Bicycle docking station. Pic: MrLerone

A man from Shoreditch became the first person to be arrested for abusing one of  ‘Boris’s Bikes’ as the new bicycle hire scheme was launched across the capital. (more…)

Cyclists try out the new superhighway on Royal Mint Street. Photo: Steven Hampson.

This week London Mayor Boris Johnson launched what he has labeled the ‘cycling revolution,’ with the unveiling of the first cycle superhighway in East London. The CS3 route links Barking and Tower Gateway via Tower Hamlets.

Johnson said cycling accounted for 2% of journeys in the capital and he wanted to improve this figure to 5% – ‘a huge leap.’

“You have got to have a powerful and visible sign on the roads that asserts to every Londoner, whether on two wheels or four, that the capital is a cycling city,” he added.

According to Transport for London, by Summer 2015 there will be six cycle superhighways across East London, providing cyclists with a comprehensive and effective system of routes. But there is some concern that, with a £23 million price tag for just two superhighways, they will siphon money from the recognised and established London cycling network.

The Mayor’s transport adviser Kulveer Ranger says that schemes like the London cycling network – a series of routes spanning the city – were good, but they didn’t look strategically at where people needed to go.

The aim of the CS3 is to attract those put off by accident statistics and direct them towards a continuous, well-marked and maintained commuting route. ”Boris wants to see the culture around cycling evolving – we have to look at the infrastructure, securing bikes, cyclists’ safety and embed cycling in transport policy,” said Ranger.

The cycle superhighways will be accompanied by a city-wide bike hire scheme, a new cycling police unit, 66,000 extra bike parking spaces by 2012 and improved strategic planning, in the hope that more Londoners will switch to the bicycle.

The cycle hire scheme has been delayed and, by its start next week, only pre-registered cyclists will be able to use the reduced number of bikes available. The full scheme is expected to be running by the start of September.

Another cyclist on the new blue-painted route. Photo: Steven Hampson.

But is the cycle superhighway a revolution, a useful service to London’s cyclists, or is it part of a PR war by Transport For London? Many cyclists have already branded the superhighways dangerous.

While it is possible that these routes will encourage beginners, it is unlikely to be the safest or the easiest path for them to take. The lanes appear wide, but they are advisory, and often shared with lorries, buses, and more experienced cyclists – which can be scary for newcomers.

Irem Hughes, 25, a veterinary student, lives in Mile End. “I’ve found the signs useful today as I’m not used to this area. But as a casual cyclist, I think it may be best to stick to the pavements in future. It’s very fast on the blue roads!”

Oliver Schick, chair of London Cycling Campaign policy committee,  said: “We welcome the increased cycle parking, clear marking of routes, provision of cycle training, and workplace initiatives associated with the programme.

“However, we’re disappointed at the lack of progress on large junctions and one-way systems such as Stockwell, Kennington and Tower Gateway.

It has been suggested that rather than attempting to unite the flow of cars and bicycles, we should look to the Northern European cities which have segregated cycle routes from main roads and achieved cycling rates sometimes as high as 30% – compared to London’s 3%.

Yet despite the predictably negative responses coming from a city driven by petrol, there are many plus points associated with the new scheme.

Andrew Webb, 37, an IT Consultant, lives in Limehouse. “I don’t know if it’ll make my journey much quicker, but I reckon it might be a bit safer with these clear markings. So I’m pro it.”

As TFL explains on their website, the routes are clearly marked and easy to follow. The addition of new signs, road markings and information about journey time and links to other routes makes traveling across London on a bike as simple as currently possible. Improved road surfaces and minimised obstructions along the routes mean a smoother ride.

TFL believe the new superhighways to be the safer option for cyclists, with lanes at least 1.5m wide which continue through junctions. There are advanced stop boxes at traffic lights to help cyclists get ahead of traffic, and changed junction layouts create more space for bicycles.

The criticism that the new cycle lanes will hinder traffic is seen as an advantage by some. If the lanes did eat further into car users’ space then perhaps the rush hour standstill would be enough to encourage motorists to switch to a bike, as they watch even the slowest cyclist pass them by.

And furthermore, if the superhighways manage to deliver the promised improvements of increased road comfort, roomier routes, and priority over traffic, then they may raise the profile of the humble cycling lane, possibly leading to improvements across the network of cycle routes.

Regardless of the negatives, East Londoners now have access to an – admittedly glorified – cycle lane, of considerable length, in a purposeful direction, stripped of street furniture and not finishing abruptly without explanation – and this is surely a step in the right direction.

