Boris Johnson’s Cycle Superhighway hits the road

And so, the first evidence of Boris Johnson’s remarkable cycle plan emerges with the test of blue tarmac outside Tooting Bec station. Whatever you say about the whole cycle super highway idea – and I say it’s possibly not a very good one since it seems to be a Grand Projet rather than a way to increase ridership for all citizens – blue roads will be a key part of the Mayor’s legacy. London Cyclist has a more considered and positive response.

I am curious about how the blue path is expected to work (but not curious enough to read the TfL website carefully*). In particular, it will be interesting to see the psychological impact of a continuous blue streak across junctions. Will some less experienced cyclists take this as an implication that they have right of way, and sail through traffic lights? We shall see. Blue tarmac plus red blood equals purple road, which will be pretty.

*I’m a completer finisher so did have a careful look in the end and read that:

The selection of the blue material followed customer research with end users and benchmarking across Europe, where the blue finish is used extensively.

Where cycling infrastructure currently exists on a Cycle Superhighway, it will not be resurfaced immediately, but will be upgraded as part of TfL’s usual maintenance programme. This represents the best value for money approach.

As a researcher I’d be curious to see the research, but blue does look nice. Note, however, that this will not be a seamless blue strip for many years.

If ever.

4 March 2010 | London | Comments

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