As someone who both drives and cycles in London, I’d like to say that in some places new cycle lanes are causing more problems than can be justified. Blame for the terrible congestion along the Embankment is put on bridge repairs but the changes at Chelsea Bridge are equally responsible.
Reducing the road to one lane to make room for a dedicated cycle lane from Vauxhall west towards the bridge means that traffic is backed up a quarter of a mile all the time. The knock-on effect means that at times all the roads in Chelsea have queues.
In Hyde Park there were two cycle lanes going north-south. Now a dedicated cycle has been put in Park Lane, increasing the vehicle congestion dramatically, for little advantage to cyclists.
There is a basic level of traffic you cannot reduce. Attempts to do so increases pollution and makes London more expensive to live in.
Mark Harvey
Editor's reply
Dear Mark
I cycle and don’t drive. You might even call me a carphobe. But even I agree that many of our new bike lanes have made a mess of our roads. There’s traffic everywhere and it’s hell to cycle through. Part of this is because people have picked their cars over the bus or Tube. After the horror we went through with Covid-19’s first wave, I can see why.
Once the fear of public transport goes, numbers may fall. And City Hall’s bold bike-friendly initiative may, too, develop from its rather rough current incarnation. Here’s hoping.
Robbie Smith, Columnist
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