Overnight the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea continued to remove a protected cycle lane installed just seven weeks ago as part of the Mayor of London’s Streetspace programme.
Green Party London Assembly Member Caroline Russell said:
It’s so shocking to see a bike lane ripped out overnight by council vandals after just seven weeks when everyone is being asked to walk and cycle as we go through the pandemic.
Thousands of people have written to the council telling them to keep the bike lane on Kensington High Street. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea should listen to Londoners and support their residents to switch to walking and cycling.
The Mayor of London said yesterday he was ‘going to consider all other options’. He should get on and use his powers to take over the road from the council. Protecting children and teachers cycling to school is a very good reason to take control of a road. And I can’t see why Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport would refuse permission.
Notes to editors
Caroline Russell AM had an exchange of letters with Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport about funding for walking and cycling schemes in London in which he said:
”It is important that TfL co-ordinates this funding to ensure a coherent cycling and walking network that is integrated with wider investment in highways and bus corridors.
I welcome your support for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in London Boroughs.
We know that the majority of people support the reallocation of road space for cycling and walking in their local area”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said on his Speak to Sadiq phone-in that he was was considering all other options about Kensington High Street:
“Bad news is Daniela that the council are this week removing the cycle lane. We're going to get back the money that we spent on that cycle lane, and we're also going to consider all other options about that particular road. Because the reality is, it's an important road. It's not simply the local residents who need that road to be working efficiently but the rest of us as well.”