Safe cycling is a necessity in cost-of-living crisis London

“Save our lanes”: cyclists on one protest ride down Kensington High Street

- Rachel Naunton

AS a resident of Kensington & Chelsea, I was really pleased to see that Centre for London recommends — in a report commissioned by the council — installing cycle lanes on Kensington High Street. With the protected bike lane in 2020, I noticed a surge in cycling including more women and children. I also started to regularly cycle to and from work, to avoid public transport and the risk of passing on Covid to my patients. After seven weeks of blissfully safe cycling, the council abruptly removed the cycle path — a huge letdown when safe, active travel was and still is a priority. Cycle lanes on the high street have since been replaced with parked cars and traffic levels seem higher than ever, suggesting bike lanes weren’t responsible f