Boris Johnson announces cycling 'superhighways'

The first two cycling "superhighways" were announced today by London Mayor Boris Johnson as part of the capital's year of cycling programme.

To be launched on July 19, the superhighway routes will run from Barking in east London to Tower Gateway and from Merton in south London to the City.

They will be first of 12 routes which will make it easier and safer for people to commute by bike from outer to inner London on direct and continuous cycle routes.

Launching a summer of cycling events, Mr Johnson also said there had been a 117% increase in cycle journeys on London's major roads in the last decade.

He urged people to take part in this year's London Cycle Challenge, which starts on June 1.

Mr Johnson, who with Transport for London is spending £116 million on cycling this year, announced a 10-point plan for cycling in London which included:

:: Reducing cyclist casualties, in particular collisions between cyclists and lorries;

:: Increasing cycle parking on streets, in workplaces, and at stations and schools;

:: Tackling cycle theft;

:: Ensuring cycling becomes an integral part of the way London is planned and run.

Mr Johnson said: "I am determined to transform London into a city that cycles and where hundreds of thousands enjoy the elixir of using two wheels to get around the capital.

"Our cycling revolution is rapidly gathering pace, but there's still huge potential to increase the number of journeys that Londoners make by bike and today we're setting out exactly how we're going to do that."