Bike paths in abandoned tube tunnels: is the London Underline serious? | Cities | The Guardian

Bike paths in abandoned tube tunnels: is the London Underline serious? | Cities | The Guardian






Another curious proposal. Naturally it will be quicker and have far more capacity if every tube line was converted into a cycle lane. A dense row of bicycles gives you a huge capacity and given that the bicycles are not stopping the time taken to cycle would be a little bit less than the tube.



 All of this proposal's claims are exactly those for elevated cycle lanes. Generally one would never think of building an underground network because of the very high expense of digging tunnels. There is a reason why crossrail is costing in the billions of pounds to dig.  All of this goes out the window if the tunnel already exists.   I have previously reported on a Spanish underground cycle lane which seem to be fairly successful. So it is rather pleasing to report on a proposal for a cycle lane  which Best Conceptual Project at the London Planning awards.



My first response is it would be interesting to see people's path planning given that they have two walk/cycle into a lift and then go down.   on the elevated cycle system there is generally a smooth ramp on (  with a tow rope to pull you up)  and the smooth ramp off (  which you can freewheel off).  I have never seen a proposal for an elevated system with lifts -  it seems like an unnecessary interruption to momentum.  However given the fact that you can cycle as fast as you like pedestrian Free and without  a hint of danger it makes an interesting question.



As always I have issues with cycle lane provision  designed clearly by non-cyclist designed around  what free Spaces available rather than where cyclists really want to go.   However central London is dense enough that this might just work.