Mayor's cycle revolution aims to give more pedal power to Londoners

LONDON - With almost 700,000 journeys in London being made every day by cycle, pedal power in Britain's capital has emerged as a major mode of everyday transport.

There has been a 10-percent increase of cycle journeys in London since 2013. With the latest cycling initiative announced this weekend by London mayor Sadiq Khan, two-wheel transport will race ahead in 2017.

Khan said a start will be made in the new year on London's latest cycle superhighway, known as CS11, linking the famous West End treater quarter of London with the capital's Swiss Cottage area.

Cyclists already make up 70 percent of all traffic at peak times on London's specially designed Cycle Superhighways which make it safer for people to move around the city.

The route will take cyclists through London's famous Regent's Park as part of an agreement with the Royal Parks authority in London.

Mayor Khan has committed an average of almost 200 million U.S. dollars a year for cycling over the next five years on cycling projects in London.

The new 3.3-kilometer cycling route is being developed in collaboration with the London Borough of Camden, Westminster City Council and The Royal Parks to provide a direct, continuous and safe route for cyclists to travel between Swiss Cottage and the West End.

It will link to the Central London cycle grid and other routes across London, opening up more of the city for safer cycling.

"Such improvements will make cycling safer and easier for all Londoners in the area, helping to make cycling a part of their everyday lives," the London mayor said.