The Labour candidate standing for Mayor of London next year has promised to make the city a “byword for cycling around the world”.

Sadiq Khan has launched a six point plan that he believes will make riding safer in the city centre. He announced his plans whilst visiting a cycling and pedestrian bridge built by Sustrans and Tower Hamlets Council.

Khan hopes to continue some ongoing work – growing and maintaining the Cycle Superhighway programme, whilst also introducing more 20mph zones and controversially padestrianising the shopping haven that is Oxford Street.

He said when announcing his hopes for the future: “I’ll make London a byword for cycling around the world – making it easier and safer to get around our city by bike and encouraging thousands more Londoners to take up cycling.

“We still have a long way to go to make London safer for cyclists – and for those who would like to cycle but currently don’t feel comfortable doing so.

“I want to develop and accelerate the progress made with London’s bike hire scheme and Cycle Superhighways, learning from what has worked and what hasn’t.

“Where possible, I want to see safe and segregated provision delivered on Superhighway routes, quiet ways and in our town-centres, as well as many more cycle storage and parking spaces.”

Sadiq Khan’s plan for cycling includes:

• Continuing the Cycle Superhighway Programme, investigating new routes and learning the lessons from earlier schemes, with a focus on segregated provision where appropriate.
• Prioritising Quiet Ways to broaden London’s safe cycle network, completing the roll out of the existing town-centre cycling improvement plans, and begin a new round of schemes.
• An urgent review of the Safer Junction Programmes to identify and commit to improvements at more of the major accident blackspots.
• Rolling out 20mph zones across the city as part of the ’20’s Plenty’ campaign.
• Pedestrianising Oxford Street, improve cycle access and look at introducing car-free weekends, following the lead of Paris.
• Delivering more cycle storage and parking, using the London Plan to ensure provision in new office and residential developments, while working with London boroughs deliver more on-street secure parking provision in residential areas.

With the average UK resident seeking a six fold increase in cycling expenditure – change is clearly on the agenda. Some organisations such as Camden Council are even taking their own steps to give cyclists more space. 

Boris Johnson has done a lot to improve life for cyclists – most notably introducing the London city bike hire scheme currently sponsored by Santander and the annual Festival of Cycling held around the Ride100 sportive and pro race.

However, more can still be done. For example, the Greater London Assembly recently implored via unanimous vote that Johnson implement a rush hour lorry ban – a request which he supported and vowed to bring about.

The London Mayoral elections take place on May 5 2016 (coincidentally -also our editor’s birthday!)