numbers of people who are simply too nervous.
They might take a hire cycle a short distance, but the idea of a daily
commute is just too much.
We need to think creatively about how we can overcome those fears. That is why we are now looking at promoting a series of routes in which cyclists KNOW they will be safe, where cars will not howl past them at 50 mph and
where they will not be punished for nervous wobbling with an angry parp
of the horn. That will mean thinking creatively about ‘barrier-busting’ on
routes into the centre, helping cyclists to deal with the palio-style gyratories
and one-way systems. It is an utter disgrace that there is no decent cycle lane on the Victoria Embankment or on the north side of the Park – and I cannot understand the ban on cycling virtually everywhere in the Royal Parks. And then there is the huge potential to develop cycle hubs in the outer boroughs – since it is a key principle of this policy that not
every journey need involve going to the centre of town.
Why not develop parallel cycle hire schemes in the outer boroughs, or
electrically-assisted cycles (Hooray! DM) , to save the expense of catching a cab or driving from the station? Those Cycling ‘should be
the most efficient and exhilarating way of getting around town’
There are those who object to the expansion of cycling say that London is ‘too big’ and does not have the same ‘feel’ as Copenhagen or Amsterdam.
But London is a huge collection of suburbs and villages, and each of
those centres might benefit from a culture where people genuinely felt
it was safe to cycle with their kids to school.
I believe that the cycle-ised city is the civilised city – but as I write those
words, I want to reassure motorists and pedestrians that City Hall has not
been captured by militant cyclists. City Hall is in the possession of cyclists,
motorists, bus-users, tram-users, tube-travellers, pedestrians, scooterenthusiasts, motorcyclists, river boat users and inveterate enthusiasts for the taxi and the minicab. We want to be fair to all modes,
and we believe we can do this by improving public transport, increasing
safety, smoothing traffic flow, encouraging cycling, speeding the
development of urban realm projects and thereby making the city easier to
get around and more liveable.
• Launching a full-scale cycle hire scheme by 2010 in nine London boroughs
• Creating dedicated routes that give nervous cyclists the confidence they need
• A big increase in cycle stands and secure parking for cyclists
• Helping to create cycle hubs and hire schemes in the outer boroughs
• Considering the possibility of allowing cyclists to turn left on red
Encouraging more cycling
We are continuing to work on electric vehicles as well as hydrogen
and hybrid vehicles, because I am absolutely determined that London
should be in the forefront of the green revolution, in both the development
and application of new technology.
