Wednesday 30 September 2009

Tooting cycling superhighway not so super

Cyclists peddling on the new cycling superhighway through Tooting Broadway could be put in danger because of patchy planning, it is claimed. Labour councillors say the A24 through Tooting is not scheduled to be finished until after the rest of the highway, creating a dangerous gap in the route.

The route runs from Merton to the City through Tooting High Street, which has often been described as a “death trap” because it is so busy and narrow. Last year a 16-year-old cyclist was killed by a lorry in Tooting High Street.

Charlie Holland, a cycling instructor from Tooting said: “I would like to see a superhighway that 12-year-olds can use to cycle to school with safety and confidence. I don’t see the absolute commitment to making the kind of change that will allow that to happen.”

Friends, why not make your own 'cycling super highway'? Simply convert an existing cycle lane, such as this attractive facility shown here in central Walthamstow this morning, by painting it blue. Your 'cycling super highway' is now ready for use! (Please note, for added realism this cycling super highway contains buses, just as in the original Transport for London artist's impression of a cycling super highway.)