London’s Tory mayoral candidates are stuck in the past on cycling
When the free-market case for bike infrastructure is so clear, why won’t Conservative candidates embrace it?
Among his many claims to political prominence, both good and bad, Boris Johnson was notable as a Conservative who built a lot of bike lanes fairly quickly (at least in the end).
Similarly, much of New York City’s bike renaissance was launched by Michael Bloomberg, the three-term mayor who, as a billionaire media tycoon and Republican, had more in common with most Bond villains than your stereotypical wind-in-the-hair bike advocate.
Related: From Brentford to Brooklyn, cycling improvements are clear votewinners | Andrew Gilligan
Safety improvements for those who wish to cycle will continue but I believe that TfL [Transport for London] will need to be a lot more sensitive to what residents are saying about the impact of the routes on public safety and the viability of town centres.
Related: Bike lanes don’t clog up our roads, they keep London moving