“Quietway” cycle routes to open in London next year

Cycling in London is growing in popularity

Cycling in London. Pic: Jacme31

Hackney is set to have one of London’s first “quietway,” cycle routes that will open in May next year.

The first two routes of the project will run through Hackney, linking Camden and Waltham Forest.

Construction for the quietways will begin early next year as part of a £123 million scheme.

Tower Hamlets and Croydon will also be part of the scheme with a total of seven pilot routes being constructed in the capital throughout 2015.

Both Hackney and Tower Hamlets will benefit heavily from the cycle routes as they featured in the top five boroughs for hit and run crime.

TfL told Eastlondonlines: “Whilst the routes are not specifically designed to reduce traffic collisions, the number of incidents should be reduced as the routes are away from busy traffic.”

“The scheme is designed to get more people to try out cycling near where they live and reduce the number of cars on the road in London.”

The London Cycling Campaign praised the quietways in principle, but warned they would have to be installed safely to reduce risk to cyclists.

A spokesperson for the campaign said: “London desperately needs routes that are suitable for everyone to cycle.”

“It’s absolutely essential that these routes are actually ‘quiet’ – the routes must be high-quality, direct and cater for all cycling abilities and they must provide safe and convenient passage through junctions.”

“Where the routes use residential roads which often suffer from ‘rat running’ – where vehicles cut through residential areas to reach their destination, rather than using main roads – measures must be taken to reduce high motor traffic volumes or speeds.”

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