After receiving overwhelming public support, implementation plans were finalised after estimated ‘worst case’ delay times for motorists were reduced from 16 minutes to six.
Johnson said: ‘We have done one of the biggest consultation exercises in TfL’s [Transport for London] history. We have listened, and now we will act. Overwhelmingly, Londoners wanted these routes, and wanted them delivered to the high standard we promised. I intend to keep that promise.
‘But I have also listened to those concerned about the east-west route’s impact on traffic. Thanks to the skill of TfL’s engineers and traffic managers, we have made changes to our original plans which keep the whole of the segregated cycle track and junctions, while taking out much less of the route’s motor traffic capacity – and so causing much shorter delays.’
‘Crossrail for bikes’ is the cornerstone of Johnson’s £913 m (€1.23 bn) vision for cycling. Another proposal to boost London’s cycling numbers is to convert disused London Underground routes into subterranean bicycle and pedestrian routes. The concept, conceived by design firm Gensler and dubbed the London Underline project, was recognised at the London Planning Awards where it was named Best Conceptual Project in January 2015.
