Warning over riding new ‘Boris bikes’ on polluted London roads

Published: 19th May, 2011
by JOSIE HINTON

CYCLISTS could take 10 years off their lives by using Mayor Boris Johnson’s cycle super-highways, Camden’s cycling champion has warned.

Lib Dem councillor Paul Braithwaite, who also sits on the Town Hall’s Health Scrutiny Committee, said the location of cycle routes close to polluting heavy traffic puts users at risk of serious health problems.

London is one of the most polluted cities in Europe, with more premature deaths from poor air quality than passive smoking and traffic accidents combined.

Cllr Braithwaite told a meeting of action group Camden Cyclists that up to 100 premature deaths in the borough can be directly linked to poor air quality – the equivalent of 15 per ward.

Speaking on Monday evening, he said: “Most of the cycle super-highways tend to go along really major arteries. 

“The day Boris launched the network and cycled along the route, it struck me he was riding alongside buses and heavy stationary traffic. 

“That is not at all good for your health.”

Cllr Braithwaite warned cyclists that using routes such as Euston Road – one of the capital’s most polluted – could be storing up serious problems for the future. 

He added: “A couple of years ago my partner commented that I was wheezing all the time and I took myself off to a Harley Street doctor, who said, ‘you tell me you cycle every day – well what do you expect?’ 

“His advice was that I move outside the M25.

“Cyclists need to know that they are better off using back routes and smaller roads parallel with main routes. We should be educating cyclists to the risk they are taking.”

Next year the government could face fines of up to £175million from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) if it continues to breach air quality laws during the games.

The IOC can withhold 25 per cent of the expected £700m in broadcasting income generated from the Olympics if air quality levels exceed EU limits. 

Cllr Braithwaite will present a report on air quality complete with ten recommendations to the Town Hall’s health scrutiny committee on June 1.