And even one London taxi driver has a good word for it: Rich Greene, 51, of Finchley was driving through the East End. He said: “If it keeps cyclists out my way, I’m happy. In my experience it’s best to keep cars and bikes separate.”

Philip Hammond visits the Crossrail site. Photo: James Reid Photography/Crossrail

The Crossrail project, which will connect the Docklands to the West End, is to be given full backing by the new Government, Transport Minister Philip Hammond has announced. (more…)

Riding the East London Line from Croydon. Photo: John Sturrock

The East London line is now open between Hackney and Croydon. After several years of renovation (more…)

Aerial view of the new East London Line at Shoreditch High Street. Photo: John Sturrock

The East London Line makes its first passenger connection to Crystal Palace and West Croydon this Sunday 23 May in an historic development for London’s rail infrastructure.

Transport for London have announced that ten thousand free tickets will be given away to mark the first full service on London Overground’s East London route from Dalston Junction to the borough of Croydon via New Cross Gate. 33 million passengers are expected to use the line in its first year.

“I’m thrilled for every community situated along the route of this incredible stretch of track with its phenomenal new trains and stations. Its Tube-style service will make getting around the Capital massively easier and bring jobs and opportunities along the length of the line.”

Mayor of London Boris Johnson. Photo: Transport for London

Boris Johnson warned that this kind of investment is vital to London’s future economy and must be respected and appreciated by the new coalition Tory/Lib Dem government:

“This £1 billion upgrade is the perfect example of the sort of investment in infrastructure that must be protected by the new Government if London is to maintain its role as a leading world city.”

Community and Arts events to celebrate launch

The completion of the line between Dalston to Croydon will be marked by a series of arts and community events. There will be an array of entertainers celebrating the occasion along the route:  African drummers, hula-hoopers, dancers, walking statues, and poetry readings. To finish it all off the ELL team shall be congregating at the New Cross Inn in New Cross for a specially laid-on party with a live band.

The events begin Sunday, 23 May 2010 at 12:30 and end Monday, 24 May 2010 at 01:00

Location: Dalston to Croydon to New Cross.

Train over bridge. Dalston to West Croydon. Photo: Transport for London

To mark the proper opening of the East London line, ELL reporters will be on the trains interviewing users of the transport link all the way from Dalston down to Croydon and will be published on this site. The message from East London Lines to our readers:

“Be there. Enjoy. Go home happy and fulfilled.”

Itinerary

12.30-2.30 pm Sunday 23rd May on the East London Line

Start 12.30 New Cross station, 10 minute performance

12.40 – board train to Croydon

13.00 – 10 min performance at Croydon

13.10 – board train

13.40 – performance at Dalston

14.00 – performance at Shoreditch High Street: An orchestral celebration of connectedness through underground voyage.

Details of new East London Line service

From today East London Line trains run from Dalston  to  New Cross (where one line terminates) or to New Cross Gate where the service continues either to  Crystal Palace (where one branch terminates) or onto West Croydon, the end of the line.

On Monday 24 May and thereafter Monday to Saturday, a full Metro-style service will run from 05:40 until approximately midnight with passengers benefiting from a full turn up and go service of 12 trains per hour through the core section – Dalston Junction to Surrey Quays.
On Sundays the service will start at approximately 07:00 but passengers should check at their local station for full timetable details or Transport for London information online.

Details on free tickets

Transport for London explain how first passengers can obtain free tickets:

“Free tickets will be issued at stations along the line on a first come first served basis. Each station will be given a finite number of the tickets based on the number of people who use it. Each station will be limited to one ticket per person; they will be non-transferable, valid for Sunday 23 May only and limited to the East London route on the London Overground network. Passengers interchanging from other networks need to complete their first journey by touching out with their Oystercard.”

East London line connects culture

Images of East London Line construction by John Sturrock

Exhibit from the Whitechapel Gallery’s current exhibition: ‘Rachel Harrison: Conquest of the Useless’. Photo: Jason Mandella

It is time to get on the East London line and experience some culture. (more…)

Cycling Superhighways. Photo: Kieron Yates

Mayor of London Boris Johnson seems to be in transport policy overdrive at the moment. In between the launch of a revitalised East London Line and presenting us with the finalised design for his new Routemaster buses, Boris found time to promote Transport for London’s (TFL) latest manifesto, ‘Cycling Revolution London’. (more…)

Mayor Boris Johnson peeks through mock-ups of new London bus design. Photo: Tine Hvidsten

The final design for London’s new routemaster bears the numbers 8 (more…)

Photo: London City Airport

As airports around the UK deal with disruption from the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud, passengers who were planning to fly from London City Airport faced delays and cancellations. (more…)