The results of the public consultation for cycle superhighway 9 have been published by Transport for London (TfL) with almost 60 percent supporting the first major segregated cycleway in West London.
TfL sought the opinion of 5,000 local residents in the areas affected, with the majority supporting proposed plans to extend the two-way cycle superhighway west from Kensington Olympia to Brentford town centre.
While no timeline was announced for the superhighway's construction, TfL did confirm that it would release further findings and its next steps later this year.
Proposed route for cycle superhighway 9
This decision by TfL to take the next step with CS9 comes despite outcries from business owners on Chiswick High Road who argued the new cycle lane would cause gridlock, 'crippling' local trade. Some have also tried to claim that the segregated lane will increase pollution through Chiswick due to increased car congestion.
Additionally, as reported in the Evening Standard last year, Father Michael Dunne of a church in Chiswick claimed CS9 would cause more problems than the 'Lufwaffe' by obstructing funeral and wedding processions.
Local politicians argued that the new superhighway would be better suited to the nearby A4 road despite it being heavily used by car traffic and deemed as unsafe by most bicycle users.
However, TfL begs to differ with these arguments claiming in today's press release that CS9 'would provide improvements for all road users and communities on the alignment, offering a clearer and safer route for people to cycle in west London, making it easier to cross busy roads and removing through traffic on some residential roads.'
The proposed plans for CS9 are set to cost £70 million and will be the first major step in linking the west and central London together for bike users.
It also falls as part of Mayor Sadiq Khan's pledge to have 80% of journeys within the capital to be made by foot, bicycle or public transport by 2041.