So, you honestly thought these cycle lanes were introduced for safety reasons...Well, Think Again!
Speeding cyclists are putting pedestrians and other road users at risk in Central London.
Just do a quick search on Google for “Strava”, the name of just one of several GPS based performance monitoring apps and then a road name.
For example, “Strava segment Millbank” (below) reveals a map, giving a start and finish point.
On site statistics show there have been some 278,240 attempts to compete, by 34,638 different cyclists, along this section of Embankment. It also lists the fastest male and female riders on this stretch. The site gives league tables of the fastest male and female rides, in this case, north along the Milbank.
Below are the top three males in first equal first position. As you can see, they have total disregard of the 30mph limit along the Milbank, recording speeds of up to 35mph, which is worrying as there is a round-about three quarters of the way along the rout.
Many people enjoy cycling in London, but compeditive urban road racing is highly dangerous. It's hardly surprising pedestrians and motorists are worried about these lycra clad racers.
And this is just one of many such apps.
Virtually every road of interest to cyclists now has a "Segment", enabling competitive racing to take place at any time.
Even more worrying are the roads with 20mph speed limits, where league tables show cyclist almost reaching 40mph (an instant ban for a motorist).
Every day, thousands of cyclists are using this app to race or record personal bests, not just on roads, but also on paths, paved areas and off road tracks, with complete disregard for others.
Notice that the cyclist is traveling too fast to be overtaken by any vehicle on the stretch between Vauxhall and Lambeth Bridges. Even though he had to slow down to an almost full stop, to negotiate the round-about, he still averaged a speed of 32 mph to complete the section which ends at Great College Street.
"Cycle lanes, nah! don't do them pal....London Bridge 20mph...don't make me laugh!"