Boris Johnston cuts cycle route funding

Boris Johnston has come under attack  from the London Cycling Campaign for cutting the funding for cycle routes in the capital.

The money for cycle routes is part of a package to help London boroughs with local transport improvements until 2010. The cycling mayor allocated roughly a quarter of what the  boroughs said they needed to deliver on planned new routes and impovements for cyclists also due for completion by 2010. 

Chief amongst these if the London Cycle Network Plus scheme a 900km network of  routes for cyclists covering the whole of London which aimed to open up new routes and improve existing ones along key cycling corridors in the city.

Last year the scheme received £19.7m this year it got half that. The London Cycling Campaign warned the mayor that such cuts would undermine his plans to increase cycling in the city. 

The mayor's office confirmed that the decision to cut the budget could see some of the new routes scheduled as part of the cycle network scheme scrapped, but insisted Johnson was still fully committed to making London a "true cycling city". TfL was unable to say which routes could be ditched.

A spokesman for Johnson said: "The mayor and TfL are totally committed to improving cycling in London, and are investing a record £55m in cycling this year - up from £36m last year. The money is being invested in cycle routes, cycle parking facilities, a cycle hire scheme to make cycling accessible to all, education, and adult and child cycle training, among other projects.

"The LCN+ cycle network has an important role to play in complementing the mayor's other cycling initiatives including the new cycle highways. Ten million pounds will be provided for LCN + projects next year, but much more will be invested in other projects, which together will make London a true cycling city."