Is London's new cycling tsar too nice to face down the bike-haters?
Sadiq Khan made big promises to make London bike-friendly, and now it’s up to Will Norman to deliver. In a rare interview, the walking and cycling commissioner defends his plans
There have been some tense moments in the battle to bring protected cycle lanes to London, but one of the most volatile took place one crisp Saturday morning last October, when protesters faced off beside a huge road junction in Swiss Cottage, north London.
One group, mostly well-heeled retirees from the neighbourhood, were against the proposed new CS11 cycle superhighway. They held up “Stop CS11” signs and told passersby that changes to the busy gyratory would bring congestion, pollution and rat-running drivers to their leafy streets.
London Taxi Drivers Assocation demonstration against congestion caused by cyclists pic.twitter.com/ZxOquLJ6NI
#CS11 supporters pointing out to anti-cycling protesters : bikes don’t pollute
With London’s population growing by 10,000 people every month, if everybody drove, nobody would get anywhere
It’s not going to be achieved over one mayoral term, it won’t be over two … this is a long-term generational piece
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Collecting data is crucial to help combat hysteria and hyperbole with hard facts
The real test will be whether this administration is willing to back the big schemes that will prove controversial
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Source: Guardian Transport
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