Call for Green Lights for Cyclists Sparks Debate on London’s Roads
The ongoing tension between motorists and cyclists on Britain’s busy streets is set to intensify, following a bold proposal from a bike hire company. Lime, a prominent player in the micro-mobility sector, has suggested that traffic lights in London should automatically turn green for cyclists. This idea, proponents argue, could significantly improve safety and efficiency for those navigating the city on two wheels.
Hal Stevenson, policy director for Lime, believes that implementing such a system in London could effectively curb the number of cyclists who currently disregard red lights. He articulated this vision as a natural progression from existing efforts to enhance cycling infrastructure and encourage greener transport options.
This proposal comes in the wake of Transport for London’s (TfL) recent announcement detailing plans to grant buses priority at all 3,500 traffic lights across the capital by 2030. While welcoming this initiative, Mr. Stevenson advocated for its extension to encompass cyclists, arguing that they too deserve consideration in traffic signal timing.
“Cyclists shouldn’t be left on red,” he stated in a piece for the news website MyLondon. He highlighted the growing prominence of cycling in the city, noting that it now accounts for as much as one in five trips in central London, with cycle traffic at peak times even surpassing that of cars. Despite this surge in ridership, Stevenson pointed out that traffic light timings remain predominantly calibrated for the speed of motor vehicles, leading to frequent stops and a less fluid experience for cyclists.
Mr. Stevenson further elaborated on TfL’s commitment to expanding London’s cycling network. He mentioned that the network had grown from approximately 56 miles in 2016 to a substantial 267 miles by the end of last year. He sees rethinking traffic light sequencing as a logical next step to build upon this success.
Drawing parallels with other leading cycling cities, Mr. Stevenson cited Copenhagen and Amsterdam as examples of what can be achieved. He specifically referenced “green wave” technology, a system that rewards cyclists travelling at a safe and consistent speed with a continuous sequence of green lights. According to him, this technology has proven to enhance both safety and rider behaviour, while simultaneously reducing journey times at a relatively low cost. He believes this approach could also be instrumental in addressing the issue of red-light running.
However, the suggestion has been met with strong opposition. Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, dismissed the idea as “farcical.” He argued that London is already an “incredibly congested” city, with traffic moving at slower speeds than ever before.
Mr. McNamara voiced concerns that companies like Lime, with their time-based pricing models, inadvertently “incentivise” users to take “dangerous risks,” including ignoring red lights, as faster journeys translate into lower costs for the rider. He also alluded to what he perceives as a disconnect between the priorities of some cycling advocates and the realities of urban traffic. He described attending road safety meetings alongside members of what he termed the “white, middle-class cycling lobby,” whose “whole obsession is removing vehicle traffic from the roads.”
The challenges of navigating London by car were underscored by a recent report from location technology firm TomTom. The analysis revealed that London was the slowest capital city in the world to drive in last year. On average, it took an astonishing three minutes and 38 seconds to cover just 0.6 miles in the city centre. The report partly attributed this slowdown to the widespread implementation of 20mph speed limits across many urban areas.
The debate over traffic signal priority for different modes of transport is likely to continue as London strives to balance the needs of a growing population with its ambitions for a more sustainable and efficient transportation system. The call for automatic green lights for cyclists, while innovative, highlights the complex and often conflicting priorities that characterise urban mobility today.
