Road turns into giant cycle lane to make social distancing easier

  • london
  • May 14, 2020
  • Comments Off on Road turns into giant cycle lane to make social distancing easier
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A cycle lane has been installed on one of London’s most prestigious roads, in response to the coronavirus crisis. 

Bollards have been added to Park Lane to divide cyclists from other road users.

The scheme is part of mayor Sadiq Khan’s London ‘Streetspace’ programme, which aims to rapidly construct a strategic cycling network using temporary infrastructure. It is hoped that the moves can reduce crowding on Tube, train and bus routes, making social distancing easier. 

Londoners are being urged to avoid public transport as part of the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions, but many are left with little choice to get to work, particularly as car ownership is far lower in the capital.

Mr Khan said: ‘I’m determined to give Londoners more safe and sustainable alternatives to travelling by car, especially when our public transport system is under strain due to Covid-19.

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‘We’re creating essential new cycleways across our city.’

A cycle lane was already in place in Hyde Park – which is adjacent to Park Lane – but there have been safety concerns about cyclists and walkers being too close to each other.

The mayor’s walking and cycling commissioner Will Norman branded the new cycle lane ‘fantastic’ and said it will make it ‘safer for more people to cycle and socially distance in London’.

🚴‍♀️ So excited to see the new cycle lane going in on Park Lane last night.

🚴‍♀️ Together with councils, we’re rapidly creating new cycle lanes, and space for people walking, across our city. #StreetspaceLDN pic.twitter.com/Nd1oAQKJzV

— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) May 14, 2020

In early March, before case numbers rose dramatically in London, the Mayor had claimed there was ‘no risk’ of people catching the virus on the Tube.

However, there are now fears that an easing of the lockdown and government encouragement for people to go back to work could lead to a spike in new cases. 

The government has announced a £2 billion funding package nationwide to make cycling and walking easier.

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