Mayor Boris unveils £4m extra funding for cycling in London

Mayor of London Boris Johnson visited Hillingdon racing circuit in west London to announce new funding for cycling projects in the capital.

He unveiled a total of over £4million extra funding for cycling projects in outer London boroughs and two new Sky Rides scheduled for this summer.

The two new Sky Rides will take place in Hillingdon on July 31, and Barking and Dagenham August 21.

Currently provision of amenities is central London-focused, especially since the advent of the cycle hire scheme, and the Mayor's office wants to extend infrastructure to areas further out.

In 2010 thirteen outer-London boroughs were announced as Biking Boroughs and the extra funding that was announced today is part of helping them match their development strategies.

ìI am determined to help more residents of outer London to take to two wheels,î the Mayor said. ìThe funding I am committing to the Biking Boroughs will enable them to make the physical improvements that will make cycling safer and more convenient for local people.î

Earlier this year, Mr Johnson announced plans to cut funding to boroughs for local transport projects, a decision he has since reversed.

Critics claim that the measures adopted by the mayor are not sufficient to make enough of a difference to the city, and it certainly is the case that the sums announced today will not be sufficient to fund any large-scale projects such as establishing new and better cycle lanes.

The mayor's office said the funds would be focused on ‘cycle hubs', ‘cycling communities' and ‘promotional activities.'

The extra funding that has been allocated to the boroughs is:

Barking & Dagenham: £343,000; Bexley: £164,000; Havering: £282,500; Redbridge: £385,500; Brent: £294,500; Ealing: £286,500; Haringey: £320,500; Hillingdon: £309,000; Hounslow: £324,000; Bromley: £271,000; Croydon: £450,500; Kingston: £450,000; Merton: £155,000.