Field of Dreams

Cycling advocates have always recited the mantra, "If you build, it they will come."  
Skeptics retorted bike lanes take lanes away from cars, parking spaces from business, cost too much money and only a marginal few would use them.
Skeptics, we [you] have a problem!


Transport for London, (the agency in London, UK, governing all modes of transportation) built 2 "Cycle Superhighways" as a pilot.    In other parts of Europe these are also known as quasi-Cycle Tracks!    Despite their unwieldy name, the Barclays Cycle Superhighways are new, continuous cycle lanes into central London from outer London.  They are safer, direct, coloured blue bike lanes, sometimes protected from vehicles, often part of the regular road .  The number of cyclists using the 2 routes rose by 70% over the same unprotected routes a year earlier.  On some stretches, the number of trips made by bike doubled.  Even better, 34% of the users were non-cyclists.  Business likes it as well!

Cdn built London bike share.

You can check out the video on the NY Times website as well as links to articles touting the benefits to users and business.


Its working in London.  Mayor Boris Johnson, is pushing ahead with more cycle highways and additional safety improvements.  He has chosen to lead and doesn't hesitate to implement radical ideas with vision. A record £116m will be spent in 2010/11 on infrastructure, training, promotion and education.  
The press release can be found here.

Boris Johnson, the cycling mayor.

By comparison, Burlington's 2009, 20 year Cycling Master Plan, needs a boost because it's already in catch up mode.  The saying goes, "If you build it, they will come."  In London, they come because it's built!