£25m upgrade of CS2 to prevent more cyclist deaths

Currently the flagship cycle path only has a thin strip of blue paint separating lorries from riders (Picture: TfL) (Image: Archant)

Cycling in east London is set to become safer with a £25 million upgrade to the Cycle Superhighway 2.

Planned improvements to the controversial route, which has seen six riders killed since it opened in 2011, were announced on Tuesday by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

Segregated cycle lanes and junctions to separate bikes from other traffic will be a key feature of the route’s redesign, as well as raised kerbs and wands - flexible poles - to keep buses and lorries away from cyclists on the Bow to Aldgate route.

Bus stop bypasses will also be installed to prevent the 2,000 daily users in each direction from having to pull out into traffic.

Bow Roundabout, the scene of three cycle deaths, was fitted with new traffic lights last year, and the extension to Stratford built with separated lanes, but until now the main section of the road has been left as ‘an accident waiting to happen’, according to leading QC Martin Porter.

The London Cycling Campaign has welcomed the proposals, with campaigns manager Rosie Downes saying: “These plans are long overdue, and urgently needed. The current strip of blue paint offers no legal or physical protection for cyclists.

“As with the North-South and East-West cycle superhighway proposals we will be looking closely at the detail, but we’re pleased to see the Mayor is finally delivering on his promise to provide the dedicated space for cycling that’s so urgently needed on this route.”

The construction work is due to start early next year, subject to a consultation which will run until November 2 and can be found by clicking here.

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