THE number of cyclists along the Mayor of London’s first two Barclays Cycle Superhighway routes, has risen by 70 percent, with increases of 100 per cent or more seen on some sections during peak hours, Transport for London says.

TfL compared figures for cyclists using the two pilot Barclays Cycle Superhighways, one of which runs through the East End from Barking to Tower Hill, during October 2010 and compared them to the same roads in 2009.

They found a 50 per cent increase in the total number of cyclists using the A24 route from Merton to the City and on the A13 route through the East End cyclist numbers more than doubled for the same period.

When looking at the total number of cyclists using both routes in October 2009 compared with October 2010, the number rose by 70 per cent.

Boris Johnson’s transport adviser, Kulveer Ranger said: “It is great to see that the first two Barclays Cycle Superhighways are well on the way to achieving our goal to increase cycling in the Capital.

“This research shows that people do believe the routes are of value, make them feel safer and are allowing them to take direct and continuous routes into central London.”

But last month the Superhighways drew criticism from the London Assembly’s Transport Committee which said that more than half of 1,300 respondents to a survey said the routes did not make them feel safer.

The routes, one of Mr Johnson’s flagship policies, controversially go through historic areas of the East End such as Narrow Street, drawing complaints for their garish appearance and a lack of consultation with residents.

TfL has installed 39 new safety mirrors at junctions along the pilot routes to help improve visibility for cyclists and other road users.