Give cyclists priority at lights, says Lime boss
Traffic lights in London should automatically turn green for cyclists to help speed up their journeys, according to an e-bike hire company.
The majority of traffic light systems in London are fitted with sensors that detect buses approaching. They then turn green sooner to let them pass or stay on green for longer.
Hal Stevenson, policy director for Lime, said if cyclists were also included in the scheme, it could improve rider behaviour and encourage more people to cycle.
Transport for London (TfL) has said it takes cyclists into account when it reviews signal timings and it wants everyone to travel as "safely and efficiently as possible".
"Cyclists shouldn't be left on red," Stevenson wrote in an article for news website MyLondon.
"These lights should also allow cyclists to pass through without waiting."
"Cycling now accounts for up to one in five trips in central London, with cycle traffic at peak times exceeding cars," Stevenson added.
"Despite this, signal timings remain set around motor traffic speeds, which can lead to frequent stopping and less smooth journeys for people on bikes."
Last month, TfL unveiled plans to extend the current system for buses to give them priority at all 3,500 traffic lights they pass on their routes by 2030.
While this work is under way, lights should be re-timed to prioritise cyclists, Stevenson said.
'Consistent speed'
TfL has heavily invested in cycling in recent years, extending the cycle network in London from 55 miles (90km) to more than 267 miles (431km) between 2016 and 2025.
"Rethinking how traffic lights are timed could be a natural next step in building on that success," Stevenson said.
"Other leading cycling cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam show what's possible."
Traffic light management systems in some cities in Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany use "green wave" technology to prioritise cyclists.
This is done by timing traffic lights in sequence to ensure a continuous, stop-free ride.
The systems "reward cyclists travelling at a safe, consistent speed with a sequence of green lights" and have improved safety and rider behaviour while reducing journey times at relatively low cost, Stevenson said.
The move could also mean that fewer cyclists ignore red lights, Stevenson added.
Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, said such a policy would be "farcical" as London is "incredibly congested", with traffic "slower than it's ever been".
He claimed people who hire bikes are "incentivised" to take "dangerous risks" such as ignoring red lights because the companies' time-based pricing means it is cheaper if journeys are completed quicker.
A TfL spokesperson said: "We already take cyclists, as well as pedestrians and other traffic, into account when we review the timings of around 1,200 signals each year.
"We're also working to transform the technology behind London's traffic signals, moving towards an intelligent adaptive traffic signal system that optimises the amount of green time for everyone in real time."
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