Wheels in the sky: Artist's impression gives stunning vision of Boris' planned elevated London bike network
- First phase of SkyCycle would link Stratford with City of London by 2015
- Commuters expected to pay £1 per journey
- Scheme could cost 'tens of millions of pounds'
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
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It may have only been a matter of weeks since Mayor of London Boris Johnson was left suspended precariously above the capital in a comical zip wire malfunction during the Olympics.
But Mr Johnson could be looking to take to the skies once again, this time on his bike, as he considers an architect's proposals for a network of elevated cycle paths between London's mainline stations.
Spectacular artist's impressions of what the city's raised cycle network - given a working name of SkyCycle - could look like were released this week along with the first details of the project.
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London Mayor Boris Johnson is considering architect Sam Martin's designs for SkyCycle, a bike network above the capital's streets. An artist's impression is shown
The scheme is designed to make cycling safer for the increasing numbers choosing to take their bike to work
Drawings showing a futuristic raised glass open-top tunnel, that have drawn comparisons with New York's High Line, could become a reality as soon as 2015.
Sam Martin, 43, the landscape architect who came up with the idea with a colleague two years ago, said discussions between the Mayor and Network Rail were 'going well' since an initial meeting in May and that feasibility studies over potential sites were already underway.
He stressed that plans were at an early stage, but the proposal was focused on commuters who would pay to use the network with an Oyster card.
SkyCycle could become a reality above the streets of London as soon as 2015
Mr Martin, director of Exterior Architecture, who admits to giving up cycling in London because he found it too dangerous added that the raised network was the only option left to expand cycling in London.
He said: 'TfL estimate the number of journeys made by bike will treble to around 1.5 million by 2020. Where are they meant to go? SkyCycle is the next logical step, because you can’t realistically build more cycle lanes on ground level.
'You have to start knocking down buildings and there will always be the problem of traffic. It will be less safe than it is now and you can’t persuade people to get on bikes as it is even if you keep raising taxes on cars.'
He added: 'Boris loves the idea and Network Rail are really positive about it. I sincerely believe it could be the next significant piece of London infrastructure and would transform the capital.
'It has been compared to New York’s High Line, which I am familiar with, but the reality is this is a completely different concept.
'In New York it is mainly pedestrian and primarily for tourists and uses converted disused railway lines.
'We are talking about new infrastructure for commuters that guarantees safety and will be quicker than taking public transport. It is a much more ambitious and expensive.'
The drawings show a bold red and blue design incorporating a helix structure partly encasing the raised platform above London.
Martin believes that a corporate sponsor similar to the Barclays-backed cycle hire scheme would be needed to help fund the project, which he said would cost 'tens of millions of pounds' and take around two years to build.
It is thought the first route could be built on the Olympic regeneration of east London, linking Stratford with the City of London through Liverpool and Fenchurch Street stations but this has yet to be confirmed
It is envisaged that cyclists could pay around £1 per journey, making it significantly cheaper to use than public transport - around the third of the cost of a regular commute.
There would also be the need for more cycle storage and ramps at stations.
Despite suggestions, Martin said the proposed network would not exclusively use old railway lines but would require new infrastructure build alongside or above tracks in some places.
The problem of negotiating with different landowners is to be overcome by using leasing land owned by Network Rail.
The SkyCycle idea has drawn comparisons with New York's High Line, pictured, which uses the city's old railway lines as walkways
Speaking about the idea recently Boris Johnson MP described it as 'very interesting'.
He said: 'There is a proposal, which is very interesting, to hook up mainline stations in London along the side of raised railway tracks, with a new cycle path.'
According to TfL, there were twice the number of cyclists in London in 2010 compared to 2000, sparking numerous campaigns for improvements to make cycling safer in the capital.
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