Good report from EcoRINews

On London's adaptation of "Cycle Superhighways" and our possible use of the same here in RI and on the East Coast.

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By BETSY CAZDEN/ecoRI News contributor

One of London's 'Cycle Superhighways.'LONDON — Bicycles, bicycles. Everywhere bicycles. Along every street, cyclists speed by, in Day-Glo vests and jackets, helmets and blinking lights. On one major cross street, there is a dedicated one-way bicycle lane, separated from the cars by curbing. During rush hour, it is full. “Cycle Superhighways” — four so far — carry riders quickly and safely into downtown.

Outside the Russell Square Tube station, a well-dressed man unfolds his compact small-wheeled bicycle, stows his briefcase, climbs on and joins the queue of riders. A few blocks away, near Euston station, there is a rack for Cycle Hire — think two-wheeled Zipcars; you pay a weekly or annual access fee, plus an hourly or daily rental charge, all payable at the attached kiosk. It’s mostly empty on this weekday morning, the unisex bikes, with their blue Barclays’ logo, out in use.

If a docking rack is empty, the kiosk shows you where the nearest available cycles are. The instructions are available at the kiosk or online. There is a reminder for non-United Kingdom visitors to ride on the left.

The city actively promotes cycling as a normal way to get to work, while imposing high fees to discourage automobile traffic in downtown. The Transport for London website has an entire section devoted to cycling, with maps, the cycle-hire method, safety tips and a journey planner. The policy has multiple goals: reducing congestion, reducing lung-damaging emissions and reducing the city’s carbon footprint.

Can we do this in Providence? Just imagine: dedicated bike lanes on all major thoroughfares, separated from cars with curbs or grassy medians; rent-a-bike stands near the train station, Kennedy Plaza, college campuses, in South Providence; a comprehensive RIPTA-plus website with a dedicated section for cyclists.

Dedicated infrastructure and easily accessible information would make cycling easier for many.