CTC response to the CSs:
"We have concerns that the design quality of the superhighways is too low for the
expected growth in cycling over the next 15 years.
CTC believes that the design of these facilities, based primarily on the application
of advisory cycle lanes using a different colour paint, fails to take into account the
interventions higher up the Hierarchy of Solutions, namely reducing the volume
and speed of motor traffic. Whilst we understand the need for continuity to ease
wayfinding and improve confidence, the quality of the routes would benefit the
most through measures that dealt with the problems associated with motor traffic
first.
The use of the London Cycling Design Standard minimum width of 1.5 m is
inappropriate for something marketed as a ‘superhighway’ since this gives
insufficient widths for two cyclists to travel side by side. We believe that the cycle
superhighways should be a minimum of 2 metres wide. This is the approach
taken to infrastructure in parts of Europe where cycle flows are very high, such as
in Denmark, where the use of blue painted cycle lanes is common.
Like the problems with the LCN+, the Cycle Superhighways appear to be doing
little to tackle the major junctions which are the most significant barriers, both
physical and psychological, to new cyclists.
In all other regards we believe the Cycle Superhighways project to be of
considerable value, especially the provision of targeted cycle training and other
smarter travel measures."
