By Ben Atkins, UK Editor
London’s Mayor Ken Livingstone has unveiled plans to transform cycling and walking in Britain’s capital. Measures will include a network of routes for cyclists and pedestrians and "change the profile of walking and cycling on London’s streets". On top of this, a planned bike hire scheme will provide 6,000 bikes, positioned every 300 metres, inspired by a similar and successful programme in the French capital, Paris.
The major part of the initiative will create "around a dozen radial cycling corridors". The aim will be to have one in ten journeys in London to be made by bike, and to save around 1.6 million tonnes of CO2 per year.
According to Livingstone: "The aim of this programme is nothing short of a cycling and walking transformation in London. We will spend something like £500 million over the next decade on cycling - the biggest investment in cycling in London's history, which will mean that thousands more Londoners can cycle in confidence, on routes that take them quickly and safely to where they want to go."
Further to the increase in cycling, the aim is to encourage visitors to London to walk what can often be short distances between landmarks and attractions rather than using the underground. Livingstone continued: "Over 50 per cent of tube journeys in central London are quicker on foot. The new Legible London signage system will help people use their feet to get around and see more of London at the same time."
